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9 Common Myths about Clearing Clutter

2012-01-11T21:30:00.003-05:00

Have you read The Happiness Project? This much-talked about book has finally captured my attention. I'm only just starting out, but was pleased to see that today's blog post was about one of my favourite topics: clutter!! Check out Gretchen's 9 Common Myths about Clearing Clutter; her words may help you to make peace with your own clutter.

Outdoor Play

2010-05-29T05:53:00.009-04:00

Organizers frequently help their clients to establish a drop zone for each family member to put their stuff as they walk through the door. This provides a guideline as to the acceptable size and location of the piles that can appear at the front entrance.

But I’m finding that at this time of year, the focus shifts from the drop zone to a smooth exit. Not following? We travel light in the warmer months. No coat, hat, scarf, mitts. We have less to “drop” when we get home. But preparing to go out still poses some challenges – particularly if you’re getting young children out the door. How often have you been ready to walk out the door, then needed to run back upstairs to get sun block?

To save yourself some time and keep the family moving, why not store some of the things needed for outdoor fun and safety at the front door? The same basket used for your winter woollies can just as easily contain suntan lotion, a hat, sunglasses, sidewalk chalk and bubbles. Ask yourself what things you always have to run back in the house for, then try to find a way to store them within a few feet of your main entrance/exit. And just to be safe, throw in a box of Band-Aids.

Bringing the Inside Out

2010-05-21T21:13:00.014-04:00

At this time of year even the busiest of us will take a moment to stop and smell the roses -- or the tulips, lilacs and whatever else blooms early in the season. Many will snip the blooms of their favourite spring flower and place them in a vase to be admired indoors.

But what about preparing our outdoor living space for the coming season? It's just as important to take some practical and often overlooked items from inside our homes, outside. A stash of old towels stacked in the shed or garage will come in handy when patio furniture needs to be hosed and wiped down. Even if they're needed only a few times throughout the season, they'll be close at hand.

And when you're arranging shovels, clippers and pruners, why not add a pair of kitchen scissors to your arsenal of gardening must-haves? When it comes time to top up the soil in your pots or beds, you could demonstrate your strength and endurance by wrestling with a bag of potting soil until you're blue in the face, or hack at it with another gardening tool. But wouldn't it be simpler to quickly cut it open with a pair of scissors?

So, the next time you peruse the interior of your home, contemplating the usefulness of the things you see, consider a donation to your outdoor living zone, before you cart anything away to a thrift store.

The One-In-One-Out Rule

2009-11-18T16:15:00.020-05:00

If you've ever sought advice on how to control your clutter, you've likely heard about the one-in-one-out rule. The concept is simple: When you acquire something new, discard something old. This works well for clothes, shoes, books and much more. It's an especially useful rule to apply to toys.

If you have children, you know how quickly their play area can be overrun with toys. You also know how easily a toy falls from grace when replaced with something new. And come January 15, no matter how organized an individual you are, you may find yourself sifting through a mountain of toys, old and new, asking yourself, "Where did all this stuff come from?"

As a parent, you have a choice. You can gather up some neglected toys on the sly and remove them from your home. Fingers crossed, you won't be found out. I've tried this and gotten busted. So, I've adopted a different approach. I involve my son in the process. If, for whatever reason, we've acquired a few new toys, I wait a week or two, then have a chat with the little man. I pull out a couple of toys that haven't been touched for months, preferably those that are no longer age-appropriate, and gently suggest that since he's having so much fun with his new thing-a-ma-jigger, that it might be a good time to donate a long forgotten toy, so that another little girl or boy can enjoy it.

By involving my son, I hope to accomplish a few things.
1. Keep the task manageable, by donating only a few things at a time.
2. Teach him the simple behaviour of identifying things that matter.
3. Get him comfortable with the idea of keeping only those things that are still used and enjoyed.

If all goes well, by the time he's my age, he'll be a pro.

Easy Holiday Organization

2009-11-04T09:18:00.021-05:00

Every fall, consumers roll their eyes when retailers publish Christmas catalogues and pull out Christmas décor. This year, I had an "aha moment": this is the ultimate example of organization.

If retailers are going to get your holiday shopping dollars, they need to get your attention. The product lineup and marketing strategy have to be decided upon and rolled out, long before the average consumer gets excited about Christmas -- somewhere around the middle of December. When Christmas is presented to us before the leaves have even fallen off the trees, our response is negative. But we come around. Maybe you won't go out and buy a Disney Blu-ray DVD on sale this week, but the seed is planted. There's a good chance you'll buy that DVD when you walk by it two weeks from now. You'll take a moment to lament the fact that you missed the sale, but still fork over the full price because you've been thinking about it.

