NEAT & SIMPLE LIVING

How do you prepare for hurricanes and other disasters? Get Organized!

I'm the last person who wants you to live in fear of a disaster. Chances are good you'll never experience one. But, unfortunately, disasters such as hurricanes, floods, fires, and terrorist acts are not as unlikely as they used to be. It seems like hurricane season has just begun and we are already up to "i". Having lived in Florida for 10 years and having lots of friends and family there, I know first hand the chaos and destruction that hurricanes and other natural disasters can cause. My heart goes out to all the victims of the latest devastation that hit Cuba and Haiti and to friends, family and colleagues all along the east coast.

This weekend, as we were preparing our home and backyard to withstand the remnants of Hurricane Hannah which passed through NJ , (thankfully we weren't hit as hard as they had predicted) I was thinking about what I could do to help others be prepared.

Then I got an email from Judith Kolberg, author of Conquering Chronic Disorganization, ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life and Founder of NSGCD, about organizing for disaster.

So rather than reinvent the wheel, I got permission from Judith to allow me to reprint her tips from her article and her latest book, "Organize for Disaster: Prepare Your Family and Your Home for Any Natural Or Unnatural Disaster."

Home Organizing SmartDesign Ideas Video from Monica Ricci's & Beazer Homes - Just Released!

My BFF Monica Ricci has a new video which actually demostrates lots of fabulous ideas that are BUILT IN to new Beazer SmartDesign™ Homes!  It's about 5 minutes and well worth watching if you are thinking about buying a new home or even just renovating one!

Congrats Monica!  Way to go!!!

Organizing Your Kid's Papers and Schoolwork

This is the month for me to branch out and become involved in other blogging communities! I'm honored to have been invited to be an expert contributor to a really neat new blog by www.stacksandstacks.com called the Clutter Control Freak Blog!  Some of my favorite blogger folks are also contributing - I'm so honored to be among this great group of organizing gurus including Dr. Amie Ragan, Gretchen Rubin, Laura and Marcia Francois

My first post provides some Neat & Simple Tips for Preventing School Paper Clutter! including how to design a system to manage the constant flow of paper work - tests, homework, schedules and keep school paper organized.

The founder of www.stacksandstacks.com is offering a $25 gift card to the first 25 people to comment on the blog - so come on over for a visit and leave a comment!

Speaking of Organizing Kids, check out these Before & After photos of some of my organizing projects for kids!

• Playroom Redesign & Reorganization makeover
• Kids' Bedroom Makeovers

Wednesday Wisdom - Using what you have to get organized without spending a penny!

WISDOM

I have always preferred having wings
to having things.

                   - Pat Schroeder

This quote is so true for me.  In 1992 when I moved from Oak Park, Illinois, to NJ I had to sell or donate nearly everything I had.  Because I had so much stuff it had cost my company over $14,000 to move me out to Illinois.  (I told you I used to be a packrat)  But when I wanted to move back to NJ, the only way I could afford it was to lighten my load. (it only cost me $1200 to move back) I eventually collected more stuff, but then I let go of it once again after I got my first Feng Shui Consultation.  Read here about how letting go of clutter may have been the thing that helped me get married for the first time when I was 41 years old!  Ultimately, my quest to let go of clutter led me to finding my passion, taking charge of my own happiness, and starting this business which has truly given my spirit wings.

BONUS NEAT & SIMPLE ORGANIZING TIP!

Here is my latest foray into using what I already have to get organized.  I needed a plastic bag holder in a closet where I put a litter box for my cats.  I didn't want to run out and spend $12 on a new one, so I thought for a minute, and here's what I came up with...I took the last few tissues out of the package and stuffed it with plastic bags!  It works like a charm!

Happy Fourth of July!  : )

Is it worth trying to change? If so, how can you make change easier?

Wednesday, I wrote about the myth of changing habits in 21 days and touched on whether or not it's worth trying to change. Changing anything, not just habits, can creates a tremendous amount of stress for some people. Assessing what habits are worth changing is part of self-acceptance and self-esteem.  It takes a strong sense of self and a steady character to resist the forces out there that make you feel like there is something wrong with you if you don't do things their way! 

Although some people thrive on change, and some are even addicted to change, even good change can create a lot of cognitive dissonance, confusion, and emotional pain. Think about the last time you rearranged your furniture.  It may have taken a couple days to not bump into things.  When I moved my office, as much as I loved it, after 5 years of going in one direction, it felt a little weird at first to come up the stairs and go in the opposite direction. But it was so worth it! 

What makes changes worthwhile? In large part, it's the degree of reward or the payoff you believe you will get once you assimilate the change - how much you care about that payoff - and how painful you perceive the change to be.  Better health, Less Stress, Peace of Mind, Better Performance Reviews at Work, Happier Marriage all are wonderful goals, but if the pain you experience in trying to make the desired change is greater, you won't succeed in changing - unless you can minimize the pain, or how you perceive the pain.

Once you decide to change, "changing" is actually a process which has predictable phases you can anticipate and emotionally and physically prepare for.  The phases of change are Initiation, Disorientation, Reorientation, and Integration.  Each of these is discussed below.

1.  Initiation - One factor that greatly affects the stress level you feel during change is whether or not you initiate the change or someone else is requiring you to change as in a job layoff, or a spouse giving you an ultimatum to lose the clutter or get divorced.  For this discussion, I'm going to assume you want to change.  There is a whole other level of difficulty in accepting changes that are thrust up on you.

2. Disorientation - This is the most challenging phase and can make or break your success in changing. The degree of disorientation and/or pain you feel during this stage is directly proportional to:

• The degree of the magnitude of the change.
• How much you are in control of the change.
• How compatible the change is with your core beliefs
• How well you are meeting your conscious AND unconscious needs
• How entrenched the old habits are or how long you've had the things
• How right for your innate personality and preferences the change is
• How risk averse you are
• How much you need to be in control
• How ready you are for the change

Feelings during this stage are relative to how much you want the change and how deeply your old habits are ingrained. 

