Scrambling is for Eggs, Not for Paying Bills

Is your bill paying like clockwork or is it more of a random event that happens when panic strikes or a “Final Notice” arrives in the mail? Bill paying is stressful enough without scrambling through piles to find the bills or trying to remember if something was paid or not. The sinking feeling when your insurance was canceled, or a hefty late fee has been added to your bill can be avoided. Here are some Timely Tips to bring peace of mind to your bill paying experience. 

Timely Tips for bill paying peace of mind

1. Gather all your bills together and create a home for them.
For many, who don’t have a designated spot for bills, this is revolutionary step. It’s easy to walk in and toss the mail randomly about. Make sure the home for your bills is easily accessible and visible. It could be near the front door, on your kitchen counter, or in your home office. Use a decorative basket or a table-top or wall-mount file holder. Warning: Don’t mix other mail (coupons, ads, etc.) with the bills to pay. It will take all the will power you can muster to walk the bills to this spot every day, but it will be worth it.

2. Track your bill paying. 
Don’t leave it to memory to know if you paid a bill or not. Create a spreadsheet, use a paper, pencil, and ruler, or click here for a Bill Payment Record. When you pay the bill, record the date and amount paid in the month column. On another sheet list the bills you have on auto pay with the dates those payments are deducted from your account. Store the Bill Payment Record sheets with the bills and you'll be able to see at a glance what's been paid.

3. Create a bill paying schedule. 
Based on income, due dates, and preferences, decide when you’re going to pay bills. Maybe you prefer paying them as they arrive. If not, schedule a couple times per month to sit down and pay bills. Put it on your calendar like a dentist appointment. Set reminders on your phone so you don't miss your scheduled time.You may want to have a Bill Payment Record sheet for those you pay on the first and for those you pay on the 15th of the month. Label them as such.

4. Online assistance 
For bill payment tracking, reminders, and budgeting help consider using one of these top-rated online sites: Mint.com, PersonalCapital.com, YouNeedaBudget.com, or Tillerhq.com. 

5. Resources for kids. 
Give your kids a head start to financial responsibility with one of these teaching tools: Bankaroo.com, DaveRamsey.com, FamZoo.com, or products from Money Savvy Generation. 

6. Prepare for emergency. 
If your kids are adults make sure they, or someone else you trust, has access to your financial records (bill payments, bank accounts, online passwords, etc.) in the event that someone needs to fill in for you. Click here to download a form: Personal Account Information.

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Comical Words

Why must I prove that I am me when I pay bills over the phone? Did someone else call to pay my bills, and if they did, why didn't you let them? --Anonymous 

Three Essential Skills for Life

One of my favorite Mother’s Day cards shows a two-year-old on a potty chair. It says, “Hey Mom! Thanks for teaching me so many wonderful things over the years.” Inside: “Especially that potty training thing. (I can’t tell you how many times that has come in handy!")”

Teaching our kids all those "wonderful things" doesn't come without a price, but we persevere so they become independent, responsible human beings with essential life skills. Here are a few incentives to keep you motivated (since not all benefits are as obvious as the potty training thing).

1. Productivity – As kids learn new skills they contribute more as productive members of the family.

2. Less Stress – Much like a well-run business, a family operates more smoothly when systems are in place and everyone knows what’s expected of them. 

3. Less Supervision Required – With proper training and routines, children execute their tasks more independently. (Less nagging and yelling)

4. Increased Esteem and Unity – Children with responsibilities experience a sense of accomplishment and see themselves as essential to the family unit through their contribution.  

With kids’ outside activities cut down a notch by the pandemic, there’s no better time than now to focus on one of these Timely Tips with your family. 

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Timely Tips - for essential life skills

Time Management – Kids aren’t the only ones who struggle with managing their time. These tips and tools will benefit the entire family.

• Measure how long things take – getting ready in the morning, getting ready for bed, doing homework, household chores, etc. Use this information with your kids to set wake-up times, a time for bedtime prep, and other responsibilities. Use a Time Timer (timetimer.com) as they do their chores and routines to show how much time remains and help them stay on track. 

• Block specific times on a weekly chart for household chores, homework, and daily routines. This helps kids easily see what they need to do and when. Direct kids to the chart (posted in a prominent place) rather than yelling or nagging to keep them on task. Be sure to schedule in free time too.

• Use a digital or wall-type family calendar. Help your kids record and track their activities on the calendar. Set a weekly time to review and update it together. 

Organizing and Maintenance – If your child doesn’t have a natural bent toward organization, the command or request to “clean your room” will mean “push everything out of sight.” These skills require show and tell. Work with your child through these steps. 

• Sort and purge toys, clothes, books, etc. Let go of those things that your child has outgrown or are broken, etc. Do this seasonally or as needed.

• Create homes for the remaining things using labeled drawers, shelves, and containers so it’s clear where everything belongs. 

• Incorporate a Ten-minute Tidy into your child’s evening routine so that the mess stays manageable. Help your child practice placing things from that day (dirty clothes, toys, etc.) where they belong. 

School-age children can manage the Ten-minute Tidy independently once they’ve learned the process. 

Don’t worry, we didn’t make our two-year-old do ALL the yard work.

Family Responsibilities – Kids need to feel like an essential part of the household—because they are. Every person in the family should have assigned, age appropriate chores. Even if you can afford help, make sure your kids learn the basics of cleaning, laundry, meal prep, yard care, etc. 

• When training, give your child realistic and clear expectations. Show your child exactly what the end product should look like whether it’s setting the table, mowing the lawn, or cleaning the toilet.

• Provide the appropriate tools and make them accessible. 

• Show them how to do it and stick around to coach the process until they grasp it. 

• Teach them that the job isn’t complete until the tools, clean laundry, etc. are put away. 

• Rotate chores, but not too frequently. Some consistency is valuable too. 

• Choose a few “over and above” jobs that kids can do for pay but explain that some things we do just because we’re part of a family. 

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Wise Words

You are what you repeatedly do. --Aristotle 

Aristotle's quote speaks to the essential ingredient of consistency. When our kids are repeatedly acting in responsible ways, they will become responsible human beings. Just remember, as Joanna Weaver says, consistency isn't perfection, it's simply not giving up. 

Memory Lane - Under Construction

What do an empty Rainbow Bread bag, red dirt from Oklahoma, and a 45 RPM of Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” have in common? They’re all things I discovered in my memorabilia bins. Being sentimental may seem contrary to being an organizer, but I find it gives me empathy with my clients as they sort through their own assemblage of keepsakes.
 
Sorting memorabilia meets more resistance than most organizing projects. Julie Holland, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, acknowledges that it’s normal to hold on to meaningful possessions. "Sentimental clutter is the adult equivalent of a teddy bear," says Holland. By the way, you can add teddy bear to the bread bag, red dirt, and record list. 
 
During the pandemic, I’ve embarked on my back-burner project of organizing my keepsake bins. Maybe it’s time for yours to move to the front burner too. Here are some Timely Tips from my journey down Memory Lane.

Timely Tips - for Memory Lane reconstruction

Why take the time to organize memorabilia?

• There are precious memories I’d like to revisit. When faced with decades of anniversary, Mother’s Day, and birthday cards, it's not an enjoyable stroll down memory lane.

• I don’t want to burden my kids. If I get bored doing it, which I have at times, I can only imagine what it would be like for my kids after I’m gone. 

• It opens up space. I’m reducing my number of bins—yay!

• It connects me with others. During the process I took pictures of fun things from the past and texted them to friends and family. Like the Mother’s Day card from my son when he was young which read, “You’re as pretty as a cow.” To his defense I had a cow collection back then. A blast from the past can be a good distraction during this challenging time. 

