Organizing Tips
Reading time – 5 minutes
The quick declutter challenge is on week 6. The other challenges were to declutter cosmetics, bedrooms, livingroom dining room and office quickly.
It is said that we use 20% of things we own 80% of the time. This leaves 80% of our stuff that we seldom use. For example, do you have a certain style of pens you like and don’t use the rest of the ones in your drawer? You receive lots of newsletters and only read 2 or 3 of them. Do eat the same thing for breakfast most days leaving cereals to go stale or fruit to rot?
Look at your closet, are there clothes you wear a lot? Outfits you love? Items that never seem to get selected? This time of year is good for decluttering your clothes. The types of clothing you wear will be changing with temperature changes. As you reorganize your closet look at the 80% of your clothing you seldom wear and donate them.
Start with a quick declutter of your clothing.
Most times when you are decluttering clothes you find a lot of items in your closet that are not related to your wardrobe. If you have time and energy you can continue with your project organizing your closet so you can quickly find what you need.
If you need help with the quick declutter challenges book a virtual organizing session with me.
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 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
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Click here to learn more about working with a Professional Organizer.
Decluttering is an important process to help free up space and gain a feeling of control in your life reducing stress, anxiety and overwhelm. Having only what you use, need and enjoy in your life gives you more time, energy and finances to create a life full of meaning, joy and new relationships. Let’s get started.
As you move through your office looking for the 9 things on the list to declutter remember to make decisions quickly and move quickly around the room. You might get distracted by clutter that is not on the list. Make a note of other things you would like to organize. Making a list to do later will help you refocus your mind on the task at hand. Offices usually have a lot of paperwork to sort, file, shred or recycle. Complete that another day.
If you don’t have a designated office space look around your home for the items on the list. Consider collecting them all together and creating a portable office. Have a bin, basket, caddy, or rolling cart where you can store all your office supplies and then move it to where you are working and then store it away.
Here is the list of challenges 1-4. Join in at any time and do them in any order.
Quick challenge 3 – Dining room
Quick challenge 4 – Livingroom
Tell me what unexpected items you found in your office.
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 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
The challenge started with cosmetics, continued with bedrooms, and then the dining room. You can join the challenge anytime and do it in any order. Remember to work quickly for 10 – 30 minutes going around the space and collecting items you no longer need, use or love. Use music to motivate you and a timer to help you stay on task.
Donating and recycling
Many items can be recycled, batteries, pens and markers, and printer cartridges at Staples. Habitat for Humanity takes building supplies and old electronics for recycling. Check with thrift stores in your area. They take household goods, clothing, toys and furniture. Books can be donated at Value Village.
Selling
You may want to sell some items, look at Facebook Marketplace, consignment stores, Kijiji and Craigslist. When selling items to strangers, meet them in a public place and have someone with you. It is the time of year when you can do yard sales.
The Challenge
This challenge can be applied to your family room, living room and recreation room. Get everyone involved and make the quick declutter challenge go faster.
In the comments let me know what interesting things you discovered.
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 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
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
I hope you found the tips for decluttering quickly in Quick Declutter Challenge 2 helpful.
Don’t skip this challenge because you don’t have a dining room. Many dining spaces have been turned into offices. You probably have a table that collects clutter or a cupboard that collects too many candles, napkins and unused dishes. It might be in the kitchen, a hallway or a dining room. When clutter is continually visible in a common space area people can start to feel anxious.
In a book I am reading Limitless by Jim Kwik he says, “A Princeton study found that physical clutter competes for your attention ( frontal cortex of your brain) and decreases performance and increases anxiety and stress. Divest yourself of things that attract your attention and distract you.” In the common areas of your home, you want to reduce anxiety, stress and overwhelm. Join the quick declutter challenge 3 and bring happiness to your home.
If you have missed Quick Declutter Challenge 1 – cosmetics or Quick Declutter Challenge 2 – bedrooms you can join the challenge now. Complete the challenges in any order.
In the comment let me know what you found when you decluttered this area.
