Unclutter Your Love

/in , , , , /by

February 3rd and 10th – 7 to 9 pm Cluttered Heart

Reveal how emotional clutter impacts your relationships in this ground breaking two night workshop!

Act Now for Early Registration Discount!
(expires Jan. 25th)

Register now for this exciting event and begin exposing the emotional aspects of clutter and how it impacts your relationships with loved ones. Topics to be covered will include:

  • Messy or neat….who wins?
  • How we may be expressing anger, sadness or disappointment through clutter
  • Exposing the real conflict
  • The strategy of compromise
  • How to set your boundaries without crossing the line
  • The secret to effective communication
  • Bridging the gap with humor
  • The powerful effect of happiness
  • Agreeing on a lifestyle that works for both of you
  • Asking yourself the tough questions

When: February 3rd & 10th – 7 to 9 pm

Where: Basking Ridge, NJ

Price: $199.99 EARLY REGISTRATION ONLY $99.99! (offer ends January 25th!)

Space is Limited: Limited to first 10 registrants

Click Here to Register Now!

Dancing and Organizing – What’s the Connection?

/in , /by

Hmm…an interesting thought popped in my head the other night.  I was at a house party that had a fantastic band.  As they played soulful songs, mainly from Michael McDonald’s collection, I wondered – what makes some people have inner rhythm, while others struggle with their dancing?  And what makes organizing so easy for some people, yet so difficult for others?  I would love to hear your thoughts on this…btw, a lot of this is covered in my new book to come…interesting right?

Reclaiming Your Garage

/in , , , , /by

Organized Garage

The old story of whatever doesn’t fit in the house usually ends up in the garage, is still going very strong. Countless people take their excess “stuff” and use the garage to store it. The problem is, eventually it becomes so cluttered that you no longer can use the garage for its proper use, such as parking your vehicle, perhaps.

Seriously, though, I can vouch for this behavior, as I am guilty of it as well. I think the problem stems from not having enough room for your things or not knowing how to let go of some of them. Yes, that’s right, letting go of some of your things.

You wouldn’t believe what I encountered in my garage. Dare I share? My garage was the holding place for my daughter’s childhood. I found books, stuffed animals, clothes, costumes, knick-knacks and so much more. Without a doubt, I felt overwhelmed; since I knew the day I would have to deal with all this “stuff” had finally arrived.

So what did I do?

First, I needed a form of motivation to propel me into action. I believe without it I would not have been as successful with clearing everything out. For me, it was a couple of things. I was entertaining the idea of purchasing a new vehicle, so I wanted to protect my new asset. I was tired of not being able to park in the garage, knowing that once the colder weather set in, I would be miserable.

I began dealing with all the memorabilia first. After consulting with my daughter and selecting the treasures among all treasures, I was left with the remains that I donated to charities and the library. Although I think I would have been the perfect candidate for a garage sale, I decided against it, but I did hand over a truckload of belongings to someone that was.

Since I have a detached, single car garage, I didn’t have a lot of room to spare and I wanted to keep my expenses under $200. I had to find storage solutions for gardening tool, shovels, extension cords, a bicycle and holiday decorations.

This is what I came up with.

I purchased a piece of plywood to lay as a floor for extra storage for the overhead loft area. A 2-by-4 piece of wood to screw into the side of the garage wall with some hooks to hang my tools, a plastic storage shed with shelving for the back corner to hold my holiday decorations, and a huge mounting claw to hang from a beam for my bicycle.

In addition, I purchased a few clear plastic bins for storing the remaining treasures I decided to keep and placed them safely in the loft area now that there was extra room. Not only did I stay within my budget, I finally was able to park my car in the garage!

Tuesday’s Tips – Organizational Focus Group – January 26th

/in , , , , , /by

 

Tuesday’s Tips
Free Organizational Focus Group
Every Tuesday 6-6:30pm 

Join us every Tuesday from 6-6:30pm for our organizational focus group! Organization is the critical key to success in all aspects of life and business. This focus group will discuss solutions, strategies, and ideas for getting your business, career, home, and life organized. The conference call will be opened up to ask questions and share thoughts and challenges. This will be a reoccuring event you are welcome to attend as they get released. Click REGISTER NOW to join the focus group and receive the call details!
 

You should be on this call if…

  • You want better organization of your time, desk, appointments, and tasks
  • You have disorganized areas in your home that frustrate you to look at
  • You struggle finding things when you need them
  • Your car is a mess
  • You fight with your kids to keep a clean room and clean up after themselves
  • Your clutter is becoming part of your interior design
  • You feel like you can’t get the things you need done in your day and you don’t know where the time has gone

We will discuss… 

  • The psychology and emotional aspects of disorganization
  • Managing and maintaining your organization and making it part of your routine
  • The financial benefits to an organized life
  • How to create more free time in your life
  • How to create efficiencies and become more productive
  • Filing systems that WORK
  • Organizational tips and tricks
  • And MORE!

Register Now!

From Treasure to Stranger: Deciding What to Keep and Eliminate

/in , , , /by

Are the things you hold onto truly treasures or mere things?