The Role of Unconscious Needs

One of the biggest obstacles to change people face is unconscious needs.  You can learn about your true inner needs by trying to change! For example, holding on clutter may be meeting a need to avoid social contact that you don't realize you have till you no longer have the clutter.  Or perhaps you have a deep security need, or a fear that you are unaware of till you try to change.  There could even be a genetic component that is compelling you to hold on to the way things are.  Some of us are born risk takers willing to take the chance "we might need that someday".  Or perhaps we have a deep sense of security that allows us to belief that our needs will always be met.  When our unconscious needs conflict with what we want, change is more challenging.

The Role of Beliefs

Another major source of disorientation in this phase is our beliefs.  For example, when trying to let go of things, some people believe they are "losing a part of themselves"  or that "things have feelings so they need a good home to go to" or that "it would be a waste to throw away something functional" (in fact, you aren't using it, you are also "wasting" it.) These beliefs lead to intense fears and often are simply not true. But we are emotionally attached to our beliefs and they can be very difficult to change.

When you try to change, your unconscious needs & beliefs surface and can cause feelings of anger, denial, and anxiety. Unless you have truly changed the underlying beliefs, and /or find another way to meet your unconcious needs, there will often be some kind of pain and this can manifest itself in some very negative ways, even beyond backsliding, like substance abuse or developing a new addiction.

That's why even self-initiated changes such as quitting smoking can cause intense feelings of anger, denial, and anxiety - no matter how much you want to change! 

Denial is often involved in backsliding.  You tell yourself, just one cigarette won't matter, etc.  This is the phase where emotional and environmental support is critical.  For example, if you are trying to quit smoking, you may need a support group.  If you are trying to exercise on a regular basis you may need a friend or personal trainer to motivate you through the change.

In the organizing realm, you may need a professional organizer.  A lot of what I do as a professional organizer is help people minimize the pain of this phase by helping them:

• Become aware of their deeper attitudes and beliefs toward their things and toward organizing so they can change them to more productive beliefs
• Reframe their relationships to their things before letting them go
• Design change so that it works with their natural style as much as possible
• Make their environment support the change by redesigning the layout, changing the  things that are in it, and even by decorating - changing paint colors, etc. - to make the space they operate in more attractive.
• Hold their future vision so they stay motivated to get through to the other side of side of change. 
• Reward themselves for their efforts and their successes
• Integrate joy into the process wherever possible!

There actually can be joy experienced in this phase if you try to make it so!!

3. Reorientation - This is where the change starts to really take root.  Let's use the "quit smoking" habit again.  When I quit, I mean, after the many, many times I quit, it tooks years for me to stop craving a cigarette when I saw others smoking.  Thankfully, it did finally happen.  For me, the strategy I used was to make myself hate smoking was to smoke a very stale cigarette when I just couldn't resist smoking. It would make me gag and feel nauseous and the cravings eventually stopped. You don't always need to be this radical, but it worked for me!  : )   During this phase you start experiencing the benefits of the change and no longer mourn the loss of the way things used to be.

4. Integration - This is where the change becomes so ingrained, you can barely remember the way it used to be.  You know, like when people say they can't imagine life without their kids.  Or when after you've moved a couple miles from where you used to live, you stop going on automatic pilot to your old house.  Or when you never think about smoking at all and can't even remember why you liked it.  Okay that may be a little exaggeration, but I'm sure you get my drift here!

It's important to note that this model describes successful change.  But not all changes are successful. And not all should be!  Some things we should never get used to if we can help it.  Like habits that are abusive or unhealthy.

But understanding this model can help you identify your obstacles to making the personal changes you want to make.  By preparing to give yourself the support you need to make each phase successful, you can change.  Sometimes you need an external support system...and there is nothing wrong with getting the support you need!  And sometimes, you need to:

Accept the things you cannot change;
Have the Courage to change the things you can;
and have the Wisdom to know what not to bother trying to change!

Wishing you many successful changes!

Can You Be Too Organized?

I just read an article on www.Lifehack.org that I would write myself except now it's been done.  Another one of those articles that make me feel like I have found another member of "my tribe" those of us who share the same fundamental beliefs about organizing. 

Not only do I agree completely that you CAN be TOO organized, Lorie Marrero , Professional Organizer and creator of The Clutter Diet, developed the coolest acronym using the word NEATER!  I might have to license it from her or something because it so perfectly and succintly describes my approach to organizing.

Check this quote out!

"I would not want to aspire to perfection, as it is an unattainable and futile goal. Instead we teach people to aspire to be NEATER*:

• Not perfect, but…
• Effective — your systems work well for you and your family
• Always improving- -you look for how to do things smarter, faster, and better
• True to your style– you work with your own preferences, not someone else’s standards
• Efficient– your systems minimize waste of time and energy
• Ready for anything– you are well-prepared with what you need for life and work

*NEATER acronym © 2005-2007, LivingOrder, Inc.

If you read through my services website and my organizing library, you will find all those concepts.  But there is it in one "neat" little package.  I've tried to come up with an acronym for NEAT LIVING that would summarize my approach, but never liked anything I came up with!  And there it is.  It's already been done!

Lori gives great examples of how you can become TOO organized. For example, you can have too many plastic containers in your pantry!  It can get annoying having to constantly transfer your food to containers.  I once saw an organizing show where nearly every single thing in the kitchen was transferred to matching containers. Including every single spice and herb.  And then they all had to be labeled!  And they weren't even easy to use containers!  They just wanted everything to look perfect.  That to me was way overboard.  If the look of all those containers makes it all worthwhile and motivates you to stay organized, go for it.  But at least make sure the containers are really easy to open and have wide mouths that so you can scoop the contents out easily. My favorites are Snapware (shown above) I get them at www.Target.com

FYI, I don't recommend all Snapware products - like the ones where you have to close all four sides called MODS (shown below) - to me they are really annoying and take too long to open and close. But if you don't mind that - they do keep things airtight!

How to Instantly Find Anything in Your Purse!

Here's a really neat way to go vertical in your purse so you can see and find everything in your purse - instantly! - no more digging around for 10 minutes!    It's called Purseket

You can see a video of it in action by going to the website!

