 I know it can be difficult to be objective about stuff, especially after it has been piled all around us for a while. As it piles up around us we become more and more complacent about it, forgetting why we have it and what its use is.
Here are two simple questions to ask about some common household items that may be lurking in the corners of your countertops, closets and drawers.
MagazinesWill I bring old magazines with me to the doctors or mechanics so I can read mine instead of theirs?What percentage of the magazines or newspapers that I pay for, do I actually read?Newspapers Have I ever browsed through a pile of old newspapers in my free time, looking for old information?If I really needed to look for information in old newspapers, wouldn't a trip to the Library or a Google search cover my needs?KeysDo I remember what lock this key is for?Do I still own or use the lock for which this key belongs?Instruction ManualsWill I really forget how to use my toaster?If I am keeping for warrantee reasons only, has it expired?Twist tiesWhen was the last time I needed a whole pile of twist ties at once?If I already have a collection of twist ties, do I need more, and for what?SouvenirsDo I have a mountain of pictures of my trip that I can look to reminisce instead?Will I ever really use that tacky novelty ashtray I bought on my last holiday? I recognize the fact that in this world we are bombarded with paper, information and stuff and that getting overwhelmed by it is something that can happen to anyone. Need help with letting go, getting organized and becoming more effective and relaxed? I will be happy to help you simplify your life and your work today.Call now for your no-cost consultation in the Vancouver, BC area. 778-866-6942
Warmly,
Michelle PanzlaffAnother past article of interest:http://www.tidytiger.biz/1/post/2010/03/the-top-questions-to-ask-yourself-about-your-stuff.html
Talking about letting go is exciting to me. As an organizer I see many people hold on to things because they just can't seem to let go and today I hope I can help inspire a little release.
A couple of big reasons for not being able to let go of clutter is a feeling of insecurity and also sentimentality.
Afraid to forget the past, people will hold to kids’ clothes, toys and artwork. Afraid of what the future holds, they will hold onto anything that ‘may be useful one day.’
I say trust your memory, let go of trying to control the future. There will always be 'stuff', that you can be sure of.
 So what can I offer as testimony? Well, on July 17th I am scheduled to give a talk to the local ‘Roaring Women’s’ group in Coquitlam.
At this meeting I am going to let go of a Teddy I have held onto for 10 years, and attached to it, two very special pins from my first solo motorcycle tour!
It is a hard thing to do, to let this go, yet I have my memory and I have photo’s, the Teddy goes.
If your mother is like my mother, she always thinks she knows best about how you should run your household. Well, I guess as a mother, she just can’t let go of her baby
Regardless of how I feel about my mom giving me advice on my home or life, I have to say, she is the best cheerleader anyone could have. In her eyes I can do no wrong. For this belief in me, I thank her.
To get back to my story, not long ago my mother and I were discussing how to cook rice. She was thinking about getting a rice cooker because she dislikes making rice in a pot, like the way I do. She decided she needed a rice cooker, and then decided that I need one too.
It was her adamancy that I get one, that was entertaining, in some way. Although I said I can cook perfect rice in my pot and I was happy with that, she insisted rather harshly that I still needed the cooker!
I had to insist back, that I had no intention to use a rice cooker, and for her ‘not’ to go out and buy me one. I told her I would simply give it away if she did.
I have limited space in my home, I like space, I don’t need a big cooker taking up the space I have. I am sure many readers can relate and want to make the best use of their space, their time and even their discretionary ‘spending money’.
So I got to thinking. Was there anything else performing a redundant function in my kitchen? Yes, my Bodem coffee maker. I discovered prior that I can make coffee just as easily by using a pot and a sieve. My fiancé, however, was against the idea that I give the Bodem away, since our coffee ritual is something we enjoy. It still works and we like using it, it stays!
In general, we have too much stuff we don’t really, really need, like many of us. If we just learn how to make what we have work for us better, we could cut more clutter form our counters and other places.
Simplify is key.
Now, I just need to convince my mother to not worry about going out of her way to buy me things. The best gift my mom can give me, is to know that her money can be better spent, or saved.
Great things sometimes come in pairs. Today for each room here are two tips to help you get more organized.
Living or Family Room
1. Consider purchasing multi-purpose furniture such as coffee tables, foot rests, storage cubes, or couches and beds with storage built in for toys, extra blankets and pillows, or board games?
2. List all the activities that will take place in this space and section your living room into zones. Then consider the containment needs for your belongings that make things easy to put away. Baskets are great idea to consider.
