5 Lazy Ways to Organize

How many times do you think about organizing a drawer or even a room and give up because it is too overwhelming?  Well, I hate to break it to you - organizing is work, but organizing doesn’t have to be a nightmare!  Like weight-loss, most people are looking for a quick fix to organizing.  And as we have learned, quick weight-loss doesn’t work and you return to the habits which got you to where you were in the first place.  The same rings true with organizing.  Creating new habits will make organizing a breeze as time goes on.

Lazy is defined as slow moving or sluggish.  Organizing the “lazy way” will still take time (I didn’t call it 5 Fast Ways to Organize now, did I?).  Going in with a lazy mindset will help you slowly and steadily gain control over the disorganized clutter monster that looms over your head!  Patience is a virtue!  The old adage, “How do you eat and elephant? One bite at a time” should be playing in your head as you tackle your clutter and disorganization. 

1.  Get over perfection!  Most people feel organizing is about living Martha Stewart Perfect.  Not the case!  It is really as simple as finding what you need when you need it and keeping what you need, use and love.   Finding a good home for what you have is essential.  Keep those things you use often close to you, not as frequently a little further, and those you don’t use often furthest away. 

2.  Get over guilt!  If you are holding onto things because you’d feel guilty getting rid of it  DON”T!   (Like your friend who gave you a shirt that just doesn’t look good on you, but you feel she will get her feelings hurt if you give it away).  You will be able to shed yourself of so much clutter when you purge the guilt first!  Those who love you should understand your needs are, and guilt isn’t one of those needs!

3.  Stick to one area at a time!  If you want to organize the whole house, trying to organize it all at once will take longer.  You will become the Tasmanian Devil, spinning on a path of destruction.  Choose one area to organize at a time.  Slow and steady wins this race!  Seeing one project through to the end will give you the motivation to continue on to the rest of the house. 

4.  Stop making to-do lists!  If you skip this step and put your tasks directly into your to-do lists, then you will actually have the time to get things done!  If you need to purge your brain to get it out of your head, create different lists.  You need one for long term goals, short term goals and one for everyday tasks.  Work those lists into your calendar to see what you can accomplish daily, monthly and yearly.  Remember to leave room in your schedule for fun!

5.  Get help!  Any way you look at it, help is the best way to change your habits.  You will have someone to hold you accountable.  Don’t you have enough on your plate?  Adding self accountability (is that a phrase or did I just make it up?) is just one more thing to worry about.  Pass that responsibility on!

You can actually waste time by being “hyper” organized (as I like to call it).   You can procrastinate on projects by organizing as a distraction.  You can lead an unbalanced life if you are so focused on perfection.  Organizing should bring you more time to do what you love and want to do.  So get lazy and organize your home one space at a time!

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Decorative Swapping

The other day I was watching Oprah and she had the adorable Nate Berkus and the clutter cutter Peter Walsh on.  They were showing neighbors swapping furniture in order to recreate new looks in their homes.  The point behind the show was to open our eyes to how, in hard times with limited budgets, we can be creative in our design to get the best out of our space.  Now of course having a fabulous designer makes a huge difference when you are decoratively challenged (I think I just created a new word), but the point was easy to get.  The “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” was spoken loud and clear here. 

Anything unused or unloved is clutter!  Clear your clutter by having a swap party!  Have you thought about other ways to swap?  It doesn’t have to be just furniture!   How about:

• Kitchen Gadgets
• Video Games
• Women’s Clothing
• Children’s Clothing
• Accessories (belts, scarves, jewelry)
• Children’s Toys
• Books
• Magazines

The list is endless.  You can save so much money by trading what you don’t want, need, or have grown tired of with someone else!  The only thing you must remember in a swap is that this is not a garage sale!!!  These items are good quality and something someone would really WANT in their home  (or closet) to update their look.  Your tattered couch that the dog has called home for 15 years may not qualify! 

Let us know if you have had an opportunity to swap with friends, neighbors and/or family to get the best results for your homes!  What was your experience?  What worked?  What didn’t? 