So every year we succumb to a lesson in organization, but we don't learn from it. Preparing for the busiest time of year doesn't have to be difficult. Start small. Make a list of the people you need to buy a gift for. Check your stockpile of wrapping paper, tape, gift tags and ribbon. You don't have to run out this weekend to do all your shopping and stock up on all the necessary supplies. But these things need to be on your radar to ensure you won't be caught off guard.

Having read this, you're now far more likely to notice the tape, next time you reach for a pack of gum at the check-out. Don't be surprised to see it there; it was moved there for a reason. Go ahead and buy it. It will make your life easier.

Professional Organizers, For Real.

2009-10-20T14:34:00.017-04:00

When I left a salaried job to start my own organizing business, there were lots of questions and raised eyebrows. People just didn't get it. Most had never heard of such a thing. It was the working moms who seemed most familiar with the role of a Professional Organizer -- and the most willing to suggest that everyone has some area of their home that needs organizing.

Organizers are not neat freaks or control freaks. We're people who acknowledge that the world we live in keeps getting busier. We realize the list of demands placed on each of us grows daily. We know that most people don't have time to catch their breath, much less find the time to plan and organize the space they live in.

But we also know this: cluttered living is chaotic living. The visual distraction of your stuff, prevents you from doing the things you really want or need to do. It's a nagging reminder of some chore that needs to be performed. Sometimes, it's just too much to tackle alone. Enter the Professional Organizer. We accompany you throughout the transformation from harum-scarum to harmonious. You ultimately make the decision about what adds value to your life. We ask questions, make suggestions, offer a new perspective: we help you achieve a goal.

If you want to know more about what we do, come see me at The National Women's Show this Saturday, October 24th. I'll be available to answer your questions from 2 - 6 p.m., at the Professional Organizers in Canada booth.

Fall is Here: You Know What to Do

2009-09-22T09:21:00.025-04:00

That's it. Summer's over. I hope you didn't miss it, because it really was a quick one this year. Despite the fact that you've barely had a chance to enjoy your summer wardrobe, it's time to think about washing, dry cleaning, and putting things away until next year -- unless you plan to squeeze in a tropical vacation sometime during the next six months.

The seasonal wardrobe changeover: some welcome it, some loath it, others have no idea what I'm referring too. This is one of the couple of times each year when you get to handle each article of clothing in your closet, and make that fateful decision: keep or donate.

Of the few questions to consider when making this decision, the most important is likely, "When was the last time I wore this?" The answer will reveal all.

I will share with you, three reasons I've often heard for not wearing something:

1. "I forgot I had that."

This is big. If you forgot about it, the love affair is over. Just admit it: you've got a new favourite. Out with the old, in with the new. B'bye.

2. "It doesn't fit, but I'm trying to lose weight. I want to be able to fit into it again some day."

I've never understood this. Not as an organizer, friend, colleague or stranger sitting within earshot. Now, I've fought the weight loss battle -- more than once. Personally, I found it incredibly demotivating to open the closet door and see small clothes staring back at me. It was a constant reminder of my actual weight and all the work that lay ahead of me. But I did find it exhilarating to reward myself with the purchase something fashionable, in a smaller size, when I did reach a short-term weight loss goal.

3. I don't really have anything that goes with it.

If it mattered to you, finding something to complete an outfit would have been a priority. While you may not be ready to admit it to yourself, you've moved on. That sweater or pair of pants that you held on to is no longer a part of your life. You've gone about your business for three, six, twelve months and not needed those clothes. It only makes sense to donate them; they'll only be taking up space otherwise.

Actions really do speak louder than words. If you happily go about each day of your life, while a pile of unused clothes grows in your closet, you are demonstrating that you don't need those things. Whatever you tell yourself; whatever value you think these things have, your actions tell a different story.

So as you replace light-weight fabrics for warm woolies, ask yourself the question: "When was the last time I wore this?" Answer honestly, and where appropriate, remove the item to your donate pile. You'll thank yourself next summer, when you will clearly see what you have, what you need and what you may be able to do without.

Plan to Simplify

2009-08-21T16:25:00.018-04:00

After an apparently-too-long hiatus, I took some time today to clear my desk. I was quickly reminded of how easily things pile up and how important it is to incorporate a few simple routines into our lives.

