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Celebrating Women of the Professional Organizing Industry: Women’s History Month

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Celebrating Women of the Professional Organizing Industry: Women's History Month | Organizedartistry.com #womenshistorymonth #professionalorganizer #womenhelpingwomen
The month of March celebrates the contributions women have made to history (or HERstory!), culture, and society.

In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week. Presidents after Carter continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month.”

Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamation designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” President Biden followed suit on February 29th, 2024 and invited citizens to learn more at WomensHistoryMonth.org.

I’m not the President of the United States but I invite you today to learn more about one group of women and two individuals who have made historic and ground-breaking contributions to the professional organizing industry. There are so many women I could have profiled. I chose these three (and a *bonus* fourth) because I felt they were pioneers in the field of organizing. Their work has had a remarkable ‘ripple effect’ on the professional organizing industry and on those who have benefitted from their knowledge and efforts.

Where to begin? At the beginning, of course!

The APO 5: The Founders of NAPO

It all started in 1983, when a small group of women who all offered organizing services gathered in a Los Angeles living room to exchange ideas. As trailblazers in a new and up and coming industry, they recognized the value of sharing their knowledge and becoming a support system to one another. They called themselves APO, Association of Professional Organizers.

Two years later, APO formalized by electing officers, who later that year would be named as the founding members: Beverly Clower, Stephanie Culp, Ann Gambrell, Maxine Ordesky, and Jeanne Shorr. In 1986, APO changed its name to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).

What came in the decades afterward is remarkable. Thousands of members. Education and professional credentialing. Publicity initiatives. International relationships with related associations both domestic and international. All stemming from a meeting in one person’s living room.

Below, is a short video created in honor of the 30th anniversary of NAPO. In the few minutes that it plays, I heard three heartwarming quotes that echo the sentiments of why we celebrate Women’s History Month:

“We were all like sisters in this together.”

“We were women helping other women.”

“What made it all work was that five women came together to form a once-in-a-lifetime team.”

Thank you Beverly, Stephanie, Ann, Maxine, and Jeanne for coming together to dream and work together to create an organization that enabled women (predominantly) to start and grow organizing businesses that help bring order, calm, and efficiency to their clients’ lives.

Julie Morgenstern

Julie Morgenstern is an internationally renowned organizing and time management expert, New York Times best-selling author, consultant and speaker.

In October 1998, Julie published her first book, Organizing From the Inside Out. In the book, she writes about how she had lived most of her life in a ‘constant state of disorder.’ That all changed when she had a baby and realized that if she didn’t get organized, her child would never see the outside of their home! Her daughter’s diaper bag was the first thing she successfully organized and she says that “it was truly the beginning of my path to organization.

Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morganstern | Organizedartistry.com #womenshistorymonth #organizedartistry #organizingbook

Julie began her business, TaskMasters in 1989 and soon thereafter created an organizing philosophy called ‘organizing from the inside out’ that focuses on one’s individual habits, needs, goals, and personality. She also invented an acronym for an organizing system now-famous in the organizing world called the S.P.A.C.E. system (Sort, Purge, Assign a home, Containerize, Equalize). I, as well as many other members of the professional organizing industry use this intuitive five-step system to help our clients get and stay organized.

I had the good fortune to train with and work for Julie at the very beginning of my career as a Professional Organizer back in 2001-2002. I learned many organizing and client management tips and techniques from her that I still use in my business today.

Julie was the recipient of the 2002 NAPO Founder’s Award and has continued to offer her organizing expertise on television, magazines, and in books on the topics of time management, workplace efficiency, and parenting.

Thank you Julie for creating an organizing system that makes the art of getting organized easy to understand and easy to apply to one’s own life. Thank you for trusting me with your clients as a professional organizing newbie and for sharing your knowledge and experience so that I, too could help people live an organized life.

Judith Kolberg

Judith Kolberg started FileHeads, her professional organizing company in 1989 and is credited with launching a field of professional organizing that addresses the needs of those who are chronically disorganized (CD). She founded the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization, which later become the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD).

Judith Kolberg | Celebrating Women's History Month | Organized Artistry #womenshistorymonth #judithkolberg #organizedartistry
She has authored and co-authored books on the topics of ADD, Chronic Disorganization, Emotional Labor, Organizing in the ‘Era of Endless,’ and Disaster Preparedness–all topics related to the professional organizing industry. Even though I do not work with clients with ADD or Chronic Disorganization, I own a copy of one of her earliest publications, Conquering Chronic Disorganization. I was advised to add it to my professional bookshelf because the ideas, techniques, and examples in her book would not only help a chronically disorganized client, but would work for most people wanting to get organized. And those people who advised me–were right! My favorite strategy in the book is called: “Friends, Acquaintances and Strangers” which I have successfully used with my clients for years to help them declutter.

Judith is the recipient of the 1996 NAPO Founder’s Award and continues to be a future-focused trend strategist in the field of organizing.

Thank you Judith for your foresight and on-going dedication to our profession.

Bonus – Joyce Dorney

You may not recognize her name but if you’ve been ‘in the biz’ for a while, you’ll recognize what she created for our industry. Joyce Dorney was the Editor-in-Chief and the woman behind the idea of Organize Magazine.

I recall balancing my not-yet-toddler son on my lap while checking email one day in 2007 and there it was–a short note from a woman named Joyce who was starting a magazine about organizing. She had done a Google search and found me through an article I had written for my website (before I started blogging) on the topic of organizing on a budget. She was looking for someone to author the recurring ‘Organizing on a Shoestring’ section of the magazine and I jumped at the chance. Joyce gave me the opportunity to write for her ‘baby’ and I could not have been more grateful.

Joyce Dorney | Organize magazine | Womens History Month | Organizedartistry.com #getorganized #womenshistorymonth #organizedartistry

Although the magazine stopped publication a few years later, Joyce was a pioneer. She saw a need in the market and had a vision for filling it. She was quoted as saying,

“I looked and I looked and I looked and I looked, and it [a magazine dedicated to organizing] just wasn’t there,” Dorny said. “And kind of in this moment probably of insanity, a lot of people would say, I thought, well I could start an organizing magazine.”

It’s in that moment of ‘insanity’ when ideas are born and turned into reality. Thank you Joyce for your vision, your passion, and for bringing a magazine all about organizing to those of us in the professional organizing industry and to the general public.


Over the course of their careers, the NAPO 5, Julie Morgenstern, and Judith Kolberg have all won the NAPO Founder’s Award. The NAPO Founders’ Award “is presented to a NAPO member, or a group of NAPO members acting in concert, for outstanding innovation, inspiration, and creativity both within, and outside of, the field of professional organizing and productivity consulting.

The achievements and contributions of these women will be felt for decades as the professional organizing industry continues to grow and flourish. Thank you NAPO 5, Julie Morgenstern, and Judith Kolberg, and Joyce Dorney for making organizing (HER)story.

