My clients are wonderful parents, who are expecting their second child just after Christmas. They are a loving couple who have just been taken over by their stuff. They aren’t “bad” or “strange”, but they were overwhelmed, and didn’t know where to start. They would like to finish their basement to have a family room as well as an office. But in order to that, there are steps that need to be taken. We have been purging, sorting and re locating items from their basement. At the beginning, the whole basement was full, we have done our initial sort and gotten rid of items for donation or the dump, but now the hard part begins. We need to pare down the items to fit into the space available.

This is when you need to decide what’s more important to you. The stuff or the space.

If you have a clear vision of your goal for that space, you’ll be able to move forward. The hardest obstacle that you may encounter is wanting to hold on to items that “may” be worth something. If you’ve been holding onto old movies, memorabilia, mugs, etc. from blasts from the pasts, I want you to think about whether it’s worth the space it’s consuming. Would you rather have a few boxes of keepsakes or would you rather have an area where your family can relax? If you really feel you could get some money for an item, give yourself a month. If you haven’t sold it in that time, donate it.

YOU have to choose how you want to live in your space. It didn’t get there overnight, and it won’t be solved overnight, but with a little work, you can have the space that you dream of.

• Only keep items that you will value and honour.
• Only keep items that you love and feel are beautiful.
• Only keep items that are useful and functional.

Anything that doesn’t fit your goal for the space, shouldn’t be there.

Wishing you much success in taking back your space, one area at a time!

Neat and Tidy

Garages are one of the biggest wasted spaces that homeowners have.  It often gets overlooked and is the most disorganized because it becomes the dumping ground for all the “stuff” you don’t know what to do with or don’t use often.  Is your garage useful, or is it just being used?  Why not take back that valuable space and make it work for you!

Whether your garage is a workshop, parking spot or solely used for storage there a tried-and-true formula for cleaning out and organizing a garage – the same principles apply for any space in your home. You have to pull everything out to see what you have, decide if it stays or goes and then plan the space.  Once you see what you have left, you can then find the best solutions that work for your individual needs and space available.

A great way to make the best use of your space is to go vertical.  Installing shelving, adding hooks and racks keep items off the floor and leave you more space to move..  Lofts are also a great place to store seasonal items that aren’t used often.  Clear plastic storage containers keep items together and make it easy to see what’s inside.

Garages aren’t just for storage or cars anymore.  Some homeowners are converting their garages into full rooms of their house, using them as their hobby space or creating that “man zone” with televisions, beer and sports memorabilia!  Many families use it for all the kids toys, bikes, lawn and garden supplies, sports gear and tools.  The possibilities are endless!

Sort your Sports

Sometimes it’s hard to spend a lot of money on a part of the house you rarely see or spend time in however there are many inexpensive options available. A great way to keep costs down is to repurpose items that you already have or build them yourself.  Old laundry baskets mounted on the wall make a great spot to store balls and frizbees.  Hooks and nails on the walls keep items up and easy to access.  Garbage cans can be used to store brooms, rakes and shovels.  Think about what items you’re not using in other parts of the house and see if it would work there.  An old dresser would be a great spot to hold gardening supplies, rags or small tools.  If you have some money to spend, there are many amazing storage cabinets, racks and hooks available at local home improvement stores.

Keeping the garage organized and clutter free can be difficult, especially when there are often many people using the space.  The best way to keep it that way is to make it a habit to keep it tidy.  Post a sign on the door telling your family that it’s a “clean your own zone” and that they need to start picking up after themselves.  If there is a place for everything and you are consistent about putting it back, it will stay organized longer.  Before anything else enters the space think about whether it belongs there or not.  If it doesn’t fit your goal for the space, don’t let it enter.

The key to staying organized in any part of your home is to make it a part of your daily routine.  If you see something that needs to be put away, picked up or tossed out – do it then!  I like to say “Less than a minute, jump right in it”  By leaving  things too long they start to pile up again and you’ll be back where you started.

How many clothes have you “lost” because you can’t see them or find them….or forgot you even had them?

Take back your wardrobe and find ways to change it up for spring! Think of it as shopping in your own closet. You’ll find treasures that you lost or may even find new ways of pairing up items. Give yourself a block of time, grab a drink and a snack and jump in!

1. DECIDE -Pull all your clothes out decide what to Keep, Toss, or Recycle.

KEEP- Only what you love, that fits and that makes you feel good in it. Have boxes or bins ready to contain them while you sort.

TOSS- Any clothes that are stained, torn, worn or damaged put into dark garbage bags. These items are in the trash.