What should I keep?

• What sparks joy? Marie Kondo talks a lot about keeping things that “spark joy.” I found this to be a good measure with keepsakes. I let go of things that aroused memories of struggles or were simply benign. 

• Keep a sampling. The drawback to Kondo’s criteria is that every Mother’s Day card where my kids wrote about how great I was, sparked joy. When that happens, I gather the cards together and chose a sampling from each.  I’ve also kept kept a sampling of things from my grandparents. A couple rocks my grandfather tumbled, one page from his journal, and one apron from each grandma (see pics below). The sampling idea is an excellent solution for collections too.  

• Remember it’s ongoing. Each time I go through things I let go of a little more. With the kids’ college days long gone, three folders went out this round. Don’t hold back from letting go if you’re ready to, but also don’t feel like you have to pare down to nothing on the first go-round. 

How to keep it?

• Use it. Whenever possible I put my keepsakes to use so they’re not tucked in the back of a closet somewhere. My granddaughters play dress-up with my mom’s old costume jewelry and make mud soup with my grandma’s red and white pots and pans. My daughter and I wear my grandmas' aprons every Thanksgiving when we bake pies. I keep a photo of them wearing their aprons in the apron pockets.

• “Spontaneous Reminiscing” One of my clients puts sentimental cards into the books on her bookshelf so she can be “surprised” by them at a later date. 

• Display it. A shadowbox displays my grandfather’s tumbled rocks, diary page, grandma’s birthstone pin, and quilt square. My son's old Tonka truck decorates the yard outside my kitchen window. My teddy bear sits atop the guest bed.

• Store it. I use a small antique suitcase that belonged to my aunt to store some keepsakes. Others are stored in decorative flip-top storage boxes. All are labeled so that it’s clear which era or type of keepsakes are stored inside.

• Book it. Phase two of my keepsake organizing includes photographing items and creating digital photo books. This is a beautiful and space-saving way to remember the past. 

• “My Most Treasured Things” My goal is to single out my most treasured keepsakes (that aren’t used/displayed) and put them in a special bin labeled as such. Then, at the time of my passing, my kids will know they are free to discard everything else without feeling obligated to look through it all. 

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Wise Words

Make choices about your possessions that feel right to you, and remember that some objects are valuable not because of how much they’re worth but because they connect generations and preserve a familial bond. --Nicole Anzia

Virtual Organizing

What is Virtual Organizing?

Virtual Organizing is a great way to ensure the success of your organizing project. I come alongside with an objective, non-judgmental view. My goal is to listen, assist, and advise to help you achieve your goal. We do this via live video (Zoom or FaceTime).

What types of organizing services are provided?

• Consulting: Expert advice on how to organize specific areas in your home or office.

• Purging: Help processing what to keep, toss, donate and sell.

• Organizing: Expert advice on containerizing and creating organizing systems.

• Maintaining: Developing schedules and routines to maintain the organized areas.

What are the benefits of Virtual Organizing?

• Provides critical support and accountability in the organizing process.

• More affordable than hands-on organizing per session (1-hour virtual session vs. 3-hour hands-on session).

• One-hour sessions are easier to manage in your schedule.

 What will I need to get started?

• A computer, tablet or smartphone with internet access

• Complete questionnaire, contract, and payment ($60/one-hour session). 

• Garbage bags/boxes for sorting

• If your physical ability is limited, you’ll want a person on-site to assist you with the lifting or moving of large things, as needed. This could be a friend or family member.

• The motivation, commitment and energy to see the project through, with the help and encouragement of your Expert Organizer of course! 

Time and space are limited based on when the California pandemic restrictions are lifted. For more information or to schedule your appointment call 559-871-3314.

Now & Then with COVID-19

My gratitude journal reflects some activities unlike my pre-cornonavirus days. With the inability to work in clients' homes and the lack of conventional "free time" options, there's opportunity for discovery. 

If you’re still going to work or working from home, you may not have more free time than you did prior to COVID-19. You still have your job, laundry, meals, and if you have kids at home, something you never intended—homeschooling. 
 
We’re all in this together and yet our experiences vary.  Some suddenly have a great deal of togetherness and others complete isolation. Both are challenging but provide the potential for discovery. 

While waiting for the restrictions to lift, consider this: what is happening now that will impact me then? Consider today's Timely Tips and discover some ways that you can #findthegift in these challenging times. 

Timely Tips - from now for then

Financially 

• Mindful shopping— Yes, it’s easier when stores are closed or restricted, but down the road we’ll benefit if we realize we don’t need daily trips to the grocery store or Target. 

• Saving money— If anything, we’ve discovered we’re not in control and we need to have an emergency fund for things in life we can’t predict. When external restrictions lift, continue restraining your spending to establish or replenish your emergency fund.

• Generosity— People everywhere are giving their time, talents, toilet paper, and funds to help those hit hardest by the pandemic. The repercussions of this crisis will continue and so will the need for generosity. (Note the opportunity below.)

Relationally

• Connecting with technology— Maybe you’re using FaceTime or Zoom for the first time to connect with local family and friends you can’t be with. I'm loving reading to my granddaughters on Zoom while they color. Once you can physically reunite with your local folks, consider using this new-found mode of communication to connect with others you rarely see or live far away. 

• Family Time— Okay, so you’ll probably want some space from those you've been cooped up with after this, but during your confinement you're likely discovering some activities you enjoy doing together. Celebrate your liberation with a once/month Family Night. Resurrect those games, puzzles, and activities.

• Neighborhood—Birthday parades, front porch dance-alongs, and Teddy Bear hunts. Everyday someone comes up with a new way to connect in the neighborhood. Instead of leaving them in the dust when the restrictions lift, think about ways you can continue to invest in your community and bring neighbors together. 

Environmentally 

• Organizing Inside— Many who said, “If I’d just stay home, I could get organized,” are! Before life returns to the crazy busy schedule, create a plan to maintain your newly organized space. I’m not talking model home status. Life is messy, but a daily Ten-minute Tidy can help keep clutter at bay.

• Outside Time— Cabin fever gets us outdoors more. People are planting gardens, taking walks, and cycling. A garden is a great way to keep yourself going outside once things return to normal. Make a plan now to continue walking or cycling once you're back at work. Find a partner to walk with or hold you accountable.

GIVE AND RECEIVE!

Please join me in providing food for those in need during this pandemic. The Central California Food Bank feeds over 280,000 people each month. The need is growing and together we can help fill that need. 

For a donation of any amount, receive 20% off your first VIRTUAL ORGANIZING session with Organized By Choice. Virtual Organizing sessions will run until the California COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Click here to donate: CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FOOD BANK

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wise words

Everyone goes through adversity in life, but what matters is how you learn from it. —Lou Holtz

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I acknowledge that for many the “now and then” of this pandemic is painfully life altering. Sickness, death, job loss, and financial hardships are prevalent. My heart and prayers go out for those who are hurting.

Sincerely,

Brenda McElroy CPO®

ORGANIZED BY CHOICE PRODUCTIVITY COACHING

WHY?

There are times in life when we feel stuck or inadequate to accomplish what we desire or need to do. Sometimes that happens when life is super busy. Other times it’s when you have more time on your hands than you’ve had before. It often happens during transitions that create changes in our schedules, responsibilities, relationships, and emotions. The question that looms large is “where do I start?”

WHAT?

• Coaching is a partnership between the coach and client to maximize the client’s potential and help them reach their goals.

• Coaching is about connecting the client’s overall vision and life purpose with practical strategy and meaningful action.

WHAT IS IS NOT?