UPDATE! 10 / 6 /06

I got several Pursekets for my birthday and I love them! 

I got the Medium 6 pocket one and the "Dropin" a mini 4 pocket one in Ostriche - a nice brown tan color with a little subdued ostrich feather in the pattern. 

I also got a Cranberry one that is very pretty.  I use it in my Organizer Tool bag!

Here's how I use each pocket:

1. Pens all standing up so I can pick whatever color I want

2. Mini-notebook pad for writing quick notes

3. Essential oils - they stand up now - no more spills!

4.  Eyeglasses

5.  Lipsticks, eyeglass repair tool kit, hand lotion, and hand cleaning wipes

6.  Cell phone and bluetooth headset 

In the middle I have my wallet. mini-paper organizer, business card holder, and a mini- purseket! 

It's only 2 pockets wide and has 4 pockets. In this mini-Purseket, I have:

1. Package of tissues

2. Feminine items I won't mention : )

3. Car cell phone charger

4. Dr. Scholls Moleskin for blisters & Advil packets (I'm on my feet a lot : )

So now I use the pocket on the inside of my purse for my car keys and nothing else. Everything now has a home and I can find it all instantly!  I can't recommend it highly enough!

p.s. They have 15 designs (including solid colors and pretty patterns) in addition to the bright loud ones ones shown on the site. For some reason, you can't see all the colors available until you actually click on one of the pursekets and look in the Product Selection menu.  I didn't realize they had all these great designs so I didn't buy one for a long time. There are swatches of all the designs- but to get to them you have to go to the products page, click on one of the sizes, click on the blue View Fabric Swatches Button. I wish I had seen that link on the product page! 

p.s.  Many thanks to the brilliant Brian Clark from  www.Copyblogger.com for selecting this post to feature in his Headline Remixing lesson - part of an ongoing educational series on Magnetic Headlines.  He had over 60 submissions!! I feel super lucky he chose to helped me.  He did a TERRIFIC rewrite!!!  I wish I could hire him to edit my whole website at www.NeatandSimple.com!

Read the Copyblogger's full post at
http://www.copyblogger.com/five-headlines-remixed/)

Here's what he did for this post.

How to Instantly Find Anything in Your Purse

Original headline: Neat way to organize and find anything in your purse instantly!

Reasoning:

• This is a perfect example of a good headline that becomes better simply by using “how to.”
• “Organize” sounds like work, while “find” is the real benefit.
• “Instantly” is a trigger word, so use it sooner rather than later.

He is SO right!  I feel this headline truly expresses what I meant to convey!

Thank you again!

Getting Under the Bathroom Sink with the Organizing Junkie!

Here are some neat tips from Laura, the Organizing Junkie on how to clear the clutter under your sink! She does a great job of giving really detailed tips that explain how to get bathroom clutter under control.

http://orgjunkie.blogspot.com/2006/09/saturday-solutions.html

Here are her before and after pictures...

http://orgjunkie.blogspot.com/2006/09/before-and-after-photos.html

Here's the post with before and after photos I did on cleaning out and organizing under the kitchen sink!

http://orgjunkie.blogspot.com/2006/09/saturday-solutions.html

Tackle it Tuesday - Laundry Room Makeover

The weekend before this past one we finally finished cleaning our basement and put in the final touches on our flood cleanup & Laundry Room renovation project. (See Photo Below) We had a flood down there a few weeks ago when the plumbing backed up.  We had to throw out all the linoleum and carpet and disinfect the floors, then put new flooring & carpet in. 

TIP: In the basement, never tack down the carpet and linoleum! We buy very inexpensive carpet remnants just so that we can easily change it all out if there is a flood.  After all, the water heater, washing machine and a toilet are all down there!) We also keep everything off the floor unless it's in plastic bins.  So, luckily we didn't lose anything but the flooring! All we had to do was cut the wet carpet into pieces, put it in contractor bags and trash it.  Granted it was a nasty job...but it could have been worse!  : )

While were at it, we took the opportunity to get a new utility sink to replace the disgusting one that was there for probably at least 40 years - if not since the house was built 65 years ago.  (Click the photo to see it larger)  So sorry I forgot to take before pix!  : (  But I was just so anxious to get it all done! )

As you can see, we painted the previously all boring white room in a gorgeous blue by Benjamin Moore (809 - Soft Jazz) and painted all the yucky looking pipes white.  (NOTE: To paint pipes, you first have to prime the pipes with a special primer.) They look kinda like art to me.  I love spending time doing laundry in there now!  : )   FYI - We got the utility sink with cabinet & awesome faucet and everything you need with it at Lowe's for around $200.  It wasn't available at Home Depot.  Because we are in a 65 year old house, though, Alan did have to get some additional plumbing pipe fittings and supplies to make the hose and drain pipe work. I'm so lucky he's so handy!!!   It would have cost more than the sink to get a plumber in to do the work.

The storage we have in the laundry room is a wardrobe which is actually a child's wardrobe from Target.  The wardrobe was originally bought more than 10 years ago for the huge bathroom I had in my Victorian apt. which had no storage at all.  I think you can still get similar units at Target.  (p.s. I also changed the knobs to make the unit less child's room looking.)

The counter / folding table was from Caldor (which no longer exists) but you can find this kind of counter height table in lots of places. You can also get tables that fold down from the wall.  I bought the counter / table about 15 years ago for my kitchen when I was in the victorian apartment in Montclair.  These items repurposed beautifully to the laundry room in our new home!    I LOVE furniture that is multi-functional!

Hope you have a great Tackle It Tuesday Project!

http://www.5minutesformom.com/category/blogging/meme/tackle-it-tuesday/

Read more about the background here:
http://www.5minutesformom.com/160/tackle-it-tuesday-update/

Sending Neat Thoughts!

Getting over Procrastination

Dwayne over at "Genuine Curiosity" came up with a great technique for overcoming procrastination and getting the kids and the whole family to tackle a goal they've been putting off.  His goal was to "Reduce clutter and get rid of stuff we don't use any more."  A very admirable goal!  But how to get the family to participate in getting things done???

