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As a Professional Organizer, I hear comments from clients that suggest they will not succeed at getting organized. When I hear these words and phrases I try to coach my clients through the feelings that are represented in their words and help them to overcome their internal conflicts.
I asked my colleagues from Professional Organizers in Canada to share words that set off alarm bells in their brains, make them take a step back and have a discussion with their clients to help them become successful.
Janet Barclay, Organized Assistant from Hamilton, ON phrase is:
Someone else will deal with it. – Success in an organizing project occurs when the person is willing to take ownership of the task and decisions that need to be made.
April Miller, April Miller Professional Organizing, from St John, NL word is:
Purge – This word has negative connotations related to eating disorders so sometimes this word is replaced with edit, let go, reduce and part with. How a person thinks and feels about their stuff affects their ability to make good decisions.
Natasha Solvason, Home Free Organizing Solutions, Saskatoon, SK phrase is:
For now, “I’ll put this here for now” – In an organizing task, many decisions need to be made and putting off decisions delays getting the job completed. The more decisions a person makes the better they get at making decisions.
Michelle Wright, Wide Open Spaces Farm Cleanups, Smokey Lake, AB phrase is:
“It doesn’t bother me but my (kids, spouse, mother) thinks I should get organized” – It needs to be the goal of the person to get organized, not someone else’s, because the person will not be motivated to get the job done. Helping people to set SMART goals helps them to be successful.
Set goals that you can attain
Karen McIntosh Murdock, Your Organized Friend, Saint Albert, AB word is:
“But,” – Anytime a reply starts with this word you know that a problem is going to be suggested for the solution that is recommended. This sometimes highlights that the person is not interested in getting organized and is preventing themselves from being successful by discounting ideas.
Ida Tetlock, Smart Organizing , Orangeville, ON word is :
“Ready” – Many conversations I have with people result in comments such as…. “Oh, I really need to get your help when I’m READY to organize” or “I could really use your help, but I’m just not READY to tackle this yet”. It can be an excuse to delay starting instead of dealing with an underlying fear.
Carolyn Caldwell, Caldwell Evolutions Inc., Toronto, ON word is:
“Should” -Translate: someone sitting on my shoulder whispering in my ear that what I’m not doing they think I ought to be doing. Replace with “Could”: the language of potential
Erika Bookbinder, In the clear Organizing, Toronto, ON word is:
“Just” – as in “I’ll just leave it here for now”. Whenever the word “just” is inserted into a sentence, it usually means that the person is doing something they shouldn’t (I tell this to my kids all the time!)
Shawn Ferguson, Everything Organized, Kamloops BC words are:
Can’t, overwhelming – These words identify a situation where a client is lacking self-confidence in their skills or knowledge about getting organized. Fortunately with some reassurance clients can begin to gain knowledge and success.
Alison Lush, Alison Lush Certified Professional Organizer, Montreal QC word is:
Should – When clients think they should be doing something, they may not want to do it, they may not want to do it that way, or they may lack the motivation to do it.
Melody Oshiro, Organize to Optimize Nanaimo, BC phrase is:
“I don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings” – Fear is a big deterrent in getting organized. People can be worried that their decisions may cause problems. Gaining confidence in decision making makes a person successful at organizing.
In the comment section tell me what words or phrases you have heard people use that stop them from getting organized.
Join my Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
La Rocca Canada Day cake purchased at Sobeys
Having a party and looking for some great trivia?
- 77% of the world’s maple syrup is produced in Quebec,
- in Saskatchewan a hoodie is called a bunnyhug,
- Canada is the best G20 country in the world to be a woman and
- the correct number of points on a Canadian Maple leaf is 11.
Here’s a link for more trivia
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/13/insane-facts-canada-infographic_n_3748965.html
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Reading time – 2 minutes
In my travels, I have seen some great organizing ideas and products. Most of them can be created using items you already own. Save money, have fun and create a solution to an organizing problem.
Re-purpose an item and use it in a new way
On my trip to Vancouver, I learned about this idea. Here is a silver chest.
Re-purpose an old silver chest and make it into a make-up organizer
It now holds makeup. My daughter-in-law invented this creative solution.
The brushes nicely fit where the cutlery used to be stored.
Stack 2 tables to create a great look
I travelled to Iceland with my 92 year old Father. A coffee shop had these versatile coffee tables.
Stacking coffee tables
They can be easily separated to give more tables, slide over top of each other to leave more floor space and provide 2 different height tables at the same seating space. Imagine how you could create this look at your home with 2 tables.
Use stacking bins for laundry
When I was in Yellowknife I saw these great stacking laundry bins
Any stacking bins could be used for your laundry
They use vertical space so take up less floor space and can easily be separated to take to the laundry room. The thing I liked is that you can put items into the bottom bin without removing the top bin. If you have some bins around the house try using them for your laundry. You may need to set one across the other in an X pattern to be able to stack them.