• Coaching is not simply creating a list of to dos and making sure the client gets it done.

• Coaching is not therapy, nor does it replace therapy.

HOW?

During the coaching phone sessions we partner to:

• Clarify life purpose and goals. (Life Management Assessment filled out prior to first meeting.)

• Identify the value of creating work processes, routines, and systems that compliment the goals.

• Create action plans, accountability, and support to achieve goals.

The real work is done in between sessions. This is an action-oriented program. Attention to the goals and actions the client chooses in the sessions and the effort to implement those goals and actions play a vital role in this endeavor.

WHEN?

The phone coaching sessions are scheduled at an agreed upon time based on the availability of coach and client and will last for 50 minutes.

To learn more or to schedule your Productivity Coaching sessions call Brenda McElroy (559) 871-3314.

"What Ifs" That Bring Hope

Many aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic create a sense of no control. Our minds quickly go to the "what ifs."

• What if I get sick?

• What if I get laid off?

• What if I run out of toilet paper?

Opportunities and choices we had a month ago are suspended. It’s easy to allow the restrictions to create a sense of despair. 
 
I don’t want to minimize the hardship endured by those who have lost loved ones, are dealing with severe health issues, have lost businesses and jobs, or are experiencing the disappointment of postponed graduations, weddings, etc. The extensive effects of this virus are far-reaching and unknown. 
 
However, if our focus remains on the negative “what ifs,” our condition worsens. We need more than a positive attitude about things, we need a paradigm shift.

Today’s Timely Tips are designed to provide hope for positive change and equip you to take charge of things that are within your control.

Timely Tips - “what ifs” that create hope for positive change

1. What if you got healthier?
Eating chips and ice cream while binge-watching Netflix may be the natural response to the crisis, but what if you chose to respond differently? Think moderation…

• Don’t cancel cable, but chose to do a 20-minute yoga, cardio, or dance video before you sit down to an evening with your favorite shows. Stand up and stretch between episodes.

• Don’t forbid snacking, but chose to place your snacks in a smallish bowl rather than bringing the whole bag of chips to the couch.

• Don’t deny yourself a nap, but set a timer so it doesn’t mess with your night-time sleep.

• While working at your desk, obey your Apple watch when it says, “Time to Stand!” Or, set phone reminders to stand up every couple hours. While you’re up, drink a glass of water. 

• Go outside for a little while each day. Studies show 15 minutes of sunshine provides your body with necessary Vitamin D that can help fight off disease and flu. 

2. What if your family grew closer?
The novelty of sheltering in place wears off quickly, and then what? Life before COVID-19 was too busy for many things that can draw couples and families closer together, but things are different now.

• Have a Family Meeting. Gather everyone’s input as to what will make the time together at home manageable and even fun. Together come up with guidelines to help maintain order, protect individual private time, create unity, and ensure some fun.

• Do things you're normally too busy for. Eat meals together, play cards and board games, ride bikes, or take walks.

• Take Virtual Field Trips: Mrs. Fahrney's List; Discovery Education; Travel Zoo National Parks 

• Research and plan your next vacation together.

• Try some of these - Boredom Busters: 110 Fun At-Home Activities for Families & Kids

• Learn together: Coding for Kids; PBS Learning Media; Family Education Teacher Vision 

3. What if your relationships with others grew too?
Due to Social Distancing, in-person visits are curbed, but thanks to the internet, you can still reach out and connect.  

• Use FaceTime or online apps like Zoom for virtual meetups. Churches, schools and clubs are creating opportunities for virtual connections so you won’t become isolated while confined to home.

• Search online for support or special interest groups that will broaden your base of relationships while connecting with those who share similar interests or concerns.

• Don’t forget the old-fashioned phone call, especially to connect with the seniors in your life.

4. What if you were more productive with your time?
More time at home doesn’t automatically mean getting more done. But it can! Since we don’t have the external structure and accountability of the workplace, it takes some planning. 

• Make a list of 5-10 things you need/want to accomplish. 

• Next to each item, record the value of getting it done.

• Based on their value choose the top three.

• Move the top three to a new list and record the next steps for each project.

• Decide the days/times you’ll work on them and put it on your calendar.

• Give yourself a deadline and create a reward for when you reach it.  

• If any of your projects have to do with organizing, be sure to tap into my Organized By Choice Blog Page. You may “Search” key words for various rooms and topics. 

5. What if you felt more peace and less anxiety?
If you’re feeding your mind with continual news on the pandemic and politics, you’re going to be stressed. 

• Set limits for when and how long you read, view or listen to the newsfeed. 

• Choose activities that help you de-stress—listening to music, getting outside, praying, watching an old classic movie, exercising, reading, or eating dark chocolate (one my favorites).

• Get some things marked off your to do list.

• Be grateful. Begin or end each day pondering or journaling about things you have to be thankful for. If specific people are on your list, let them know! 

• Be proactive helping others through this stressful time. Donate blood, volunteer at the food bank, join a team sewing protective masks, or check in on at-risk neighbors who may need a grocery run. 

CHOOSE ONE 
Before moving on, review the tips and choose one. Start with the thing that's least intimidating to you, or the thing you feel most passionate about. Let me know how it goes!

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On a personal note...

I truly believe these tips and tools are helpful in coping during these challenging times, but for me, my deepest and constant peace comes from my relationship with Jesus. The song below expresses my heart and the truths that I hold fast in life. Please give a listen…

wise words

“What if we stopped saying 'what if' and started saying 'let's.'” 
―Jeff Goins

We All Do It

Sometimes when I’m shopping I have random thoughts like, “Everyone in this store made a choice about what to wear today.” For some, it was a painstaking decision due to an abundance of options or, it was based on the events of the day. For others, the choice was determined by what was clean or on top of the pile. I admit sometimes thinking, “Hmm, that was an interesting choice.”

It strikes me how, as different as we all are, we have many commonalities when it comes to daily living and the challenges thereof. 
 
Today’s Timely Tips focus on four things we all do, and ways to streamline them. Similar to the diversity of humankind, there are many methods of organizing, so please don’t consider any of these the one right way.

If your method is working for you, don’t fix what’s not broken. If your peace and productivity could be enhanced by a little organization, consider implementing one or more of these Timely Tips. 

Timely Tips - for streamlining daily living

1. Getting Dressed - If you’re scrambling to get out the door and choosing what to wear is slowing you down, try categorizing your clothes.

• Remove sizes and styles you're not currently wearing.

• Place off-season clothes to the far side of the closet or containerize them on a shelf, or under the bed.

• Divide the in-season clothes into work, play, and special occasion sections.

• Color code each section.

• If you’re retired, clear out the career clothes and donate them to someone who currently needs them. 

You'll notice a big difference when you're no longer sifting through combined seasons, sizes, and work/play clothes. Extra space is the reward for removing what's not needed.

Processing Mail— Before your paper pile gets shoved into a drawer (again), create homes and routines for the mail and other papers. Since you can’t see anything but the top of a paper pile, think vertical is visible, and horizontal is hidden.

• Place a wall-mount or table-top file holder in the hub of your home.

• Create folders for Action Items, Bills to Pay, Events, etc.

• Daily sort the incoming mail and papers into your folders and immediately put the recyclables into a nearby receptacle.

This will keep your flat surfaces clear and allow you to easily find your papers when you need them. No more late fees due to lost bills!

Laundry— Whether you’re a “do a load a day” person, or one that likes to do a week’s worth on one day, the challenge is to get the clean laundry to its home. If its default home is a pile on the bed, or the couch, or worse yet gets moved to the floor, it’s a constant visual of more work yet to be done. This can be more draining that actually taking care of it.