He came up with a creative way to get the kids involved. His solution was:

"Pick one box o' mystery and process it. ...  Processing means:

• tossing out anything that's trash, broken or unusable,
• putting misplaced things where they belong,
• getting rid of stuff we never should've kept in the first place (how many Happy Meal toys do we really need?)
• sorting and finding a permanent home for anything that looks remotely like a collection,
• putting anything that's still usable into our 'giveaway box' so we can donate it"

I love this idea!  It gets the family working together on a common goal...so they are not only accomplishing a task, they are spending time together!  He reports that his kids actually look forward to it. 

What he did with his family is a WONDERFUL example of how to overcome procrastination! Procrastinating usually has at least 3 dimensions to it.  physical, emotional and mental or logistical. He addressed all 3 in his "box o' mystery"  solution! 

1 - Physical - He chunked out the physical task to simplify it and make it less tiring.  This is critical!!!  If he has made the task a whole room instead of just one box at a time...it may not have worked!

Another factor to consider in the physical dimension is your own energy.  Are you rested? Have you had enough water? Is your clutter itself draining your energy?  If so, you may need to start small and clear a small clutter free haven for your self to gather your energy.  You may even need to go outside for a walk to recharge. 

2 - Emotional - He made the task fun and social by having the whole family work together on it. Not just telling the kids to do it. The subconscious reward for them was having quality time with Dad. 

The emotional side of getting things done cannot be overlooked. You may need to reframe the way you look at a task. What are you saying to yourself about the task? What could you be saying to yourself to make it less stressful? Another way to address the emotional side of an organizing task is to make a list of the benefits of getting it done. You can also get a friend or family member to help!  My husband and I do what we call "clutter dating."  Remember, "joys shared are doubled, and troubles shared are halved" I don't remember who said that but they were so right! Another way to make a task more fun is to add an element of a game or competition to it. Maybe set up a timer and see who gets the most done is certain amount of time.

 

3- Mental/logistics - He broke down the process into steps, set criteria AND made the rules and steps clear to the whole family.  Communication is important here!

Not having a process and steps defined is a BIG reason people get overwhelmed when thinking about getting a job done. This is because when you don't have a steps in mind, and you don't have it chunked it out, you tend to overestimate how long it will take AND how difficult it be. Then you start to panic! Often just deciding where to start, defining the steps, setting a timeframe and taking the first step will set you on the path of getting the whole job done in no time!

Here's the link to Dwayne's complete post about the Box o' Mystery
http://www.genuinecuriosity.com/genuinecuriosity/2006/04/box_o_mystery.html

So what task are you going to break down and stop procrastinating about today?  : )

Neat Calendar for Managing Multiple Calendars All in One! The Busy Body Book!

Here is a really neat idea from Joan Goldner of  www.BusyBodyBook.com! 

This calendar features 5 columns that you can use for every day!  So you could use a column for each family member,  one for meal planning, or for follow ups, goal setting, what ever you want! 

Joan also now has a blog!  She's going to be focusing on tips for managing your time and using the calendar. 

Got a Home Office or Small Business? Here are Neat Tips for Getting Ready for Fall!

Karyn Greenstreet over at The Self Employment Blog for Small Business Owners:
has posted nine great tips for Summer Business Cleanup and Planning to be ready for the September busy season. 

It a great reminder to me to get caught up in my bookkeeping. But I've been putting a lot of energy into getting my website and blog updated to be ready for the possibility of a large number of visitors coming as a result of being interviewed for the September/ October issue of Psychology Today!

Check out Karyn's tips here  http://www.passionforbusiness.com/blogs/2006/08/summer-business-cleanup-and-planning.html

Dealing with that Overwhelming To Do List

NOTE:  I am reposting this because I accidentally left out the links to her original post!  Why didn't anyone tell me?  Here it is..

_________________________

Ever think about your To Do List and feel panic and overwhelm set in?  Check out the great tips from Karyn Greenstreet over at Passion for Business.com on how to recover so you can get things done.

My favorite is

"5. Just Say No. Look at your "to do" list and ask yourself if you can simply say No to any of these tasks? Remember, you are in control of your task list and your calendar. Only you can overbook yourself, so only you can say No to requests for your time."

Getting things done often means knowing when to say no. This is what I find I have to do every day - Figure out what NOT to do!  My To Do list is huge and most of it is self-imposed. When I really look at it, very few things on my list are things I can't say no to. 

Read the rest of the list here: http://www.passionforbusiness.com/blogs/2006/06/dealing-with-overwhelm.html

So what are you NOT going to do today so that you can get the important things done??  : )

Time Management - Is doing something better than doing nothing? Can you still make a difference?

John Trosko over at OrganizingLA Blog: made a particularly intriguing post last week inspired by the Ask Marilyn column.  John shares many great tips and ideas on getting organized, life, blogging & more.  But this post just stopped me in my tracks! I'm going to let you just read it for yourself : ) 

Here's the post followed by my response: 

The Ask Marilyn Column in last Sunday's Los Angeles Times Parade Magazine had an interesting question and we'd like to share it.  It has everything to do with organizing, and creating new habits.  We'll post the entire question and answer here, breaking every copyright law known in media.  But you can click here to check out Marilyn vos Savant's other archives and her new online headquarters

Question:

"Please settle an argument. My friend believes that if you take a single vitamin, you will be just a little healthier than if you never had taken one. Or if you park a car inside a garage only two or three times, its body will be in better condition than if you hadn’t, even if the difference is so small you can’t see it. His reasoning is that something is always better than nothing. I disagree. What do you think? —Gary Manata, Carlsbad, Calif."

Answer:

"I think he’s wrong. The difference must be large enough to matter in some way—any way—or nothing is “better.” Something has been lost: time. Whether your friend is taking a vitamin or parking his car, he is spending precious time—which is a limited resource—and maybe money. Too many people spend time and money pursuing lots of goals just a little. - Marilyn"

Are you wasting time in your daily life only getting your feet wet persuing your organizational goals?

http://organizingla.blogs.com/organizingla_blog/2006/07/time_management.html

MY RESPONSE:
What a thought provoking post!!!  But I have to disagree with Marilyn. For a genius her logic is rather faulty!