References:

NAPO History
A Proclamation on Women’s History Month, 2024 (The White House)
Women’s History Month (National Women’s History Museum)
Call to Order: Local Mom to Launch National Magazine About Organizing

 

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Categories: Basic Organizing Principles, Clutter, Organizing on the Cheap, Organizing Quote, Uncategorized

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Cool Product: Battery Daddy

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Cool Product: Battery Daddy | organizedartistry.com #batterydaddy #costco #organizingproducts

It was a typical trip to Costco for me–five bags of Tostitos Scoops, tissue boxes, the famous ‘Costco Rotisserie Chicken,’ and a few items that I never knew I needed…

If I’m short on time, I don’t usually explore the aisles with the car/outdoor/electronics because it’s rare that I ‘find’ anything I need in there. But, this time I turned the corner from the produce section, passing electronics on my way to the register, and found this:

Cool Product: Battery Daddy | organizedartistry.com #batterydaddy #costco #organizingproducts

Today’s ‘Cool Product:’ The Battery Daddy

(And a whole lot of them!)

It was on sale for $9.99–how could I resist? Organizing my home’s battery collection was not exactly my top priority but when I saw the Battery Daddy (and the great price) I had to bring it home with me.

I paid for the items in my cart, got myself a $1.50 hotdog lunch, and set out to find my car in the parking lot.

The sale price enticed me to buy it but what was really my reasoning?

This was my household battery storage system…

Cool Product: Battery Daddy | organizedartistry.com #batterydaddy #costco #organizingproducts

Yes–all the batteries are in one spot so I do get points for organization and grouping ‘like with like’ but it wasn’t always easy to find what I needed. The poor AAs and AAAs were always cowering under the weight of the Cs and Ds. And when we bought extra batteries in the event of a storm, the packaging stuck out of the top and we couldn’t use the lid of the container. I don’t need to have my batteries stored in rainbow order but I wanted to step it up a bit from the open bin on the shelf of our garage.

I showed the Battery Daddy to my husband when I got home (I did put the chicken away first…).

“Look, Honey!” I said to him. “Look what organizing product I found at Costco today!”

He knows that I usually come home with the Tostitos Scoops, tissues, and ‘the chicken’ but I think I surprised him with this one.

“Great!” he said.

“It was only $10 on sale!” I replied gleefully.

“Have fun filling it!” he yelled gleefully because he was thankful he didn’t have to be the one to fill it.

Cool Product: Battery Daddy | organizedartistry.com #batterydaddy #costco #organizingproducts
Cool Product: Battery Daddy | organizedartistry.com #batterydaddy #costco #organizingproducts

Speaking of filling it, this complete battery storage system holds 180 batteries. It weighs 2.2 lbs. empty and weighs 13 lbs. when it’s full. It has the capacity to hold:
• 72 AAAs
• 76 AAs
• 8 9 Volts
• 10 Cs
• 8 Ds
• 12 Button cells

There are even two ‘surprise’ slots for storing batteries in the handle!

Cool Product: Battery Daddy | battery tester | organizedartistry.com #batterydaddy #costco #organizingproducts

AND–it’s comes with a BATTERY TESTER! That was what sealed the deal for me. My days of not knowing whether a battery still had a charge or not were about to be over. I have faint memories of my father owning a battery tester (probably from the now-defunct Radio Shack) and having me test batteries at our kitchen table. It was fun to do back then–I plan to pass the love of battery testing on to my kids all thanks to the Battery Daddy.

Features:

• Double sided design – the other side is just for AA battery storage
• See-through lid (on both sides)
• Bright red–easy to spot on a shelf
• Sturdy handle with finger grooves (useful when heavy!)
• Did I mention it came with a battery tester?

Here’s what our container of batteries looked like…

Cool Product: Battery Daddy | organizedartistry.com #batterydaddy #costco #organizingproducts

Here’s what they looked while I sorted, battery-tested, and purged some…

Cool Product: Battery Daddy | organizedartistry.com #batterydaddy #costco #organizingproducts

Here’s what they look like after transferring them from the plastic bin to the Battery Daddy…

Cool Product: Battery Daddy | organizedartistry.com #batterydaddy #costco #organizingproducts
Love it! 😍

Some Battery Daddy Tips:

• If you fill it to capacity, it weighs 13 lbs. Please make sure you store it on a sturdy lower shelf, cabinet, or standing upright on the floor. You don’t want this case to crack or break the bottom of a drawer (or your foot).

• Store a set of regular-sized and/or mini screwdrivers near the Battery Daddy. Where there’s a need for batteries, there’s often a need for a screwdriver!

• Along with some packages of AAAs, AAs, Cs and Ds, it’s the perfect gift for a new dad or mom–they just don’t know it yet (wink wink).  If you have kids, you know that while kids don’t run on batteries (they run on chicken nuggets…), much of what they own does require batteries from baby swings to remote control cars to Xbox controllers. Makes a useful housewarming gift as well.

One might ask–Do I really need 180 batteries or an organizing tool that is able to hold 180 batteries? If you don’t, here are a few battery organizers that might work better for your needs…

iDesign Recycled Plastic Divided Organizer Battery Insert
AA or AAA Battery Storage Case from The Container Store
AA or AAA Battery Ladder

Even though our household does not need storage for 180 batteries, I feel the Battery Daddy is totally worth the price. It’s going to make finding the batteries my family I need when we need them practically effortless.

No more sifting through cluttered junk drawers or plastic baggies searching for batteries! No more wondering whether your batteries still have ‘juice’ left in them. The Battery Daddy–it’s my latest ‘Cool Product’ pick.

 

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Categories: Clutter, Container Store, Cool Product, Organizing MY Home

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I ‘Heart’ Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2023 Edition

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I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2023 Edition | organizedartistry.com | #containerstore #containerstoreideas #containerstoreorganization

I’ve been writing an annual Container Store Stocking Stuffers post on and off since 2013. Years ago, I created the title for this blog post series because I truly loved the idea of The Container Store showcasing cute, fun, and original organizing and not-organizing related products that one could place in a holiday stocking. What a concept! I hope the Container Store employee who thought of that idea got a raise and a promotion.

This year, the post’s title does not reflect my feelings about the collection. I’ll be honest–I am disappointed by the 2023 selection of Stocking Stuffers. There are 141 Stocking Stuffers this year and barely any of them can be considered organizing products. The selections have gotten more expensive, too.

I took a look back at some of my past stocking stuffer blog posts to discover that I felt similarly with the 2016 collection. Not only did it lack organizing products, it was also the first year that Poo-Pourri was introduced as a stocking stuffer. That was enough for me to consider throwing in the towel when it came to writing about this group of products. (No offense to those who use poo-pourri–I don’t think it should be considered a ‘gift.’ That’s just how Momma raised me…)

I’m not emailing a complaint to the CEO, but if I did, it would be as simple as this…

Dear Container Store,

I’m a little miffed about the lack of organizing products on your 2023 Stocking Stuffer list. I was looking forward to showcasing them in my annual blog post titled, ‘I ‘Heart’ Container Store Stocking Stuffers.’