1 in 4 garbage can
While staying in a hotel in Ontario I noticed this great recycling idea.
Each section of the garbage can holds a different type of trash
It made recycling very easy. It was all in one place, the corners were labelled so you knew where to put your cans, paper, garbage and glass. You can easily make dividers for the garbage cans for bedrooms. It would make collecting the garbage easy, only one container, and it would be sorted and ready to add to the larger containers going out to the curb.
Shoe Organizers are Versatile
When I was in Bermuda I saw one in a bookstore used to organize maps. The pockets are large and the organizer can be hung over a door, mounted on a hanger and put in a closet or fastened to a wall.
Shoe organizers can be used to organizer lots of things, hats, mitts, first aid supplies,cleaning supplies and maps
Re-purpose a piece of furniture
Using furniture in a new way can be fun. Use old furniture as storage and save money not buying bins. Back at home, this used to be a buffet.
Use old furniture to store items.
It holds our CD collection perfectly. I knew I would not have room to use it in the eating area but it keeps the entertainment equipment CDs and gaming equipment neat and organized.
I went to the Canadian National Home Show, check out this blog post for more creative organizing ideas. What’s new at the home show?
Share your creative organizing solutions in the comments below.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
The computer swallowed Grandpa,
Yes, honestly it’s true!
· He pressed ‘control and ‘enter’
· And disappeared from view.
·
· It devoured him completely,
· The thought just makes me squirm.
· He must have caught a virus
· Or been eaten by a worm.
·
· I’ve searched through the recycle bin
· And files of every kind;
· I’ve even used the Internet,
· But nothing did I find.
·
· In desperation, I asked Mr. Google
· My searches to refine.
· The reply from him was negative,
· Not a thing was found ‘online.’
·
· So, if inside your ‘Inbox,’
·· My Grandpa you should see,
· Please ‘Copy, Scan’ and ‘Paste’ him,
· And send him back to me.
··· This is a tribute to all the Grandmas & Grandpas, Nannas & Pops, who have been fearless and learned to use the Computer………
· They are the greatest!!!
·
We do not stop playing because we grow old;
We grow old because we stop playing …
NEVER Be The First To Get Old!
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
At -A glace contacted me with this infographic. It clearly outlines a few things to do to use your time wisely to help you reach your goals.
Thanks to Jesus a Content Marketing Manager for At-A-Glance , a company that helps individuals and businesses with planning, organizing and learning this information.
I also find productivity increases when the number of distractions decreases. No emails, no social media, no texting, no phone calls, simply no multitasking. Set aside a specific amount of time and work only on one project until it is done or the time is up. It is amazing how much you can get done when your focus is on one task at a time.
Share what you do to make yourself more productive.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situation. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Clutter is different for everyone but most people have some clutter in their lives. There are many reason why it can be hard to let go of things. Let’s look at 4 scenarios.
Scenario 1: Fear
Perhaps it is fear that causes you to hold onto things
- What if I need it someday – fear of scarcity
- I’ll keep it just in case – fear of uncertainly and doubt
- I can’t give that away it was a gift – fear of rejection
- I can’t decide so I’ll keep it and what if it is worth something someday – fear of making mistakes
In an article by Hellen Buttigieg, she talks about Steps to eliminate your fears and conquer the clutter
- As you sort through your items notice the thoughts that come up and begin to acknowledge them, say okay now you’ve got my attention.
- Notice where you feel the fear in your body, stomach, chest headache?
- Analyze the fear and try to understand where it’s coming from then thank it and move on
- Replace fear with trust
- What if I need it someday replace it with all my needs are abundantly supplied
- I’ll keep it just in case – replace it with what are the odds I’ll ever need to replace it?
- I can’t give that away it was a gift – replace it with my real friends always love and support me
- I can’t decide so I’ll just keep it – replace it with I’ll make a decision and trust that everything will be okay
- What if it’s worth something someday – replace it with it will never be more valuable than joy, health, friendships etc
Scenario 2: Sentimentality
I have clients who if they touch an object they will automatically keep it, so I hold up the object and don’t let them touch it when they are deciding to keep it or give it away. Other clients need to touch an item before they can donate it, it is like saying goodbye to it.
The sentimentality we feel towards an object can be associated with:
- Someone you loved gave it to you or
- Someone you once loved used or
- The object is associated with a time when you were happy. ( memorabilia)
Being able to separate an object from a person or event can be difficult. Learning that you can still have the memory and the corresponding feeling without having the object will help you to be able to let go of items.
Scenario 3: Control / Personality
Clients will hire me and want me to do their plans. As I work with them and make a few suggestions about alternative ways to organize things generally they say no and then at our next appointment they usually say I thought about your idea, let’s try it.
Control
- People want to have control over their decisions and environment. Avoiding power struggles over decisions about what stays and what goes makes decluttering easier.