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 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
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
How did the quick declutter challenge 1 – cosmetics go? Did you find it difficult to do it quickly? Did you spend a lot of time making decisions about what to keep and what to let go?
Let’s start with question 1.
Set a timer. A timer can help you
- to focus on the task because there is a deadline for you to stop.
- to start because you know you only have to do the task for a short time and then it is over.
- if you can see or hear the time clicking by, it builds a sense of urgency and importance
Play Music
- Music can help people to focus by blocking out thoughts of other things on their minds.
- Make a playlist of songs that will help to make the decluttering enjoyable.
- Some people will like uptempo music to energize themselves.
- Make your playlist for a set amount of time so when the music is done so is your time for decluttering.
Now for question 2
It can be difficult to make decisions when you are worried you will make the wrong decision. Trust yourself. You make decisions all the time, what to eat, what to wear, where to live and when to exercise. Develop some questions that help you to make decisions. Here are a few examples.
- Do I need this?
- Do I have space for it?
- If I keep it will it help me to meet my goals?
- What is the worst thing that will happen if I don’t have it?
Quick declutter challenge 2 – bedroom
Let me know what else was hiding in your bedroom that you decluttered.
If you need help, let’s work together virtually to declutter your bedroom quickly, julie@mindoverclutter.ca
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 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
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Click here to learn more about working with a Professional Organizer.
For the next couple of months, I am going to challenge you to declutter quickly. Too often you can get stuck in the decluttering step and give up. I want you to declutter quickly so you see progress immediately. Decluttering and organizing is not something you do once and it is over. Sorry to break the bad news to you. It is an ongoing process. Learning how to declutter quickly makes light work staying organized. You do a little bit every day and soon it is much better. Don’t get stuck in the perfection wheel. That is where you keep working on one area making it better and better after it is decluttered and functional, while other areas that need help get worse.
Here is the first challenge for you. If you need help, book a series of mini sessions with me to help you declutter quickly.
Here is some information about the expiry dates for cosmetics.
In the comments let me know what was hiding in your cosmetics area that surprised you.
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 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
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Click here to learn more about working with a Professional Organizer.
So you want to get organized?
Achieving order in your life doesn’t mean being perfect. That’s not realistic. Getting organized is not an event; it’s a process that happens over time. Like changing your eating or exercise habits, it sometimes involves behavioural changes and routines.
Perfectionism
Is being unrealistic by spending so much time on a task that it deprives other important tasks of sufficient time.
Excellence
Is doing the best job you can with the time and resources at your disposal.
What is organization?
Being organized has less to do with the way an environment looks than how effectively it functions. If a person can find what they need when they need it, feels unencumbered in achieving his or her goals, and is happy in his or her space, then that person is well organized.
Myth #1 Organization is a born talent.
- Organization is a skill. If the right resources or support are available it is easy to learn.
Myth #2: It’s impossible to stay organized.
- Organizing is sustainable, if systems are built around the way the person thinks and designed to grow and adapt to new information.
The 7 Habits of Very Organized People
1. They have a place for everything
- 25% of business documents are misplaced and will never be located so those documents must be recreated.
2. They put things back
- Executives waste six weeks per year searching for items.
3. They write things down
- Make a master list of things to do to determine the priorities for the next day. This may include planning the most effective routine to use to accomplish the tasks, the route driven to see a client or considering high and low energy cycles in the day and planning tasks accordingly.
4. They don’t allow papers/e-mails to pile up.
- The average worker sends and receives over 190 messages each day. Approximately 60 e-mails can be processed each hour. Learn how to use e-mail effectively in order to limit the number of e-mails received and sent each day.
5. They don’t procrastinate
- Procrastinating causes people to spend more time and energy on avoiding the task than completing it. Once it is accomplished it is out of sight and out of mind.
6. They set goals and assign deadlines
- Schedule a time for each task in the project to be completed, so deadlines can be met easily.