Kitchen
1. Keep countertops clear. Put away any rarely used appliances such as a deep fryer’s into cabinets. Well in the case of a deep fryer I suggest tossing it altogether, yet, you get the idea. Review your appliances. If you haven't used it in 12 months give it away. Try this with your utensils too. Try putting the items away in a closet or garage and only take out if you need it. Then put back in your kitchen when done using it only.
2. Arrange zones in the kitchen. This can make your life simpler and easier. For example, sugar, flour, baking soda, and confectioners’ chocolate should be near each other to make it easy and convenient to bake when the urge strikes. Another zone may be your coffee/tea zone. Include coffee, sugar, tea bags, tea cups and mugs etc.
 A great time gathering and giving was had this past weekend. Thank you to all that came out to bring in the much needed houseware for 'Gather and Give', it is truely appreciated!
I had some help putting this together and wanted to thank a few people.
Eleanor and Melaney of ‘Gather and Give’ for bringing the need to my attention and also for working with me to prepare for this event and pick up the goods too.
My Fiancé, Anthony for all his help and support during the event.
Doug Burgoyne of ‘FrogBox’ for the use of their fabulous green boxes to sort items into.
Hana Alwan of ‘All Natural Cleaning Divas’ for her support and presence at the event.
And a grrrreat big thanks to all the people who gave!!
Thank you all!
Michelle
To help reduce stress if you have more than you can handle, try reducing your backlog of "stuff" that has built up over time.
I know that it can be easy in today's busy world to build up a backlog of stuff that you want to do, yet our realities are that sometimes we just can't get to everything.
To help you weed out some things that may be growing out of control and overtaking your desk here are 7 items you can start with and the tips on how to weed them out.
1. Messages and Business cards from recent meetings
*Try recording the name and phone number in your planner on the day you intend to call the contact back.
*If you need to update your contact database or Rolodex, create a file named "Contacts to Update" and schedule in some time each week or month to review this file.
*Or, delegate this task to someone else.
2. Notes from Meetings and Staff Memo's
*Right after the meeting grab your planner and schedule any follow up tasks assigned to you.
*Write a quick note as to what the task is in the planner, if there are points and notes that are needed for the task keep those in another place assigned for projects you have on the go or upcoming.
*Toss the extra or unneeded notes, use you planner as the reminder you'll need.
3. A pile of business cards from conference two years ago
*Keep only the cards for people you remember or plan to associate with now or by the next conference.
*File the cards into your association contacts file to have available when the time comes.
*If available use scanning software to make quick work of saving the cards electronically or delegate the task of entering the contacts to your database to someone else.
4. Conference Brochures you may or may not attend
*Record a tentative appointment into your planner. If using an electronic planner, schedule a reminder a week or two before so you can then re-evaluate your need to go or register if required.
*Put the brochure aside into your "Bring Forward" file or a file for "Association Events" or something similar, so that when the day comes you will be able to find it again.
5. Coupons and promotions
*If you really plan to use them keep them handy in your wallet or planner. It is more likely to be used there than if it is just sitting on your desk.
*If there is a deadline and you really want to take advantage of the deal then make an appointment to go and do so.
6. Magazine subscriptions renewal cards
*Ask yourself; are you really interested in renewing or signing up for the magazine? If yes, fill it out and send it in.
*If not; Toss it! Don't worry; the offer will come again.
7. Overstuffed files from projects recently done
*If its on your desk because you want to go through and weed it out before filing away to your archive, then go ahead and file it. Grab your planner and schedule time in to weed these files each month.
*Try releasing that desire to be a perfectionist on this one, it's not going to help you get to the task any quicker when the file is blocking you from getting other things done. Ultimately this just slows the process down even more.
Now, when it comes to tossing the things you don't need as you go along your way through these piles, here are the top 5questions to ask yourself if you are thinking about keeping something:
1. Am I obligated to keep it for tax reasons?
2. Do I need it to fulfill a core activity or role in my job?
3. Would my work suffer if I didn't have it?
4. Is the information up to date and could I get it elsewhere if I need it again?
5. Do I refer often to this information?
If you find yourself overwhelmed with the feeling that you just have to much and too much to do, try these tips for taking control of the paper piles and your tasks.
Happy Weeding!
Can you relate to one of these tendencies? What is getting in the way of becoming more organized? Read on for some quick tips for each category and start leading a more productive, less stressful life today.
Tips for the Procrastinator:
1. Take one task on at a time. Moving stuff around is a waste of time, try to be realistic with how long a task will take and schedule the work into your day.