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Budding Artists-Taming Your Children’s Art Clutter

As the end of the school year is swiftly approaching, parents are faced with what to do with all the art (and school work) clutter their children have produced.  Now, when I call it clutter, that is not to say we don’t love what our children created, it is just that the shear volume is overwhelming.  It seems as if once a child can hold a crayon, their paper seems to multiply faster than fleas!  But what is more amazing is our attachment to each and every one they create.  Whether it is a masterpiece that Van Gogh would admire, or one that is scribble scrabble (a phrase my kids teachers have used) we can’t seem to let go of our budding artists/scholars work.  And this is only compounded by having more than one child! 

If you were to save each and every piece of paper our children worked on in their 13 years of school, you could fill an entire standard bedroom!  Mom’s who find out I organize homes always ask how they can better organize their children’s art and school work.  They all seem to want to cut it back but don’t know what to let go of.  I mean, how can you let go of something your child created.  It seems like you are giving or throwing a piece of them away!

The good news is the older they get, the less paper work they bring home.  The bad news is you can’t keep it all!  Making the decision of what to keep and what to toss/recycle can be easier if you face it head on.  You need to create a limit or standard and a means of storage of what you will keep.  Each family and situation is different, so there is no set standard, but you can figure out your own set of guidelines. 

I typically save art that is art.  Not the painting swirled in a circle with the teacher writing “A Motorcycle” above it.  I also keep things that show progression in their development.  Be it writing letters, or drawing a flower, or a worksheet, I will be able to look back as see their attempts at mastering a new learning challenge.  Also, I save items that are about them.  A self portrait, a interview from preschool about what they want to be when they grow up, a drawing of the family, an essay of their summer vacation, and so forth.  You don’t need to keep the 4th grade book report they received an A++ on, unless you somehow are related to the person in the story!

Keeping the work you have decided to save can be a challenge.  Here are a few suggestions on different approaches to keeping the memory alive of their precious childhood:

• A scrapbook or file box that shows progression and growth.  Start a the beginning and work your way up to high school.  Make sure you don’t fill books or boxes.   Your child will not have the same attachment to these as you will.  Be picky, and set your limit.  Your child will appreciate that you don’t hand them boxes and boxes of their work when they are adults.  Parents are always surprised at how their children don’t have the same attachment to the items that they do.
• Photo of your child with their art work or school work.   Hang your children’s art/school work on a blank wall and take a picture of them with their work.  You can place multiple works on the wall and have one photo!  You will capture the memory, but save it in a much smaller form.  Also, the glitter and rice (cereal, beans, you know what I mean!)  will not be left in a box for so many years that the glue has disintegrated and left you with a mess!
• Scan or photograph their artwork and school work.  Create a digital scrapbook of their work.  You will be able to arrange a book in no time that shows their development and progression.  This will cut down on the size/volume of papers you accumulate.  This doesn’t give you “permission” to save it all.  Again, be picky about what you save.  Your child will not appreciate your hard work of scrap-booking all they did in school if it is a 20 volume series!  Use what is most valuable, and toss the rest.

Some moms tell me their children may get upset if their work is thrown away so soon after creating it.  For my children, I have a large magnetic board that has their weekly art/school work on it.  This sets a limit/boundary as the board can only hold so much.  As they bring home something new, I have them help decide what should come down to make room for their new work.    You will be surprised at how fast they will take something down to make room for their new creation.  You can see what they value in their eyes, not yours! 

I know all the little scraps of paper that say “I love you Mommy” are so hard to throw away!  But be strong, know your children love you and that you have a limit as to what you can keep.  It doesn’t mean they don’t love you if you need to throw it away!  And a little disclaimer to the toss process, recycle what you can!

For more tips on organizing, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips. 

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Are you ready for A Fresh Start?

Whether you celebrate Easter or not, the feeling of new beginnings is in the air.  Spring is my absolute favorite time of the year.  Everything seems clean and fresh.  (Yes, you can tell my mood by how clean and picked up my home is! Mess = Stress)  New plants and flowers, blue skies, warm and comfortable temperatures and fresh green grass make a beautiful picture.  This is the best time of year to create your own new beginnings.  What do you want to change?  What do you want to start pursuing?  Where do you need or want A Fresh Start?

