Clutter Rehab

Bargains Bargains Bargains

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:06:00 -0400

For those of you who like getting a great deal (and who doesn't?), here are a couple of sales to check out. Blessings Resale is having their next monthly sale event on Saturday, April 3rd between 10:00-4:00 with the theme of springtime and renewal. Register for door prizes, receive give-aways, have have refreshments as you shop. Because this is a non-profit thrift store, all profits go to help women in crisis. So with every purchase, you're not only getting a great item at a great price, you're helping a great cause. Blessings is located at 7126 E. Becker Lane, one block north of Shea and just west of Scottsdale Road. Their phone number is 480-905-LIFE. Clutter Rehab is conducting an estate sale on Friday and Saturday, April 9th and 10th from 7:00 a.m. til approximately noon each day. There are a lot of really great items in the sale. Several chairs, bar stools, end tables, nesting tables, antiques, collectibles, dishes, china, Waterford crystal, glasses, many silver pieces and crystal pieces, Victorian settee and chair, sofa, and a large glass topped coffee table are only a few of the things that will be available. Most items have been appraised and will be sold for less than the appraisal value. The address is 6049 E. Kathleen, Scottsdale. It is just off 60th St, north of Greenway in Scottsdale. Call 480-226-5874 with any questions. I hope you get a chance to attend at least one of these events! And tell them you saw it in the Clutter Rehab blog.

Clutter Awareness

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:41:00 -0400

Clutter Awareness Week is the third week in March. That's next week so you have a week to plan and prepare for it. I define clutter as anything that takes up space without serving any real purpose, things you don't really love, or anything unfinished. Maybe you think you "might need it someday" or it's easier just to let it pile up than to make decisions about what to do with it. Whatever the reason commit to spending time everyday next week to get control of your clutter. Start by asking "Do I use it?" and "Do I absolutely love it?" If your items don't fit one of those categories, why are you keeping them? Ask some tough questions: When did you use it last? When will you use it again? What purpose does it serve? What's the worst that would happen if I got rid of it? Use the "In/Out" rule: each time you bring in something new, you have to get rid of something old. Set limits on how much of an item you will own. Know when enough is enough. This will force you to decide what items are favorites and then you can let go of the rest. Let me know of your success during Clutter Awareness Week. I look forward to hearing from you.

Lose 30 Pounds---Of Clutter!

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:08:00 -0400

The first month of the new year just ended. Are you on track with the goals/resolutions you set? Losing weight makes the top 5 list every year in the US. Getting organized makes the top 5 list every year as well. I think one of the reasons they both keep making the top 5 list is because so many of the same people keep making the same resolution. When they don't do it one year, they move it to next year's list! This month I challenge you to lose 30 pounds. I'm talking about 30 pounds of clutter. Shed the weight of things burdening your space and your energy and I wouldn't be surprised to hear that you start shedding the physical weight on your body that you've been wanting to lose. I know I've worked with several clients that have experienced this. I go through my house on a regular basis to eliminate things I don't use or want anymore. Yet, when I was getting my house ready to put on the market, I decided there were a lot of things I was ready to let go of. I had a successful garage sale, listed some items on e-bay and craigslist and donated anything that didn't sell. The whole process made me feel so much lighter. Start by getting rid of all the paper you don't need. Paper weighs a lot so that might be your 30 pounds right there! Go through your closet and get rid of anything you haven't worn in the last 12 months. Just tackling these two areas will make you feel more in control, empowered to accomplish more. Even if you don't lose weight, I can pretty much guarantee you will feel lighter and be in a better position to be able to start living a healthier life. Let me know how it goes.

Packing To Move

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:08:00 -0400

I often say to my clients that we add things to expand to fill the space we are in. I'm finding that to be so true to my situation. Even though I regularly go through my things and get rid of what I am not using, I am realizing how much "stuff" I have. I am getting my house ready to put on the market to sell so am packing up a lot of my belongings for the staging process. I am amazed at all I have. The good news is that I am planning on moving to a smaller home so will be forced to downsize. It's always a good process for everyone to go through now and then. It is already making me feel lighter. The end of 2009 is coming, bringing a new year. Start it off right by going through your house as if you were moving to a smaller place. What can you let go of that you will never miss? The process will help you begin 2010 with a more positive attitude and feeling good to tackle other goals you have set for yourself. I hope you enjoy the holidays. Remember....it's a season of peace. May you find the peace of organization in your space.