• As the laundry comes out of the dryer place it on a large flat surface, like the bed.

• Sort it into categories—shirts, pants, undies, towels, etc.

• Create sub-categories as needed for various family members.

• Bring hangers to your laundry station and hang/fold the various categories.

• You can also distribute the categories to individual family members for the final step.

Complete the process with each load as it comes out of the dryer. It’s much less overwhelming than dealing with a mountain of clean laundry.

In ‘n Out— We all have stuff that comes and goes with us. Finding your keys, purse, or wallet, can be a stressful chore when you’re trying to head out the door.

• Attach some decorative hooks to the wall near the door for keys, purses, and backpacks. Or, use a practical system as pictured. 

• Designate a nearby drawer or tray for wallets and pocket contents.

• Place a decorative basket by the door for the reusable grocery bags, library books, dry cleaning, and other items that need to go out with you. 

Routines--  Essential to your success with any of these tips is using the systems routinely. None of us do it perfectly, but as Joanna Weaver says, “Consistency doesn’t mean perfection; it simply means not giving up.” 

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Wise Words

"Organizing is what you do before you do before you do it, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up."
― A.A. Milne

Swedish What??

During December there was much feasting and joy as we celebrated Christmas with family and friends. Those gatherings, however, were quickly followed by trips to Oklahoma and Placerville for the memorial services of a dear Aunt and Uncle. We celebrated their lives and rejoiced knowing they live on in their heavenly home, but the finality of life on earth is sobering and, as Solomon says, creates more contemplation than the days of feasting. 
 
One of the realities for those left behind is the fact that we can’t take it with us. Many in the Boomer generation have inherited a houseful and are contemplating the overwhelming task that their children will face someday. 
 
The Swedes have taken this to heart. Last year Margareta Magnusson, a Swedish author and artist, came out with a book called The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter. They call it döstädning. Döis “death” and städningis “cleaning.”

Magnusson explains, “It is a word used when you or someone else does a good, thorough cleaning and gets rid of things to make life easier and less crowded.”
 
While I don’t recommend buying her book for your 97-year-old mother, expecting her to independently complete the process, I do support the system and recommend doing it with your own belongings sooner than later. Here are your TIMELY TIPS.

Timely Tips - from Margareta and me to free yourself and your family from a lifetime of clutter

1. Begin with your closet or other areas that are typically (but not always) less sentimental. 

2. Ask yourself: Will anyone be happier if I save this? Consider the tastes and lifestyles of those who will inherit your belongings. Our photo books (not albums) are a definite keep for those who follow us, but other things... not so much. 

3. Is it currently being stored in the garage or storage unit where no one sees it? This is actually my question. It doesn't mean that treasures are never stored, but if you don't care about seeing them, most likely, the next generation won't either. 

4. Don't rush through. Spend time on memory lane appreciating the various items you've used throughout your life. Say good-bye to the things you no longer need or use. 

5. Record the stories. Make videos on your phone, or type out the stories behind the heirlooms you want to pass along. This enhances their value to the next generation.

6. Present valued items that you're ready to part with to your friends and family as gifts. This is especially meaningful if you know they admire something. When my parents were downsizing, they hosted a "Pick & Choose Party" and invited us to take the things we treasured most.

7. Create a Throwaway Box. These are private things that have meaning to you, but wouldn't have meaning to someone else. Label your box with instructions to be destroyed once you're gone. 

8. Prepare end of life documents. If you, through illness or death, are suddenly unable to speak for yourself, your wishes and legal documents will be in place. For more on this see my blog: One Last Gift.

9. Talk about it with others. Not only is it an intriguing topic for conversation, it will build accountability for your project. 

10. Not a one-and-done activity. I don't know anyone who has died from organizing. So, assuming you survive, you'll continue to accumulate things. Consider these principles as an on-going lifestyle.

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Wise Words

“Do not ever imagine that anyone will wish—or be able—to schedule time off to take care of what you didn’t bother to take care of yourself. No matter how much they love you, don’t leave this burden to them.” 
― Margareta Magnusson

Restore the Joy of Giving

What would you do with $730 billion? That’s what Americans are forecast to spend on the holiday season this year. The gift-giving category tends to rank high on the expense and stress scale, so today we’ll look at ways to restore the joy of giving. With less than four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there’s no time like the present to plan your presents. 

Timely Tips - to restore the joy of giving

Schedule 
The following ideas might be appealing, but unless you schedule time for them, you’ll likely succumb to the holiday craze and by-pass these stress reducers. Schedule time on your calendar to budget, plan, shop (online/in-store), wrap, ship, etc. 

Over-all Budget
Don’t feel pressured to spend your share of the $730 billion. I don’t know anyone who has ever regretted living within their means.

• Calculate what you can afford to spend on gifts this year without going into debt. This may not reduce your December stress, but come January you’ll be much more joyful!

• For extra accountability, cash out the amount you’ve designated and stop shopping when it’s gone. 

List

• Create a list of the people you’re giving gifts to, such as: family, friends, staff, co-workers, bosses, neighbors, hostess and party gifts, teachers, service providers, a couple generic gifts for unexpected or overlooked recipients. (Don't feel obligated to include ALL of these!)

• Store your list on your phone or carry a paper copy in your purse or car, so you have it with you and can refer to and update it as needed.

• As gift ideas pop into your head, record them on your list. 

• Click here for list template from Real Simple

Person-specific Budget

• Based on your Over-all Budget set a maximum amount for each recipient and record it next to each name.  

• As you purchase gifts record the amount spent. 

Store/Wrap/Ship

• Designate a specific place to store gifts until they’re wrapped, so you don’t lose or forget to give one.

• Create a wrap station (even if it’s temporary) for your wrap, gift bags, ribbon, scissors, tape, gift tags, pen, and shipping boxes.

• Schedule a couple wrap sessions, since it often takes longer than expected, or wrap gifts as they’re purchased. It’s much easier to do that when the supplies are handy.

• Prioritize the gifts you need to ship and make December 15th your "ship by" date.

Shop Smart

• Try Wednesdays and weekday mornings for shopping with less crowds.

• Map your route before you go, based on your list.

• Ask for gift receipts to put with your gifts and save your paper receipts in an envelope.

• Create an email folder to store electronic receipts.

• Shop Fair Trade - Tagua in Fresno and Clovis features a wide variety of home décor and personal accessories, each with a story of industrious artisans whose craft enables them to feed their families, find shelter in safe housing, and send their children to school.

Ways to Save

• Consider drawing names instead of giving to everyone in the family or at the office.

• Go together on gifts for parents, bosses, etc.

• Use the Honey Browser Extension to find and apply promo codes to your online purchases. 

• Join Amazon Prime

• Watch for free shipping and price-matching offers from major stores’ websites.

Give Respectfully

The people I work with don’t want more stuff. Unless it’s maybe a label maker. The Baby Boomers are trying to get rid of stuff and young families are drowning in toys.

• Be aware of and respect your recipients’ desires. 

• Invite the people on your list to share their Amazon “wish lists” with you or use Pinterest.com or Clipix.com to save and share gift ideas online with friends and family.

• Consider these non-cluttering gifts: a donation to a charity in honor of the recipient, a gift certificate (massage, yard care, etc.), concert or event tickets, zoo passes, or restaurant and movie gift cards. 

• Consider a de-cluttering gift-- Organized By Choice Gift Certificate.

• Let your presence be your present. My sister and I give each other “Lunch and Labor” gifts. The recipient gets to choose a project to work on together (sort photos, organize attic, clean light fixtures, etc.).