Isn’t it interesting how we hold onto our belongings as if we are holding onto life itself?

The idea that something we consider to be so precious to our hearts, can actually be given away, or thrown away for that matter, can feel as if our very last breath has been knocked out of us.

How is it possible then that the things we cling to and find so endearing can actually create pain for us? At what point does our “stuff” no longer feel good to us?

When posed this question, I found that most of my clients had a difficult time distinguishing what’s worth holding onto verses what can be let go.

The operative words here are “letting go.”

In most situations, trying to identify the treasures among all treasures becomes confusing and actually overwhelming. Everything begins to look like one huge treasure chest.

First, I think the most important question to ask yourself is what do you consider your definition of a treasure to be? What constitutes your items being called treasures rather than just stuff?

The next step is to go to the source of the pain. The question now to ask is “where does it hurt?” What things do you have around your home or environment that is creating a sense of disharmony for you?

Thinking along these terms, it’s sometimes easier to identify these hurtful objects by over-personalizing them using the “friend, stranger, acquaintance” game. In “Conquering Chronic Disorganization,” Judith Kolberg writes that “over personalization is the process of exaggerating the feelings that people have for their feelings. The exaggeration of personal feelings acknowledges these feelings and makes it possible for a person to move beyond them.” Using this philosophy, ask yourself, what strangers are looming around your home? And, by the way, what do you consider to be a stranger, anyway? For me, a stranger is someone for whom I have no feelings and in some cases actually can pose harm. So in relation to this, any “things” I have hanging around would be easy for me to dispose of.

Now, getting back to your treasures – how do you see them in comparison to a friend? Are your treasures really friends? For me, friends are there through thick and thin. I want my friends in my life all the time, so they participate in my life. So ask yourself, the things you consider treasures, are you treating them like friends? Do you expose them and are they interacting if your life? If you answered no, maybe the things you consider treasures are really stuff you can reduce to an acquaintance or stranger.

What I love about the friend/stranger/acquaintance game is that you can use this analogy in all aspects of life. I think it can help us really put our “things” into perspective. To the strangers, we can say goodbye; whether this comes in the form of an item, a job, or a relationship that is no longer serving us.

Acquaintances actually can be moved around at times from friend to stranger when appropriate, and we can feel OK about our decision when it’s time to let go.

And our friends, I think we can learn to honor what falls into this category and what warrants this title. If your treasures are truly friends, then bring them out and have fun with them. Your friends deserve your respect to be truly called treasures.

Organized Shopping

/in , , /by

Organized ShoppingHow does a fashion expert keep a professional organizer organized?

In my quest to find some new outfits, I realized it might benefit me to ask for the assistance of a personal shopper. I have suggested to clients with wardrobe challenges that they ask for the guidance and assistance of a fashion consultant. Maybe it was about time I took my own advice.

Not being too familiar with how the process works, I just walked right into a major department store and asked for a personal shopper.

Within minutes, I was introduced to my new best friend, and whisked away to my very own, private dressing room. With plenty of room to swirl and move in my new surroundings, I was comfortable and ready to hear what she had to stay.

First Comes Image

First, my personal shopper needed to understand the image I wanted. She educated me on the importance of dressing according to your body image. That was the first step in the selection process for finding my new attire. From an organizational point of view, I knew she was sorting through my likes and dislikes, trying to find a style that would best suit my needs.

Getting organized is a learned activity, and so is the art of fashion. Personal shoppers must be, and are, organized in their own way. They implement the steps necessary to acquire that certain look you are after. It makes the difference between a good outfit or a dynamite attire.

Search Begins

So with her new-found knowledge of me, my personal shopper began her search to find just the right garments for a perfect match. Upon her arrival, I was amazed at her choices. I was thinking abundance, but she zeroed in on quality over quantity. Colors were also an integral part of her selection process. As with any style, blending is essential to the overall picture you are trying to draw.

Simple Selection

As an organizer, I thought of this as a baby step. Simply meaning, she was not overwhelming me with “stuff.” She was narrowing down her selection, processing the information I have her, and breaking it down for me.

“Excellent,” I thought to myself. I immediately liked her style because I could relate to it. She was not just throwing clothes at me. She was teaching me, showing me, and educating me on the art of dressing.

Final Touches

Once we narrowed down the clothes I was going to keep, the fun really began. It was accessorizing time. Wow! Now, this is where the final touches are critical to making an ordinary outfit look smashing. Like any good organizing tool, they are only as good as you use them. In fashion, your wardrobe gets better with a little extra effort to make it work completely in your favor. From shoes, to scarves, to jewelry, these extra accessories really made the difference with the final look I was trying to accomplish.

So, as an organizer, what did I learn here from this encounter?

I discovered it was a very smart way to shop because it allowed me to take full advantage of good time-management skills. My personal shopper did all the research and work, allowing me the luxury of enjoying the experience on a completely new level. Having her assistance afforded me the opportunity to have fun, with her added insight. I felt less stressed and could ease my mind about making the right or wrong decision.

As I walked away with my new multi-use fashion items, I also left with a new respect for another profession. It helped me understand how organizing does play an integral role in just about every profession, even in the world of fashion.

