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Reading time – 3 minutes
Organizing your home office can lead you in many directions. Perhaps:
- your inbox is inundated,
- your files are filled or
- your time management is missing.
You need to start somewhere so let’s start with the S.P.A.C.E. that houses your office.
Look around your office and start:
1. Sorting the items that are visible into groups of papers, books, office supplies, client files, products, advertising materials etc.
Start with the visible clutter first.
2. Pair down each pile with the items that are current and recycle or shred the rest.
3. Assign a convenient place to store your resources. If you use them often keep them near your desk, if they are used infrequently store them further away but still in your office. If they are never referred to but are needed for tax or legal purposes they can be stored in another room.
4. Take each of those piles and select the best Container for keeping the items organized, binders, magazine holders, bins, boxes etc.
Organize with binders
Organize with bins
Organizing for the person who likes to see everything, the visual person
5. Evaluate your new S.P.A.C.E. to make sure it will help you be more efficient, productive and profitable this year.
Share one of your office organizing tips in the comment box.
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 guides and supports you to manage your time, and 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
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
My guest blogger today is Sophia Perry from Arizona Moving Professionals.
Sometimes, it can be challenging to get ready for a move. Frequently, you don’t realize how much packing and cleaning you need to do until you’re in the heat of it. However, one of the best ways to prepare is by clearing the clutter in your house before relocating. That way, you may save time, effort, and money while making packing easier. Additionally, your moving company will appreciate your efforts. Therefore, read on to discover the importance of decluttering before the move and how it can help make your relocation a breeze.
Decluttering before the move can help you sell the house faster
Homes that look neat sell more quickly. Ask any real estate agent, home stager, or professional organizer. Without all the clutter in your home, you may portray a neat, polished image of your house. That appeals to purchasers much better than a crowded home. Additionally, adding simple finishing touches like fresh paint or decorations will be much simpler.
Save time and energy during the move
If you’ve ever left a house after many years or seen someone else do it, you know it can be frightening. The amount of things we may gather just by going about our regular lives is quite astounding. When the time comes, the packing will be simpler if you go through every room in your home and get rid of everything that is no longer useful to you. Not to mention that if you hire packing services in Toronto, experts can give you a hand with much more ease. Furthermore, when time is of the essence, you’ll save a lot since you won’t have to decide what remains or leaves on the spot.
Making an inventory will be easier
Decluttering before the move might help you find treasures you have missed over the years. Additionally, once you’ve settled into your new house, you’ll know what to buy—and what not to buy—to ensure you have all you need to live a fulfilling life. Moreover, you could discover that you can sell or give away items before relocating when you do an inventory of everything you own. You may even make some money by selling your spare items, which you could use to decorate the new place or pay for the relocation. Alternatively, you might brighten someone else’s life by giving away things that are still in excellent shape but are essentially worthless to you.
You can make more space
You have some furniture or stuff you seldom use but find it difficult to part with. We are sure of it! Unfortunately, they occupy space that you could be using far more effectively. So, make a fresh start in your new home and eliminate the clutter that has stuffed your old home. For instance, recycle outdated appliances that only function half the time or clothing you keep wishing you’d wear someday. If you’re relocating to a smaller flat, decluttering is exceptionally important. It will keep your new space from becoming overly crowded. You may have additional wardrobe space or a vacant room with a little effort.
Decluttering reduces stress and improves your well-being
Although it might seem odd, decluttering can enhance your health and happiness. Homes that are stuffy and messy make many people feel more stressed. Additionally, clutter frequently makes finding the items you need more challenging, distracting you from your work and causing frustration. Furthermore, despite your best efforts, it might be challenging to maintain a tidy home with so many things around. Not to mention that those piles of belongings increase the likelihood of mold, vermin, and dust developing, exacerbating allergies and asthma.
On the other hand, you will have more than only a healthier atmosphere if you organize your living area. After getting rid of all the extra items, you’ll feel more at ease, content, and in control.
Spot issues with ease
As mentioned before, having lots of items increases the likelihood of safety issues. Therefore, when you declutter, these issues may come to light. For instance, you may find anything from mouldy lotion containers and half-opened bottles to expired food cans and rusty paint tins. As a result, thoroughly decluttering and cleaning to find any hidden issues will make your house more appealing to potential buyers. You don’t want a potential buyer to see the old rag you left under the bathroom sink.
Make space for new ideas
It might be challenging to let go of something you’ve had for a long time. However, it will be freeing when you eventually dare to let go. Furthermore, you will have more room and energy to welcome fresh ideas into your life if your home and thoughts are free of useless objects. For instance, your half-empty closet may motivate you to experiment with more fashionable clothes. Or having less furniture in the living room might result in a completely different decor style than you were used to.