• One gift that is always a winner is a photo book. It doesn’t take up much space, it preserves treasured memories, and it brings a smile to the recipient’s face.

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Wise Words
For it is in giving that we receive. --Saint Francis of Assisi

It's worth a try!

Given my bent toward organizing, which requires change, I’m a little more comfortable with change than some of my family members. Awhile back I suggested the idea of changing where we store our dinnerware and glasses. When meal prep and table setting, or dishwasher emptying happen at the same time, we were in each other’s way. Despite my rational explanation, I was met with resistance. It’s funny how instead of changing, we tend to stay with what’s comfortable. Even if it’s not.

A couple Sundays ago, I overruled the opposition and announced I was going to do an experiment. I would change where we store our dinnerware and we’d test it out for the month of October. The response was minimal, thanks to football being on TV.

I headed into the kitchen to make the swap. The cabinet closest to the dinner table stored vitamins, meds, and some snack foods. That became my target since we wouldn’t need access to these during meal prep. The medicine and dinnerware cabinets weren’t exactly the same size, so I soon realized this was going to effect more than just two cabinets. In fact, I got a little carried away and ended up working on eight cabinets and a drawer.

As I purged and organized, I rehearsed these Timely Tip Questions that I often ask my clients. Most fit with any area of organizing and dramatically increase efficiency and accessibility.

Timely Tips for positive change

1. Do you need as many as you have? Unlike prior years, I tend to use disposable plates, and cups I can write names on when serving large groups. I chose not to get rid of my extra dishes and glasses, but I put them up high in another cabinet and kept only what we need for everyday use in the accessible cabinet.

2. Is the shelving positioned for maximum use? Adjusting the shelves made all the difference for fitting the dinnerware and glasses into the new cabinet. I lowered the top two shelves creating a narrow one in the middle for bowls and making the glasses easy to reach.

3. Are you keeping like things together? Sometimes “keeping like things together” can mean different things. I had been keeping my mugs with dinnerware and glasses. Now I have them near the coffee supplies and Keurig, also “like things” and more convenient.

4. Can it be containerized more efficiently? I replaced the two-level turn table with a small bin for my husband’s meds and a larger one for allergy/cold medicine, pain killers, etc. I used a handled bin so it could be easily retrieved from the inside corner of the cabinet.

5. Is it expired? I’m always surprised how many medications have expired when I go through them.

6. Does this fit your current needs and lifestyle? I’m not making bread anymore so the bread slicer—gone. Farm animals haven’t been my kitchen theme for years, so cow salt and pepper shakers—gone.

7. Is it earning it’s keep? Sorry, salad spinner, I’m back to drying lettuce by hand.

8. Is it worth the space it’s taking? I liked my Christmas pedestal cake stand, but it took too much valuable space for the amount of pleasure and use it provided.

9. Can it be repurposed? The container of grandkids’ cups had more than needed. Since many first belonged to my own kids (I’m a little sentimental), I decided to repurpose them to the patio for the grandkids to use when they make mud pies. That way I can still see them sometimes.

10. Have you ever used it? Silicone lids seemed like a good idea at the time, but nope, never used them—out they went.

11. Did you buy a replacement, but keep the original? When my travel cups leaked, I purchased new ones. The old went to a high shelf as back-ups, but were never used. Good-bye!

Everything that was usable, was donated to one of my favorite non-profit Thrift Stores-- Thrift on Blackstone. Win for me and win for them!

Is there an area in your home that causes you frustration? If nothing changes, nothing changes. Use the above questions to guide your organizing process. Yes, it will get messier before it gets better, but “everything is hard before it is easy.”

Wise Words

“Everything is hard before it is easy.” –Goethe

Postscript— Habits are hard to break. Once we quit opening the wrong cabinets before finding what we need, I’m confident that we’ll feel pleased with the benefits. Which is a good thing because come November, it’s not going back the way it was. But don’t tell them!

I used to be organized!

I loved tucking in my kids when they were young. When they were older, I remember thinking, “When and how did it stop?” It’s not like you decide and say, “OK, this is the last week I’ll be tucking you in.” It just sort of happens.

Becoming disorganized can be like that too. It’s not an intentional choice. “OK, this is the week I’m going to stop putting things away.” Or, “As of today I’m going to start buying more than I need and save everything.” Yet, it happens. Many of my clients begin our first encounter with, “I used to be organized!”

I remember a conversation with a woman who had cleaned out her deceased grandmother’s home. There were signs of hoarding as she sorted through layers and layers of stuff. Recalling the process, she said, “When I got to the bottom layer of clutter, I noticed it was from the year my grandmother was forced to retire.” That is not insignificant. Transitions, good and bad, are often catalysts to disorganization.

Some people stop being organized when physical challenges arise—surgery, cancer, disease. For others, it’s triggered by mental or emotional health issues—brain injury, memory loss, anxiety, grief, or depression. However, it’s not only negative circumstances that introduce disorganization. Having kids, starting a new job, or moving to a new house can create chaos as well.

So, we know what stops organization. How do you restart? Begin the process by looking back to a time when you were more organized. Chances are you had some of these Timely Tips in place.

Timely Tips - from a time when you were more organized

1. There was less stuff. Due to shopping therapy or additional people in the home, there might be way more stuff. Less is still more when it comes to a peaceful and productive environment. Scale back to what you need, use, and love. Donate the rest!

2. You had a home for everything. That’s a lot easier task when you have less stuff (see tip #1). Make sure you’re putting things you use most often in accessible places, especially if your challenged physically. Store like things together and label shelves, bins, etc.

3. You put things away. If you don't have homes for things, you can't put them away (see tip #2). When you’re stressed and hurried it’s easy to let things slide. The problem is, that two-minute task of putting the dishes in the dishwasher or hanging up your clothes becomes an overwhelming project when left undone for several days or weeks. So, if it takes less than two minutes, do it now!

4. You had routines. At work there’s a system for processing paperwork. At home it’s often a different story. Even in retirement, more time doesn’t always translate into better organization, but routines do. Create routines to support the daily tasks that are necessary for maintaining organization.

Depending on the severity of the circumstances that stopped you from being organized, you need to give yourself grace in the process of getting reorganized. You may need help, even to do things you were at one time completely capable of. Left unchecked, clutter and chaos will grow along with your stress and anxiety. Becoming disorganized doesn’t happen by choice, but getting organized is always a choice. You CAN get ORGANIZED BY CHOICE and regain peace and productivity! If I can be of service, give me a call at 559-871-3314.

wise words

A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided. —Anthony Robbins

For Your Driving Pleasure

As I drive around the Central Valley, people see “Organized By Choice” on my back window. Years ago, I attended a network meeting where I received some free publicity from someone who walked past my car in the parking lot. She announced to everyone that even the inside of my car is well-organized! Until then, I hadn’t thought about the inside publicizing my skills like the outside does. I was glad that I practice what I preach!

Many of us spend a lot of time in our cars. Without some intentional planning and follow-through it can be frustrating not having access to what you need, or fighting the clutter. It can also get gross, tossing fast food garbage in the back and forgetting about it until the odor reminds you, or it gets in the way of a passenger.

Today's TIMELY TIPS provide ideas for systems and tools to make your drive a pleasure.

Timely Tips - for your driving pleasure

1. Familiarize yourself with the built-in storage your car offers. Car sales people spend more time selling a car on its technology, safety, and comfort than on the storage compartments it provides. Glove compartments are standard, but yours may have undiscovered glasses storage, armrest and other storage areas. Find them and use them!

2. Maximize the storage areas you have with console organizers. You can purchase ones that are molded to your car, or just use Ziplocs and other small containers to separate and organize the contents such as hand sanitizer, sunscreen, insect repellent, and coins.