I believe that doing something is almost always better that doing nothing!  Especially when it comes to exercising and organizing! Doing "something" won't get you all the benefits of doing it perfectly, but it's better to tread water than to do nothing and drown.

Good habits can get started with small actions. Like putting your toes in the water, then your legs, etc. It may be "better" to dive in and get it over with, but some people can't take the stress of that and will never do it again if it's too painful.

Walking a little extra 2-3 times per week, to me is a great thing. After a couple weeks of that, the person may start to feel better enough to walk 4-5 times per week, etc. If they don't walk at all, their health will suffer even worse.

All or nothing thinking is often what keeps people from getting started organizing at all (as well as many other things) I think people have to try and do what they can towards a goal.

They don't have to organize the whole house at once. They could start with a drawer, or start letting go of one thing per day until it gets easier to let go of things.

Imagine if everyone said, "well, I can't recycle everything, so I won't recycle anything." I believe it's better to recycle what you can and not sweat being perfect.

To me, having too many goals and only doing all of them part way is a different issue. But even that is probably better than having no goals at all. : )

What do you think?

All the best,

Your Life. Organized - By Monica Ricci

Here's a neat blog discovery I made today.  Monica Ricci, one of the best professional organizers to appear on the HGTV show Mission Organization has a great blog sharing her wisdom, organizing tips, travels, and what it's like to be in the media! I saw her present at the NAPO 2006 conference in March as part of "Ask the Organizer Panel". She is great! I even bought the CD.  She is one of the organizers, along with Hellen Buttigieg from the show NEAT, that inspired me to become a professional organizer!   

Check Monica out at: Your Life. Organized. Motivational Speaker & Author Monica Ricci.

All the best,

Ariane

How to always be able to find your keys!

Landing Area
Originally uploaded by Ariane NJ.

In the current Neat Living Poll, the number 1 item that people say goes missing is keys! Keys have got to be one of the most annoying things to not be able to find! It wastes so much time and energy and creates unnecessary stress.  It can even make you late for work or important appointments! The good news is that losing keys is actually one of the easiest organizing problems to solve.

One way is to create a landing and launching space near your most frequently used entry / exit door. In that space you can place a key hook, a decorative box or a basket without a lid to hold your keys. If you are like most people who like to just drop things, the basket is the one that is most likely to really get used.  Many people won't do the extra step it takes to open a box or hang it on a hook.

Make sure to place a key holder container for each person to place their set of keys.  An added bonus to using a basket is that you can also place other things there as well, for example, mail till you are ready to sort it.  Men can also use it to place their favorite baseball cap, wallet, change, and other things from their pockets.

For ladies, it's also critical to give your keys a home in your purse. Always put them in the same place and you'll never have to hunt for them again. If you don't have a pocket in your purse for your keys, find a small container, maybe a plastic cup, or a small box or anything that you can put in your purse so that you always drop your keys in it. I have a empty tissue box that I cut down in my purse where I keep my wallet, business card holder and a small pad of paper for notes. It works great!

The real trick to being able to find your keys is to change your habits. To help you make the change, you may need to set up a reminder system. Perhaps by placing a big sign that you will see when you enter the house. It could say something like:

"Did you put your keys where they belong????"

You can take the sign down once you start automatically putting your keys where they belong.

Once you get the hang of it, you'll reduce your stress, save time and it will go a long way to make you feel more in control of your life and your stuff!

Any one else have tips to share?  : )

Self-Directed Learning vs. Guided Learning - Which is Best?

Here's a headline that caught my attention today and made me do a double take.

"Why Minimally Guided Instruction Does Not Work"

I was in the education and training industry for over 25 years and have written and designed over 100 learning programs that were considered self-directed or minimally guided.  Mainly because classroom training was and is far more expensive to deliver, and also because so many companies did not use skilled instructors - so the live instruction was often very poorly executed. If you work in corporate America, you've probably attended many a "death by PowerPoint" session. 

This new research paper confirms what I've suspected for a long time. Self-directed learning is actually not more effective than guided instruction.

http://projects.ict.usc.edu/itw/gel/Constructivism_Kirschner_Sweller_Clark1.pdf

Well, at least for many topics and many people and certainly not in most corporate work environments.  Why are self-paced learning programs not as effective?  There are several reasons.  Here are just a few.

1. Because the training / learning writers usually can't put into writing the intricate details that make all the difference in real learning and being able to perform a new skill on one's own.  Nor can they truly take into account what learners already know and focus on only the points the learner needs to know.

2. The reality of the way things really get done usually can not be put in writing.  You know what I'm talking about - the real political truths about working in corporations.

3. Work environments that actually allow people to sit at their desks for hours just reading - are rare.

My experience in the world of training and learning showed me that the best learning occurs when someone is there to guide you and help you learn. Not necessarily in a classroom, but most people learn better if they can ask an expert questions, or at least share the learning experience with other people. If you don't have someone experienced around to help you learn and hold you accountable as you practice over time, you are not nearly as likely to make real lasting changes. 

So how is all this relevant to organizing?  This is a big part of the reason why changed my career from corporate instructional design and development. Coaching and working with people one-on-one in their homes and offices over time allows me to help people make really substantial and lasting changes in their lives and careers.  I get to help people learn and improve their whole lives with far greater success than any one-shot corporate training program ever achieved. 

That said, many people can and do learn in a self-directed way, especially when there is a problem to be solved - I'm one of them. That's why I continue to write and provide self-directed learning on organizing.  Because if someone can learn what they need to get their life in order by reading, they don't need me to come to their homes! They probably have a sufficient skill set to begin with. But for people who truly struggle with organizing, working side by side with a coach / guide to help you break old habits and learn new ones, you will learn much faster, retain your new skills far longer and be able to experience a true transformation. 