7. They only keep what they use and enjoy.
- Clutter is usually the “extra” that is kept on hand just in case it is needed. About 20% of items are used 80% of the time, so 80% of items are hardly used at all. Find the important 20% and let go of the unimportant 80%.
- They have a place for everything
- They put things back
- They write things down
- They don’t allow papers/e-mails to pile up.
- They don’t procrastinate
- They set goals and assign deadlines
- They only keep what they use and enjoy.
If you need help getting organized contact me for a virtual consultation
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, virtually. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situation. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter –Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Reading time – 3 minutes
This advice appeared in the P.O.S.T Professional Organizing Strategies and Tips newsletter. To learn about Professional Organizers in Canada click this link http://www.organizersincanada.com/.
There’s something about summer, the lure of the open road and the promise of a change of scenery that makes us want to load up the car and just go some place. If there’s one time you really want to be organized, it’s when you’re traveling. Traveling requires more organization than we may possess in our daily lives, so cut the stress by following an organizing checklist for inside the car.
Planning & Prepping
- Make sure your car is in good condition – oil checked, tires inspected and filled – test the air conditioning and wiper blades.
- Driver’s licenses, passports, insurance cards, ownership and registration, and contact numbers for roadside assistance should be readily accessible. Make spare copies and leave with a travel companion.
- The spare tire and jack – are in good shape and are easy to access. An emergency car tool kit should include an orange flag or pylon that you can use to signal for help if needed. Learn how to change a flat tire.
- Spare set of keys – in case they get locked inside the car or drop out of your pocket. (Even if you have to call a locksmith to open the car, you’ll be able to drive when it’s unlocked.)
- Plastic grocery bags for garbage – always!
Keep your backseat organized with a portable blue bin
- These blue bins fit between two seats and can hold a lot of gear. Each young member of the family can have their own bin for a blanket, sweatshirt, hat, sunglasses, and spare shoes. They can access anything that they need on their own and have a place to wrangle their souvenirs.
- A file box with a labeled folder for each section of the road trip.
Maps
- A traditional map or print custom maps for your journey at GoogleMaps or MapQuest Route Planner. CAA or AAA will also provide route maps.
- (GPS) A Global Positioning System – some travelers say they wouldn’t leave home without one!
- APPS are available on smartphones to find everything from restaurants, hotels, parks, and other points of interest as well as weather reports and plenty of games, quizzes and puzzles for young ones.
- Book the hotel ahead so you don’t have to find a place at the end of the day. Find hotels with generous cancellation policies.
In-Car Diversions
- Music – A playlist or CD collection if you’re traveling through an area where radio signals might be sketchy.
- Audio Books, DVDs and a laptop are great to have because it means you don’t need to spend time uploading content to your phone or iPad before the trip when you may be busy. Check out your local library.
- Spare batteries, charging cables and electricity power converter for electronics.
- Healthy Snacks: fruit (apples can keep well for a long time), pretzels, granola bars, crackers and nuts, along with a few fun treats. A trip to the grocery store along the way can help you save money too because the costs of dining out can add up.
- Beverages: A soft-sided cooler packed with water bottles and low-sugar soft drinks.
Toiletries within easy reach
- Tissues, paper towels, cleaning wipes, hand sanitizer and a roll of toilet paper, in case the rest stop isn’t well-stocked.
- Prescription medicines as well as basics like pain relievers, antacids and remedies for motion sickness.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent.
- A first aid kit with antiseptic and band-aids for minor cuts, cortisone cream for insect bites, and bandages.
Clothing & Comfort
- Wear comfortable clothing – no items which restrict or bind.
- Wear shoes that are easy to take on and off. Always have a pair of closed toe shoes available.
- A sweater or jacket over a T-shirt for instant respectability in public areas.
- A small blanket if you disagree with the temperature setting within the car.
- A pillow from home for an unfamiliar hotel bed.
Finally
- Think twice before posting about your trip on social media if your house is currently empty!!
What are your best traveling tips? Share it with us in the comments.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, in person and virtually. 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 physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you to manage 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
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Have you run out of space for hanging your pictures?