3. Designate specific homes for items like your vehicle registration and insurance information. An expandable pouch stored in the glove compartment or center console makes it easy to find these items when needed. You can also store service records and coupons here.

4. If your pick-up doubles as storage for tools and hunting gear, you may consider transforming the dead space under the seats into storage with a DU-HA under seat storage compartment.

5. Trunk organizers provide storage for jumper cables, flares, and first aid kits as well as compartments to keep groceries from sliding around. You can purchase headrest hooks that enable you to hang grocery bags, backpacks, and jackets by the back seat.

6. Keep it clean with a designated place for trash. This hanging trash can also provides a place for tissues and a cup holder which could be used for wipes or hand sanitizer. (I ordered one for my car this week!) On her website, OneGoodThingbyJillee.com, Jillee recommends repurposing a plastic cereal container by lining it with a plastic bag and using it as a car trash can. Another clever Jillee idea is to line your cup holders with silicone muffin cups. You can pop them in the dishwasher when they get messy.

7. If you taxi babies/kids you'll need an emergency supply of diapers, wipes, undies, clothes, carsick pouches, etc. as well as a place for activities and snacks. Keep a few Ziplocs for wet, messy, or soiled items. These behind the seat organizers containerize and keep things accessible.

8. Store your reusable grocery bags or bins in a designated area of your car or trunk. Get into the habit of putting them back into the car right away so they're available when you need them. My favorite “bags” for grocery and Costco runs are the collapsible bins and nylon totes from CleverMade.

9. Tired of things slipping through the cracks? Plug up the gaps with carseat gap organizers. Store things you want easy access to and end the frustration of digging between seats for dropped items.

Getting your car prepped and organized is all for naught if you don’t have a maintenance plan. Place a trash can in the garage near the car so it’s simple to empty the car trash daily or every other day. When you arrive at home, survey the front and back seats and bring in everything that doesn’t need to stay. Place items you’ve used into their designated homes. If traveling with kids, make sure they bring in their water bottles, backpacks, etc. That will help make your next trip a pleasure!

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CAR QUOTE
If everything comes your way, you're in the wrong lane.

New Designation!

Just wanted to share my recent certification. It's a step that demonstrates my commitment to excellence in the organizing industry. If you’d like to learn more about this credential, click here.

The Tyranny of Clutter

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These words were penned as the colonists of 1776 sought and fought for freedom. The British Parliament made every attempt to thwart their success. Following the Boston Tea Party, they established military rule in Massachusetts, even requiring the colonists to house British troops. Freedom wasn’t just a theory for political discussion, it dramatically altered their quality of life and revolutionized the future. That’s what freedom does.

Freedom, as defined by Merriam-Webster is:

• the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action

• the liberation from the power of another

• the state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous

• unrestricted use

Despite the freedoms we now enjoy as a result of our nation’s independence, there are other issues that have potential to enslave us. Could freedom from the tyranny of clutter alter your quality of life and revolutionize your future?

Today's Timely Tips take a look at the definition of freedom as applied to a cluttered environment and offer four points to consider when choosing freedom.

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Timely Tips - for freedom from the tyranny of clutter

Freedom is the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice. Is clutter constraining your choices?

• Can you choose to have people over whenever you desire? Does clutter keep you from hosting at holidays?

• Can you choose what to wear from your entire wardrobe, or are the clothes piles reducing your options?

• Would you like to move, but feel anchored in place by your clutter?

• Do you feel coerced into paying for additional storage?

Freedom is the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in action. Is clutter constraining your actions?

• Are unable to pay your bills on time due to paper piles?

• Have you given up on your hobby because your craft room or garage is a catch-all?

• Are you postponing a vacation or social activities because you feel like you should rather be home clearing the clutter?

Freedom is the liberation from the power of another. Do you need liberation from powerful behaviors?

• Is shopping therapy your go-to when you need a quick pick-me-up?

• Do you hang on to everything in case you or your kids might need it someday?

• Does guilt over what you spent on stuff keep you from letting it go, even when you’re not using it?

Freedom is the state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous. Is the thought of decluttering onerous?

• Do you feel overwhelmed?

• Are you drowning in your clutter?

• Do you long for a clutter-free existence, but it seems like an impossible task?

• Have you tried and failed?

Freedom is unrestricted use. Is clutter restricting the functionality of your home?

• Is it impossible to complete a task without spending hours looking for something you need and know you own, but can’t find?

• Are you using only the front layer of things in your cabinets or freezer, because they’re impacted and you have no idea what’s in the back?

If you answered "YES" to any of the above, then your freedom is constrained by your clutter. Here are four points to consider when choosing your freedom.

1. What’s contributing to the problem?

• Behaviors, habits and routines or lack thereof

• No systems in place

• No established homes for things

• No criteria for letting go

• Lack of organizing skills

• Physical or emotional challenges

• Other

2. What do I need to combat the clutter?

• Designated time for project planning and implementation

• Clear how-to instructions for decluttering and creating homes and systems

• Disperse, dispose, and donate discards

• Commitment to follow through and maintenance

3. What do I do when that’s not enough?

• Stop beating yourself up for not being able to do it on your own—that’s counterproductive.

• Get help! Not all of us play piano by ear or have technical talents by nature. Neither are we all natural-born organizers. When we need skills that aren’t instinctive, we get help.

• Sometimes friends and family can help, but other times they can be pushy and judgmental in the process. A professional organizer offers expertise and hands-on assistance with patience and understanding.

4. You have a choice!

• You aren’t trapped in the tyranny of clutter.

• Change is possible even in the most contrary conditions.

• Choose to be free today!

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To locate a professional organizer in your area, go to the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals website: NAPO.net. In the California Central Valley you may contact me at (559) 871-3314 or at info@organizedbychoice.com .

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WISE WORDS
Every human has four endowments - self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... The power to choose, to respond, to change. --Stephen Covey

What do your books deserve?

My granddaughters LOVE books! I recently pulled out the American Girl series that belonged to their mom when she was little. While reading Meet Samantha to them, I realized my heart connection to that series wasn’t the books themselves, it was to the era of life with my own book-loving children.
 
Even though I wouldn’t call myself an avid reader, I still love books and probably have a few too many. How about you? Are books spilling off your shelves? Are there boxes of books in your garage or storage? What is this connection we have to books and why are we so resistant to letting go? 
 
Laura Lippman is a novelist. In her article, “The Book Fairy,” (Real Simple Sept. 2018) she presents an interesting observation. People tend to define us by what they see on our bookshelves. From the time she left college with six cartons of books, she continually added until, at one point, her home, a storage unit, and the anteroom in her office were full. 
 
Early in 2017 something changed. “I found myself looking at my shelves and realizing they were not, in fact, a mirror,” says Lippman. “If anything, they were a carefully curated and alphabetized lie.” The question changed from “What do my books say about me?” to “What do I have to say about my books?” 
 
 “Books,” Lippman decided, “deserve to be read, not preserved on shelves where they won’t be cracked open again in one’s lifetime.” She developed a clever and somewhat mysterious way of sharing her books. “It’s a mitzvah to pass along titles that I love,” she says, “a way of playing matchmaker between great writers and avid readers.” You can read about it online at www.realsimple.com/work-life/how-to-get-rid-of-books.
 
If, like Lippman, you’re ready to give your books what they deserve, follow these five Timely Tips. 

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Timely Tips - to organize your books

1. SPACE - Determine ahead how much space you're willing to allot to books. Maybe it's one or two books shelves. Maybe it a room devoted as a library. You decide and then choose to live within those boundaries. 

