The Cost of Procrastination

I know as well as anyone, if you’re not ready to make something a priority, you’ll never give it your all. But when we talk about clutter, the longer you wait the more it is likely to cost you.

Keeping up with your waste and recyclables on a weekly or bi-weekly basis will cost you little to nothing. But when you have something that falls outside of the regular curbside pickup, it’s best to know what your options are and act in the timeliest manner possible.  If not, that one couch or appliance can quickly grow to a pile of two bulk items, an appliance and a few containers of toxic waste. Now it’s an even bigger hassle to deal with, and the overwhelm starts. . .

If you wait long enough that you need to hire a junk removal service, you may embark on a costly venture. I recently contacted several junk removal companies to schedule the pickup of one upright freezer.  I received quotes from $98 - $200.  The big name junk removal companies charge per cubic foot of space your stuff takes up on their truck. In Toronto, prices range from $99, for a minimum charge, to about $550 for a full truck.  A full truckload holds approximately two couches, two armchairs, four book cases and 6 – 8 garbage bags.

So what options are there for someone dealing with a smaller quantity who doesn’t want to pay the big bucks? Read on!

1. Toronto Hydro will still pick up old fridges and freezers free of charge.  The appliance must be at least 20 years old and in working order. Check Save on Energy for details.
2. Habitat for Humanity will also have volunteers pick up larger items that meet their donation requirements.  Working appliances are acceptable. This non-profit group suggests an optional $15 donation at the time of pickup and you may be eligible to receive a tax receipt. 
3. The City of Toronto offers a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) pickup, free of charge. By completing a form online, you can schedule a pickup of 10L to 50L.  I called 311 to verify the rules and was told there is no limit to how many times the service is used.
4. Electronics can be dropped off at many retail or municipal locations. Check www.recycleyourelectronics.ca for details.

Most importantly, it’s always good to be aware of what your local solid waste services are. The chart below provides a comparison between the different regions of the GTA. 

Region	Blue bin	Electronics	Bulk items	Appliances
Halton	Drop off excess recycling at the depot. No limit. No charge.	Drop off at the depot or local retailers.	Free monthly pickup at curbside; check your calendar for dates.	Free monthly pickup at curbside; check your calendar for dates.
Peel	Drop off excess recycling at the depot. No limit. No charge.	Drop off at the depot or local retailers.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Pick up by appt.; $15 for first appliance, $10 for additional appliances or drop off at depot free of charge.
Richmond Hill	Drop off excess recycling at the depot. No limit. No charge.	Must be dropped off at depot.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Monthly pickup by appt.
Vaughan	Drop off excess recycling at the depot. No limit. No charge.	Must be dropped off at depot. See site for limits	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Pick up by appt.; $27 per appliance.
Toronto	20 kg of recycling can be dropped off at the depot per day. No charge.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.

 When in doubt, call or check the website:

Region	Website	Phone
Halton	Recycling & Waste	905-825-6000
Peel	Public Works Waste Management	905-791-9499
Richmond Hill	Garbage & Recycling	905-771-8800
Vaughan	Greening Vaughan	905-832-2281
Toronto	Solid Waste Management Services	311

  Good luck everyone!!

Do You Really Care What it’s Worth, or Do You Just Want Someone to Care?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we all value the things we own. We may place a sentimental value on something, or perceive a monetary value.  Be careful with this latter one: if no one is willing to pay, the item ultimately is of no (monetary) value. Worded differently, an item is only worth what it can fetch on the market.

Something else I have learned: even if you paid a great deal of money for something you will let it go if you feel it is going to someone who will value it as you once did. This is a sticking point. You have concluded the item does not serve a purpose in your life; but you will not donate it to a thrift store, or leave it to be recycled; but if you know it will serve a purpose for someone else, you’re happy to let it go. You don’t even want money for it. You just want someone to value what once brought you some degree of satisfaction.

What we really need to be focusing on is how to make discarding our clutter – no disrespect intended; I’m just saying if it’s not adding value to your life, it does slide down the scale of importance – easier. I’m going to let you in on a little secret . . . schools love to receive donations.  And don’t limit your generosity to just schools; there are day care centres and city run programs for children that would likely be happy to repurpose some of your stuff.

I was surprised when I first learned that schools are happy to receive paper, notepads, writing instruments, office supplies, books, small toys, the list is endless. Remember that teachers are tasked, in large part, with outfitting their own classrooms. Gifts from the community can go a long way to furnishing a classroom and allow teachers and administrators to stretch their budgets further. I’ve recently donated a rocking chair that will be used in a kindergarten classroom.  And yes, I’m happy to know it is appreciated and enjoyed.

And don’t underestimate the creativity of those who work with kids. I’ve seen assorted paper plates, gift bows, cupcake liners and fabric swatches transformed into beautiful art projects.

High schools can also benefit from your unneeded treasures.  Have you found multiples of everything in your kitchen drawers at some point? Or maybe you’re downsizing and will no longer have a full kitchen to prepare lavish meals and bake goodies. Give you local high school a call.  If they have a teaching kitchen, they will probably be glad to receive small appliances, cooking utensils and food storage containers.