Please add some organizing-related products back to your future Stocking Stuffer collections. You and I both know that they exist. You have half a year to find them and get some ready for 2024.

Looking forward to seeing what your Stocking Stuffer team selects!

Sincerely,
Stacey Agin Murray
Professional Organizer
Organized Artistry, LLC

Thanks for listening. I’m feeling a bit better now.

Despite the letdown, I decided to wade through the 141 items and find a few that made me smile. The categories I’m featuring this year are: Fun, Artsy, and Organizing.

Fun

There’s always a few fun/funny stocking stuffers that catch my eye. Here are three of them…

Adulting is Hard Anecdote Pencils – package of 7

$6.49

Anecdote Pencils | I 'heart Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2023 Edition | organized artistry.com | #containerstore #containerstoreorganization #containerstoreideasGrowing up, pencils were kinda boring. They were mostly golden colored. Now you can find pencils with cartoon characters, holiday designs, different colors, and yes–funny sayings. My personal favorite anecdote on these pencils is, “Too old for Snapchat, too young for Life Alert.” In addition to the Adulting pencils, there are two other sets– ‘Bring Me More Cats’ and ‘Pet All the Dogs.’  And they come pre-sharpened so you can get ‘write’ down to writing!

Crack a Smile Breakfast Egg & Pancake Mold

$11.99

Crack a Smile Egg and Pancake Mold | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2023 Edition | organizedartistry.com | #containerstore #containerstoreideas #containerstoreorganization

Who couldn’t use a smile–especially in the morning? I feel it’s kind of pricey for a piece of plastic but if it’s going to make you happy and brighten up your day, then it’s worth every penny. And it’s microwave and dishwasher safe–cooking and clean-up just got easier.

Tabletop Cornhole

$19.99

Tabletop Cornhole | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2023 Edition | organized artistry.com | #containerstore #containerstoreideas #containerstoreorganizationCornhole is all the rage lately. Mostly played outside, the boards can be heavy and a challenge to move and store away if you do not live in an all-year-round warm climate. If you don’t have the room to store a traditional corn hole set, try this one. Perfect for indoor fun!

Are you intrigued? To learn more about this fun game and be able to watch tournaments live or on YouTube, head to the website of the American Cornhole Association. I’m not joking–it’s a thing.

Artsy

The amount of Container Store Stocking Stuffers that fit this category has grown over the past few years. Out of 141 products, I counted twenty as ‘artsy.’ That’s approximately 15% of the stocking stuffers!

The ‘artsy’ products range from coloring implements to art kits. Below are two that stood out to me and my inner (and former outer) child…

Lite-Brite Mini

$14.99

Lite Brite Mini | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2023 Edition | organizedartistry.com | #containerstore #containerstoreideas #containerstoreorganization

When I saw the Lite Brite Mini I got very excited. You see, I always wanted a Lite Brite. But, my parents did not allow it because of all the pieces it came with. That, plus apartment living, plus having a younger brother and sister who could possible eat those colored pegs made owning the Lite Brite a pipe dream.

The original Lite-Brite was produced in 1967 and came with close to 400 plastic pegs in eight colors. Future models had about 200-300 pegs depending upon what set you purchased–still too many for my parent’s liking.

So, I played with it at my friend’s house and despite being deprived of a personal Lite Brite, I went on to become an Art major in college.

Ooly Yummy Yummy Scented Glitter gel Pens – Set of 12

$12.99

Only Yummy Yummy Scented Glitter Gel Pens | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2023 Edition | organizedartistry.com | #containerstore #containerstoreideas #containerstoreorganizationSpeaking of being an art major, I don’t know anyone interested in creating art that isn’t dazzled by a set of cool pens. When I saw these I smiled and thought about buying them for myself as an adult! In the description, it says, “Create a sparkling look every time you write and draw with these fun pens.” In my mind, these would totally be ‘at-home’ pens. Because if you brought them to school or to work everyone would want to use them, teachers might not appreciate the smell, and I know I’d be doodling (and sniffing) instead of taking notes or getting my work done.

Of all the items, I may have to splurge on these pens for myself. Getting the Lite Brite Mini isn’t off the table, either. At least my parents wouldn’t have to worry–my kids are old enough to know not to eat the pegs…

Organizing

As I scrolled though the pages of stocking stuffers, I was surprised at how few helped people get organized. But, happily, I found one organizing product I’d want to share.

Stackers Petite Travel Jewelry Box

$19.99

Stackers Petite Travel Jewelry Box | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2023 Edition | organizedartistry.com | #containerstore #containerstoreideas #containerstoreorganization

This travel jewelry box is so teeny-tiny! It’s not for someone who loves to wear jewelry and pack coordinating necklaces on a week-long trip. This would be useful to carry in a handbag or back pack if you had to remove jewelry before exercising or using your hands for work. Or, if you keep it simple when it comes to jewelry, this item would easily keep your everyday rings, earrings, and necklace safe and portable.


The rest of the Container Store Stocking Stuffer 2023 collection can be found on their website. Despite the lack of organizing products, there are plenty of items that will make you or someone else smile at holiday time.

I’m just thrilled The Container Store finally took Poo-pourri off the stocking stuffer list… Happy Holidays!

 

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Categories: Container Store, Holiday Season

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Anniversary Post – Fourteen Years of Blogging

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Anniversary Post - 14 Years of Blogging | Organizedartistry.com #bloggingorganizer #organizedblogger #getorganizedblog

It’s my 14th anniversary of being a blogger! Happy Blog-i-versary to me!

As I set out to write this annual post, I had to pause for a moment. Fourteen years of blogging? How did THAT happen?

I started my blog (originally on the Blogger platform) when my son was three years old. He’s now seventeen and heading to college in the Fall! We’ve both come a long way…

Every year in my anniversary post, I talk about the goals I had set for the blog the previous year and I create new ones for the next twelve months. When I opened WordPress to start this blog post, I took a look at how many posts I had written from November 2022-October 2023. I was surprised to see that it was only three.

Three blog posts? That’s it? Really? I could swear I had written more than that this past year.

Sheesh.

To be honest, I did have a lot going on personally this past year–major life cycle events for both of my kids that I had to put my time and energy into but, really–only three blog posts? *Sigh*

My blog goals for 2022-2023 were:

• Create a second Ted Talk blog post
• Continue to create downloadable printables for my popular blog posts
• Only have two goals for my blog this year.