2. PURGE & SORT - Rule #1: Don’t start reading as you’re organizing. You’ll never finish the job!

Remove the books from their shelves, boxes, piles, etc. Sort into keep, donate, and sell (if desired). Criteria for books to keep might include rare/collectibles, favorite authors, not yet read, life-changing, etc. 
 
If your “I might read this someday” pile is huge, you most likely won’t. Chances are your interests have changed and there are current-interest books in your Amazon shopping cart waiting to replace them. For books you insist you’ll read, store them on a designated shelf with a read-by deadline. If you haven’t pulled them out to read by then, let them go. 
 
Consider also the ease and availability to replace a book if you let it go and change your mind. Is it available at the library or on Amazon Prime? If it’s a resource book, can you find the information another way? Online perhaps?
 
3. DISTRIBUTE - Remembering Lippman’s motto “Books deserve to be read.” Here are some ways to share your bounty:

• Sell Online— www.bookmooch.com, www.bookscouter.com, www.sellbackyourbook.com, www.bookstores.com, Amazon Trade-In Program

• Sell to Used Book Stores—Book Nook, Hart’s Haven, A Book Barn

• Donate to Friends of the Library

• Donate to Thrift Stores—Salvation Army, Neighborhood Thrift, Rescue Mission Thrift, Thrift on Blackstone

4. CREATE HOMES - Once you’ve paired down to what you’ll read and cherish, consider the best placement. Cookbooks, craft books, children’s books, study books, and “coffee table” books should be placed in appropriate rooms according to use and ease of accessibility. 
 
Bookshelves can be organized a number of ways:

• Alphabetically – by author or title

• Genre – fantasy, mystery, science fiction, history, self-help, etc.

• Color or Height – aesthetically pleasing 

• Chronologically – by publication date, historical events, etc.

• Frequency of Use – use easy access shelves for most-used books 

A large number of books will require a more detailed system, perhaps combining some of the methods above. 
 
Line up your books an inch or two from the outside edge. This will give your shelves a clean and organized look and allow air to circulate behind your books to prevent mold. Place large, heavy books at the bottom and bolt or strap all bookshelves to the wall to avoid injuries.
 
5. READ AND ENJOY!

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WISE WORDS
Books deserve to be read. --Laura Lippman

BD's Ten-Step Venture

In March when I asked you all, “What’s working for you?” I got a response that combined so many great strategies, I asked if I could share it. 
 
Dear Brenda,
 
I appreciate your articles so much! You asked what works for us. This year I am decluttering for Lent. I took 40 before photos. Each day I pick one and take an after photo when it's done. I have a friend who is doing similar projects her own way, with me, and I send my photos to her daily for accountability. We take Sundays off.
 
I started out taking the before photos as I went, but I'd be well into a project before I remembered, so I thought I'd just go ahead and take them all. The unexpected benefit is that I can pick at areas not scheduled for the day as I pass by, and sometimes by the time I get to a photo, its area is already almost done. 
 
So, one drawer, one corner, one pile of clutter at a time. I could probably take another 50 photos, since they are fairly specific. I hope I will continue after Easter until it's done, but for now, it seems to be fairly do-able and I'm enjoying the progress. The combination of a plan, Lent, and accountability is actually working for me.
 
Marie [Kondo] is about sparking joy, but I am finding it to be more about peace. I used to feel overwhelmed, but now I can just do my daily task and be done. The clutter still stresses me, but I can tell it that its day is coming, and I know that it will. I started with easy projects, and it's getting harder, but I've also gained some experience. 
 
I'm finding it's good to do drawers first, so that I can put things away that I want to keep, but a tidy dresser drawer doesn't give me the little thrill in the morning that my nearly bare nightstand does, so I sprinkle in some projects that show. Last night I got rid of the whole pile of clothes that need mending or altering in one swoop. It is such a relief to not have to procrastinate all that sewing anymore!   --BD

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Timely Tips - BD's Ten Steps

BD's organizing venture can be broken down into 10 easy-to-follow steps:
 

1. Choose a start date. “Someday” is not a day of the week. Put your start date on the calendar. 

2. Choose an end date. When we know there’s an end coming, we persevere more easily. BD chose the 40 days of Lent. 

3. Schedule in some days off.

4. Choose small, one-day projects-- “one drawer, one corner, one pile.” List them on the days you’ve chosen for your over-all venture. Begin with easy tasks and don’t schedule overwhelming ones. 

5. Take before photos of each project area. 

6. Secure an accountability partner. Preferably one who is simultaneously working toward a similar goal.

7. Daily – do the organizing and send the before/after photos to your accountability partner. 

8. If desired, keep going. If you’re on a roll and want to organize an area not on that day’s agenda—go for it! 

9. Do some drawers first, so you have places to put things you’re keeping, but sprinkle in some areas that show to keep yourself motivated. 

10. When stressed by the remaining clutter tell it, “Your day is coming!”

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Wise Words

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? ―Vincent Van Gogh

Small Efforts, Big Effects

The other day I was putting away an extension cord. I opened the closet, looked up at the container, which is higher than I can reach, and almost tossed it on the floor and closed the door. 
 
Robert Collier said, “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” Staying organized requires many small efforts.

We're often better at this at work—returning files to file drawers, shredding documents rather than making a pile by the desk, leaving common areas clean after use, etc. We expect public places like grocery stores to abide by a standard of excellence that often exceeds our own at home.

We don’t want to have to search through a pile of canned goods at the store to find the Cream of Chicken Soup. It should be on the soup shelf next to the Cream of Mushroom with a label underneath, right? 
 
It’s not that we WANT to search through piles of random stuff in our own homes but, neither do we want to do that which prevents the piles and keeps things organized. It’s those “small efforts” Collier referenced that have big effects when it comes to keeping clutter to a minimum. 
 
What stopped me from wanting to put away the extension cord? Getting a step stool from the laundry room. How hard is that? Not very. Sometimes the small effort is having the right product in place. Other times, it’s practicing a simple routine.

Here are five Timely Tips to combat clutter.

Timely Tips for Big Effects

Step Stools– This is a simple fix to the “it’s too high to put away” excuse. Purchase a few of the plastic fold-up step stools that can slide into a 2-inch space, like the one pictured above. Strategically place them in or very near closets with high shelving. Slide one between the fridge and cabinet in the kitchen and between the washer and dryer if you have tall cabinets there. You’ll be empowered to make the small effort to put away the high stuff. 

Recycling Bins– Are there magazines, newspapers, catalogs, and ads piled around your easy chair? Is the entry table stacked with recyclable mail? Do empty soda cans amass on the kitchen counter? What about your home office desk or bathroom? Do each of these areas have a receptacle for items that need recycling? It doesn’t have to be a big blue bin with the recycle emblem stamped on the side. Choose baskets or containers that looks appropriate for the location and place them wherever you tend to create recyclable materials. Check out how Chas used Dollar Store wall art to decorate her recycle bin: Chas' Crazy Creations. 

Remove Stuff From Bags– You already have a routine of taking your groceries out of their bags before putting them in the fridge. Copy that routine for everything else you buy. Whenever you toss a shopping bag of stuff into the pantry, closet, or drawer, you’re likely to forget what’s in it, not be able to find the stuff when you need it, and ultimately create clutter by purchasing more to replace it. Small effort – remove stuff from bags and place it intentionally where it belongs. 
 

Ten-minute Tidy– Take ten minutes before you go to bed to tidy up your living space. You know, the little pile you dumped on a chair when you returned home, a few dishes on the countertop, the popcorn bowl on the coffee table. Done daily, a few minutes of tidying means no major, overwhelming task at the end of the week, month, or year. Truly big effects, for a small effort. 
 