Books are great and useful, but for learning new skills, there is nothing like having a good teacher.  But in the end, whether a learning program is self-directed or led by a teacher, really learning won't happen unless the learner is truly motivated and really ready to change.  : ) 

A Neat Blog on Organizing Your Stuff - Great Tips for Protecting Your Identity

Check out the latest neat blog on getting organized!   Catherine Anderson, creator of The JOYS™ household notebook and home filing system shares her perspective and lots of great organizing tips at http://justorganizeyourstuff.blogspot.com/ 

For example, here is an excerpt from her post providing some great tips and resources for protecting your identity and what to do if you are or suspect you might be a victim of identity theft:
_____________________________________________________________________

...

Fast action is the key to limiting the financial and emotional damages of identity theft. Don't wait until you see suspicious activities on your credit report. It can take months before you realize you are a victim.

01 Step.
Place a fraud alert on your credit account.
Contact one of the Credit Reporting Agencies by phone. (and don't be frustrated when you never get a real human.) You will need personal information including your social security number.

Equifax: 800-525-6285
Hearing impaired: Call 1-800-255-0056

Experian: 888-397-3742
TDD- 800-972-0322

TransUnion: 800-680-7289
TDD- 877-553-7803

Because it can be a hassle if you need to apply for credit, not everyone would advise a fraud alert in this situation. When an alert is placed on your account, a business must verify identity before issuing credit. This may cause some delays. It's your call. But, I wouldn't be taking chances with my financial future if I thought someone could have my name and social security number. Find out more details about Fraud Alerts from the FTC.

02 Step
Call each of the Credit Reporting Companies and request a copy of your credit report.

Equifax: 800-685-1111

Experian: 888-EXPERIAN

TransUnion: 800-888-4213

03 Step
When your credit reports arrive, review your credit reports carefully.

1. Highlight unfamiliar inquiries or accounts.
2. Highlight unusual charges on existing accounts.
3. Highlight errors in personal information such as Social Security number, name, address and employers.

04 Step
If any errors are found in the report, contact the credit reporting companies to correct

05 Step
If fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or there are unusual charges on existing accounts, contact the creditors of the fraudulent accounts explain the situation and then follow up in writing. The contact information should be provided on the credit report.

If you aren't keeping good records, start now; good records are vital to clearing you name and credit.

JOYS has a few tips but The Identity Theft Resource Center has fantastic resources. Use them.

1. Templates for Letters to Creditor and Others.
2. A Detail Course of Action if you are a Victim.
3. Tips to Help You Organize Your Case.

Read the entire post

Sell the Benefits not the Features - Even When it Comes to Getting Organized

Once again Des Walsh, one of my wise Linked-in Blogger friends has provided some great advice.  Writing and speaking about any subject plainly and clearly is a challenge, but especially when writing about technical subjects such as RSS feeds.  Even though I've read a lot on RSS, and Des provides an excellent resource in his post at Thinking Home Business :: For RSS as For Anything, Sell the Benefits not the Features, I still only understand enough to respect it and take advantage of it.  That's really all I need to know!  I don't need to know all the details of what RSS is, I just need to understand what it can do for me in making my blog accessible to people.

This is true of organizing as well.  You can't just tell people they need to be organized.  You have to show them how it changes their lives.  95% of people who have difficulty getting and staying organized have been told that many times.  They already know many organizing methods. They may even have been given organizing supplies and tools as "hints" to get organized. For example, several of my clients have been given label makers by well-meaning people who told them they should use it to get organized.

But they never understood the benefits so they never used it. Often people just don't get how spending time organizing themselves will do anything but take up their time. Many people have an underlying belief that being organized means being rigid and uptight and following lots of rules, or that it's bureaucratic, or stifles creativity and spontaneity...or that if you are organized you must spend all your time doing it and never have fun.  They think that labeling (and other organizing technique) will take a lot of time and just be "overkill."

So for me, a big part of helping people get and stay organized is to help them overcome these self-limiting beliefs and change their perspective so they can see that organizing is not "all" or "nothing" and that there is real value in becoming "reasonably" organized.  They can save time, money and have less conflict with their family, less stress, and more creativity!

Every time I explain and demonstrate the benefits of labeling, how easy and inconspicuous it can be, and how labels can be used to solve actual problems they are having, a light bulb goes off.  They wipe the dust off their label makers and start labeling all kinds of things!  Once they see that labeling strategically is a way to communicate with their family, teach their kids, support their memory, save time, and have their family, babysitters and even cleaning people support their efforts to get organized, they see it in a whole new light. 

In the picture shown, we used labels inside the dresser drawers so that my client's children and the cleaning lady would know where things go when putting laundry away.  Not everyone wants or needs their sock and underwear drawer this neat, and that's fine, but it solved a problem for her, so we did it and she loves it. 

I don't try to make neurotic perfectionists out of people who have a visible label on everything they own or never have a thing out of place.  I just try to help them see they how we can solve specific issues in their lives by applying organizing skills and concepts.  Once they are "sold" on the value of being organized, making simple changes in the way they do things, like labeling, is easy.

For more photos of organizing makeovers, see www.neatandsimple.com/gallery

Living Simplified - A simplenomics view

Neat Link I discovered today... Simplenomics... I love the concept...ideas on simplifying just about everything!  Great sense of humor too!  Enjoy!

Link: Living Simplified - Simplenomics.

Organizing with Shoe Organizers: They aren't just for shoes anymore!

Here's a little fascinating tidbit, nearly every family I help organize has at least one plastic over the door show organizer and sometimes 2 or 3 of these in their home, but they're not using it!  Sometimes because they don't like using it for shoes and I agree, I don't like it for shoes either.  But often they got thinking they might find a good use for it someday.  So I was delighted to find this article on the www.momready.com  site which has great tips and pictures showing how she used the shoe organizers to organize WRAPPING PAPER, HOUSEHOLD PAPERS, BARBIE & RACING CARS, STUFFED ANIMALS, SOCKS & UNDERWEAR, ARTS & CRAFTS SUPPLIES, COLD WEATHER GEAR, & TRAIN TRACKS. I'm curious what other neat ways people are using these ubiquitous tools. 

How do you creatively use shoe organizers to get organized?  If you have a photo email it to me at abenefit@neatandsimple.com and I'll share it here with full credit to you and a link to your website or blog!

Link: momready - Organize : Shoe Racks: They aren't just for shoes anymore!.