I know: you think schedules and routines are for school-aged children. You'd like to think you've achieved a more bohemian lifestyle since your school days. You're laid-back and able to roll with the punches. Here's a question for you: How many times have you arrived at work late and grumpy, because it wasn't until you went to get dressed that you realized your wet clothes were still in the dryer?

You likely already have a few tasks which you perform at the same time every year. Things like changing your seasonal wardrobe, changing your car tires, cleaning out your eavestrough. You anticipate having to do these things, so it's not such a huge sacrifice when you actually put the time aside to get it done. The same approach can be used when performing daily or weekly tasks.

1. Instead of letting your filing accumulate for six weeks or more, set aside 30 minutes on a Monday morning to sort and store everything that landed in your in-tray the week before. Don't even bother tackling it on a Friday afternoon; you know your mind will be elsewhere. After recharging your batteries over the weekend, you may find you're more inclined to deal with administrative duties.

2. Don't wait until there's one pair of socks in your drawer before you do some laundry. Many people like to designate one day of the week to do all their laundry. For me, that feels like a prison sentence. I don't want to give up a full day of the weekend to be a slave to my washer and dryer. If you have a quiet night during the week, why not designate it as a wash night? You don't have to do all your laundry. Worst case scenario, you may have to do one more load of laundry on the weekend. Better to give up an hour or two over the weekend, then to miss a full day of beach time.

3. Prepare for the next day -- whatever that may mean for you. Check the weather channel so that you know whether to pull out winter boots or an umbrella. Pack your briefcase, pack your children's knapsacks, put them beside the boots or umbrella at the door. Maybe all you need to do to get your morning off to a smooth start is to prep the coffee maker before you go to bed.

Planing our time is as necessary to being organized as planning a physical space. Anticipating what has to be done, makes you more accepting of the mundane tasks you have to perform. And once you get into a routine, chaos and confusion will be a thing of the past. You'll suddenly find yourself living a simplified life.

A Home for Everything

2009-07-06T15:40:00.018-04:00

Things that are used infrequently often get buried in clutter. It's too easy to hang a picture, walk back to your garage, leave the hammer and level on the workbench and walk away. What's wrong with this?: the next time you have to put something in your garage, it'll be even easier to just drop it on the bench and walk away. There's already something there . . . you're in a hurry . . . you'll put it away tomorrow. Maybe . . .

Fast forward three months. You need the level. You go to the workbench and check the tool box. It's not there. It couldn't be in the huge pile of papers, adhesives and tools that sprouted out of the workbench all by itself. You always put it away in a "safe place", somewhere you'll be sure to find it the next time you need it. You just can't remember where that safe place is. You remember lending the level to a friend that was doing a home reno project. You locate the bag of tools your friend returned to you five weeks ago, but the level's not in there either.
Now you're ticked! You needed the level for a 10 minute job. You're 20 minutes in, no further ahead and have to pick the kids up from soccer practice. You'll hang the cupboard door tomorrow. Maybe . . .

What just happened here? A quick job became an insurmoutable task. At some point, you decided that the level was always close at hand. You didn't need a designated place to keep it. Then you wasted a lot of time looking for it. When tomorrow came, you wasted some more time and money when you went out to buy a new one. And that cupboard door? It was finally hung two weeks later.

Everyone has experienced this. Maybe not with a level. Maybe you spent time looking for stamps or a glue stick. The point is: every single thing you own, needs a home. Absolutely everything. Your nail file, scissors, hammer, thimble -- you name it -- all need to be returned to their own storage place, so that you'll know where to find them, the next time you need them. It'll save you time, frustration and money. Sounds like a worthwhile venture to me.

Organize for YOU

2009-06-09T11:05:00.023-04:00

Many people think they are organized. Some simply say they don't know how to organize. But the vast majority replicate what others do. While this may be a good start, it will likely need some fine tuning.

When people set out to tackle a disorganized space in their home they overlook two very important things: examining their own behaviours and circumstances. Being aware of these is as important as sorting and editing your belongings.

When we moved into our house, all cleaning supplies were put into the laundry room, in the basement. Our house doesn't have a utility closet in the kitchen, like some. No problem. Like items were grouped together and put in a designated spot. We had observed the first two rules of organizing.