Two-minute Rule–You use the scotch tape in the other room and leave it there. You dump a load of clean laundry on the sofa and walk away. You pull three tops from the closet before deciding which one to wear and leave the others on the corner of the bed. The Two-Minute Rule ends the “leave it here for now” clutter. Simple and to the point: If it takes less than two minutes, DO IT NOW!

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WISE WORDS 
Low-key change helps the human mind circumnavigate the fear that blocks success.
--Robert Maurer, PHD

Thanks Marie Kondo (Part 2)

Thrift stores are experiencing a rise in donations as people discard things that no longer “spark joy.” There are more photos of organized sock drawers on Instagram than ever before. The U.S. has caught the “tidying” bug thanks to Marie Kondo!
 
There’s much Marie and I agree on when it comes to organizing, or as she calls it “tidying up.” Perhaps the most important being that “Tidying is just a tool, not the final destination.” We all desire homes that promote a peaceful and productive environment. A home in which we can rest, enjoy the company of others, and easily access our belongings. 
 
In Thanks Marie Kondo (Part 1), I shared about the Mindset for Change and Action #1 – Purging. That’s always the place to start.

Today's Timely Tips include some of the KonMari (Marie Kondo) and OBC (Organized By Choice) methods for Action #2 – Storing.

Timely Tips for Storing

The principle element of Action #2 is CREATE A HOME FOR EVERYTHING.

KonMari method: 

• “I have only two rules,” says Marie, “store all items of the same type in the same place and don’t scatter storage space. Forget about flow planning and frequency of use.” Her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, was originally released in Japan. In it she says, “Considering the average size of a Japanese dwelling, a storage layout that follows the flow plan is not going to make that much difference. If it only takes twenty seconds to walk from one end of your home to the other, do you really need to worry about the flow plan?” 

OBC method:

• Keep like things together with some exceptions. Store the majority of your belongings— like things together. That way, when you need a light bulb, vase, battery, etc. you’re sure to find it on your first try because there’s only one place to look. Exceptions include things you use frequently in multiple areas of your home—scissors, reading glasses, cleaning products, pens, etc. It’s more convenient and you’re more apt to put these things away if there’s a designated home for them where they’re used.   

• Keep close what you use most. This is the “flow plan” that Marie deems unnecessary. In her book she proposes daily drying and placing the soap and shampoo from the shower back in their home with other soaps in the cupboard. Call me lazy, but the home for the shampoo and soap I’m currently using is in the shower. I’m an advocate of placing a holder near the stove for frequently used utensils, and having hooks near the door for coats, purses, and backpacks. In other words, create homes for things where they fit with the flow of how and where they’re used.  

KonMari method:  

• “Once they [clients] finish my course, all of them, without exception, have told me, ‘Folding is fun!’” Really? Wow. Marie promotes folding almost everything, but not just for the fun of it. “When we take our clothes in our hands and fold them neatly,” says Marie, “we are, I believe, transmitting energy, which has a positive effect on our clothes.” Everything is folded so it can stand on end and is stored vertically in drawers or bins. “By neatly folding your clothes,” she says, “you can solve almost every problem related to storage.”

OBC method: 

• Priority to me is ease of access and getting the clean laundry put away. Personally, that means hanging most things on slimline hangers and open-ended easy slide pant hangers. I’d much rather walk in and see my clothes at eye level, than have them stored in different drawers. Some of my folded things, like camis, I store vertically so I can easily choose the color I want. Other things, like underwear, I stack horizontally and pull from the top. Regardless of how you fold, don't overstuff your drawers. Create homes, whether hanging or folded, that are sustainable for you and provide easy access to what you need, use, and love.    

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My goal is to promote whatever tidying/organizing method works for you. Marie’s methods might be perfect for you. But, if you can’t picture doing a KonMari fold for every pair of socks, don’t despair! You can still create order and enjoy a peaceful and productive home. I’d love to hear what’s worked for you! 

Thanks Marie Kondo (Part 1)

Have you caught the wave of “tidying up” with Marie Kondo? Five years ago her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, came to the United States and quickly became a best-seller. Marie and her family relocated from Japan to the U.S. and last month, Netflix released a series called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. It’s exciting to see a new wave of enthusiasm for getting organized, or what Marie calls tidying up.
 
She’s very entertaining to watch as she interacts with people and their things. You can’t help but fall in love with her sweet smile and gentle spirit. As an organizer I love seeing and hearing about the after effect of people’s tidying up.
 
Marie and I agree on the foundation of tidying up, or what I call organizing. The basics involve one mind-set and two actions:

• Mindset: “Tidying is just a tool, not the final destination.”

• Action #1 – “Deciding whether or not to dispose of something.”

• Action #2 – “Deciding where to put it.”

This time we'll cover the Mindset and Action #1.  There’s a third essential action that we'll cover, along with Action #2, next time. 

Timely Tips - from KonMari and Me

MINDSET – The Final Destination
Marie says to envision the goal, and why it’s important to you. This is the first step to create the mindset for change. I would add that identifying what you value most in life, guides and fuels the process of recognizing the belongings that support those values. Being concrete about the benefits you’ll receive helps keep that mindset going when the going gets tough.

ACTION #1 – Purging

KonMari Method: Purge by category, not by location. Pile everything from one category, from all parts of the house in one spot on the floor or bed (all your clothes, all your books, all your papers, etc.) Benefits:

1. You see how much of one thing you have—books, clothes, shoes, papers, etc.

2. You won’t finish organizing an area and then discover more of the same thing elsewhere.

OBC (Organized By Choice) method: There's value in both category and location purging. The other day a client was talking about watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Her response, “If I piled up all my clothes on the bed, I wouldn’t sleep there for six months!” For some, it’s motivating to put it all out there. For others, it’s paralyzing. With this client, I started small and by location. We organized the laundry room first. This enabled her to see an immediate change and she was motivated to continue to other places in the house. With another client we pulled out every pair of shoes she had in the house and laid them out across the living room floor. Sorting by category worked well in this case. She was able to easily see what she had too much of and choose those she needs, uses, and loves. 

KonMari Method: Hold each item to determine if it “sparks joy.” Kondo says, “We should be choosing what we want to keep, not what we want to get rid of.”

OBC method: Use the same positive approach, choosing what to keep but ask, “Do I need, use, or love it?” People have joked about getting rid of their bills, broccoli, and even husband because he didn’t “spark joy.” There are things like divorce papers that need to be kept despite how you feel about them. There are things like compression socks that you use, but there’s no “zing!” when you hold them. Keeping things you love, distinguishes between things you feel a little sentimental about or obliged to keep, and things that are truly your treasures.

KonMari Method: Thank each item before discarding it. “I began to treat my belongings as if they were alive when I was a high school student,” says Marie. “By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life, in order.”

OBC Method: Consider the value your belongings have, or had at one time. Like Marie says, it’s easier to let things go when you determine that they have completed their usefulness in your life. I think it's possible to do that without personifying our belongings. I wouldn’t tell a client not to thank their things, but I also wouldn’t suggest it. Many of Marie’s practices have religious undertones that I’ll share more about next time.

I am truly thankful that Marie’s book and show are igniting both conversation and action in the realm of organizing. She’s helping people acknowledge the need and providing hope for change. It’s good to keep in mind, however, that some of her methods are more practical for the average home in Japan, which is almost half the size of the average U.S. home. So, if you try her style and get stuck, don’t give up! There’s more than one way to achieve your goal. I’ll have more in "Thanks Marie Kondo" (Part 2) next time.

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