Yes, that third goal was an actual goal. In the past, I have created too many goals for my blog to keep up with so I made a goal to have fewer goals. #thatsagoodthing

Here’s the one goal I WAS able to accomplish…

A few years ago, I started creating downloadable printables to compliment some of my blog posts. The first one I designed was for a post called, Organizing Quick Tip: Make a Decision. The printable is a one-page sheet with the words ‘Keep,’ Toss,’ and ‘Donate’ on it. Each word can be cut out, attached to a bin/wall/chair, and used during the decluttering process to define a space for a category of items.

This year, I decided to embark on a printable project of a larger scale. This newest one is eight pages long! It is a printable to support my book, The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook. In the back of my book, I provide the reader with lined pages to write and track their gift-giver’s names, addresses, and gifts given. Although it’s a handy place to keep all that information, I thought that some readers might not find it easy to use and would benefit from a larger space to write.

Click the link and scroll down to see the printable: The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook Gift Tracker Printable

OK–about that Ted Talk blog post…

In reviewing past Anniversary posts, I discovered that I have repeatedly set a goal to create a “Ted Talk Two” blog post–more times than I’d like to admit. And, it didn’t happen. Again.

Why?

I got quiet with myself and thought about it. My first Ted Talk blog post was very popular–especially on Pinterest. Why couldn’t I get my act together to create a second one?

After giving it some thought, I had to laugh. I discovered that much of the issue had to do with my treadmill.

My treadmill?

From 2016-2019, I had an exercise habit of walking on my treadmill a few mornings a week. I found that Ted Talks were the perfect compliment to my treadmill use. Each video was approximately eighteen minutes long and my workout was about twenty minutes. A perfect match!

Then came the pandemic in March of 2020. By then, our treadmill was fourteen years old and had barely survived our home renovation five years previous. Now, it wasn’t just me walking on it–it was my husband and two sons using it as well. Due to old age, the treadmill could not withstand the extra weight and usage and was pronounced dead at the end of April. I started walking outside and listening to podcasts (which I am now totally hooked on) or exercising to YouTube videos when the weather was inclement. There went most of my Ted Talk watching time.

But, I did not give up hope on writing “Ted Talk Two.”

I created a home (a ‘new note’ in Evernote) for all Ted Talks that I wanted to review for the blog post. If I saw a Ted Talk video in my Facebook newsfeed, in a Google search, or recommended by a colleague and I thought it might be appropriate for “Ted Talk Two,” I copied and pasted its URL into that note in Evernote.

I did this for a few months and one day, I set aside time in my calendar to view the videos. After watching five or six, I decided that none of them were as “Ted Talk Two-worthy” as the ones I had chosen for my first Ted Talk post. I also think that perhaps due to the pandemic, not as many Ted Talks were filmed. It was a challenge to find many new ones on the topic of organizing produced in the past few years.

Then I got busy again. Listened to more podcasts. I can’t remember the last time I watched a whole Ted Talk.

My blog goals for 2023-2024:

I’ve got a good feeling about that “Ted Talk Two” video. You see, my husband and I are considering replacing our treadmill. We’ve started doing research and we’re looking to buy one this winter. Once I’m back on a treadmill, I’ll be back to watching Ted Talks with more regularity. And, when that happens, I’ll be keeping my eyes open for Ted Talks that would be perfect for the blog post I’ve been thinking about writing for years.

I’m calling it right now: Ted Talk Two in 2024. That’s my ONE goal for the next twelve months. And who knows, I just may trim my waistline in the process!

 

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Subscribe to the Organized Artistry Newsletter! | organizedartistry.com

Categories: Anniversary Post, Clutter, Free Download, The Organized Bride's Thank You Note Handbook

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Home Organizer Case Study: An Overstuffed Clothing Closet

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Home Organizer Case Study - An Overstuffed Clothing Closet | Organizedartistry.com #organizedcloset #howtoorganizecloset #clothingcloset

Welcome to the first in a series of home organizer case studies I’ll be profiling on my blog!

I’ve been working with clients for over twenty years and have helped each of them find solutions to a variety of their organizing challenges. In this series, I’ll be highlighting some of the more common organizing problems my clients have come to me with and show you what we did to solve them.

Maybe you’ll see yourself in one of these case studies? Perhaps the process will motivate you to take action to achieve a similar goal? I hope you find them helpful as you navigate your own organizing journey.

Case Study: An Overstuffed Clothing Closet

Client Profile:

Mrs. B. called me to inquire about my services and how I could help her organize her overstuffed clothing closet. She informed me upfront that her budget covered three hours of my services. I went to her home for a short Needs Assessment and saw that the closet, although small, was stuffed from top to bottom.

As an experienced home organizer, I knew that we’d be ‘cutting it close’  on completing the task in three hours but if she was able to make decisions quickly, we’d be able to complete her closet organizing project in time. She was very motivated and I had a good feeling she was up for the time-crunched task.

What prompted client to reach out to Organized Artistry?

Mrs. B. was tired of being unable to find the clothes she wanted to wear on a daily basis. She was also planning a future vacation and the thought of looking for the clothes she wanted to wear on her trip was causing her stress.

Goals:

To organize the overstuffed clothing closet so Client could find the clothes she loved, clothes that fit, and reflected her current lifestyle.
For Client to have the ability to locate clothes to wear on an upcoming warm weather vacation.

Organizing Challenges:

Overstuffed closet
Client can’t find the clothes she needs when she needs them
Variety of sizes and seasons in one closet
Client is frustrated
Client buys more of what she is unable to find
Only three hours to complete the job

Organizing Process:

You may think that three hours is plenty of time to organize a closet–even a full one. But, in my experience, I have found it can take many more hours than that. Besides the quantity of clothes to process, the speed of that process has to do with how quickly the client can make decisions as to what to keep and what to let go of. With only three hours to accomplish our goal, we said a quick hello to each other, walked upstairs, and got down to work.

My client’s closet was in her bedroom. We used her bed as a large surface to sort and purge on (Tip: If using a bed to sort and purge items, lay a flat sheet on top of the bed first so dust from closet shelves and dirt from shoes doesn’t land where you sleep).

We started pulling clothes out of her closet by category (pants, then dresses, then skirts, etc.) and sorted them on the bed by season. I split the surface of the bed into two sides–one was for Fall/Winter clothes and the other side was for Spring/Summer clothes.

Mrs. B. and I sorted through her clothes piece by piece to determine whether they would ‘stay’ or ‘go.’ She made most decisions quickly. Any item that required extra thought went into a pile that we made decisions on together towards the end of our session.

Discoveries:

You never know what you’ll find when working in a client’s closet. Once, I unearthed a rubber chicken! This time, no chicken–but instead, I discovered that my client had amassed an extensive collection of black pants. Twenty-four pair of black pants to be exact!

To be fair, in the Northeast, the temperature can go from below zero all the way to one hundred degrees in the span of a year. Black pants of different fabric weights and lengths are a wardrobe necessity for most women.

How did I discover my client had twenty four pair of black pants?

