Organizing Tips

Clear the Clutter!

Has “clutter-it is” taken over at your home or office?

Is every flat surface obscured by paper or belongings? We have been blessed with abundance; however we are overwhelmed by our acquisitions as a result. Clutter costs us peace of mind and drains us of positive energy. Imagine what you could do with the time and space your clutter is currently taking up!

Choose 15 minutes to declutter your home every day.

You can do anything for 15 minutes! Take a few minutes to get items back where they belong in their homes. If items do not have a home, decide if you will “use them or lose them” being ready to store, donate or toss. This routine will get your home or office back to running order very quickly.

Choose 5 items to declutter.

What do you truly love, truly use and truly need access? Walk around your home and think about items you truly have not used in YEARS! Do this once a week, and with this baby step, your living and working space will evolve into a clear space.

Declutter your mind with lists.

Use paper and pencil to clear out all those required activities, last minutes errands, purchases and more. Purchase an organizer or a notebook; keep this with you at all times, along with a pen or pencil. If you always have access to your notebook/organizer, it is easier to keep a running list of what needs to be and it is all in the same place!

Do you have “virtual clutter” – email, forwards, or spam?

Eliminate this clutter by using the spam filter provided by your service provider. Make individual folders for anything you need to keep. Hit the delete key for unwanted emails as soon as they arrive. Add a note to your signature line on your email stating “Please do not forward unnecessary email or chain letters to this me. Thank you.” Junk mail and junk email are the same – toss these as soon as these arrive in your box!

Stop clutter before it begins!

Before you purchase any item, evaluate how and when you will use it, where will you store it, and whether or not you truly love it! Clutter begins with a whim and a purchase. Thinking about a product's frequency of use before a purchase can save money as well!

If decluttering is a difficult chore for you, let me know if I can assist you! With the help of a professional organizer, you are affirmed and empowered in your decision making!

In your closet

  • Determine what to keep and what must go
  • Get rid of any stained items, worn shoes and purses
  • Categorize blouses, slacks, skirts and jackets: arrange by color
  • Fold sweater and display on shelves
  • Utilize racks for scarves, hats and belts
  • Use drawers for lingerie an small items, keeping other folder garments on shelves for easy viewing

In your office

  • Create files for household paperwork, bills, taxes and receipts
  • Allocate a specific time each week to pay bills and process paperwork
  • Toss junk mail immediately; if possible don’t even bring it in the house; toss it in the garbage or recycle outside
  • Keep bill paying necessity all in one place (checkbook, stamps, envelopes, etc)
  • Write new addresses/phone numbers in your address book as soon as you receive them
  • Dedicate a time each week to clean up your desk/work area

In your kitchen

  • Place all appliances used regularly in an easy to reach spot
  • Toss any appliances that are broken or do not work
  • Give away any small appliance or kitchen gear that is not used
  • Store all like items together; all baking items, [including foods, pans, cookie sheets, and cookie cutters], all grilling items, all breakfast foods, etc
  • Utilize baskets, or containers for lids, baggies, etc
  • Get into the habit of every week, the night before the trash comes, clean out the refrigerator, getting rid of old food

In the garage

  • Divide your garage into zones: Gardening zone, kid zone, car zone, sports zone, etc this will help to keep all like items together
  • Install peg board or slat wall to help keep items off floor and in a dedicated space
  • Label, label, label
  • Make sure you child-proof your garage by keeping all hazards materials stored high enough that children cannot get into it