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Save It With A Smile – A Snapshot of Clutter Control

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Taking a PictureMy daughter, a fashion design student in New York City, called to remind me about her annual runway show this spring. Every year, two schools showcase their work and compete against one another to see who will win the title of “Best Designer.”

As you can well imagine, there is lots of energy and excitement leading up to this event and when the day arrives, every proud family member is there trying to capture the moments with their cell-phone cameras, digital cameras and video equipment.

But with all the fame and glory, comes, yup, you guessed it…clutter! Between the layers of outfits and accessories, piles of sketches and designs, and the ever-glowing memories from program announcements and pictures, you end up with lots of “stuff”.

Now in the life of a design student, their clutter actually becomes a stepping stone for their portfolio. Once they choose their overall design to display as their creation and work of art, they can begin to let go and reduce the excess trimmings, so to speak.

But what about us loved ones who share in their delight? What do we do about the paper trails of stuff that follow us home?

On my drive back that evening, I kept glancing at the program thinking to myself, “where am I going to put this?” How do I keep it safe until I decide what I want to do with it? Should I place it in a drawer or a file? Maybe, I should just put it in with my daughter’s other memories that are in her childhood treasure chest?

But then it occurred to me, that if I take a photograph of the brochure, inside and out, that this image will be just as valuable to me and her as the actual program, and I won’t have to worry about finding a place in my home for it to live.

Therefore, I started thinking about other ways clutter could be reduced. Consider this: How many times have you gone shopping and tried on outfits that you were not sure of, but still purchased them, only to return them.

Well, what if you took out your camera and took a picture of yourself instead. This way you have time to think about it, ask your friends and family their opinion and the best part is, you don’t have to spend any money while you are trying to figure it out. When you finally make your decision, just delete the image. It’s that simple.

So now, I carry a small digital camera in my purse where I go. If I forget it, I use my camera on my cell phone. It is my new resource for clutter control and I’m loving it!

Livin’ Can Be Easy – 10 Simple Steps to Live Simply

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Simple, Modern InteriorLike most of us these days, it seems to be more and more difficult to take time out to smell the roses along the way. The days are so full, it’s hard enough to manage the things we have to do, let alone find time for ourselves.

Here are a few tips that may help simplify things a bit for you:

1. Cease the clutter

Having too much stuff requires energy and time to maintain and can be a huge drain on your energy level. Consider letting go of the items either by donating, discarding or selling.

2. Say goodbye to catalogs

Do you really need all those catalogs coming in? Tear off your mailing label, attach to an index card and write, “please remove me from your list” and mail to catalog holders.

3. Eliminate junk mail

Request to be “removed” from any list by writing your name and address and sending to: Mail Preference Service, DMA, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

4. Stop credit card offers

Call Trans Union at (888) 567-8688. Opt out for two years, or permanently. Since they share information with Experian and Equifax, you do not have to duplicate your request.

5. Automatic billing

Notify your individual creditors or go directly to your banking institution to set up automatic withdrawals monthly.

6. Consolidate debt

Devise a plan to attach that debt! Consolidate all your credit cards to make one payment. Come up with a budget. Talk to a financial advisor. Take the steps necessary to face your debt head on – it’s a huge stress factor and emotional drain, but once addressed, you will start to feel better.

7. Prioritize projects

Make a list of what needs to be done first and the time frames for completion. Conquer the little ones first so you can begin to reap the rewards of satisfaction to keep you motivated. Remember, baby steps first!

8. Reduce information overload

What magazine and newspaper subscription can you cut back on? Give your brain a break. Consider cutting down and focusing on just what you need to find out – this pertains to Web surfing, as well.

9. Be spontaneous

Being spontaneous once in a while can be a good thing. Releasing a little control can energize you and raise your spirits. It’s a great way to break the everyday routine and add a little fun into your life again.

10. Find peace

Having a place to go to for your down time is important. Find a spot that you feel at peace and can relate to as your own private sanctuary., Mediate, have a cup of tea or simply do nothing. Just relax.

Reclaiming Your Garage

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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!

A New Year – A New You!

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New Ways To Make Organization Work For You
Staying organized can be difficult for many.  After cleaning out our spaces and making clean sweeps, the clutter seems to creep back into our homes and offices.

At the end of the day, we may feel overwhelmed because we realize we have not caught up with all the things that sill need to completed, much less begin the projects we have planned to accomplish. It’s also not uncommon that we sometimes may compare ourselves to others, who we may think are “more organized,” which leads us to feel even more discouraged.

Good News
There is good news.  Getting organized is a learned activity.  We can get organized and stay that way with the proper guidance and support.  The key component here is to understand that we are all individuals with different needs, so our approach to getting organized may be different as well.

Finding What Works
It’s about finding what works for you.  Begin with thinking about what you need to organize so you can come up with a system that works for you, not a system that is pre-designed for someone else.

What Needs Organizing?
  • Paperwork
  • Bills and personal finances
  • Mail and junk mail
  • Newspapers, catalogs and magazines
  • Children’s schoolwork
  • Medical bills
  • Appointments, telephone calls
Household
  • Closets and pantries
  • Home Office
  • Kitchen
  • Living area or bedrooms
  • Garage, attic , basement
Organizing Tools
Now that you have established what needs to be organized, choose a task and figure out what organizing tools you will need to help you.
  • Colored file folders
  • Colored pens and markers
  • File rack or cabinet
  • Paper shredder
  • Calendar, cork board, dry erase board
  • Clear storage bins, containers or baskets
  • Label maker
  • Appointment book 

The 3 Golden Rules
The key to successful follow through in your organizing is to commit to the following rules, one at a time.

1. Everything Needs A Home

Temporary Home – A holding place for your things before an action occurs
Action Home – A safe place for your work, so if you get interrupted you can find it again
A Permanent Home – A place for your things after the action is complete

2. Keep Like With Like
When sorting out your things, put like items together, i.e., bills stay with bills, magazines with magazines, etc.
 
3. Dedicate 15-20 Minutes To A Task
Choose something that you can do each and every day and stick to it.  For example, maybe one day it is returning phone calls, another day you can sort the laundry, and so forth. 

Organizing Rewards
According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, (NAPO) some of the benefits to an organized life are less stress, increased productivity and managing your time better.  
 
Celebrate Your Victories
In order to get to that final reward, some motivation is needed during the process.  While undertaking your organizational tasks, build in some extra incentives for yourself.  Treat yourself to something special such as a favorite meal or a movie with a friend after completing a step or two. Most of all, pat yourself on the back for all your efforts, you deserve it!