2. Release guilt if there is something that you truly know you will not get to. If it's not a "must do" go ahead and cross it off your list. (Read past article "Don't let Others "Should" on You" to learn more about letting go)
3. If you "must" do it, schedule the work into your planner.
4. Enlist a friend or relative to cheer you on or nag you a bit when you need it. Try to find someone you see often so they can keep on you if you fall behind.
Tips for the Packrat:
1. Try to visualize how great you will feel if you can move around freely in your space knowing you won't step on things or run into obstacles.
2. Consider your collections and pull out the truly cherished belongings to keep and display, while weeding out what you don't need or want and putting the rest into storage.
3. Try rotating your collection each month or year to bring other pieces out and putting the current items away. That way you can still display more of your collection without having them all out at once.
4. When purging and sorting your collection, enlist the help of a professional or a friend. They can help you ask the right questions so you keep the things that are truly meaningful to you.
Tips for the Perfectionist:
1. There is no "One way" to do anything. It is better to start than to wait until you can do everything perfectly. Do what you can and you can work on improving it later.
2. Break down large tasks into small bit-sized pieces so you don't have to worry about trying to get everything completed the moment you start.
3. Don't try keeping everything in a constant state of perfection. Homes and offices you see in magazines are quite often staged. Notice how there is no pets, no kids and no activities going on in the picture. Give yourself a break and allow room to live in your space.
4. Note your priorities. If there is a specific issue that is causing you the most pain, start there.
It is my pleasure this week to include this insightful contribution from Regina at ‘Veracis Wellness Inc.’ Enjoy…
“Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. Most people tidy their physical space first which creates an environment for inner contemplation. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to meditate with the nagging reminder of all the cleaning that still needs to be done, or opening you eyes to clutter!”
Clear the clutter externally to experience inner calm. Be gentle with yourself, beginning with one area at a time. The same is true for your inner self. Every time you bring order and cleanliness into your surroundings, give yourself a few minutes to reflect on the clutter you’ve let go on the inside. The way you think and act today is different from who you were yesterday. The satisfaction you experience when things are in order will relate to your inner happiness. Be in the moment, smile and enjoy the freedom to touch truth from within. Light, Laughter & Love, Regina KaiserTo learn more about Veracis Wellness Inc.
Call Regina at 604.461.5511, email regina@veraciswellness.com
or visit www.veraciswellness.com today.
 Do you know anyone that is embarrassed by their clutter?
In the course of my work I have met with many people that have at least some degree of shyness when it comes to any clutter that they are struggling with. It is only natural for people to have those feelings when they sense they are lacking some organizing skills. Yet, let me tell you, there is no need to be embarrassed about clutter.
First of all, there is not one person I have met that is great at everything. I mean really, if someone you met was perfect, it would probably be annoying to be around them, wouldn't it?
Clutter is more common than you think and in a society where we are encouraged to buy more than we need, where we are bombarded with paper, information, ideas and offers, who can keep up?
Today I will just leave you with the thought that as an organizer, I get it! After all, I too have to keep my stuff, my papers and my tasks in order and minimized. Even I have to 'catch up' and 'let-go' from time to time.
So if you or anyone you know is struggling with or embarrassed by clutter, know that it's ok, we can't all do everything purrrrfectly.
'Do what you do best, let others help with the rest!"
You got me!!
Other than occasionally acting like a big kid, or taking care of someone else’s on a temporary basis, I personally don't have any children and can only imagine the true experience of having to care for them full-time. Yet, what I do have to share is some tips and strategies that I have picked up during my quest to learn more about organizing. And since this week’s topic is residential solutions, I thought I would include a few strategies in helping to organize kids spaces too.Let’s talk strategy first, after all these little ‘Mini Me's’ learn fast and they learn from you so keep in mind five little tips: - Set an example. If your space is tidy they can learn from it.
- Talk straight. How are they going to know what your expectations are if you don’t tell them.
- Make play out of it. Have a race, have a prize, and have fun!
- Make them your partner. Ask their opinions and get them involved.
- Stick to your guns. If you don’t enforce rules they soon learn there aren't any.
As for making it easy for kids to stay organized, consider these tips:
- Provide low level closet rods so kids can reach their clothes and put them away.
- Put mostly used items on lower levels.
- Use big, bold and colorful labels and pictures to grab their attention.
- Remove closet doors and obstacles from their path.
- Rotate and store out-of-season clothes and less-used toys.
- Set limits on number of toys and clothes so they can focus, rather than get distracted by too many choices.
As you see, many of the basic organizing principals apply for kids too. Keep 'hot' items close, make things easy to put away, limit the amount of things and label well.Lastly, give the little ones a special hug for me! Michelle
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