RECYCLE- Any clothing that is still in good shape that someone else could use put into clear garbage bags or boxes. You can choose to donate them to a shelter or charity or make some cash and take them into a consignment shop.

Points to consider:
o If you haven’t worn it in a few years… let it go
o If you feel great in it…keep it
o If you don’t find it flattering….let it go
o If you wear it often and fits….keep it
o If you like it but never wear it…. let it go
o If was a good deal but it doesn’t match anything…let it go

2. ORGANIZE – Determine what you have and what you need.

• Sort your clothes by work wear and casual wear. Then break it down further. Group like with like,  ie: Jeans together, skirts together, long sleeve, short sleeve. Then see what you really have.
• Do you really need 10 pairs of black pants? Pare down the numbers again by choosing what you like and fit you best. Get rid of the rest. When you can accurately see how many items that you have you will make better purchasing decisions.
• Invest in some wooden or sturdy plastic hangers, tiered hangers, closet systems, hooks and baskets. When things are sorted and stored together, they’re easier to keep tidy.
• Keep out of season clothing in clear containers under your bed or in your storage area. Spring and Summer together, Fall and Winter together.

Most importantly, follow the one in, one out rule. Any time you buy a new clothing item, one of the old ones must go. Keep a donate box in your closet and fill it as you go. When it’s full, drop it off and start another one.

Cleaning out your closet is a great way to make better use of your space, get rid of things you never wear and feel good about what you have.

Spring Cleaning!

By:  Jenny McKee, Professional Organizer

Do you feel that your home is out of control?  Do you feel stressed when you walk in the door?  Want to take back your space?

Our days are longer than ever before and many people are finding themselves stuck in a rut and feel overwhelmed with the tasks of daily living.  With such busy lives it’s even more important that your home be a sanctuary and place to relax and rejuvenate. If you are constantly surrounded by mess and a never ending to do list it will be more difficult to take time for yourself.

Every aspect of your home influences your life, either physically or emotionally.  It has a direct impact on your time, finances, health, relationships and your overall happiness and well being.

When people are in balanced and harmonious environments they

• are much happier
• work better
• are efficient and productive
• understand more easily, as a result, learn faster
• feel in control
• enjoy life, themselves, and whatever they do
• have an overall contentment surrounding them

On the other hand, people in chaotic environments often feel

• lost
• anxious
• dissatisfied
• disappointed
• overwhelmed
• unhappy
• rushed

Close your eyes and think about the area/room/space in your home or office where clutter and disorganization are. Picture it in your mind. Visualize the stuff and the space.  How does it make you feel?  Is it something you want or need to change?  Now think about that space clean and organized.  Think about where the items are, and where they should be.  How will the space work for you?  How do you think that these differences would affect your life, your well being and your mental clarity?

Have you heard the term “cluttered space, cluttered mind?”  If you are often thinking about your mess, and it brings you down when you look at it, or makes you feel like you’re “not doing enough” then your clutter is affecting your day.  Don’t let it control your life, take control over it!

Spring is a great time to get organized.  It’s a time of renewal, fresh starts and a feeling of lightness after the dark dreary winter.  It’s also a great time to clean everything out, freshen up and tackle the indoor tasks that you won’t want to do once the warmer weather is here.

SPRING  Clean up

S- Scan: Walk around your home and look and see what needs to be done.  Make a checklist of what you want to do in each room and area of your home.  Each room should have it’s own page.  Writing down your “to do’s” will take it off your mind.

P- Plan: Decide when you are going to tackle each project.  Make a plan of action, and do one room or area at a time.  Mark the job into your calendar, and stick to it.  Be realistic of what you want to accomplish and how long it will take.  By breaking tasks down into manageable chunks, it will be easier to stay focused.

R – Reclaim: What is the purpose of each area in your home?  If your bedroom has been taken over by your kids stuff – get it out! It should be YOUR own! Reclaim your space and decide what you want the area to be used for and remove anything that doesn’t belong there.

I – Involve: Have the whole family help out.  You should not be the only one responsible for cleaning up.  If there are projects or tasks that you can’t do, or know you won’t do without help, then ask for it.  If everyone in the home is involved, they will be more likely to help keep it up.

N – Needs: What are your needs versus your wants?    You may need to clear out your overflowing closet, but want to wash the windows. Work on your needs first, then when you have more time work on the wants.  Set your priorities for each space in order of importance and time available.

G – Goals: Set goals for how you want your space to look and feel like.  When you accomplish a task that takes you towards your goal, reward yourself.  It feels great when you can cross something off your list.  Celebrate that!