Moving Violations

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:28:00 -0400

I recently organized a sales person who spends a lot of time in her car and has to have a lot of information handy as she is out making calls. After organizing her office we went to her car and set up mobile systems that she could easily transport back and forth between car and office. Here are some tips to help you keep the clutter from overtaking your car space. 1. Keep some plastic bags in the car. You can store them under the seat in a paper towel tube. 2. Only keep important car-related papers in the glove compartment, such as owner's manual, maintenance register, etc. Also include a flashlight, disposable camera (in case of accident), tire gauge, car registration, and proof of insurance. 3. As you are getting out of your car at the end of every day, collect everything that needs to go in and dispose of the trash. 4. My friend keeps a crate and a thermal bag in her trunk at all times. That way she can keep things from the grocery store cold until she gets home. She uses the crate to keep things from rolling around in her trunk while she is running errands. 5. If you have young children, it's a good idea to bring along things to keep them occupied while you're out. Crayons, coloring book, books to read, travel games can all be stored in over the seat organizers. 6. I like to have a "waiting bag" with me. It holds magazines and other items I want to read. When I'm somewhere I have to wait (such as the dentist's office), I can catch up on my reading. 7. Have an emergency car kit in your trunk. Some items for this include battery powered radio, first aid kit, blanket, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, matches, and flares. There's no reason the inside of your car can't be as organized and support your lifestyle the same way your home does. Happy motoring!

Blessings Resale Grand Opening

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:57:00 -0400

Saturday, September 19th, Blessings Resale, Inc. is celebrating their grand opening. Blessings is a non-profit benefiting women in crisis. All profits from the store go to support this mission. I am honored and proud to be a member of their newly formed board of directors. Plan on stopping by between 10:00 and 5:00 to shop, get a massage, make-up tips, drop off your donations, win prizes, and socialize. There are some fabulous bargains in the store. Blessings is located at 7126 E. Becker Lane, 1 block north of Shea and just west of Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. I hope I see you there!

"Depressed? De-Clutter!" Article

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:05:00 -0400

I wrote an article on the connection between your emotional well-being and clutter which has been published in the September issue of Phoenix Woman Magazine. Read the article online here: http://tinyurl.com/lp3lmb. Have you de-cluttered and felt a difference physically? I'd love to hear your experience.

Organize Your Garage

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:20:00 -0400

It always amazes me that so many people use their garage as a storage shed to house so much stuff they never use or that has relatively little value. Yet their automobile (usually the first or second highest value investment they own) sits outside being de-valued by the weather and subject to vandalism or theft. September 12th is "Organize Your Garage" Day. Being less than three weeks away, it's time to stop procrastinating and get that garage in order! First, mark your calendar with a specific time you will begin the project. Second, make sure you have plenty of boxes or bags to place donations in so you can immediately drive them to your drop off point. Third, enlist any help you think you may want or need. Fourth, develop a plan before the project day. Determine what "zones" you need in the space and where each of those zones will be. On the day of the project dress comfortably, have plenty of water, turn on the music, and take a short break when you need to. If the project is so large that it can't be completed in one day, schedule time the next day or the next weekend. In the interim, be sure to maintain what you've already completed so that you don't have to go back and re-do what you've already done. Let me know how it goes. I'd love to hear your garage organizing story.

"It's All In Your Head" Article

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:06:00 -0400

The August issue of Latino Perspectives Magazine published an article where they interviewed a few professional organizers, me being one of them. Copy and paste the link below in your browser to read the full article or pick up an issue. http://www.latinopm.com/Latino-Perspectives-Magazine/August-2009/Get-organized-It-rsquos-all-in-your-head/ Enjoy!

Organizing Dare

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:06:00 -0400

Organizing is actually boring to some people. I don't completely understand that because I find it so much fun. Nevertheless, some would rather have a tooth removed with no novocaine than organize an area. If you're one of those people, I DARE you to schedule 30 minutes this week to go through your closet and get rid of every piece of clothing you haven't worn in the last 12 months. When you're done with that, be sure to get the clothing out of the house, whether it's a donation or you're going to sell it. Let me know how well you did.