Unpacking will be easier
Decluttering before the move shows its benefits even after the relocation. For instance, you’ll quickly finish unpacking because you won’t have as many items to arrange in your new house. In addition, you won’t have to spend weeks attempting to unpack if you bring nicely set boxes loaded with things you’ve previously sorted. All you have to do is start organizing by putting the appropriate boxes in each room.
Final words
Our homes fill up with things we don’t need, want, or use over time. Therefore, it might be challenging to know where to begin when it comes to dealing with the clutter once it is time to relocate. However, remember that decluttering eases the stress of packing, increases mental focus, and conserves essential resources like time, money, and energy. As a result, never neglect the importance of decluttering before the move. And trust us! You will thank yourself when you get rid of all the clutter crowding your home and thoughts. Also, if you need a hand in organizing your move, don’t hesitate to contact a professional.
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 situations. She guides and supports you to manage your time and 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
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Reading time – 1 minute
Three Steps to Organizing
- Consolidate items into groups
- Containerize groups in sturdy, proper sized containers that are labeled
- Condense items so you have the appropriate amount of items in each group
Remember to donate items to charity and not to put them in the garbage.
Follow Two Routines
- Do four things in the morning
- Do four things in the evening
Five Habits to Keep Clutter on the Run
- If you get it out, put it away
- Apply the 30 second rule – if it takes 30 seconds or less to do something, do it immediately
- Follow the camping rule – leave the room the way you found it or better
- Look, really look at your surroundings to see what is out of place
- Use “little minute” to clean – those few minutes while you are waiting for someone, on hold on the phone, watching a pot boil
Let me know your tricks to help you stay organized.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually. 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 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
This article was first published by JR Moving Services
Just because something brought you joy in the past doesn’t mean you should carry it forever. The possessions you keep should represent the person you are trying to become, not the person you were. Keep this in mind when you start your decluttering journey. As you start to let go of things it will become easier and easier. Here are steps to help you on your path to finding your treasures.
Planning the space
Decide what the goal is for the room. Is it to have a:
- Beautiful compact space
- Functional workshop
- Sense of freedom and control
- the Joy of financially exchanging stuff for new experiences and pleasures.
- Clear out a parent’s home
- Make things easier for the next generation
- Streamline your lifestyle
Make a floor plan
Decide what you want the room to look like and be used for. Draw a floor plan and make a list of activities that happen in that space. It will help you to know what to keep.
Decision criteria
Set up some questions to help you with your decision making. Here are some examples:
- How many of these do I have? How many is enough?
- Does the item fit in with my values?
- Is this item current?
- Is this item really valuable?
- Will owning this help to resolve my clutter?
- What is the worst thing that can happen if I don’t have it?
- If I need it, can I borrow it from somewhere?
- Does it bring me joy?
- Do you need it?
How much is enough?
Look around the room and decide what percentage of stuff you need to give away so everything will fit into the room. 25% 50% 75%?
If you don’t schedule it, it won’t get done.
Schedule the time and do it when you are not rushed. Do one area, room, box or even corner of a room depending on how much stuff you have to go through and your deadline.
Prepare the room for working.
You will need a series of boxes, bins, bags or containers for garbage, recycling, donations, items to go to other rooms, and items to return to people.
5 Methods for decluttering the room
I’m going to go through a number of ways to sort through your items and you can decide what method works best for you. At first, decluttering is easy because you find items that you know you don’t want and just haven’t given them away yet. Then it becomes more challenging. You must chip away at identifying which items are true treasures versus those you feel guilty about giving away. Remember to reduce by the percentage you choose in your planning.
1. Have a box
The simplest way to start is to keep a box in your closet and whenever you find something you don’t need put it into the box and you can start decluttering right away.
2. Skimming
- Go to a closet/cupboard and select the best items in each category.
- Most cupboards/closets will have more than one category.
- For example, in a kitchen, the cupboard might have baking dishes, casserole dishes, muffin tins, and loaf pans. Pick the best 1 or 2 of each of these 4 categories and donate the rest.
- Continue to open each cupboard and drawer skimming the contents and selecting 1 or 2 items from each category.
3. Sort then declutter
- Go clockwise around the room sorting items into groups by function
- Do the surfaces first and then the drawers and cupboards next
- When you are done, the garbage and recycling will be collected and removed from the room
- All the items in the room will be in groups
- Each room will have different categories/groups of items. Here are some examples, books, electronics, tools, dishes, home decor, games, clothing, photos etc
Look at one category/group and apply the questions and percentage you determined in the planning stage. Start removing items you don’t need and donate them.
