Organizing – Where to Begin
Tip: If you’re not sure where to start when de-cluttering, tackle horizontal surfaces first, such as table tops, counter tops, desk tops, beds, dressers, and floors.
Calendars
Tip: Use only one personal calendar. It makes no difference whether it’s paper or electronic so long as it’s practical and portable. Establish a habit of relying on your calendar to keep track of scheduled appointments, important dates, and payments. Also use it to jog your memory of significant items.
Organizing Daily
Tip: Organization requires practice and maintenance. So, give yourself time to organize daily, 15 minutes in the kitchen and 5 minutes per room for the rest of the rooms in your home. Delegate and get the whole family involved. The teamwork approach works best and allows every family member to practice the skill of organizing.
Simple Organizing Solutions
Receiving a thank you note in the mail is pleasant. It’s even more pleasant when you’re being thanked for something you didn’t realize would make an impact on the other person. This happened to me when I offered a simple organizing solution to a Realtor I had met at a networking event. She asked me if I had any ideas how she could keep all her real estate forms portable and organized. I suggested a portable accordion file. The next thing I know, I’m reading a very sincere thank you note that makes me smile. It just goes to show you, sometimes the simplest organizing solutions are the best solutions. In this case, find a good home for paper and things.
Here are a few more simple organizing solutions that I’ve offered to my clients:
- Standing a baby bath tub on end, so it took up less room in the closet where it was stored. Be creative and unconventional with your personal organizing solutions.
- Moving a daily used utensil drawer up to the second spot instead of the third drawer down. Make it easy on yourself to do daily tasks.
- Asking a spouse to pay some of the monthly bills in order to spend less time on the task. Delegate and ask for help when you can.
- Tossing the brown, brittle, dead flowers in the vase on the dresser even if they were your wedding bouquet. Evoke cherished memories with happy thoughts, not objects.
- When you’ve finished knitting, put your knitting project back in the bag. Getting in the habit of putting things back in the places we’ve assigned them to go fosters organization.
© September 2013 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® All Rights Reserved
Proud member of NAPO
Clearing the Clutter
Who likes to hunt? I’m talking, in your own closets, pantry, cupboards and drawers? Are these areas unorganized and filled with random stuff? Is what you need, want, and use mixed in with a bunch of items you don’t need, don’t want, and don’t use? Having to sift and hunt every time you’re looking for an item is a waste of time, not to mention stressful and frustrating. Organizing these areas can help. Organizing these areas can start with 3 important actions, separating, discarding, and removing.
Action #1 – Separating:
Separate what you need from what you don’t need.
Separate what you want from what you don’t want.
Separate what you use from what you don’t use.
Action #2 – Discarding:
Discard as much as you can from the don’t need, don’t want, don’t use piles.
Any remaining items should be given away or donated.
Action #3 – Removing:
Remove what you’re not CURRENTLY using from the need, want and use piles.
Now put the remainder of items back into your space in an organized way based on frequency of use. Viola, no more hunting.
I understand this process is sometimes not as easy as it sounds, and that it is helpful to have assistance. If you’d like my assistance, please email me to set up a complimentary consultation. Another option is to attend one of my class on the subject.
© September 2013 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All rights reserved.
Proud member of NAPO
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