Blog
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Written by Michelle
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Wednesday, 03 June 2009 17:14 |
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One of the biggest problems my clients face is how to get rid of massive amounts of sensitive paperwork. It is very common to see garages full of papers that need to be shredded, and it can be extremely overbearing and very easy to put off. Luckily, it's not something that needs to be done by hand. There are many shredding companies in the Bay Area that mostly work with large commercial accounts, but a few will take smaller, residential shredding. Be aware that they charge... Here are a few: Of course, now it's necessary to prevent it from happening again. The easiest way of doing this is to place a shredder and a recycling bin where you open your mail. Get rid of junk mail immediately, and shred everything with your name and address on it right there. If you do this everyday, there will be no need for a tedious shredding session later. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 October 2009 18:50 |
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Written by Michelle
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Thursday, 09 April 2009 21:50 |
I was asked to write an article for an upcoming issue of Massage Magazine on the effects of clutter and what a Professional Organizer can do to help. Here it is!
We all have a lot to do. If we set work aside, there’s still housekeeping, mowing the lawn, working out, calling the plumber, writing that article, paying that parking ticket, calling your mother, planning that trip, buying that present, and keeping in touch with at least one friend so you don’t feel like a loser. Oh yes, I forgot to mention one other “little task” that many of us do – have kids. Life can be pretty overwhelming, so how is it possible that many people can handle it all and have a clutter-free environment?
Some of us are born with the gift of organization and fortunately I am one of them. I am excellent at planning, always early, great at multitasking and I have an impeccable sense of direction. I love to organize and do it for a living. If you are like me, this article is not for you. However if you are the opposite of me or know others who are, please take a few minutes to read further.
We have clutter for many reasons, but most of it is ingrained in our culture. We’re told by television that we need the newest and best things, including new televisions. We go to big box stores and are told that we need back massagers, smoothie makers, giant bottles of aspirin and cases of cinnamon rolls. It all looks so good that we just can’t help it. It’s now the norm to have a garage so full that the car doesn’t fit. It’s almost impossible to keep up with all our stuff, and it quickly becomes clutter.
Clutter can bring us down in more ways than we realize. It can pile up in our homes and in our minds and make it impossible to function. Clutter makes us slow, late, lost, broke, stressed. Many people live cluttered lives without giving it a second thought. They feel that it’s just part of who they are, and there’s no fighting it. They don’t realize what an effect it has on their careers as well as their personal lives.
So how do you know if your clutter is affecting your life? Ask yourself a few simple questions. Do you have difficulty parting with things? Do you have many uncompleted projects? Do you have week time management skills? Do you miss deadlines at work? Do you spend money on a storage facility to house excess possessions? Is it full? If these questions are a bit too close to home, you may need to evaluate your organizational skills.
One person who did not realize the effects of clutter was one of my first and favorite clients – “Doug”, a 17 year-old boy who’s mother called me out of desperation. She said that “he can’t study and his room is a disaster!” Sounds pretty normal, right? As I made my way into Doug’s space I was astounded. His 12’x12’ box of a room was full of furniture (in the middle of the room), trash and dirty socks. It looked as if he was moving – in or out, I wasn’t sure. Half of the trash in the room was his brother’s who had recently gone away to college. The leftover toast, half empty juice containers and pizza in the corner was Doug’s, but he wasn’t sure when it was from. I got to work immediately, and made him help. He wasn’t too happy since he had no idea I was coming and had other plans for his Saturday afternoon.
My goal was to make this room into HIS space, which is why I had him work with me. First was to pick up the obvious trash and to rearrange the furniture. It was important to give him a quiet space to study, behind his closed door and away from his little sister. Old science projects blocked the door so it could not be closed or opened…. We had a lot of trashing to do. The desk was cleared and moved away from the closet so his clothes could be accessed. We worked for hours on organizing boxes of computer equipment and left over Legos and Star Wars action figures. To encourage him to use the laundry hamper and trash bin, the lids were removed and they were placed in prominent places in the room. It was important that everything was easy and accessible. By the end of the day, Doug was beaming with excitement at the thought of finally having space, and he wouldn’t even let his mother place a picture on the shelf. “It’ll clutter up my room,” he whined. It was the beginning of a new person.