While we were removing items from her closet and sorting them on her bed, out of the corner of my eye, I watched Mrs. B. group all of her ‘like’ clothes together by type. The pants pile on each side of her bed resembled a mountain–a dark one. She kept pulling black pants out of her closet and putting them on top of each pile.

I asked for her permission to dig into her pile of pants to start counting them and she gave me the go ahead. In counting black pants on both side of the bed, I added them up and got to twenty-four pair. I told my client the number and she couldn’t believe it. She confessed to me that there had been times when she couldn’t find the black pants she needed so she’d go to the store and buy another pair. I let her know that it was a common occurrence for people with overstuffed closets and that after we organized her closet, she wouldn’t need to do that anymore.

The Result:

After working together for three hours, Mrs. B. and I:

Purged twelve pair of black pants. Client kept twelve.
Filled three bags of clothes for donation.
Relocated summer clothes to under the bed storage bins that client had purchased but had not yet used.
Placed the remaining clothes back in her closet by category  (grouping ‘like with like’).
Separated out the summer clothes she wanted to pack for her upcoming vacation and placed them in a storage bag at the bottom of her closet.

I removed a garbage bag filled with wire hangers that Mrs. B said I could bring to my dry cleaner. Boy, was he happy to see me later that day!

Mrs. B. was exhausted and thrilled at the end of our three-hour organizing session. Her overstuffed clothing closet had been purged and re-organized, she put aside the clothes she wanted to bring with her on her vacation, and she now knew where all of her clothes could be found–including her twelve pair of pants.

Happy Client = Happy Organizer!

You can do it, too!

Need help getting started? I offer virtual home organizing services via FaceTime or Zoom to help you reach your organizing goals. Click the link to discover more at the Organized Artistry website.

 

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Categories: Case Study, Closet, Clothing, Clutter, Donations

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Got Stuff? Read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

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Got Stuff? Read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning | organizedartistry.com #swedishdeathcleaning #swedishdeathcleaningquotes #organizeyourstuff

There’s a saying that goes…

“We spend the first two thirds of our life acquiring things and the last third of our life trying to get rid of it all.”

Did you chuckle when you read that or did it on some level, resonate with you? Or both?

Take a look around your home. How many items do you think you own? And how long have many of those items been in your home?

If you have kids, if you like to collect memorabilia, if you’ve inherited items from deceased loved ones, if you love to shop–then you have stuff in your home–and lots of it. Even if you don’t own anything that fits in those categories–you still probably have a good amount of items in your living space.

In the end and at the end–you can’t take it all with you. So, the question is: “How do I manage all of my ‘stuff?'”

The answer: Consistently declutter your belongings over time. One shelf at a time. One drawer at a time. One decision at a time.

Decision. That’s a word that has more to do with decluttering and organizing than most people think. Nothing happens without making a decision. Papers don’t make it into a file cabinet or recycle bin, clothing that doesn’t fit stays in the closet, ‘aspirational’ craft supplies remain in the shopping bag they came in. You can’t declutter, organize, and move forward in your life without making a decision.

Maybe you’ve always been an indecisive person. Maybe you have trouble parting with sentimental items. Or, maybe your stuff brings you comfort.

Decision-making is hard. But, it’s worth it.

You may not realize it but when it comes to your ‘stuff,’ the decisions you’ll be making (or NOT making) don’t just affect you. They also affect your family, friends, and the legacy you will someday leave behind.

How do I know this?

In my twenty years as a Professional Organizer, I have worked with families of those who have passed away or entered nursing homes and I have assisted them in the painstaking process of going through their loved one’s belongings. It is heartbreaking to watch people sort through their loved one’s closets, drawers, papers, and photos with no knowledge of what to do with it all. Sometimes, they even discover objects they never knew existed and are now unable to ask their family member about them.

You don’t have to (and you really shouldn’t) wait until the last third of your life to declutter your home.

Need some guidance? I highly recommend reading the book: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter

Swedish Death Cleaning? Don’t get nervous–the book is not about cleaning dead people with IKEA products…

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning discusses the importance of taking responsibility for the things you’ve accumulated throughout your lifetime and taking care of it all before you leave the planet–not to leave it to your loved ones to deal with when you’re gone. In Swedish, it’s called ‘Dostaadning’ (do’-sted-ning). ‘Do’ meaning death and ‘staadning’ meaning cleaning.

The author, Margareta Magnusson, who (in her own words) tells the reader she is somewhere between eighty and one hundred, sees it as her responsibility to share her experiences because she believes “this philosophy of death cleaning is important for all of us to know.” She says that Swedish Death Cleaning isn’t just for retirees. It’s for everyone. In fact, she advises to start earlier than your retirement years because as we get older, we may not be as physically and mentally able to make decisions and move our belongings.

The book is a quick, easy read that is humourous in spots as well as thought-provoking. The author shares anecdotes and wisdom from her long life that we can all learn from.

Here are a few quotes from the book that resonated with me the most:

“Swedish Death Cleaning is as much for you as it is for the people who come after you.”

No one wants to think about their own death. But, in reality, after you’re gone, someone or a team of people will need to make decisions about your furniture, clothes, knick-knacks, and important papers. Take the time now, when you have the energy, to sort though your belongings, walk down memory lane, and start making decisions about what to keep. Don’t leave the overwhelming, physical, and emotional task to someone else.

“Ask yourself: Will anyone be happier if I save this?”

Look around your home and ask yourself the above question. Do you think your children/friends/neighbors will want your porcelain swan collection? Your bookcases filled with books? Old furniture? This is the time to ask heirs (if you have them) what they will want and not want in the future. You may be surprised at their answers.

“A loved one wishes to inherit nice things from you. Not ALL things from you.”

After a loved one has passed, it’s comforting to have a few physical items to remind you of their life–not their entire household. Have a discussion with family and friends. Ask them what of yours they might like to own when you’re no longer on this earth. That way, in the end, there’s no confusion, no arguing, and no moving truck dumping the contents of a loved one’s home in your driveway–only loving memories.

“Regardless of how much they love you, don’t leave this burden to them. It will disturb their good memories of you.”

I’ve heard a couple of my clients say, “Oh, I’ll just leave it to my son/daughter/best friend/spouse to deal with.” But, as the author reminds us in the book, that decision to burden another person or persons with a home full of belongings will affect your legacy. What you leave behind will be some of your loved ones last memories of you. Do you want to be remembered for the wonderful person you were or for the clutter you left behind?

I’ll end with this one–the author writes in the book’s foreward:

“Let me help make your loved ones’ memories of you nice–instead of awful.”

That just about sums it up. Leave behind your legacy, not your mess. Read the book. Learn from her experiences. Let Margareta Magnusson assist you on your decision-making and decluttering journey.

Meet the author and hear her talking a bit about the concept of Swedish Death Cleaning…

Regardless of your age and regardless of the stage you’re at in life, consider adding Swedish Death Cleaning to your to-do list. Your family and friends will thank you.