The Organizing Gene

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:51:00 -0400

I often hear the exasperation in people's voice as they ask, Why are some people born organized and others arent? The truth is that there is no organizing gene. Organizing is a learned behavior. And everyone should organization skills because they are really basic life skills. With a demanding schedule at work and home, you and your family arent able to function and get the things done that need to be done if you aren't organized. And on the job, your performance is suffering because your disorganization is negatively impacting co-workers and the companys business. Or maybe you just reached the point where you cant stand being disorganized anymore or are too embarrassed by all the clutter surrounding you. Whatever the reason(s), stop putting it off. Stop coming up with excuses of why you cant get organized. Clutter is visual chaos resulting from delayed decision making. Stop procrastinating. There is no MAGIC in Ill do it later. Find a home for every thing. Get rid of things that have no significance in your life. Start getting to your appointments on time. Start each day in an organized way. Youll be surprised at how much you can accomplish. Here are a few things to help get your day off to an organized start: " Each night take a few minutes to plan your activities the next day. Work from your Master To Do list by prioritizing each item in the order in which they should be done. By taking this small amount of time each evening, you'll have a clear plan detailing everything that must be done tomorrow. " Of course, as we all know, even the best laid plans can go awry. Its easy to get distracted or have our schedule thrown off by something we may not have anticipated or known about in advance. If this happens, still keep your list in front you and determine if any of the prioritizing you did the night before needs to be amended. Make your adjustments and get back on track as soon as you can. Most distractions are not emergency situations and can either be dealt with very quickly or handled later. " If you have an appointment (e.g., doctor, dentist, etc.), call to confirm before you leave your home or office to ensure everything is still on schedule. This will avoid long waiting time and might provide extra time for you to accomplish something else on your Master To Do list before your appointment. " Every time you complete something on the list, cross it off. If youve ever done this before, you know the wonderful sense of accomplishment it gives you. " At the end of the day, check your list to see how many items you accomplished and how many were left undone. If there were only a few undone, move them to tomorrow's list. However, if there were several left undone, you need to evaluate what happened. Did you get distracted or diverted during the day? When? By who? For how long? If you stayed diligent about completing your tasks, but still had several left undone, chances are you may not have been realistic and had too many things on your list to begin with. Remember, there are only 24 hours in each day and an average of 8 of those hours are used for sleeping. Think how long it really takes to complete each item on your list and how much time you actually have to dedicate to accomplishing it. This should solve the problem. So, stop thinking you were born this way and have to live with it. Start taking the steps you need to take to make the changes you need to make to get organized.

Focus!

Mon, 04 May 2009 13:35:00 -0400

Chris was a manager in a company where I used to work. She told me once that she would walk down the aisle in her department saying "Focus, people. Focus!" She said if they were sidetracked, they would stop and get back to accomplishing what they were supposed to be doing when she gave them the reminder. I know every now and then I have to remind my clients during a session to focus back on what our current task is. It's so easy to get sidetracked during our day, whether at home or work. The phone rings, someone stops by to say hello for 20 minutes, the "bell" on your e-mail notifies you every 10 minutes that you have new mail, the kids need something from you, you come across something that brings back happy times and take you down memory lane, etc, etc, etc. So, if you don't have me or Chris to say "Focus!", come up with something that will keep you on track. Perhaps a timer that is set for every 10 or 15 minutes. When it goes off, are you doing what you are supposed to be doing or did you get off track? Find what works for you. When you are focused, you will accomplish so much more of what needs to be done, will feel less stressed, and leave time later for those trips down memory lane. What do you do to help you stay focused and on track?

Making Dinner a Gala Gathering

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:45:00 -0400

Gala Gathering, LLC provides themed table decorations such as centerpieces, and place settings with personalized napkins and single use tableware. Rhonda Parker, the owner, offers some suggestions to make your everyday mealtime more of a gala gathering.

Spice up your evening dinner. It is a fact that children who have a regular sit down dinner around the table with the entire family excel in many ways. They are less likely to do drugs, smoke, or drink and learn social and ettiquette skills. So why not keep your dinner interesting and make everyone want to be there?

Plan theme dinners such as:

Italian - enhance your table with a centerpiece of upside down wine goblets and candles. Use a red check table cloth. To make it more fun, have everyone speak with an Italian accent!
Board game – set every place with a different color placemat, plate, or glass representing game markers and take turns asking trivia questions or play "I
See Something" (aka "I Spy").

What are some of the things you do to make your dinner more of a gala gathering?

Planning a party? Call Gala Gatherings. They will help create a custom table setting for your event, no matter the size. Visit www.galagatheringsllc.com.

New Things Coming

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:13:00 -0400

I have been so negligent about keeping up with regular postings to my blog. However, I have a new goal to correct this. My new plans include at least bi-weekly postings with tips on organizing, posts from guest writers with tips relevant to their line of business, and before and after pictures from projects. I suggest you subscribe right away to the Clutter Rehab blog so you don't miss out. It will be worth it!

Keep Your Computer Desktop Organized

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:13:00 -0400

Many of my clients keep their computer just as cluttered as their physical space. Their e-mail inbox holds hundreds (sometimes thousands) of messages all bolded as if unread. Trying to find a specific one to reference back to is like trying to find a needle in a hay stack.

It's important to create folders that are named just like the system you use for your paper system. This will keep you from having to think one way for electronic files and another way for paper files. I clean out my inbox every week so that I only have 20-25 e-mails sitting in it when the next week starts. Delete what you don't need anymore and save attachments in your hard drive (e.g., "My Documents").

Just like your paper files, be sure to periodically clean out the folders you set up. If you are not referring back to these files, you probably don't need to keep them.

Implementing these couple of strategies will save you a lot of time each week, allowing you to focus on what you really should be or want to be doing instead of spending time trying to find that file you're sure you kept because you might need it someday.