If that method doesn’t work for you and you are keeping everything, try a different method.
4. Grouping
Keep the Best of the Best. Instead of thinking about giving things away, it might be easier to think about keeping the best.
- After you have sorted the room make sure you are keeping the best one. You need to see all of the items in one group together and keep only as many as you need or the percentage you set in the planning stage, keep the best ones.
5. Triage
- Gather all your items from one category
- Pick up the first three and remove the one you like the least.
- Pick up 3 more and remove one again
- After you have gone through the category/group you will have decluttered by 1/3
If you are sentimental
- Try taking a picture of the items so you have the memory and let go of the item.
- Find a good home for the things you are letting go of, they are still useful just not to you anymore.
- “Shrink it”, only keep one item from a collection instead of the entire collection, you will still have the memory
- Ask yourself, what would be best, having a number of boxes with large quantities of unsorted keepsakes or a carefully assembled box of very precious treasures?
Mindset
Decluttering is about having a mindset of letting go and having less. Once you experience the joy of being unburdened from cleaning, organizing, buying, and repairing stuff you don’t need, want, use or like you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner. Enjoy the journey.
Moving Companies rely on businesses like Mind Over Clutter. If you are in the rightsizing process check out our partners at Mind over Clutter. They service St. Catharines and The Niagara Region and can give you some great insight and help you through this process!
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually over Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She guides and supports you to manage your time, and 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
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Reading time – 3 minutes
I have never been a person to make a bucket list. Mostly because I feel I don’t have anything to put in it, the bucket.
Enjoy a walk and view Niagara Falls, dress warmly
However, during December I sometimes get depressed. It is mostly because of the lack of light. It is also because there are a lot of expectations leading up to December 25th and then it is all over. Sometimes it went well and some years it didn’t go very smoothly. This can lead to dreading the holiday season and having your spirits drop. So over the years, I have been incorporating many fun events through the month of December so there is less emphasis on one day. So this year I am making a bucket list.Incorporate many fun events through the month of December so there is less emphasis on one day. Share on X
- go to a holiday concert
- go to a candlelight walk sponsored by a town
- go to a mall and don’t shop just enjoy people watching and the decorations
- go on a tour of outdoor skating rinks
- go tobogganing /snowshoeing /cross country skiing
- have the neighbours over for an open house evening
- go to a dinner theatre
- walk around your neighbourhood and enjoy the holiday lights every night
- play holiday music
- participate in a gift-giving program, help the less fortunate
- watch the world junior hockey tournament on television
- buy a poinsettia from a fundraising group
- grow an Amaryllis plant
- buy an advent/new year calendar for yourself – this year I saw a Tea advent calendar
- light some candles each evening
- visit Niagara Falls in the winter – cold but amazing
- visit the CP holiday train US or CP holiday train Canada
Let me know what would be on your bucket list.
Plant a bulb and watch it grow
What would you put on your bucket list?
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 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 celebration season is here. Thanksgiving, Yom Kippur, Advent, Hanukkah, Diwali, New Year, birthdays and so many more. We are very lucky to have so many times to celebrate with family and friends. It can be fun and a stressful time for some people. Coordinating schedules, planning menus and preparing the house can make it a busy time. Here are some tips to make the day full of thanks and you less stressed.
1. Decorating
Some people love decorating and others don’t. So this advice is for those who don’t like decorating. Decorate with large items. They make a big impression with less work. If you use big items there is less to put out, put away and store. Use items that “self-destruct” and are thrown away after their time is over.
Large items to decorate with are:
- Tablecloths – when the table is covered the entire room looks decorated. You can use a washable one or a paper one that you throw out.
- Flowers – Cut flowers add a lovely look to the room and can be disposed of later
- Use a large bowl- fill it with celebration appropriate items, like leaves, pinecones, pine branches, candy, fruit, and vegetables.
2. Let people help
Most times when you extend an invitation people will say what can I bring? Instead of saying nothing look at your list of things that need to be bought and give them something. Ask them to bring some of the food. If you have someone who doesn’t like to cook ask them to arrive early and help greet people at the door. Here are some things that might be on your list for them to bring or help with:
- drinks
- appetizer
- flowers for decorations
- dessert
- festive napkins
- music or playlist
- photos of past events
- take coats
- keep people out of the kitchen? lol
3. Plan a menu
Plan your menu well in advance of entertaining. This allows you to go shopping before the crush of the crowds. You can do some preparations in advance and freeze some of the dishes. You may cook squash, dessert or appetizers ahead of time. Make a change in the way you do things, have a potluck. Ask people to bring their favourite dish. If you are worried that you might have only desserts and no main course then assign a dish to each person. You might decide to have it catered in your home. You don’t have to do all the cooking. It might be time to move away from a full course sit-down meal and have snacks, finger foods and appetizers only. Consider the many options you have and pick one that makes things less stressful for you.