 

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Categories: Clutter, Cool Product

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I ‘Heart’ Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition

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I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffers #holidaygifts

Last year, I waited (impatiently) by my mail slot for a copy of The Container Store Stocking Stuffer catalog to arrive. I waited. And I waited. Arms crossed. Feet tapping. Waited. I didn’t go as far as to accost my mail carrier but it was close… It used to come at the end of November–colder weather, Thanksgiving, and then the arrival of the catalog–in that order!

But, no catalog. No announcement from The Container Store that they would be saving paper that year and not printing one. No personal note of apology for taking away some of the joy of my holiday season.

So, I did the next best thing. I got on my couch with my laptop, a pad, and a pen and instead of turning pages of a catalog, I scrolled the Container Store Stocking Stuffers 2022 collection via their website.

This year, I did not hold out hope for the arrival of a post-Turkey Day catalog. I went straight to my couch with my laptop. There were close to 200 stocking stuffers in this year’s collection–lots of new ones and a few I’ve reviewed in the past.

I’ve been writing this stocking stuffer highlight post (almost) annually since 2013. Since then, The Container Store has definitely strayed from a stocking stuffer collection of mostly organizing products to a collection of some organizing products and more kitchy, cutesy, useful, and fun items. Regardless, I’m always excited to see what they have on their list.

Every year, I split the stocking stuffers I’ve chosen to highlight into categories. This year, the Container Store Stocking Stuffers 2022 categories are: Fun, Useful, Get Organized!, Pricey, and ‘What On Earth Were They Thinking?.’

FUN

Cookie Dunker Straw

$6.99

Container Store Stocking Stuffers Cookie Dunker Straw | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffer #cookies

Do kids dunk cookies anymore or is it a thing of the past? If it hasn’t been popular lately, this product will most definitely resurrect a pastime of our youth. No more getting your fingers covered in milk upon dunking! Whatever you drink and dunk with–cow’s milk, oat milk, almond milk–have fun dunking your cookies!

Light Up Scrunchie (also useful)

$10.99

Container Store Stocking Stuffers Light Up Scrunchie | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffer #scrunchie

Did you know the scrunchie was patented in 1987? I was in college back then and I think I still own a few of my scrunchies from way-back-then. They made a comeback with the recent VSCO girl trend. When my tween son recently commented that I looked like a VSCO girl when I wore one, I promptly informed him that I was an original trend setter back in the 1980’s. Insert tween boy eye roll here…

I think this product is a cute idea for any female that wears scrunchies. It would be fun to wear to parties, outdoor evening events, and it can also be used as a safety device for those walking/jogging in the evening hours.

USEFUL

Stress Less Cards

$8.99

Container Store Stocking Stuffers Stress Less Cards | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffer #stressless

I really wish there wasn’t a need for this product but thank goodness it exists! Each box contains 100 cards with tips and strategies for leading a stress-free or at least a less stressful life. If you’re looking for simple ways to manage and get rid of stress during the day, these cards just may do the trick. Sometimes all it takes is a quote, an idea, or support in the form of a card to help us breathe a little easier.

Portable Hair Tie Holder

$7.99

Container Store Stocking Stuffers Portable Hair Tie Holder | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffer #hairtieholder

I have two boys but I’ve heard from ‘girl-moms’ that their daughter’s hair ties can be found all over the house and they multiply in their sleep. This hair tie holder attaches to a handbag or backpack or even a belt loop for easy access to a hair tie. Great for on-the-go hair needs. It has the capacity to hold three of them–one for you, one for a friend, and one to spare. If you’re always looking for a hair tie for yourself or another female in your life, this may be a small but mighty solution to your hair tie-hunting needs.

Kelvin Fidget Spinner Multi Tool

$24.99

Container Store Stocking Stuffers Kelvin Fidget Spinner Multi Tool | I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffer #multitool

Boy, could we really free up space in our tool boxes with this item! It’s always a good idea to have a flat head and a Phillips head screwdriver handy. This multi tool comes with two of each of those and two Torx heads (a type of head I had not heard of until recently). Keep it handy for quick fixes around the house and keep one in your glove compartment. Sounds like the perfect gift for a kid going to college or getting their first apartment, too. And if you’re bored because you’ve fixed everything in your home with this multi-tool, then you can pass the time by using it as a fidget spinner!

Get Organized!

Erin Condren ‘Oh, What a Week’ Notepad

$9.99

Container Store Stocking Stuffers Erin Condren Oh! What a Week Notepad| I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffer #erincondren

I could go on and on about the benefits of planning out and organizing your week. It allows you to be strategic about how you use your time, helps you block out time and track weekly tasks and goals, and increases your productivity (which leads to decreased stress-levels). As opposed to utilizing a phone or tablet, this pad offers is an option for those who prefer to write. The colors are inviting (thanks, Erin for making it *pretty*) and there are plenty of lines in each box to jot down errands, appointments and reminders.

I don’t recommend using this as a calendar, but instead as a visual reminder of what you need to accomplish in a given week. There are fifty sheets–I guess Erin Condren wants you to take off two weeks during the year??? If you need those extra two sheets, place one of the blank pages in a Xerox machine and print them out. If you’ve been meaning to start planning your weeks, this pad could support that goal.

Flex Pot Clip

$7.99

Container Store Stocking Stuffers Flex Pot Clip| I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffer #potclip

I cook a lot–so much so that I own two spoon rests–one on each side of my cook top. They get messy quickly and need to be scrubbed often. The Flex Pot Clip seems as if it is an organized solution to a messy problem!

It’s made of heat-resistant silicone and stainless steel and clips onto the side of a pot or pan. The silicone helps to grip the clip and grip the utensil it’s holding. I like the fact that all drips go right back into the pot and it would eliminate one item from taking up space on my ingredient-filled countertop while I’m cooking. Don’t tell my spoon rests, but I just may have to buy this one and give it a try…

Pricey

Chef’n Smores Maker

$49.99

Container Store Stocking Stuffers Chef’n S’mores Maker| I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffer #smores

Hmmmm. Fifty dollars for a little s’mores maker? The product description says it’s family-friendly (I’m not sure what they mean by that because there’s FIRE involved…) and compact (OK–I guess easy to transport–with chafing fuel–for making s’mores when you’re away from home) but is it worth fifty dollars?

And, at that price point, can you really use store-brand marshmallows and anything but ‘the good chocolate?’ (Thank you, Ina Garten…). I guess for those who love s’mores and for those who don’t want the cost or upkeep of a fire pit, it’s a fine solution. Go ahead, indulge in your passion for s’mores-making or make another s’mores lover in your life giddy with excitement. We only go around this world once, ya know…

What Were They Thinking???