And last, but not least . . . seniors’ communities! Most, if not all, seniors’ residences have a library.  If you are like so many people that have accumulated books over the years, see if your nearest seniors’ residence would be interested in receiving a donation.

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.

Plan to Simplify

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. People who plan out all the details are boring. 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 washing machine?

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 eaves trough. You know what the benefits are to doing these things, so it's not such a huge sacrifice when you actually put the time aside to get them done. The same approach can be used when performing daily or weekly tasks.

Schedule time to do personal or business admin. Instead of letting your filing accumulate for six weeks or more, set aside 30 minutes on a Friday afternoon to sort and store everything piled on your desk. At the end of a long week, you can still be productive by performing tasks that aren’t as demanding as budgeting. If you still need to action something, file it in a desktop filer. (I’m not endorsing this product; I  just want to give you an example of what it can look like). You’ll see it first thing Monday morning and be reminded of the task to complete, without your desk looking like a twister hit it.

 If personal admin is where you struggle, try to determine how to make the task more enjoyable. As in a corporate environment, I do still suggest that you establish a routine, i.e. pick a night during the week, or an hour on the weekend that you will address the paper flow and bill payments. Beyond that, you do have a bit more flexibility. If you’ve gone paperless, you can curl up in front of the TV with your laptop and pay bills. Or, if you perform best in the morning, why not focus on admin on a Saturday morning, while the rest of your family snoozes a bit longer.  You’ll accomplish more without the usual interruptions, and by the time everyone is up you will already have accomplished something for the day.

Even laundry has its day. 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 a couple more loads of laundry on the weekend. Better to give up an hour or two over the weekend, then to miss a full day of fun.

Prepare for the next day -- whatever that may mean for you. Nobody likes waking up to surprises. Before going to bed each night, do some preliminary work. Check the weather channel so that you know whether to pull out winter boots or an umbrella. Maybe you need to set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier than usual if you anticipate bad traffic or school bus cancellations. 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.

Planning our time is as necessary to being organized as planning a physical space. These suggestions are merely some new habits you can introduce. Once they – or whatever changes you decide to make – are routine, you will discover that chaos and confusion are a thing of the past. You'll find yourself living a simplified life.

Chronic Disorganization: There’s More to be Said

So . . . have you tried to “self-diagnose” since my last post on chronic disorganization (CD)?  Do you think that you, or someone you know, fits the description? Fear not, you are not alone.  And now you can learn a bit more about how to deal with it.

As previously mentioned, one of the challenges faced by the CD population is that they do not respond to conventional organizing methods. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. That just means you get to think outside the box when creating your spaces. The goal is to create a space that will make you feel in control.  But before you get started, you have to know yourself pretty well.

Are you a visual person? Do you believe in the old adage, out of sight, out of mind? How do you respond to sounds around you? Are background noises soothing, distracting or downright irritating? Is it impossible for you to work at something for more that 20 minutes? Or do you get so engrossed in what you’re doing that you lose track of time completely?

If you need visual reminders use labels or try introducing colour. You could use assorted colours of Post-it® notes. Things that need to be done immediately will be written on the hot pink Post-it® notes. Things that you need to do, but aren’t urgent, could be written on the buttery yellow notes.  Then place the note where you will see it.  That might be in one central location that you are sure to see every day, like on a memo board in the kitchen. Or, maybe you’ll put the note wherever it is that you need the reminder.  For example, if you have to bring drinks and napkins to the office pot-luck, put the Post-it® on the front door, so you won’t leave the house without seeing the reminder.

But whatever you do, please try to remember that when too many visual clues are left out to jog your memory, eventually a pile of clutter forms.  When that happens, that thing you wanted to be top-of- mind is buried and your visual clue isn’t helping you at all.

If you welcome background noises, indulge yourself. Just because you decide to get organized, doesn’t mean that you have to be miserable while doing so.  And some people just don’t like absolute silence. If you like music, put on the radio or your favourite CD. Tell yourself that you’ll work on sorting out your junk drawer for the length of time it takes to hear three songs.  Maybe you’d rather listen to a CD of nature sounds. Heck, some people like the white noise of their dishwasher!! Whatever it is that makes you feel Zen, use it to set the mood before you get down to the nitty gritty.

If you struggle to stay on task, or time just seems to slip away, set an alarm for yourself.  If you’ve ever meant to give 45 minutes to a task and looked up to see it’s dawn, you’ll appreciate being awoken from your trance-like state.  It gets a bit trickier when you’re inclined to walk away from a challenge after five minutes.  If that’s your story, you might want to try using a visual timer to help you track the timer.  The Time Timer available at Scholar’s Choice might do the trick.

I hope that these tips will answer questions for some of you. As you contemplate your personal circumstances and what it will take to get you organized, remember: there is no right or wrong way to organize. It’s okay to ask for help. Not everyone get’s it.

 

 

More than Tinsel to think about at Christmastime

Doesn’t it sound like I’m going to write about the importance of gratitude and charity? While this time of year does tend to make us more reflective and likely to reach out to friends and family, that’s not the direction I’m heading.