To make your next celebration even easier record:
- the amount of food you cooked or ordered
- the cooking time for each dish
- reuse the menu, grocery list, and cooking schedule next time
- a list of things that went well
- a list of things you would do differently.
4. Plan a walk outside
Visiting with family and friends doesn’t have to be only sitting around. Make time for a walk outside. Between the main course and dessert have your guests go for a walk and enjoy the fresh air and build an appetite for dessert. While your guests are out, you will have time to clear the leftovers and put them in the refrigerator. Many times guests have driven a distance to see you and a little exercise will be welcome before the ride home especially if children are visiting. If you’re like my family a lot of exercise is enjoyed. We would have a ball hockey game between courses. If people prefer to stay inside try playing charades, pool or table tennis. There are always dishes to be washed for those who want to help.
Getting up and moving around:
- helps people to mingle with more people
- helps them to stretch and relax
- leads to new types of discussions
- puts a smile on most people’s faces
- plan a game
- do a puzzle
- have a concert / song fest
5. Enjoy
Take time during the event to slow your pace. Enjoy the people, conversations, activities, and laughter. It is a celebration so remember to celebrate what you are thankful for any time of the year.
What are your tips for making celebration planning easy?
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually through 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
You may have heard of little free libraries. They are cupboards mounted around neighbourhoods where you can donate a book and take a book, for free. This Thanksgiving my niece introduced me to the Little Free Pantry in her neighbourhood.
Community Fridges have been around for several years, beginning in Germany and Sweden in 2012 and now several exist in many countries and across Canada including one in Hamilton and eight in Toronto.
Giving opportunity
My niece asked everyone in the family to bring canned or boxed goods or baby food and diapers to our Thanksgiving meal. She collected them and is putting them in The Little Free Pantry as items are taken to help restock the cupboard. I was honoured to be asked to contribute to this project. The pantry is there for anyone to take some food or donate food to help everyone have better food security. “Take what you need, leave what you can”, is their tagline. Why are they doing this, to “build a better community by fighting hunger today.”
519 community collective
This project sprung up out of Covid. The founder is Julie Sawatzky.
They are one of many groups working together to fill gaps for seniors, single parents and families who are living in shelters or transitional living by providing emergency aid and essentials to create a better and more stable tomorrow.
The 519 Community Collective has 12 programs including a community fridge nourishing kitchen, 2 urban gardens, 23 little free food pantries installed across the region, an assortment of emergency food programs, and more.
Lincoln County Community Fridge
Down the road from where I live is another food pantry project. On July 5, 2021, the Lincoln County Humane Society launched the Lincoln County Community Fridge at its animal shelter in St. Catharines, Ontario.
What is a Community Fridge?
This is how they describe their program. “Our fridge, like others, is a place where anyone who needs food can come to our Community Fridge and take what they need. We have a large, double glass doored fridge in a new room we built, out of a former cat gazebo. The insulated room is also equipped with 2 pantries to hold dry goods and some limited amounts of toiletries and hygiene products.
As I walk around my community I love seeing the many ways people are sharing to make their community better for everyone.
Tell me about sharing projects in your community.
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
Reading time – 2 minutes
Thank you for the question
“How do you recommend managing mechanical “mesmerizing” tasks like data entry that can literally put me to sleep?”
Distractions will always be around to keep you from focusing on a task. It may be boredom, people, technology, the list is endless. When you are able to actively focus on a task you get it done quickly with fewer mistakes. In the case of “mechanical mesmerizing tasks”, this means you don’t have to do it for as long. I think we all have tasks that we find difficult to concentrate on and begin to daydream.
Here are 8 suggestions
Let me know if any resonate with you.
- Use music with or without words, this may make the setting you are working in more enjoyable and help you to feel like working
- Do this task at a time of day when you are most productive and can focus well
- Break the task into smaller tasks (batches of data entry, invoicing etc) do a little each day instead of a lot all at once
- Add white noise to your working space so you are not distracted by other sounds that can draw your attention away from what you are doing
- Set a timer – agree to work until the timer goes off and then change tasks or take a break. Do this until the task is completed. Getting up and moving can really help to let you be able to go back to the task and concentrate again.