Beard Buddy Keyring Comb

$8.99

Container Store Stocking Stuffers Beard Buddy Keyring Comb| I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers: 2022 Edition | organizedartistry.com #containerstore #stockingstuffer #beardbuddykeyringcomb

I’m not a guy. And my guy does not have a beard. I’m going to have to ask some bearded men to give me some insight on this product because I.Just.Don’t.Get.It. Is this even sanitary??? I’m not sure who came up with this concept? Maybe a guy with a beard who had a small comb in his pocket but nothing to open his drink with? Necessity IS the mother of invention after all!

Whatever my opinions are about the Keyring Comb, I’m happy to announce that after many years, The Container Store has removed ‘Poo-Pourri’ from their Stocking Stuffer list. Maybe they read my thoughts about it in my 2016 stocking stuffer post and decided to remove it. Have no fear–it’s still in the store if you must buy it for someone. And, OK–I’ll give them this. Unlike other items on the Stocking Stuffer list, it does actually fit easily into a stocking…..

Interested in seeing the entire Container Store Stocking Stuffers 2022 collection? Click here and happy scrolling!

 

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Categories: Container Store, Cool Product, Holiday Season

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Anniversary Post – Thirteen Years of Blogging

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Anniversary Post: Thirteen Years of Blogging | organizedartistry.com #organizingblog #bloganniversary #organizedblogger

It’s my 13th ‘blogiversary!’ Lucky number 13!

And on top of that, this summer I celebrated twenty years in business. I’m not sure which milestone is more mind-blowing???

I started this blog the day I dropped my son off at his first day of preschool. Other parents may have driven to work, headed to a supermarket or the gym after drop-off but I hightailed it back to my home office so I could write my first Organized Artistry blog post. When I started my business in 2002, I was writing helpful organizing articles and posting them on my website. A few years in, I discovered the Blogger platform and started blogging my organizing tips and ideas there. Shortly afterward, I went through a total logo/website redesign and merged my Blogger blog with my new WordPress website.

Since writing my first anniversary post, I’ve set goals for my blog and last year was no different.

In 2021-22 I decided that I would set out to…

• Create a round-up blog post
• Create downloadable printables in Canva for my most popular blog posts
• Invite guest bloggers to share their posts

Of the three goals, I only accomplished one this past year. I did not invite any guest bloggers, and I didn’t coordinate a round-up blog post but I did create those printables! As a former graphic designer, I guess of the three goals, this was the one I would have had the most fun executing.

My Tales of a Town-Wide Garage Sale post was blowing up on Pinterest (and continues to do so) so I decided to create a free download/printable to go with it. It’s called, 5 Tips for a Successful Garage Sale and can be found at the end of the post. After creating and uploading the garage sale printable, I gave myself a pat on the back for reaching one of my goals and created a few more downloadable printables for some of my other popular blog posts.

Inviting guest bloggers and curating a round-up post are two ideas that may still happen in my blog’s future. I’m not taking them off the table yet. But for now, I’m having fun designing those downloadable printables…

In earlier anniversary posts, I’ve stated that my goal was to blog 1x a month. It’s not such a far-fetched concept considering in the past I used to blog 2x a month, But, for now and the not-so-distant future, I have given up on the idea of trying to blog 1x a month. It hasn’t happened the past few years and I often remind myself that it’s OK. I have an ongoing list of blog post ideas but lately, not an ongoing amount of time or brain-power. Instead, I’ve been slowly going back to older blog posts, updating the content, and adding a Canva graphic to make them ‘pinnable’ and visually appealing to post and share.

This year, for 2022-23 my blog goals are:

• Create a second Ted Talk blog post
• Continue to create downloadable printables for my popular blog posts
• Only have two goals for my blog this year.

The idea of the second Ted Talk blog post comes from my 2020-2021 goal list.

At a time when Ted Talks were gaining mainstream popularity, I decided to write a blog post featuring organizing-related TedTalks I thought people would find inspiring. Well, it seems that they did find them inspiring because it’s one of my most popular blog posts!

In early 2022, I revisited my goal from 2020-2021 and went looking for more organizing-related Ted Talks. For a variety of reasons, I just didn’t find what I was looking for. My 2022-2023 goal is to identify three to four Ted Talks that focus on organizing and write that second Ted Talk blog post. Could lightning strike twice? Are readers of my blog looking for more organizing-inspired Ted Talks? You’ll have to wait until 2023 to find out!

The child I took to preschool the day I started this blog has just started going on college tours. That, plus work, family life, and anything else I can fit in a day will make for a very busy year ahead. But, my blog goals are set for the year. In order to accomplish my goals, I’m going to give myself the same advice I’d give one of my clients: Take out your calendar and make an appointment with yourself to take the steps necessary to reach your goals!

 

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Categories: Anniversary Post, first post, Garage Sale, Pinterest

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Organizing Quick Tip: Make a Decision

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Organizing Quick Tip: Make a Decision | organizedartistry.com #makeadecision #keeptossdonate #declutteryourlife

 

It isn’t always easy to make a decision.

It takes time as well as brain power to consider options, weigh pros and cons, and collect information. Decision-making can be stressful–you’re responsible for the outcome and your decision often affects more than just you.

It’s easier to not make a decision. But that doesn’t work in real life–especially when it comes to getting organized. If you want your home to be an organized space, it’s vital to start exercising your decision-making muscles!

Barbara Hemphill, a pioneer in the field of Professional Organizing says…

“Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.”

If you take a moment to think about that statement, it makes total sense.

Picture your kitchen countertops, your dining room table, your clothing closet and other areas of your home that may be cluttered. Bills, kid toys, old socks–have you been making decisions on those items or avoiding them in the hope that you’ll wake up one morning and the necessary decisions will have been made for you?

Maybe you’re putting off making decisions on items in your home because…
– you need more information or guidance before deciding.
– you need to ask another person for permission first.
– your decision may hurt someone’s feelings.
– you’re busy, you don’t have time, or it’s too emotionally taxing to think about it clearly.

By not making decisions, your belongings stay where you’ve placed them and will become clutter. They’ll keep your home cluttered and keep you stuck. Making a decision will ‘unstick’ you and move you forward.

The easiest way make a decision about physical items that are cluttering up your home is to make those decisions as easy as possible to make. Keep it simple–especially in the beginning.

How to start simply and easily? Use three words: Keep, Toss, Donate. Pick a category–shoes, books, toiletries, donation requests (or whatever is causing clutter in your home) and apply those three words to making decisions on items in that category.

Don’t think about decluttering a category or a space in your home any more deeply than that at this moment. Don’t think about where an item will live or where it should be donated to. Don’t think about how you’ll get it to the thrift shop or whether or not it will fit in your cabinet, drawer, or closet. Just look at the item you need to make a decision on and ask Keep? Toss? or Donate? Start there.