One can defeat clutter by striving to complete two simple goals – to increase productivity and to let go. Increasing productivity sounds like a terrible “work only” term and not something we would think about at home, but think of it as working smarter, not longer. It seems that this is a goal that we should all want to accomplish. I don’t know anyone that wants to drag out cleaning or homework for as long as they possibly can. Increasing productivity can lead to shorter work hours, less housework and more time to relax. Doug was able to increase his productivity at home and in school because he no longer wasted time searching for lost schoolwork. Everything had a home, he had a quiet place to study and a comfortable place to hang out in. His mother now says that his grades are up, he’s less grumpy and less stressed.
Letting go is hard to accomplish. To do this, many of us have to make changes in the way we function everyday. Doug had to learn to let go of a lot. It took a while, but he got used to questioning the need for the random everyday items that he normally kept. Here are a few steps to help increase productivity as well as to help let go.
- Make a “to do” list. The more tasks you write down, the less clutter you have in your head and the less you forget. It’s easy to follow and also satisfying to cross off completed tasks.
- Follow a calendar. This is easy to do on a computer and usually mandatory at most jobs. Use it for personal events as well and set reminders that alert you before important due dates.
- Batch your tasks. Group tasks together when possible. Reply to all emails in one sitting. Iron all clothes for the week at once instead of getting the ironing board out several times. Go to the grocery store twice a week - not every day.
- Finish everything you start asap. This sounds hard, but it’s much easier than procrastinating, and better for your mind and your career. Immediately complete the document your boss requests. Put your dirty clothes in the hamper. Wash each dish after you use it. If you try to finish everything you start immediately, there’s nothing to put on the “to do” list. Also, if anything goes wrong or something unplanned happens, you have the time to fix it.
- Be here now. Don’t do work while watching your favorite TV show or talking on the phone. Not only will it take forever to finish what you’re doing, you’ll probably have to do it over. Give your work your full attention and you will have fewer mistakes.
- Stop the bleeding. Before buying anything, question if it’s necessary. Is it mandatory that you purchase this hand blender or will the regular blender suffice? Do you need this new book or do you still have a pile of unread books on your bedside table? This is a great way to stop accumulating, and also an eye-opening way to realize how much money you spend on clutter.
- Have a home for everything and keep it there. If you can’t find a home for it, question whether or not you need it. If you were to take 10 minutes a day, five days a week looking for lost items, that would add up to 40 hours a year. That’s a full extra week of vacation!
- Break up large projects. If you need to organize your kitchen, do a little bit each day. Start by cleaning out one drawer or cabinet at a time. Organizing and cleaning is much less threatening if you look at it in small doses.
- Maintain. Don’t let yourself (or those around you) ruin all you’ve accomplished. By revisiting that closet or drawer once a month, you will avoid falling right back into chaos.
- Reward yourself. Don’t forget to congratulate yourself on completing your goals. Go to dinner, get a manicure, buy some new music (mp3’s don’t take up much space), take a bike ride.
Becoming clutter free and getting organized is incredibly easy to put off. Where to start? If you find yourself procrastinating or completely overwhelmed, you might consider calling a Professional Organizer. These people thrive on creating order out of chaos, and will help you accomplish your goals quickly. A Professional Organizer can help you with your business or home, helping you to decide what to keep, what to get rid of, and how to deal with clutter. There are several different types of Professional Organizers out there to suit your individual needs, and many are trained to work specifically with people who have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), the chronically disorganized, children, and seniors. There are countless organizers who specialize in office organization, time management, home staging, downsizing, Feng Shui, and other specific areas. To find out more about Professional Organizers or to search out the right person to help you, contact the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) at http://www.napo.net.
Wouldn’t it be great to know where everything is? To spend your Saturday doing what you want to do instead of what you have to do? To be the one that is always on time? Letting go is difficult, but working smart and being clutter-free is well worth it. You’ll be more grounded and relaxed, have more professional opportunities and more time to spend on things that matter. |
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Last Updated on Friday, 10 April 2009 15:26 |
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Written by Michelle
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Friday, 16 January 2009 02:12 |
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Okay, so moving is out of the question... what now?
Approximately 14% of the US population moves every year. Of course, 2008 was the year that changed all that. Instead of cursing the economy and hating the home that you're stuck with, why not take this opportunity to change a few things? Give your home a minor facelift - even a couple of simple and inexpensive adjustments will help you to like the place you're in, and make you more comfortable. Here are a few ideas:
- Paint. Yes, a pain in the butt, but if you pick really nice, stylish colors for each room, it can feel like a whole new place. Do one room every month or two and it won't feel so painful. Out with eggshell, in with "winchester sage"!