- Give yourself a reward, when it is done I can …….
- Change the place where you do the task, perhaps you need a cooler space, better lighting, an out of the way space, etc
- Make a game out of it. See how many items you can enter in 5 minutes. Repeat until the task is done.
I hope you find these suggestions helpful so you can focus and get the task done quickly.
If it takes less time because you are focused you will need to focus for less time.
In the comments share the techniques you use to help increase your focus on mundane tasks.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtuallythrough 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
Reading Time – 2 minutes
There are so many books and articles about organizing a room. It can become very confusing. How to start, what to do first. All those words on the page. Here is an infographic to visually show you the sequence of tasks you need to do to reach your organizing goals.
Let me answer your questions. Book a complimentary 30-minute chat online.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually. 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 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
Reading time – 3 minutes
If you have more space in your dressers, bookcases and cabinets than you need, the number of items stored there will increase to fill the space available. This is an extension of Parkinson’s Law. Don’t feel that you have to use all storage areas for the purpose they were originally intended for. Let me explain these ideas in more detail to you.
Parkinson’s Law
What is Parkinson’s Law? Parkinson’s Law is the old adage that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion. The term was first coined by Cyril Northcote Parkinson in a humorous essay he wrote for “The Economist” in 1955. I find Parkinson’s Law can be extended to more than just meeting productivity deadlines. If you have lots of time in the morning do you find you’re still late for an appointment? You fill the time with other activities, laundry, coffee, or a drive-thru and end up leaving late instead of arriving early. If there is space on a table or desk it gets filled with paper until later when it needs to be filed, recycled or shredded. If you have room in your closet do you go buy some new clothes to fill the space?
Learn to enjoy empty space
As you sort through your stuff and make room enjoy the empty space. Instead of thinking about buying more, leave it empty. Not every drawer, shelf and cabinet need to be completely filled. Having empty space makes room for change and growth in the future without creating clutter, cramming and stuffing things into an already full space. Some people fear empty open spaces. They feel like their stuff is their friends and they like to have stuff around them. It may take some time to enjoy seeing open, clean, clear space in your home. This is the first step, enjoy open space, and don’t go out and buy more things to fill the space.
Reorganize your storage space
What do you do when you have open space in a drawer because you haven’t gone out and bought more clothes to fill the space and the closet floor is overflowing? Let’s talk about reorganizing your storage space. Instead of filling a space with more of the same stuff that you don’t need, use that space wisely.
Bedroom
When you sort through your belongings and donate or scrap the sweaters, blouses, scarves and other clothing items you never use, re-purpose the drawer for those non-clothing items that are causing your bedroom to look cluttered. Use the drawer for jewelry or make-up or purses. You are re-purposing when you use closet hangar space to hang a shoe holder to free up floor space. Don’t buy more shoes the closet doors are now closing easily. Enjoy a bedroom with less visual clutter.
Linen closet
Sort through your linen closet and remove old towels. Donate sheets that are the wrong size for the beds you own. Reduce the number of blankets you have for each bed. Donate linens that are no longer part of your colour scheme. You have made empty space. Don’t buy new bedding, look at what you need storage space for. Remove a shelf and store your vacuum cleaner, golf clubs, step stool or broom and mops. Keep the shelf and store a toolbox, first aid kit, or craft supplies. Reorganize your storage space to store things that don’t have a home.
Kitchen
What would you do with empty storage space in a kitchen? Think outside the box. At my home, I used one set of drawers for children’s crafts and drawing items. It was near the kitchen table and it made it very easy to get out the pencil crayons, glue, markers, crayons, stickers, paper plates, playdough, paints etc. use them and put them away. The clear counter might be a handy place to collect mail, write cards, and charge phones. Use part of the counter and a drawer or cupboard to make an office. Keep your party decorations and tablecloths in the kitchen. Have a toolbox in the kitchen. Kitchens are usually on the main floor centrally located.
Two principles of storing items.
I could go through every room in the home and give you ideas. I know you don’t need that. The main principles of storing items are to store them where you use them. Make it easy to get things out and put them away. Storage doesn’t need to be used for its intended purpose. Storage is used to give items a “home” that is appropriate for you and the items. Be creative, don’t fill the storage with more of the same items you don’t need and use. Use it wisely to make your life easier. Don’t feel that you have to use all storage areas for the purpose they were originally intended for.
Share some creative storage solutions in the comments.
Contact me for help in using your storage areas effectively. julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually through 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
