What’s the Plan?

In this world of ever-changing technology, fast-paced living and high demands, each of us wears many different hats. The means to learn about almost anything is at our fingertips. We’re expected to produce results in a nanosecond. The pressure is on to be fast, accurate and better than “the next guy”.

I see nothing wrong in striving to do your best. But to do that will usually require time. History tells us this time and again. Benjamin Franklin said “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Then good ‘ole Abe Lincoln said “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” I really like this one. It doesn’t role off the tongue as easily as the words of Ben Franklin, but it’s such a great illustration of how important it is to prepare.

To win the battle, you must put a strategic plan in place. To bake a cake, you must have the necessary ingredients. To appoint your space so that it will be functional and aesthetic, you must take the time to both form a vision of that ideal space, and make sure you have what you need to realize that ideal space. Sometimes we’re too quick to get started on our organizing project, only to realize 45 minutes later that we aren’t equipped to complete the task. Often what’s missing is the space required to bring our vision to fruition. Sometimes we haven’t emptied our workspace of all the things that need to be elsewhere. Regardless of the specifics, the one common truth is that we failed to plan out the steps needed to cross the finish line.

Take stock. If you want to make your kitchen more functional, first make sure that everything you want to keep in your kitchen is there.  This is an important step: you can’t determine how much space you need for something, if you haven’t taken stock of it in the planning stages.

Remove. If you’ve got things in your kitchen that aren’t part of your big picture, take them out.  Put them where they belong, or designate a new home. You can’t successfully set up the space if it’s filled with things that don’t belong there.

Re-jig. Re-jig your thinking so that you recognize these first two steps as being necessary to your success, and not merely delays or a waste of time.

Accept. The reality is, all the pieces may not fall into place the first time around. You might test drive your dream space and discover that it’s not quite the haven you envisioned. That’s OK. It’s perfectly normal to make a few modifications before you can be truly satisfied with your accomplishment. 

Remember.  In the words of Hillary Rodham Clinton, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” And we don’t want that, do we?

A Home for Everything

It’s a fundamental law of organizing. Maybe the fundamental law of organizing. Therefore, it bears repeating.  Having a designated home for everything means that you know where to find things when you want and need them. Putting things in their designated home means that you are able to maintain a general sense of order. 

Sure, it may be faster and easier to just leave things where you use them, but to what end? Consider this example: You hang a picture on your wall, leave the hammer and level on the nearest table and walk away. What's wrong with this? Well, the next time you find yourself gathering up a handful of papers or searching for a resting place for a new purchase, you’ll likely put it on the table, next to the hammer and level. There's already something there . . . you're in a hurry . . . you'll put it all away tomorrow. Maybe . . .

Clutter attracts clutter. . .

Fast forward three months. You purchase a fab mirror, and can’t wait to hang it in your bedroom. Problem: you can’t find your hammer or level. It’s buried under a pile of miscellaneous everything. You can’t see it on the table, close to the last picture you hung. You checked in your toolbox. Nothing. Now you're ticked! You’re 20 minutes in to what should have been a 10 minute job, and all you have to show for it is elevated blood pressure!

What happened here? A quick job became an insurmountable task. You wasted time searching, then wasted more time and money when you went out to purchase a new level and hammer. And that mirror? Don’t worry; it made it onto the wall about a month later, after you tripped over it no less than a dozen times.  

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.

So, how do we determine the ideal home for our things? Here are some tips that may help.
 

If you use it often, keep it close at hand. Something you use daily or weekly should be easy to get at.  Try to avoid putting frequent-use items in a stack, or at the back of a cupboard.

If it’s heavy, keep it low. Only lightweight and easy-to-handle items should be stored on upper shelves.

Keep like with like. Wouldn’t it be easier to decorate for the holidays if all your Christmas decorations were kept together? Just because there is the perfect amount of space for that handful of ornaments in the bin labeled Bike stuff, doesn’t mean you should put the ornaments in there.

It’s time to turn off the auto pilot feature that we all often rely on, and give some thought to how and when you use your things. This is how you will begin to choose the ideal home for each of your belongings.

The Importance of Planning

I love the rush that accompanies just about any accomplishment. Getting things done is incredibly satisfying. But in my haste to reach a goal, I, like many others, will start a project for which I have not fully prepared. Truth is, planning isn't fun. Planning requires much thought, and thought is considered inactivity. We want action!!! But planning also means that we will likely encounter fewer setbacks when we finally do get rolling.

Many people embarking on an organizing project say, "I'm ready! Let's get started! Can we get this done in a week?" Slow down friends. I greatly admire your enthusiasm and wish you success beyond your wildest dreams, nota bene, there are a few things to consider before diving in.

1. Set yourself a goal. It can be a goal for the first hour that you organize, a goal for the closet, a goal for an entire room. It can be a short-term goal, long-term goal, or combination of the two. Goal-setting is extremely important. If you don't have something to strive for, how will you know when you've got it? Reaching your goals and, more importantly, celebrating your accomplishments, will keep you motivated. And anyone who has tackled a big project knows that motivation is what keeps you moving forward.

2. Have realistic expectations. If you are trying to empty the third floor bedroom that no one has entered in 15 years, lugging boxes down the stairs will wipe you out. You will become tired, need to rest, drink more water and generally move slower than desired. Consider this before you start and you are less likely to be discouraged by your own limitations.

3. Measure. Whether buying new furniture, shelving, or containers, always measure before you shop. There are enough storage and organizing solutions out there to make your head spin. The reality is, you may fall in love with one that just doesn't fit down the stairs, or makes it impossible for you to close the cupboard door. Be familiar with the dimensions of your space, before you spend your cash. This will allow you to use your time effectively organizing your space, instead of standing in the Returns line.

These three tips will get you in the right head space and save you much frustration. Having a good foundation from which to start will aid you in making decisions and, dare I say it, overcoming challenges.

Professional Organizers, For Real.

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.