My company name came from the need we all have for the changes in our lives to move in a positive direction.  A Fresh Start is something we all desire when things aren’t working quite right.  My organizing company helps people have a new start in their home.  Whether they just moved into a new home, they are moving out of a home or they need to make their home work better for them, they are all craving a new beginning.  Organizing can help you have A Fresh Start in your life.  Being organized can free up time and space to pursuing new activities, make new relationships and take better care of yourself. 

Most people I find are so overwhelmed with their situation, they aren’t sure where to begin.  Just the thought of starting can create feelings of overwhelm and panic.  I think of when I was in high school and would have a large project or paper assigned.  I would have no idea where to begin.  I would always freak out about not being able to do it.  I would have to break the project down into bite size pieces to get started. 

If organizing your space is a new beginning you want to have this spring, here is a way to break your project down into bite size pieces so you can get the job done and go on to pursue those things you so desire. 

5 ways to organize a room:

1.        Visualize how you want the room to look.  Ask yourself:

a.      What is it you are trying to accomplish in the room?

b.      Who is using the room?

c.      What activities take place in the room?

2.       Sort your stuff.  This is where most people give up, because it always looks worse before it gets better. 

a.      Make sure the items in the room should stay.

b.      Ask yourself if you really need the item.  Instead of thinking that I may use it one day, live for today.  Just because you spent money on it doesn’t mean you have to still keep it.  Think of it as a life lesson and be more careful when you shop.

c.      Separate into categories

                                                                           i.      Trash

                                                                         ii.      Donate

                                                                        iii.      Give to family or friends

                                                                       iv.      Move to another room

                                                                         v.      Keep

d.      For the items you decide to keep, group like items together.  For example, toys and games, beach and pool items, even rags with cleaning supplies.  This will help in remembering where things are when you need them.

3.       Find homes for all your items that remain. 

a.      Where will you use the items? 

b.      Do you use the items often or occasionally?

c.      Keep items you use often easy to access.  Things you use less often are better in your harder to reach areas.

 

4.        Contain.  Containers can make or break an organizing system.  Keep in mind that containers with lids are harder for children to use.  That is one step too many for a child to put things away. 

a.      Make the most use of your space.  Add shelves to utilize vertical space. 

b.      Use clear boxes to see what you have inside. 

c.      Use containers to hold items in cabinets.  You can pull the container out to get to an item easier than knocking down items to get to the back of the cabinet!

5.       Maintain.  Maintenance is the most important means to keeping an organizational system in place.   

a.      Remember “One In One Out” rule.  For every item you bring into your home, you should be removing something else.  This is especially important for clothing and toys. 

b.      Set aside a few minutes a day and a few minutes a week to make sure your systems stay in place. 

These are basic ways to tackle your Fresh Start in your home.  For some of us, the clutter is there for a reason:  we are attached to the clutter, we are overwhelmed by the clutter, we think we may use the clutter, we feel guilty to get rid of the clutter or a combination of  all these.  What ever your reason for clutter, the only way to move forward in your life and stop having this stuff hold you back is to face it.  For some that means someone to help.  If you need assistance, ask for it.  Allow yourself to have the new beginning you are so desiring!

For more tips on organizing, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips. 

Also, you can subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start” . Subscribe Now 

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What are we teaching our children?

Yesterday, I had my children assist in one cleaning project that I so badly wanted to get done, cleaning our wood shutters.  We don’t have a large house and we don’t have shutters on all the windows, so I thought this would be fun, easy and most of all quick.  Well, not so true on any of these thoughts.  I had envisioned giggling and talking while cleaning.  I had envisioned my boys finding the joy of a job well done.  Well, this was SO not the case.  I had to break up the fights (“your not helping”,  “I was working on that side”) and motivate ’til I was blue in the face!  I practically took over the job because I just wanted it done and done right.  I came in behind and redid their work and basically finished by myself.  So what kind of lesson did I teach my boys?  Looking back, not a very good one!