Scenario 4: The cost of getting rid of stuff
I have clients who want to make lots of money selling their stuff. Sometimes it is possible and sometimes it isn’t. They will hold onto stuff for garage sales, to put on Kijiji or EBay. Sometimes they hold onto it for so long that it has lost its value. They think, “I paid good money for it.”
PSSST: The money is already spent…..
Just because it was costly to purchase does not mean that it’s valuable today! Items change in value. What’s important is whether you are using what you have now or, if what you have is distracting you from the lifestyle you want. If you are not loving, using and enjoying your things, reconsider their ‘value’.
The important thing is to discover what reasons make it hard for you to let go of things and change those mindsets.
There are 3 things that are true
- We all have too much stuff
- It is hard to let go of our own stuff
- One day we will part with our stuff.
Join my Facebook Group Organizing Mind and Space
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Update 2022
It would be wonderful if there was a way to recycle VHS tapes. I have not been able to connect with Project Get Reel. I don’t think they are in business. If you need information about recycling and donating items ask your questions in the comments or contact me. at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
I first published this blog in May 2015. I have been notified that Project Get Reel has received their e-waste license and is up and running.
VHS tapes are 80% recyclable but most end up in landfills. It is a labour intensive job to dismantle the tapes into their component parts. “Project Get Reel is giving people an environmentally safe way to dispose of tapes while providing employment to people who may face barriers to securing a job.” They launched this business on April 9,2015. View the video on this site to learn more about recycling VHS tapes. Watch for more news about this business trying to help the environment and provide sustainable employment for residents in Ontario Canada
Photo by Rob Pearce
Let me know some of the great places you take your donations and recycling to.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
A reader sent me this link to a great article on cleaning, Alyson Voss a Freelance Writer – Lifestyle. I hope you enjoy these tips on how to keep your house clean.
In the day-to-day hustle and bustle, keeping the house clean can seem about as likely as winning the lottery—but it doesn’t have to consume hours of your daily time. Aside from the occasional in-depth cleaning sessions, you can stay on top of daily dirt and grime in just 30 minutes a day (or less!). With just a little organization and pre-planning, you’ll breeze through basic cleaning tasks in no time.
Follow this checklist to get your home in tip-top shape in just 30 minutes.
Set the stage
- Conquer clutter: Keep random objects out of your way by assigning each family member a “collection station” (use a large laundry basket or unused trash can) for corralling things that don’t have a home. Everyone is responsible for emptying their stations once they’re full.
- Gather your weapons: Use a cleaning caddy to bring your main supplies from room to room as you clean. Stock it with Lysol Disinfectant Spray, disinfecting wipes, cleaning cloths, and any other necessities. If your home has multiple levels, create one full caddy for each.
- Map out your route: Systematic patterns can shave serious time off your cleaning. One recommended method is to start each room at the top, to the left of the doorway, and move clockwise and down. Use a logical room-to-room path with no backtracking to save even more time.
Start your engines
- Focus, grasshopper: When you’re ready to start speed-cleaning, focus on the task at hand by putting down the phone and turning off the television. If you can’t stand the silence or need motivation, tune into your favourite radio station or kick up your most energetic iPod playlist.
- Skip the little things: Give yourself permission to ignore tedious, time-consuming tasks that don’t need to be performed daily. Extend tasks like dusting off knick-knacks, scouring spice racks, rearranging shelves, and wiping down window treatments to once a month.
- Wipe away germs: Instead of breaking out the spray and scrubber for every surface, use Lysol disinfecting wipes to quickly clean frequently touched or trafficked surfaces that are already relatively clean. You’ll save time, and you can give these areas a proper weekly cleaning with Lysol Disinfectant Spray to maintain pristine conditions.
- Banish the broom: If you vacuum carpets but sweep hard flooring, save time and energy by leaving the broom in the closet and vacuuming everything. It’s just as effective and eliminates one bulky tool. Invest in a 50-foot extension cord, and you can vacuum room to room without unplugging and re-plugging.
- Finish with a refreshing scent: As a final touch for each room, use an air freshener. Your home will look and smell amazing.
The more often you follow your speed-cleaning checklist, the easier and faster it will be. You’ll save hours of time, and the dirt, germs, and odours won’t have a fighting chance.
Need help getting your home organized so it is easier to clean? Contact Mind over Clutter to help simplify things to make cleaning easier.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
In May many families are raising money to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. This video shows one family’s motivation and determination.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help.
Please share your stories in the comments below.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Near the end of May is National Multiple Sclerosis Day. I have met a wonderful lady who has this disease and conquers it every day. She has written a book about her life. It is an amazing story by Eva Marsh called Black Patent Shoes Dancing with MS. Go to her website and order it. It will make you laugh and cry and rejoice with her. You will learn a lot about this disease in a fun, entertaining way. If you need a speaker for your group she is the lady for you, always upbeat, insightful and fun.
If you need help organizing because your health may make some tasks difficult, call me and let me be of service to you.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, in person and virtually. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