That’s your first decision–Keep, Toss, or Donate. Making that basic decision is the first step to clearing your clutter and moving you and your home in a less cluttered and more positive direction.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your clutter, take a deep breath and repeat out loud, “Keep, Toss, or Donate.” That’s the only decision you have to make right now–Keep, Toss, or Donate. If it helps, make it your organizing mantra! Write it on a post-it. Make it your laptop’s screen saver–whatever works for you.

To help you visualize those decisions while decluttering and keep your decluttering process organized, I’ve created a free downloadable ‘Keep-Toss-Donate’ printable for you to use. Designate three spaces (or bins/bags/boxes) in the area you’re working in–one will be for the ‘Keep’ items, one for the ‘Donate’ items and one for the ‘Toss’ items. Use the printable ‘Keep’ ‘Toss’ and ‘Donate’ tags to clearly designate your spaces and decisions. You don’t want to accidentally donate your trash or trash your donations!

Keep Toss Donate *free* download printable | organizedartistry.com #getorganized #keeptossdonate #organizingprintable

Start with the easy stuff–junk mail, pens that may/may not work, old clothes and shoes. As you practice using your decision-making muscles, move onto magazines, sheets and towels, and seasonal clothes. Use “Keep, Toss, or Donate” as the first step toward making space in your home for items that you want, use, and love.

Make a decision and watch your clutter disappear…

What decisions have you been postponing?

 

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Categories: Basic Organizing Principles, Closet, Clothing, Clutter, Donations, Free Download, Kitchen, Organizing 'Quick Tip', Shoes, Trash

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10 Ways You Can Get Organized in 5 Minutes

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10 Ways You Can Get Organized in 5 Minutes | organizedartistry.com #organizeinfiveminutes #fiveminuteorganizing #howtogetorganized

It’s summer! The sun, the water, the shade of a leafy tree and the smell of a BBQ–it’s all calling your name.

But, wait…

You say you need to get organized. Your kitchen, your closet, your papers from the last three months–all need organizing.

It’s a dilemma. Spending time outside means you’re not organizing inside.

I’m a Professional Organizer and even I don’t want to spend much time organizing when it’s 85 degrees and sunny!

The solution for the summer (as well as the other three seasons)?

Get organized in 5 minutes.

No, I’m not crazy. It IS possible to get organized in 5 minutes. You’re not going to organize your entire closet or kitchen in 5 minutes but there are teeny-tiny tasks that you can complete that will move you one step forward towards your organizing goals. And, I’ve said it a bunch of times–it’s those baby steps that will motivate you and keep your eye on the organizing prize.

Here are 10 ways you can get organized in 5 minutes:

Declutter your wallet

A bulging wallet isn’t always a sign of wealth–it can sometimes be a sign of a wallet in need of decluttering! Cash, receipts, business cards, and random scraps of paper multiply like bunnies in between clean-outs. Take 5 minutes to make space in your wallet for money to flow into it!

Create a home for an item that doesn’t have one

We’re always bringing new items into our homes whether it’s children’s artwork, a plant, a picture frame, or a new piece of technology. If the item will be sticking around for a while (or permanently), it’s going to need a place to ‘live.’ Spend 5 minutes thinking of the best ‘home’ for the item and place it in that spot.

Create a file for a new document

Papers also need ‘homes!’ Perhaps you opened a new bank account or you just received your child’s school directory. Those papers need to live somewhere (not your dining room table!). Take 5 minutes to label a file folder, place the papers inside, and store it in a spot that guarantees you’ll always be able to find it.

Delete blurry or duplicate photos from your phone

I was telling my kids the other day about how cameras used to use something called film and you could only take either 24 or 36 shots at a time. And then we had to pay to develop the whole roll regardless of what the pictures could potentially look like. And you had to carry an extra roll of film in case you ran out of shots (and flash cubes, but that’s a whole other story…).

It’s so easy to take multiple pictures of the same thing on our phones. But, that takes up precious space on our little hand-held computers. Ever spend time waiting in a line for 5 minutes? Waiting for the water on the stove to boil? Waiting for the laundry to stop spinning? All of these scenarios and many other 5-minute pockets of time are perfect for deleting blurry and duplicate photos on your phone.

Plan one meal

Does this scenario resonate with you? You come home from work or school or from taking your kids to activities and discover you have nothing in your pantry that comes close to resembling a meal. Taking 5 minutes to plan one meal in advance will save you hours in the supermarket and at the stove, put money back in your wallet, and time back in your day. You won’t feel ‘hangry’ and it may even help trim your waistline, too…

Toss expired food from your fridge, cabinets, or pantry

While you’re planning that one meal, take another 5 minutes to dispose of food that has expired or that resembles a science experiment. Sort through and purge one shelf at a time. Check expiration dates and if you’re brave enough, give leftovers the ‘sniff test.’ By doing this for 5 minutes at a time, you’ll stay on top of your food inventory and keep your refrigerator fresh and clean. Best time to do this? The night before your garbage collection.

Unsubscribe to emails from businesses/organizations you no longer make purchases from/donations to

Imagine if all of those unsolicited emails you receive daily were actual physical pieces of mail. You would have one clogged up mailbox and a whole lot of recycling to do! Get organized in 5 minutes by unsubscribing from unwanted email solicitations. It may take a few days for the ‘unsubscribe’ to take effect but those 5 minutes will have been worth it when you’re no longer using your time to sort through so many ‘junk’ emails.

Test pens and markers

Is your junk drawer overflowing with pens, highlighters, and markers? If so, spend 5 minutes finding out if they still work. This is an ideal job for kids! Give them a pad of paper and a bunch of pens and markers and have them scribble and sort–anything that still works stays and anything that is out of ink or isn’t writing as well as it should gets thrown out or recycled.

Create your to-do list for the next day

Take 5 minutes to write out your next day ‘to-do’ list before you turn in for the night. This technique has multiple benefits. It will help you sleep well–you’ll wake up knowing exactly what needs to be done. It gives your brain an opportunity to think about what needs to be accomplished and places that information elsewhere when you write it down (using paper or tech). Now you can use those morning hours to plan and prioritize your tasks instead of spending time wondering what you should be doing next.

Make your bed

It’s one of the first chores of the day and the first accomplishment of the day. It starts your morning off in a calm and organized fashion.  No need to make your bed look picture perfect. Cover the bed with your blanket/comforter, smooth it out, and tidy up your pillows. Unless you sleep restlessly it should take you less than 5 minutes to make your bed. If you have a partner, split the task with them–it will take even less time!
5 minutes making your bed = Time.Well.Spent.

You CAN get organized in 5 minutes!

What 5 minute organizing task will you accomplish today?

 

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Categories: Clutter, Helpful Organizing Tips, Kitchen, Money, Photos, Recycling, refrigerator, Time

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NAPO Member NAPO Golden Circle NAPO Specialist Residential Organizing NAPO Household Management NAPO Life Transitions Bergen Health and Life 2015 Virtual Organizing Services
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