But before I dive into this month’s blog, I have to address those who read my post last month and are expecting Part II on chronic disorganization (CD): with the last shopping weekend before Christmas less than 24 hours away, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to point out some of the things we should be prepared for in the days ahead.  Part II on CD will follow next month. 

So, this is the last weekend that those celebrating Christmas will be able to swarm to the malls. While you may be motivated to brave the crowds to ensure you’ve got the perfect gift for everyone on your list, I can’t pass up the opportunity to draw your attention to a few minor details that may make the following week a bit easier on you.

Holiday meal planning. If you’re planning a big meal, you’ve likely covered all the key components. Remember some of the less-significant parts of entertaining as well. Do you have all the condiments you need? Napkins? Butter? Chairs? Storage containers (so you can offer care packages of leftovers to some of your guests)?

Regular meal planning. With the excitement of party-going, road trips and making merry, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that you will occasionally be home.  When you are, you might not have the time or desire to prepare a full meal. Package and freeze any leftovers.   They’ll come in handy at this hectic time of year, when chaos subsides and you suddenly find yourself needing to feed yourself and your family.

Frozen veggies. Even if this is not something you regularly buy, it doesn’t hurt to have some on hand now.  As I said above, you just don’t know when you’ll find yourself at home. Instead of stocking up on fresh produce that can spoil while you’re out socializing, why not rely on the frozen variety that offers the benefit of an almost indefinite shelf life and the easiest prep imaginable.

What happens behind closed doors. Get your mind out of the gutter!  I’m referring to your daily “personal grooming”. When you’re getting ready to head out to that family dinner at 3 p.m. on December 24, you don’t want to discover that you’ve run out of shampoo, toilet paper, deodorant, or anything of the sort.

Dry cleaning. Be aware of closures. Dry cleaning businesses are often family-run.  They will often close for an extended period of time between Christmas and the new year. If there is something you need to wear over the holiday season, be sure that you’ll be able to get hold of it well in advance of when it’s needed.  

Tis the season to get sick. While this is a time to focus on joy and merriment, the reality is, a lot of people get sick over the holiday season.  It could be a flu, cough, or mild cold. Check your over-the-counter meds to ensure you have everything you need – just in case. Also, try to have clear liquids on hand, such as broth and juice.

Prescriptions.  If you or a loved-one take daily medication, check the quantity currently on hand.  There’s still time to get refills before the drug stores go to reduced hours and you hit the party circuit.

Tape. Despite your best efforts, you still may end up wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve.  Make sure you’ve got enough tape on hand.  Nothing is worse than settling down at 10 p.m. to wrap your gifts and realize there’s no way to get the job done.

Hopefully these tips will save you some frustration over the holidays.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

What is Chronic Disorganization? . . . Is it Contagious?

Chronic disorganization (CD) is not a diagnosis, it is defined by a set of characteristics that fellow organizer Judith Kolberg noticed amongst many of her clients. In 1992 Ms. Kolberg spoke at the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) conference, introducing the concept of chronic disorganization. From there, many other organizers acknowledged that they observed the same characteristics and had similar experiences with many of their clients. 

So, what are the characteristics, you ask? Quite simply, if you have

• Been disorganized most of your adult life,
• Tried, repeatedly, yet unsuccessfully, to get yourself organized
• Don’t respond to conventional organizing methods, or
• Need the intervention of someone else to help get you organized,

you may be experiencing chronic disorganization.  Most importantly, no matter what you do,

Your disorganization is persistent!!!

The causes of CD are many and varied. Poor modeling in one’s formative years, i.e. Mom and Dad never taught me how to do this, can lead to disorganization in one’s adult life. Major life events, such as marriage, divorce, death of a loved one or a move can create the onset of overwhelming pressures that translate into disorganization. In some cases, one’s disorganization can stem from neurologically-based conditions such as ADHD, or traumatic brain injury, or from mental health issues like depression or anxiety. These are just a few examples from a fairly exhaustive list of what can result in the overwhelm that leads to disorganization.

And there is always a caveat. You may be a very organized person who has undergone a major life event and experiences disorganization for a period of time; maybe six months to a year, or longer. No matter how long you experience disorganization or for what reason, the outcome is the same: you feel like you’ve lost control and just can’t regain control of your life, as you once knew it. 

The good news? Help is available . . . Just because you are disorganized now and maybe have been for a long time, doesn’t mean you will, or have to be, disorganized forever. The key to overcoming disorganization is to change, 1. the way you think about your things; and 2. your habits surrounding how you use your things. But like any other change you may want to make in your life, you have to be ready to commit to that change.

No one asks that you embark on this journey alone. Change can be difficult and slow; it’s only natural that you will experience frustration and setbacks along the way.  Support is necessary to stay the course.  Some of the options available to you include one-on-one time with a professional organizer, therapist, (or both), joining a support group, or accessing an online support group.  Whichever option you choose, make sure that you are learning something about yourself and how to do things differently.  That knowledge will be the key to making better decisions for yourself day-to-day.

With so much to offer on this topic, I just might have to turn it into a multi-part series. In the meantime, if you would like more information, please feel free to contact me at chris@homepuzzle.ca or visit www.challengingdisorganization.org.