I believe we need to teach our children at a young age that the family is a team.  We work together to get things done.  No one should be the sole person to clean, declutter, organize and be responsible for the home.  If you don’t get everyone involved to help, the one person doing all the work will eventually blow.  Running a household, whether you are a stay at home parent or a working parent, is a lot of work.  Having a team effort to keep the house running smoothly is vital.  The quarter back doesn’t win the game alone, neither does the pitcher.  Good team management will make a big difference in your home being calm and loving, versus chaotic and angry. 

Kids at a very early age can be taught to help.  The more you include them in household chores, the better adults they will grow up to be.  But you have to approach it in a fun and loving manner.  Not the case for me yesterday.  Here are a few suggestions on how to make the learning and teaching process run smoothly:

1. Establish Chores.  Check out the chore chart below.  Have your children pick the chores they feel they want to do and can do well.  Involving them in the decision process makes a big difference in their willingness to participate.  Even a 3 year old can do this. 
2. Set clear expectations.  Explain in detail what you expect from them.  If you simply say dust the shelf, and don’t say make sure to take everything off, or dust in the corners, you can’t expect they will know to do that.  They will do the minimum job expected.  Make sure your child(ren) repeat back to you what is expected so the communication is clear.
3. Set reasonable expectations.  This was my mistake yesterday.  My kids couldn’t reach the top shutters and they shutters were so dusty they required a little more elbow grease then I had originally thought.  A quick run of the Swiffer Duster wasn’t doing the job.  They didn’t realize they weren’t doing a complete job.  They were just doing what they thought was good. 
4. Don’t swoop in and do it for them.  Realize their abilities and don’t set them up for failure.  If they see you coming in and redoing their work, their confidence goes down the tubes.  As was the case for my oldest son, who said “I am trying my best, and you don’t care!”.  Whoops, I needed a reminder that they were trying and my doing it for them wasn’t teaching them anything!  Accept their limits and don’t expect perfection.
5. Remember your manners.  Would you want to have orders barked at you?  Would you want to listen to constant criticism?  Give praise, say please and thank you, and most of all, tell them how much their help helps you!  Let them know how more hands getting the job done will free up time to do more fun things, like play a game together or read a book to them. 

My best advice is to make the process as fun as you can.  Crank up the music.  Turn things into games.  Set a timer to see how fast they can do it (only if they do a good job though).  Reward with fun activities.  You can also reward with money, but I feel that I don’t get paid to do things around the house, so why should I pay them?  Choose your motivation and reward system and let the kids know ahead of time what they get for their hard work. 

See below for the chore chart.  This is just a general guideline, so don’t worry if your child isn’t there yet.  I paid my twin sister to do my laundry for a few years until I understood how to do it myself!  She got the sorting process way before I did.  I was intimidated and would rather pay some of my allowance than face my fear!

Chores for Every Age:

Toddlers:

·         Put clothes in the laundry basket

·         Put toys away (where they belong)

·         Take things to the trash can, such as if you are opening your mail or clearing the dirty napkins at dinner

Preschool:  Same as above, PLUS

·         Get dressed

·         Pick clothes for the next day or the week (give limits such as “choose a short-sleeve shirt, a pair of shorts, underwear, and socks”

·         Help match socks when folding laundry

·         Put folded laundry away (pre sort as you fold, grouping what would go in each drawer or cubby)

·         Help set table

·         Help clear table

·         Wipe off table

·         Deliver items to another room (such as “please put this book on the self in the office”, or “please put the mail on my desk”)

·         Help unpack groceries

·         Help make/pack lunch

Kindergarten:  Same as above, PLUS

·         Make bed (even if it is putting pillows on the bed after you fix the sheets)

·         Tidy up their room

·         Help unload dishwasher

·         Pack backpack for school

·         Follow a morning routine

·         Get the mail

·         Empty trash cans, into a larger trash bag

·         Put a new trash bag in a trash can

·         Help hang up shirts in closet

 First and Second Grade:  Same as above, PLUS

·         Clean their room

·         Take trash out to outside receptacles

·         Sort dirty laundry

·         Sweep floor

·         Yard work (rake leaves, pull weeds, hose off patio)