Then we had a baby. Then our baby began to eat solid food. Then our baby started throwing food all over the dining room. Upstairs. Instead of retrieving the broom from the basement once a day or every couple of days, we were running up and down the stairs every few hours. Not fun. So we started using a lot of paper towel to wipe up the floor and save ourselves the trip to the basement.

Stop. Circumstances had changed. Behaviours had changed. The storage location for the broom had to change.

The broom now resides on a single hook, in the linen closet, on the main floor -- a few feet from the dining room. An unconventional location by some accounts, I'm sure. I don't know anyone else who keeps a broom in their linen closet. But it works for our family. We can easily get to the broom when needed and just as easily put it away.

Successful organizing is not about tidying up a messy room, or doing what everyone else does. It's about everything having a designated place and you being able to access your things easily. You can't remove yourself from the equation. This is about you planning for you. Always keep in mind what you need to achieve -- and be selfish: if you don't plan according to your daily time constraints, preferences and abilities you'll be no further ahead than before you started.

Kid's Art

2009-05-29T16:09:00.006-04:00

I shouldn't admit this, but like most parents, I occasionally get overwhelmed by the volume of weird and wonderful creations my son brings home. With that being said, I don't keep everything. Not even close. One way that I gauge whether arts & crafts should be kept is by the excitement and pride my youngster displays in showing me his masterpiece-of-the-day. If he's pumped, there's probably a reason. And if I find myself sneaking a second and third peak while the art project awaits final judgement, I've got a keeper! Here are some things to keep in mind, once you've decided something should be held in the family archives:

Put a date on it. That finger painting won't mean anything to anyone if you have no idea when it was done.
Don't hide it, display it. And not just on the fridge. Use frames or metal bars and magnets to display artwork on the walls of a playroom or child's bedroom.
Have a designated spot for the collection. You can keep it in file folders, a portfolio -- somewhere that is easy for you to access, so that you will add to it regularly. Make sure the location is suitable to accommodate a growing collection. A kitchen drawer won't do.
Scan or take digital pictures of the art. You can toss the original, but keep the electronic image indefinitely -- without taking up space.
Use the electronic images to make greeting cards, photo books, etc. It's a great way to showcase your child's talent and shows them how much you value their work.

Mother's Day

2009-05-08T14:11:00.003-04:00

It’s only two days away. Have you figured out what you’re doing for your Mom yet? Unless you have a longstanding tradition to uphold, consider something new. In honouring your mother, you don’t have to give her something. She has probably kept every gift you’ve given her, all the way back to the finger-painted card you gave her in kindergarten. But where are these gifts now? No matter how greatly treasured at the time, eventually these once-cherished tokens become clutter.

So instead of giving Mom something that will take up the last bit of precious real estate on the mantle, why not give her the gift of time? That is, some time with you. This Sunday is the perfect opportunity to do something a little different. I’m a big fan of “High Tea”. It’s certainly not the kind of thing you’ll do every week or even every month. It’s a unique experience. And don’t kid yourself: there is more to tea than cucumber sandwiches and scones. It actually translates into a very nice lunch. This is just one idea to consider; www.toronto.com has some other great suggestions. Quality time with our loved ones, no matter how that time is spent, is always appreciated.

Yard Sale for the Cure

2009-05-01T13:06:00.003-04:00

We can’t deny it any longer: Spring has sprung. We endured the dreary April showers. Now we look ahead to new beginnings. This is the season that gets us outside -- in droves. We reconnect with neighbours who were shut away all winter. We take long walks. We marvel at the beauty of the season: the green grass, the buds on the trees, the shades of early spring flowers. We’re happy!

But how do you feel when you return home? Do you still have that warm, fuzzy feeling? Is the freshness and clarity of the outdoors present in your home? If not, have no fear: you can achieve that positive vibe inside as well.

For many, spring is the time to clear the attic, the garage, the closet – you know: out with the old. Getting rid of things we no longer use or need, makes us feel good. We free ourselves of the visual clutter. We free ourselves of the persistent self-nagging, that little voice that says “I really have to dig through that pile”. You’ll find that once you start, it’s often hard to stop. The sense of accomplishment makes you feel so good that you don’t want anything to stand in your way.

Still not convinced that you want to be inside, sorting, when you could be beautifying your garden? Maybe the Yard Sale for the Cure (YSC) is the ticket. YSC raises money for breast cancer research and treatment. Visit the official YSC website to learn how you can turn your clutter into cash for both yourself and a worthy cause. And make it fun! Join together with a few neighbours, or get your whole street involved. Spend some time sorting, socializing and make a difference.