How to do it

Now that you know what you want to do, let’s look at how to do it.  Focus on one area of the room at a time.  Pick up an item only once and make decisions quickly.  It is either KEEP, DONATE or TOSS.  If you’re unsure about an item and are not quite ready to let it go, put it in a box to SAVE.  Pack it away for 6 months and see if you go looking for the item.  If you haven’t needed it in that time frame, time to let it go.   Start a regular donate box that you can add to as you find things in your home you no longer need.  When the box is full, drop it off at a donation centre.

Everything in your home should have a purpose and a destination.  That means that you need a reason to have it and a place to keep it.  Store items where they make sense for you.  When you are looking for something what is the first spot you think it would be?  That’s where it needs to stay.  It should be logical and accessible.  The key is to be consistent about putting things back in that destination so that you’ll be able to find it quickly and easily when you need it.

The key thing to remember is that your life is constantly changing, and so is the “stuff” in it.  You will periodically have to review what is working and what’s not.  Then you can revise it to better suit your needs at the moment.

“Less than a Minute…..jump right in it”

Keep this thought in mind when you go about your daily tasks.  If you notice something that needs to be done or put away…and it only takes a minute to do – do it then!  All these minutes add up and you’ll get more accomplished in your day.

Less than a minute:

• wipe up a spill or fingerprints on the cupboards
• pick up the shoes that are piled at the door
• put laundry in the hamper
• file a bill you’ve paid

Get in the Organizing Habit!

The word ‘habit’ implies routine: it’s the repetition of an action to get the result you want. Following a good routine puts your habits on automatic pilot by both making time and reminding you to act on them every day. It reduces your reliance on willpower.

If you want to change your space, you need to change your habits.  You cannot change others, but by changing your habits and routines, you will rub off on them and theirs will change as well. Your space did not get disorganized overnight and it won’t be easy to change your habits to get organized, but it will be well worth it.  Need reminders? Leave yourself sticky notes inside cupboard doors, in your drawers, under the sink….  You’ll get used to doing them…and then won’t need reminders to keep you on track.

Organizing isn’t about being perfect or having everything colour coordinated, it’s about making things easier and simpler to manage.  Create harmony in your space and you’ll find it will spill over to all areas in your life.

So don’t agonize…… organize!

Today I went shopping for some office supplies… ahhhh…..HEAVEN! An office supply store is like a toy store for many organizers. All the neat little gadgets, colour coded files, baskets, bins, pens, sticky notes, and, of course, label makers!  I thought I’d post a few items that I think are great for helping you keep your office organized and efficient.  Read on…

Sticky Notes: I LOVE sticky notes. My husband calls me the sticky note queen. I love that they’re handy, and when the task is done, you get the satisfaction of getting rid of the note. They’re great for reminders, notes of inspiration, lists, and more. I wouldn’t recommend buying them from the dollar store if you want them to have better staying power. You’re better off getting the store brand in your local office supply store.
Table top files: The reason many people have piles of papers on their desk is that they say they’re “still using them” or “may need it soon” or “I have to do_____ with it soon” Table top filers are great for keeping everyday items at your finger tips without having to go back and forth to your filing cabinet. Try labeling each tab for your every day work. Examples: To Do, File Later, In, Out, Bills to Pay, etc. Customize it to suit your individual needs and you’ll find it easier to keep on top of the abundance of paper that comes in and out of your office each week. REMEMBER: DON’T PILE IT…. FILE IT!
Calendar or Planner: Everyone needs some sort of calendar to keep on top of tasks and meetings ahead. You may be high tech and use a hand held electronic calendars, have a program on your computer, or you may like the old fashioned way of writing in a day planner or wall calendar. Whatever works for you, whatever is easiest for you, and whatever you’ll be the most consistent with…use that. Myself, I’m a paper kind of gal. I’ve got my appointments penned in my day planner that I take everywhere with me, but I also have it in my Outlook program with my emails. If you have more than one, make sure you update them and co ordinate information, or you may miss an important event! Family calendars are especially important in busy homes where different activities are keeping everyone busy. We’ll talk more about Calendars another day in more depth.
Well, I could probably go on and on about the neat products out there….. but I have to keep you coming back for more don’t I ?? Can’t give away all my secrets at once! Tomorrow I’m off to two consultations…and they’re both offices! Can’t wait!
Hope you have a great day!

