It’s a busy time for us Organizers, January. It’s when, as we plan for new beginnings in the new year, we decide; no, wait, – we resolve, we are resolute, we make the resolution – to get organized at last. That’s why January is Get Organized Month. If it’s on your list, I would like… Continue Reading
When I started as a Professional Organizer over 10 years ago, I freely admit that I was a Pack Rat. To say “an organized Pack Rat” may be redundant. As defined in the Urban Dictionary, a pack rat is “A person who can not throw away anything that, in their mind has value of any kind, and… Continue Reading
Getting organized is not just about stuff and possessions. It’s about clearing clutter from any area in your life where things are clogged up and getting you down. In celebration of my website upgrade – we’re mobile friendly at last! – I am publishing this 4-part series: Lighten Up, Brighten Up and Tighten up. A… Continue Reading
Essential Organizing! While visiting my mother recently, I picked up a few of the books I had read and loved when I was young. One of them was Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, which I recently read again. It is still a wonderful story of one man’s journey being washed ashore onto a small desolate… Continue Reading
Another Kitchen entry inspired by Bon Appétit Magazine. More great ideas for maintaining order in your kitchen. Top chef, Thomas Keller of renowned restaurants (The French Laundry – Yountville, CA and Per Se – Manhatten, NYC), says it’s “about having everything you need before you start cooking: picturing every task involved in creating a dish… Continue Reading
Besides enjoying remarkable food, one of my favorite things about restaurant eating, when the kitchen is in view, is seeing the orderly, mostly low-tech and typically small spaces from which they operate. From an Organizer’s perspective, It’s art, the efficiency and flow of the production that happens there. A Bon Appétit article enlightened me to… Continue Reading
Clutter Tip # 5 – Schedule it. Schedule it. Period. I can give you dozens of tip ideas to help with the process of getting organized. Keep things where you use them. Create Zones. Consider accessibility. It’s all helpful, but when I think of my clients, the number one issue is getting started. Often your… Continue Reading
Clutter Tip #3 – The Container Sets the Limit! According to Real Simple Magazine, organized people say no spillover. “Have too many stuffed animals to fit in the toy chest, say? Exile some instead of starting another bin for the extras”. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I tell my clients the rule is… Continue Reading
Clutter Tip #2 – Reward Yourself! Sometimes I to play a little organizing game before I got to bed at night, especially if I’m really beat. I’ll count from 10 to 1 and at each count I will pick something up and put it away. 10, put my glasses back in the case and into… Continue Reading
Clutter Tip #1. Ask Yourself Three Questions. Is it Useful or Beautiful? Is it Active? Does it Serve Me? These are the key questions to ask yourself about everything in your possession when you want to organize your clutter. Your cheese greater may not be beautiful, but it is active and it… Continue Reading