It's not about your stuff!: Thoughts about letting go

Just wanted to share my latest inspirational find.  When I found this blog, "It's not About Your Stuff" by Jessica Duquette I got so excited!  Our philosophies are so similar! I am working on a new workshop called "Let's Clear Your Clutter! The Permanent Clutter Clearing Solution" and I'm so excited about including her as a resource.

To me, clearing clutter is really about getting to the true meaning of clutter.  I don't believe that clutter is just junk that needs to be gotten rid of -- Clutter is stuff that is undermining your ability to function effectively.   

According to Merriam-Webster, clutter is:

Function: verb
1. to run in disorder
2. to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness -- often used with up

Function: noun
1. a crowded or confused mass or collection

Everyone has minor clutter spots, but if you have extensive or chronic clutter, it is a symptom that something in your life isn't working for you.  To clear clutter for good, you need to understand the true reason it's there.  Is it just that you lack the skills to organize your stuff?  Sometimes it is that easy. But extensive chronic clutter is most often deeper than that. 

Extensive chronic clutter is almost always a physical manifestation of deep fears & insecurities, indecision, inner conflicts, resentments, depression, pain, loss, trauma, lack of communication within a family, and more.  In almost all of these situations, the there is an underlying fear.  Clearing clutter for good means recognizing those fears and deciding not to let them control you any more. 

Even if hire a professional organizer to help you, they should respect that you need to let go of fear in your own time, in your own way, based on your own personal reasons for the clutter.  It's not just about getting rid of stuff, it's about letting go of fear on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level and trusting that you will always somehow have what you really need. Clearing clutter for good is about:

• Identifying the underlying issues and what benefits you are getting out of the clutter, e.g., security, insulation, revenge, or perhaps its an expression of your rage   
• Resolving conflicts, clarifying values, facing fears, and communicating from the heart
• Making decisions based on your values and needs, not out of fear.

As Jessica says, it's not always about letting go of fear, sometimes it's a matter of learning to manage your fears. 

I  highly recommend taking a few minutes to read Jessica's blog and thoughts on Letting go...She is a gem.  As she says "I couldn't have said it better myself!"

It's not about your stuff!: Thoughts about letting go. 
By Jessica Duquette "The Diva Of Letting Go"

All the best,

Neat Tip: Keeping Your Goals In Focus

Like me, Dwayne over at Genuine Curiousity is always on the lookout for new things to learn about.  This habit can be a distraction when you have goals that you want to achieve!  He's devised a very way to stay focused on your goals by putting them on your Windows desktop!  Here is the link to how to do this - step by step.

http://www.genuinecuriosity.com/genuinecuriosity/2006/03/keeping_your_go.html

Breaking Free from a Prison of Clutter - One Family's Story - with Photos

Step 1 - Working up the Courage to Make the Call

I'm currently working with a truly sensitive, warm, kind and generous woman and her family.  When she called me in December, she was terrified of what my reaction would be to the condition of her home. Even though we haven't finished, she wants to share her story - photos and all - just in case it will help others in her situation get up the courage to make the call and begin the journey of breaking free from clutter.  How awesome is that? 

When she got up the courage to call me, she was surprised to find that I didn't criticize her at all and I wasn't shocked. I only wanted to help  - that's why I got into this business - to really make a difference in people's lives.  Most organizers I know feel the same way. 

Step 2 - Getting to Know the Family, Their Situation  & Needs
My client, whom I'll call Sofie to conceal her identity, is a 26 year old mother of 3 beautiful kids and is married to an incredibly patient man who is by nature a neat freak.  When she lost her mother several years ago, she took in all the stuff her mom left behind.  She just couldn't bear to part with any of it - it would be like losing her mom all over again.  The stuff became a way to fill the emptiness and distract her from the grief inside. 

She then began shopping compulsively as a way to escape from her pain and get a brief high.  As you can see in the photos below, over time, her home became so cluttered that you literally had to move stuff out of the way to walk from place to place.  We are only showing one room here. More rooms will be covered in the project profile we are creating for our Before and After Gallery. 

CLICK THE "BEFORE" PHOTOS OF THE DINING ROOM / COMPUTER DESK / HOME SCHOOLING AREA TO SEE IT LARGER

As you can imagine, the tension, frustration, and stress level was so high among all the family members that fights broke out over every little thing.  Everyone dreaded coming home and no one could relax.  Sofie began to realize that if things didn't change, she might lose her husband and family.  She knew it was time to start letting go of the grief and the clutter that came with it.  She started going to organizing websites for inspiration and made many attempts to organize.  But because of the overwhelming amount of stuff, stress and tension, it was impossible to maintain any of these attempts.  The family couldn't support her because they really didn't know how.  No one could remember what they were supposed to do. Each small attempt was inconsistent, and wasn't part of a complete solution. When one space was cleared, it just became the new convenient place to dump stuff.  It was overwhelming for everyone.  That was when she realized she needed a professional to really break free.

Step  3 -  First Aid
During the first hands-on session we worked on what I call "first aid".  We addressed the biggest safety and health concerns, and got bathrooms and kitchen cleared and cleaned.  We also got the cat's litter box out of the bathroom and out of reach of the one year old by putting it in a small closet on the second floor. 

Step  4 -  The Plan
During the second session we had a family meeting.  During this meeting we established family goals and put them in writing.    The goal is to create a functioning, spacious home that allows them to have the loving family they all want.  A home they all enjoy coming home to.  We then set up a 3 part plan for getting rid of the clutter so that we can start really getting organized. Here's the plan.  It's sounds simple, but it's not easy.  It takes a lot of commitment and emotional strength to let go of old habits. 

1. No More Stuff - Everyone agreed to stop bringing unnecessary stuff into the home - no more buying, and no more gifts or freebies from others that there simply isn't room for.  We started documenting a set of guidelines for shopping, gifting, and accepting freebies that will help prevent the clutter from returning.