·         Help put groceries away

Third and Fourth Grade:  Same as above, PLUS

·         Vacuum

·         Load dishwasher

·         Walk the dog

·         Help with meal preparation

·         Bathe themselves

·         Make breakfast

·         Pack lunch

Fifth and Sixth Grade:  Same as above, PLUS

·         Take on weekly responsibilities, such as take out the trash to the curb, fold laundry, and clean their bathroom

·         Be responsible for their homework and projects with a calendar and schedule

Seventh Grade through High School:  Same as above, PLUS

·         Iron clothes

·         Make dinner

·         Wash the car

·         Take on a part time job or babysit

·         Be responsible for managing their money, with guidelines on how to save, give and spend

College:

By now you have given your “child” the necessary skills to be a responsible young adult.  If they are living at home, they should be responsible for doing all adult chores just as if they were living in an apartment on their own.  They should be paying rent and/or doing things to contribute to the household chores and budget.  By this time you will have created an independent young adult that wants to do things to help both physically and financially.

I know I will be working more on my ability to let go of  “perfection” in order to teach my kids to enjoy their chores more!  I hope your team will be on the winning end of the chore battle!  Let me know if you have any tips or ideas you would like to share on how your get your kids to help more!

For more tips on organizing, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips. 

Also, you can subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start” . Subscribe Now 

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The Clutter of Costco?

As I was working with a few clients recently, I started to wonder, when did Costco take over our lives?  I grew up in Virgina and don’t remember anyone ever going to a warehouse store.  We had friends with many kids (3 or more) and I can never remember opening a cabinet that was filled with toilet paper or giant boxes of cereal.  I have been wondering when did we feel the need to buy in bulk?  Growing up in the 70’s in Virginia, we only had one car.  My father commuted to Washington, DC on the Metro.  We didn’t go to the grocery store every day, but I never remember my mom or dad stocking up cabinets.   I don’t remember a pantry, just a cabinet with food in it.  I remember one shelf in our linen closet that held extra rolls of toilet paper.  We had just enough.  When did we become unsatisfied with just enough?  At some point in our culture, we decided that we needed the bigger packages.  We now have the clutter of Costco!

OK, before I get lectured about the benefits of warehouse stores, this post is not to discourage your shopping at places like Costco, just to get you to think before you buy such large amounts.  Can you not pull your car in the garage because you have shelves full of paper products?  Just because it is a good price does not mean it is a necessity in your life.  And what about the bulk packages of staplers…do you really need 4 staplers in your home?  I hear many people say they can’t get out of Costco for under $400.  Most of the time it is because we are so distracted by the deal, that we forget whether or not we really need the product itself.  We are living for the future, “I will need it and use it eventually”, instead of living for today.  I think it is funny that we have a much greater ability to get what we need when we need it than we ever did before, but somehow we purchase as if we will never have the opportunity to go shopping again.  Like the stores will somehow disappear off the face of the earth!

Here are a few ways to make sure you don’t get caught up in the Costco fever when you enter the store:

• Shop with a list.  What do you really need?  Are you there for food, yet some how are in the book aisle?  Are you there for gifts, yet somehow come out with a bulk pack of vitamins?  Stick to what you need.  Otherwise the excess becomes Costco clutter!  If you aren’t going to consume, wear or use it anytime soon, you need to store it.  And storage for most people is an issue in and of  itself.
• Shop with friends and family.  Many times we waste money by buying in bulk because the food goes bad before we can use it.  Also, storing the items can be a real challenge.  Where is all the extra going to go?  When you shop with  friends and family you can split items, like fruits and veggies, cereal, and even toilet paper. 
• Shop with a budget.  Make it a challenge to get out of Costco for a set amount.  Can you beat the limit? 

Being realistic with our true needs will help us make the most out of Costco.  Costco is actually thriving in our economy.  People are now in the mind set to save money.  But we can get caught up in the deal and forget about our needs.  Buying in excess means throwing away food that has gone bad, and paying to heat/cool areas that are filled with excess is not saving us money in the long run.  Also, think about the time spent organizing excess.  Finding homes for everything can be a real challenge.  Are you spending time trying to make room for 30 rolls of paper towels?  Living and buying for today should save you time and money.  Just remember the days before Costco ever existed!

For more tips on organizing, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips. 

Also, you can subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start” . Subscribe Now 

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