I am a proud contributer to a fantastic magazine for pre teen and teenaged girls called “Girls Can Do Anything” It is all about helping young girls boost self esteem, learn how to be “real” and fights a lot of the pressures put on teen girls. Visit their website at www.gcdamagazine.com I recently wrote this article on studying tips for teens. Thought I would share it here.
I’m sure that you are so excited that exams are coming up…that you know that you’ll study every night, have everything prepared, and then ace the exam. Right? What??? You don’t think so?? Well let’s see how we can change that!  Read on to get easy tips to help you ace that exam!Here are a few tips and ideas for making your study session a success.

Clear your workspace:

Have you heard the expression ” cluttered space, cluttered mind” ? If your work area is full of papers, notes, chip bags, and a pair of dirty socks, you won’t be able to concentrate properly on your task at hand. Take the time to put items back where they belong and you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel when the clutter is gone. Try and keep your space clear, and only have the item that you are working on at that moment out.
Have all the supplies you need on hand:

Make sure that you have the pens, pencils, paper etc. that you will need. If you have to keep searching for things, you’ll get distracted and lose focus on your task. Have a glass of water and a healthy snack as well. You need to fuel your body so that you can fuel your mind. Any textbooks, notes, hand outs and information about the test should be ready and waiting, not downstairs in the bottom of your backpack!
Remove any distractions:

Turn off the television, turn off your cel phone, and tell your mom or dad that you are going to be studying and that you don’t want to be interrupted. Make a DO NOT DISTURB sign for your door and tell your little brothers or sisters that when the sign is up, they can’t bother you. They will learn to respect your boundaries, and see that you are working hard to achieve better grades.
Make a plan of action:

Look at your schedule, and see where you can set aside study time. Mark in in your calendar, and stick to it. Look at it as a job commitment that you have to honour. If your friends call and want to go to the mall, or see a movie, look at your schedule and see if you are available. If you can fit it in, and still get your studying done, go and have fun. If you know that it will interfere, tell them you’d love to go, but you have scheduled in study time, and see if they want to go another day. You’ll be proud of yourself for sticking to your plan of action, and your friends will respect your commitment. If you have more than one subject to study for, plan when you will work on each one. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll find yourself going off track and not getting everything done.
Break it down:

Have specific goals for each subject that you are studying, and write them down. If your goal is that you will read 4 chapters of your English book, don’t stop until you do. If you can, do even one chapter more. You’ll be further ahead than you planned, an you’ll feel great knowing that you’re ahead of the game. By breaking down bigger tasks into smaller ones, you won’t be so overwhelmed. You will also have the satisfaction of crossing off the items that get done.
Jot it down:

A great way to keep notes is to use recipe cards. When you are studying, the items you have trouble remembering, or find difficult, write them down on the card. Then when you are doing review, you’ll have the cards to remind you of the things you need to go over again. I found when I was in school, once I wrote something out a few times, I was able to remember it better. Highlight the important points and review them often.
Visualize your success:

If you think that you are going to do poorly on an exam, and you go into the exam with that frame of mind, chances are you won’t do so well. If you can visualize yourself knowing the answers, finishing in time, and then see the teacher handing back your results with a great mark… you’ll be more likely to achieve it. Positive thinking goes along way in life, and the sooner you see yourself doing well, the more likely that it will happen.
If you can organize your time to include studying, work, school and your friends, you will have more balance and harmony in your life and you won’t miss out on anything important.
Wishing you much success!
Jenny McKee
Organizing Solutions

LESS THAN A MINUTE.JUMP RIGHT IN IT!

Read on for tips on gaining control over your time and getting your entire home & office quickly organized, one little manageable step at a time.ANYTHING around your home, if you see it and notice it, and it takes LESS than a minute DO IT THEN!!! Don’t wait! These little things add up.
Less than a minute

• Quick Reply to an email
• File papers in your file folder
• Check your messages
• Tidy up your desk
• Shred papers
• DEAL with paper- either file, shred, recycle or put in to do folder

5 minutes

• clean out utensil drawer
• tidy shoes
• hang up coats
• clean your bathroom sink/toilet with wipes
• make a grocery list
• send an email
• Read emails
• Clean out pen drawer
• Clean off your desk

10 minutes

• clean out your drawers
• pay bills on line
• empty trash cans in house
• filing
• phone calls
• update calendar
• make plans for the week
• clean out your email files

GET YOUR TIMER OUT FROM THE KITCHEN! Set it for 10 minutes. See what you can get done in that time. IF you’re still motivated set it again.
Doing these little things throughout the day, will save hours a week, and ultimately give you more productive home or office.
Every minute counts….make the most of your time, and you’ll have less to do at the end of the week.

Remember….

LESS THAN A MINUTE….JUMP RIGHT IN IT!