Personal shopping definitely provided me with what I needed – an organized way to shop, with lots of perks, and the end result of looking like a million bucks on a reasonably priced budget.

Music That Can Reveal Your Story…

/in , /by

Do you think music tells a story of your life?  I think we all relate to music in some form or fashion, and particular songs can reveal many things about a person…and if you listen, really listen, you can hear what someone is trying to say, or better yet, what you may be trying to tell yourself.   

I have found through music, my clients have been able to move forward and work through their challenges that may have been holding them back from obtaining an organized life.  It can be very cathartic to say the least.

To give you some insight into what my story is, I have listed below a sample of my favorites that I would like to share with you.  Would you like to share some of your songs?  I am listening and look forward to your story.

– Patricia

  • Jack Johnson “Better Together”
  • U2 – “Moment of Surrender”
  • Pete Yorn – “Don’t Wanna Cry”
  • Dave Mathews Band – “You and Me”
  • Chris Issak – “King Without a Castle”
  • Charlie Mars – “Meet Me By the Backdoor”
  • Sia – “Breathe Me”
  • Ryan Adams – “Wonderwall”
  • Pearl Jam – “Better Man”
  • Fleet Foxes – “Mykonos”
  • Butch Walker – “The Weight of Her”
  • Counting Crows – “When I Dream Of Michelangelo”
  • Patty Griffin – “One Big Love”
  • 10,000 Maniacs – “Candy Everybody Wants”
  • Gnarls Barkley – “Crazy”
  • The Marshall Tucker Band – “Can’t You See”
  • Duffy – “Stepping Stone”
  • Sugarland – “Keep You”
  • Hayley Westenra – “Never Say Goodbye”
  • Andrea Bocelli – “The Prayer”
  • Paula Cole – “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone”
  • One Eskimo – “Kandi”
  • Diane Birch – “Nothing But A Miracle”

Are You Willing To Let Go?

/in , , , , , , /by
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the uncessary so that the necessary may speak.” – Hans Hofmann
 My Dear Friends…What do you need to eliminate…let go of…purge…in order to hear?

I Am Off To De-Stress…

/in , /by

What about you? 

What are you doing to decompress and rejuvenate yourself?  Sometimes, it may not be that we have too much work – it could simply be, we are just plain tired and we need to recharge ourselves. 

Me, personally, I am going to finally take my own advice and enjoy the benefits of being pampered with my honey. 

Here is a tip:  Plan your get-away for off peak times for extra peace and quiet – don’t be afraid to ask their booking schedules ahead of time, it’s rest you are seeking, not socialization. 

The jury is out, I suppose…I will give you my feedback in an article…in the meantime, do what you can to relax and find peace of mind.

Hot Off The Press…

/in , , , , /by

Park Place Magazine just posted the article they interviewed me for on their website. Here is a copy of the article:

Park Place Magazine Cover

Living Simply

De-clutter your life—and your head.

written by Susan Brierly

Are there days when you can’t find your keys? Do you own a closetful of clothes but never seem to have anything to wear? Do you spend sleepless nights wondering how you will ever plan the kids’ birthday parties, organize the basement, or balance your checkbook (since you haven’t reconciled it in six months)? If you constantly seem to be playing catch-up, you’re not alone.

“The first step is to establish a more organized lifestyle that suits your personality—it’s not about living in a sterile environment. It’s a conscious choice that’s conducive to how you interact with your family, and how you want to be perceived,” says Patricia Diesel, principal owner and president of Keep It Simple Now, a New Jersey-based professional organizing company. Diesel, a Basking Ridge resident, is a certified empowerment coach and national speaker who assists individuals, entrepreneurs, and corporations that need help with chronic disorganization and life balance.

“Functioning in an organized manner actually frees you to enjoy a simpler and more carefree life,” she says. Some of Diesel’s clients just need a little help managing the disparate elements of their lives. Others are chronically disorganized, and need to establish smart habits and structure to keep them on track. Still others are hardcore hoarders who need to take a serious look at their habits to understand the emotions (such as anger and fear) that often drive their behavior.

How do you know when you’ve crossed the line?

Here is Diesel’s reality check list:
✻ Is your personal or business life in jeopardy because of your disorganization?
✻ Are piles and piles of papers or magazines becoming part of your décor?
✻ Do you continually lose items such as car keys and important documents?
✻ Is it difficult to let go of things that you no longer need?
✻ Is procrastination becoming part of your routine?
✻ Is your chronic disorganization causing you or your business to lose time and money?

“Becoming organized is a gradual process. It can be intimidating, so I don’t pressure my clients,” Diesel says. “It’s okay to take baby steps by spending as little as fifteen minutes a day to begin to de-clutter one’s life.”

Diesel’s basic tips for a more organized life include:
✻ Purge first, then sort.
✻ Assign everything a  home.
✻ Organize similar items together.
✻ Dedicate 15-20 minutes each day to creating order.
✻ Break projects into manageable baby steps.
✻ Celebrate your victories to keep motivated.

To view this article on Park Place Magazine’s website, click here.