2. Support Each Other - As anyone with an addiction knows, you can't just stop doing something that is filling an emotional need without replacing it with something else...so we set up some alternatives to buying stuff - healthier ways to fill the void.  In addition to frequent telephone calls with me, here are a few of the things the family decided to do to support each other:  Start noticing all the progress and good things each other is doing.  Thank each other every day for something you appreciate. Spend time as a family without TV, and other stuff.  Have meals together and listen to each other's day.  Give each other clutter-free gifts such as trips to the day spa, massages, or babysitting time so the other can get away for a while.

3. Clear Space and Purge - This is where we go through everything they have collected and start letting go of the past as well as anything that isn't loved, hygienic, or used regularly. Some treasured things that have been damaged or are literally disintegrating will be photagraphed for a digital album. 

Step  4 -  The Purge

To date we've had several purging sessions.  We've made great progress in improving the functionality of the main areas of the home.  We've filled the dumpster a couple times and now have a lot more clear surfaces and functional areas.  Much of the good stuff has been sorted like with like into bins, labeled and put out of the way until the purge is complete. 

Sofie has come to love purging!  Once you get a taste of the freedom and energy it brings to purge the past, it's exhilirating!  She and her husband are now doing lots of it on their own. 

TIP: As we purge we are taking all the empty containers and putting them in our own little "container store".  When we need a container we "shop" there - for FREE!  : )    Here are a couple photos that show the progress we've made. 

CLICK THE "ALMOST AFTER" PHOTOS OF THE DINING ROOM / COMPUTER DESK / HOME SCHOOLING AREA TO SEE IT LARGER

We've cleared the desk and gotten all the important TO DO papers in one place.  We've made a temporary home for important things like receipts, planner, wallet, and homeschooling lesson plans and worksheets. 

We still have to empty all the drawers, bins and boxes that haven't been sorted and purged yet, but we are getting close. 

Once we finish the purge, we'll have space to put things away the things that are truly used and loved.  THEN we'll determine what, if anything, needs to be purchased to make the home function well for them.

UPDATE:

Here is a photo of her desk after we completed going through everything and decluttering.

I rearranged her workspace and desk to create an "L" and placed her file cabinet right next to her to make it easier to file instantly - instead of creating To File piles.

Using mostly things she already had, we created a simple hanging file system, a desktop project filing system, receipt system, kid's artwork system, mail inbox & processing system and gave everything a home.

The old table you see next to the desk in the prior picture became an art table for the kids.

_______________________

I hope you've found this mini-project profile inspirational.  See more Neat Living Home Office Makeovers here. Remember, no matter how cluttered an area has become, there is hope.  Sometimes you just have to make that first call for help to get started. 

Sending Neat Thoughts,

If I can be of service to you, I am available for coaching by telephone, so don't be afraid to call!  Life is too short to put off getting help any longer.  My contact info can be found at www.neatandsimple.com

Neat Makeover of Home Office / Kitchen Work Center - On a budget!

Here is a recent organizing project we completed at a home here in northern NJ that made a world of difference in the homeowner's ability to get things done.  This work center / home office is located in the kitchen and is the main area where:

• Incoming and outgoing mail is processed
• Kids calendars, activities and related paperwork are maintained
• Coupons, receipts, giftcards, recipes, bank deposits and more are stored and processed

Here is a brief overview of how we accomplished this makeover in about 5 hours. CLICK THE PICTURES TO SEE THEM FULL SIZE.

1. CLEAR THE SPACE - We started by completely clearing the desk and giving it, AND the equipment, a good cleaning. This is a very important step.  Once you see it all clean and spacious again, it's MUCH arder to put clutter back.  And, it makes it easier to get rid of stuff.

2. SORT LIKE WITH LIKE - As we pulled everything off the desk, we put all paper in one bin, all writing implements, all office supplies, etc.  We also had a bin for stuff to go elsewhere, be donated, recycled, or trashed.

3. MICROSORT EACH BIN - Before putting any thing way, we sorted things into fine categories.  For example, we sorted all the writing implements into pens, pencils, markers, etc.

4. CHOOSE THE BEST STORAGE SOLUTION AND LOCATION FOR EACH GROUP OF ITEMS - In this phase, it's critical to choose solutions that support how you really work and make it easy to maintain.  We also needed to maximize use of space. So, as you can see in the final result, we used vertical storage and bins wherever possible to contain items.  Here are a few of the ideas we implemented based on Mom's organizing style.

INBOX
The basket on top is an "Inbox"  Anything family members want Mom to process must go in that basket.  Mom then processes the content into a READ FILE, URGENT TO DO Basket, to the CALENDAR, or the new ACTIVE REFERENCE FILE system in her file drawer. The Active Flile System is where she now keeps Girl Scout Drive Materials, School Calendars, etc.  These files are used often and reviewed frequently to keep them clean and active!

PROJECTS TO BE DONE
She also has a fairly large bin above the file drawer now with projects that need to be completed, such as recipes to be entered into the computer, patches to be sewn, etc.

OFFICE SUPPLIES
Since she doesn't have a drawer in the desk, we created one!  We used a bin and several small dixie cups to inexpensively and quickly subdivide all the little things like paperclips, rubber bands, glue sticks, etc.  This gives every item a home, and it's almost impossible not to put things back where they belong.  Overflow supplies are now kept in drawers under the new printer stand.

PRINTER /COPIER STAND
The printer was moved off the desk along with paper and supplies to a new printer stand.  This was very inexpensive and purchased at Target. See the bottom half of the  Printer Stand  here.  The matching top has 2 shelves. It's actually intended for a closet, but works perfectly here! Now anyone in the family can access supplies they need or make a copy without disturbing Mom!

GETTING VERTICAL
Another change we made is to store all writing implements vertically.  We used some decorative mugs she had on hand to sort and store pens, markers, pencils, and scissors.  Every item she uses now has it's own permanent home! 

TIP:  Put a folded up paper towel in the bottom of the mug so that it isn't damaged by ink from the pens!

All these changes and more were accomplished for less than $100 in supplies (including a new printer stand, a few new binders & creative binder supplies and bins (We only spent $15 on bins, everything else came from hunting around the house or creatively using things like Dixie cups!) 

Hope this inspires you to get some cluttered areas in your home back under control!

All the best,

Ariane