Have you run out of space on your walls to hang your pictures? Many people have photos in boxes just waiting to have time to organize them. Don’t wait for the perfect time or for a day when the weather is inclement. Schedule time to get started.
What to do first
As you look over the photos you may not be able to remember when you took the picture, the year or date. Instead of organizing the photos chronologically think about using themes. Sort your pictures into celebrations, vacations, family, friends, pets and homes etc.
Step two
Next, get rid of duplicates and out of focus pictures. Remove pictures where you don’t recognize the people or location. Once you have your best pictures grouped you may want to write on the back the name of the people in the picture, year or location.
Step three
Now you can decide if you want to scan them, place them in boxes with dividers or scrapbook your photos. Scanning can be expensive so scan the best of the best. You can digitize them yourself by taking a picture of the photo with your phone and saving it to a folder on your laptop.
Hire a photo organizer
Photo Organizers work with clients to sort through images, find connecting themes, and neatly catalogue and edit them into photo narratives and albums that clients are proud to share – now and for years to come. Association of Personal Photo Organizers
Need more help
Enjoy spending time with your memories. If you need help regaining control of your photos and memories, I am ready to take on the challenge.
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.
The benefits of having a bedroom free of clutter are obvious to see. It is easier to move in the room without tripping on items left on the floor. You can find things on your night table without bumping other items over. Have you thought about how a clutter free bedroom might make you feel? You will feel as though you have a clearer mind when you are in that room, and that might help you unwind and sleep more effectively. When it is less cluttered, you might enjoy being there more and it can become a sacred place. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to gain a clutter-free bedroom, so let’s take a look at four steps you might not have thought of as a way towards achieving that.
Match The Bed To The Room
Have you seen a bedroom with a bed and furniture that take up all the space so that it is difficult to move around the room? Did you ever think the cluttered feeling could be caused by the size of your bed? Try to match the bed to the room size. A less crowded room is easier to keep clean and organized. When you have a huge bed, one problem is that you might struggle to feel relaxed in that room with no place to move. You might need to visit a mattress store in your area to find better options for your space. Visually your room will look bigger, less crowded and more inviting. You will feel less anxious entering the room and have less stress. Practically it will be easier to get things out, put them away and make your bed every day.
Store Items Under The Bed
This is a simple thing you can do which will make your bedroom less cluttered and visibly cleaner. Storing items under the bed is something that is not always possible – for instance, if you have a divan base that almost touches the floor. Captain’s beds are built with drawers under the bed for storage. Some beds have a base that is hinged to create a storage area in the bed frame. You can create storage under your bed by using bed risers to lift the bed up. When there is space under the bed, make use of it. It’s amazing how this space can be used so you have more room in your closets or dressers.
Minimize Wall Decorations
It can be tempting to go all out and try to decorate your bedroom in a way that is beautiful. You might find it quite beneficial to not go overboard here. In fact, you’ll find that keeping wall decorations to a minimum will lead to a space that has less visual clutter and a much clearer appearance. Put items on the wall that have a calming effect so it is easier to relax and clear your mind as you get ready to sleep.
Store Things Elsewhere
Finally, there is something to be said about not letting the bedroom become a general dumping ground for random items around the home. It is one of the most important rooms in the home and one that you need to care for and respect. It is a space where you rejuvenate your mind and regenerate your body for the next day. It is easy at the end of a tiring day to bring things into the bedroom, put them down and say you’ll put them away tomorrow. Take the extra minute and put them away so you don’t have a constant reminder of an unfinished task when you are trying to go to sleep. Don’t end up with lots of random items cluttering up your restful space.
Usually, I talk about the process of decluttering a room to have less unwanted stuff. These 4 steps approach making a bedroom clutter-free in a different way, through the thoughtful selection of furniture, decoration and storage. They also help to create a room with less visual clutter and mental clutter.
In the comments share how you make your bedroom clutter-free.
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
Click here to learn more about working with a Professional Organizer.