- Change outdated door & fixture hardware. Get rid of your '80s brass fixtures and put in something more current, or something that better matches the architecture of the house. Even changing the knobs on your dresser can make a big difference.
- Get new curtains. This can change a room instantly.
- Depersonalize & Declutter. Pretend you're subletting your home and you want the person who is renting to feel comfortable. Minimize knick-knacks and update picture frames. Sell ugly books that you've already read and aren't sentimental and put only nice, hardcovers on the bookshelf. Minimize junk on the bathroom counter. Have you used it in 6 months? If not, chuck it.
- Update your closets. Add new shelving systems to create more space - it'll feel just like a new, modern home.
- Buy a fancy kitchen trash can. This is personal - I don't know why, but I love fancy kitchen trash cans.
- Rearrange your furniture. If you think your layout is fine and maybe the only way, ask a friend or two. You may be so used to the way your living room is laid out that you never thought of how much better it could be.
- Buy (or make) new pillows for your couch. Another easy way to change the room and also a great way to add color or pattern.
- Install sliding drawers in your kitchen cabinets. This is an easy way to modernize your cabinets without spending major $$.
- Pot new plants. Well, some of us may need to start with weeding the backyard first. Make your outside space more inviting, and in the warmer months you'll find yourself really enjoying this new space.
- Hire a Professional Organizer. If all of the above sounds daunting, have someone do it for you. That's what we're here for!
Make a change here or there gradually, and you'll be happy where you are. And who knows, if in a year down the line you decide to make that move, you'll be that much ahead in getting your house prepped for sale!
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Last Updated on Saturday, 17 January 2009 00:31 |
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Written by Michelle
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Thursday, 15 January 2009 22:13 |
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As a professional organizer, my main goals are to get rid of unnecessary clutter and make it easier to manage stuff. The best advice I have to people who are drowning in clutter is to stop buying stuff. Don’t shop at warehouse stores where they give you 30 toothbrushes or a year’s supply of toilet paper. Do you need 30 toothbrushes? Where will you put them? You don’t save time by buying this stuff early because so much time is wasted when you have to find a home for it and manage around it. Don’t fall for the “price break” at these stores - you can get the same deals at Safeway.
I am a master at this – I have to be. My apartment is 750 square feet, with minimal storage space. When running out of dish soap or shampoo I wait until the last squeeze to buy the next bottle. If I don’t, I have to store that new bottle somewhere until the old one finally runs out. I’m likely to forget I have it and then I go out and buy another. You can see where this can lead.
There are so many great things to buy out there that help us organize our lives. The Container Store is one of my favorite places to explore, and every time I go there I’m always saying to myself “Wow - they make that? I could really use that!” And then there are also many things available to us that just make no sense to me - frauds in the organizing world. It’s more junk to buy just because it exists. You know the stuff I’m talking about - or is it masking itself so perfectly, in it’s “I’m so perfect and organized and you need me” packaging? I’ll point some of the worst offenders out to you. Maybe next time you shop to get organized, you’ll ask yourself if you really need it. Don’t forget – this stuff has to go somewhere when we’re done with it.
What Not to Buy - Stemware Holders – they take up more space than if the glass was flat on the shelf! Also, wine glasses should be stored right side up to prevent the stems from cracking. If you need storage above the glasses, purchase a shelf that is more universal.
- Shoe Boxes – I understand having a pair or two of special occasion shoes in boxes, but multiple boxes are a major waste of space. Place your shoes on a rack or in a storage system that fits more than one pair. If you see them, you’re more likely to wear them. If you’re storing them away and you haven’t worn them in 6 months, get rid of them.
- Gift Wrap Storage – unless you’re Martha Stewart and you have a craft studio in your house, gift wrap storage is a major waste of space. Gift wrap in general takes up so much valuable storage space and no one wants a present in an old piece of wrinkled paper from last year. Don’t buy large amounts of gift wrap. Buy one roll at a time and finish it – no storage necessary.
- Unnecessary Plastic Containers – My favorite (see link below) is the charcoal caddy dispenser. Come on, really? Again, this stuff has to go somewhere when we’re done with it.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 October 2009 18:54 |
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