Posts Tagged ‘Clutter’

How to Store Your Holiday Decorations

Posted on: October 9th, 2015 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler
‘TIS THE TIME OF YEAR…TO GET ORGANIZED

 Holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween are fun, but they
.can also create a challenge when it’s time to stow away those
.seasonal decorations. 

 We all know that the best solution is to store them out of the way, so that they don’t take up the space assigned to more frequently used things, but WHERE and HOW do you store them? 

Here are a few suggestions we share with our clients: 

1. Use a storage area like a garage, basement or attic, if you have one, so that they are out of sight but still easily accessible. 

2. Choose a place that is easy to access. If you store them in a place that takes too much effort to access, you might make organizing for these occasions a chore even before you start to celebrate. 

3. Label containers so you know where to look. If you are a fan of those giant plastic storage tubs (which, unfortunately, you can’t see through), be sure to use different coloured containers based on the event, such as red for Christmas, orange for Halloween and green for St. Patrick’s Day.

4. Group items by occasion or season. It’s okay to combine Halloween and Thanksgiving or Christmas and New Year’s decor, for instance, but try to avoid combining several occasions into one container. If you have only a few decorations, just use a smaller container.

5. Purge as you pack. Did you use those pumpkin lights this year? If not, what are the chances you will use them next year? If you’ve received a new item, try finding an old item for it to replace and PURGE!

Get started and turn over another leaf!

We wish everyone a safe, happy and organized October!

P.S. Check out our Facebook page every Monday to see a new MARTHA MONDAY organizing video on this topic…and many more!



Let’s Get Started to Turn Over a New Leaf!

Posted on: August 4th, 2015 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler
…IT’S AUGUST!

…It’s been more than a few months since my last
…newsletter. Life threw me another curve ball. This
…time, however, it was expected–for the most part.

In a span of five months, three family members had joint replacements and another major surgery. Countless hours were spent at the hospital, on the highway and caring for my mother. There are times in life when family and friends need to be first on the priority list. I am grateful for clients and business associates who are so understanding. I did, however, complete a very large client move which required me to be out of town for six weeks.

During times like this, I had to remind myself that there’s only one of me. As my business coach said recently, “I wish I could clone you!” If only it were that simple!

It’s important to take care of yourself when life gets to be overwhelming. Here are 106 Tips from Caregivers which may be helpful if you find yourself in that situation.

The past month has been busy, but it hasn’t all been work-related. We celebrated my niece’s wedding several weeks ago. I’d like to officially welcome Patrice to our family–as well as all of his family who travelled from France. It’s been the summer for weddings, as we’ve had the honour of attending two others as well–at beautiful locations.

I also managed to squeeze in six days of rest and relaxation at a friend’s cottage on beautiful Lake Temagami.

Have you been promising yourself that you’ll clean out the garage or have a yard sale this summer? Here are links to a couple of past blog posts–for our new readers and for those who asked for a repeat.

Organizing Your Garage

Organizing Your Yard Sale

Get started and turn over another leaf!



How to Organize Your Apartment ONCE in 2015 and Never Again!

Posted on: February 5th, 2015 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Get Checking...

 For a different perspective on organizing, check out the “KonMari” method. Marie Kondo is “a highly-sought-after organization consultant/celebrity” from Japan. She “encourages you to shift your mindset to the feelings your items evoke by adopting a minimalist, category-by-category technique where you only keep the items that make you happy.”


Check out How To Organize Your Apartment Once in 2015 (And Never Again).



Get Motivated to Declutter Your Holiday

Posted on: December 26th, 2014 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Make Room for Holiday Cheer: 5 Ways to Declutter Your Home offers some great tips.

Get motivated to declutter!

 



Spring Has (FINALLY!) Sprung!

Posted on: April 9th, 2014 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

Cathy MendlerIt’s April!

Spring has finally sprung! What a winter it’s been! As I’m writing this post, the street sweeping truck is going around our crescent. Unfortunately, there’s still an ice mountain on the circle, and we had a dusting of snow last night!

The calendar, however, ushered in spring a couple of weeks ago.

One sure sign of spring is our annual Maple SyrupFestival. Elmira celebrated its 50th event this past weekend! The crowds were smaller this year because of the cold weather, but people still came out to enjoy the pancakes and maple syrup!

SPRING CLEANING

Spring cleaning is generally thought of as cleaning your home from top to bottom.

I always thought spring cleaning dated back to Europe when homes were heated with coal, oil and wood. Walls and home furnishings were cleaned to remove soot and ashes. In doing some research, I discovered there are a number of origins for spring cleaning.

wiseGEEK states that homes are completely cleaned prior to Passover. “[P]eople also get rid of any leavened bread, called ‘chametz’, which are forbidden foods … Even crumbs of chametz or a few leftover specks of leftover grains from forbidden flours need to be removed from the home, and typically, Jewish families hunt for any possible chametz crumbs the night before Passover begins.”

Wikipedia tells us that “Iranians continue the practice of ‘khooneh tekouni’ which literally means ‘shaking the house’ just before Norouz [numerous spellings], the Persian new year.” Scotland’s ” ‘New Year’s cleaning’ on Hogmanay (December 31)” is “also widespread in Ireland, New Zealand, and … North America.” “In Greece, and other Orthodox nations, it is traditional to clean the house thoroughly either right before or during the first week of Great Lent, which is referred to as Clean Week. This also often corresponds with the Julian New Year, or April 1.”

Our centrally heated airtight homes need a breath of fresh spring air. So it’s time to throw open the windows–unless you’re allergic to the budding trees!
The bright spring sunshine will likely expose a few cobwebs.

So let’s get started and turn over another leaf!

You may complain that you don’t have time to spring clean your home from top to bottom. If you’ve read any of our previous newsletters, I always recommend that you start with a plan.

Create a Master List

Go through your house thinking about one room at a time. Your master list should contain all of the projects that you want to complete. Estimate how long you think each project will take. Be realistic.

The next step is to prioritize your list, and determine which room you will work on first.

Scheduling

When you schedule cleaning sessions in your planner or calendar, you’re making a commitment to do the required work.

You may not be able to complete a room all at once. If necessary, divide it into sections, and work on one section at a time. If you only have one hour, pick a project from your list that you can complete in that time period.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to do all the work yourself. If you want to clean a number of areas, schedule a family meeting. Involving the whole family in the process can teach them valuable life-long skills.

Before starting any cleaning session with children, remember to keep their attention span in mind. You might be able to clean for 3 or 4 hours at one session, but most children can’t stay focused for that length of time. Try to make it fun!

It’s also a good idea to schedule a snack break; prepare snacks ahead of time. Plan ahead–when cooking, double a recipe and freeze one batch. At the end of the day when you’re tired, you’ll have an easy meal!

Supplies

Stock up–cleaning supplies, garbage bags, recycle bin, empty boxes, rubber gloves, etc.

Getting Started

Start with the first room on your list. Focus on one room at a time. Don’t start the next room until you’ve finished.

Take a break–set a timer–to keep up your energy level. This is especially important if your children are helping.

Maintenance

Maintaining your freshly cleaned space will require some effort from everyone.  Schedule a daily or weekly clean-up time, so things don’t get out of control.

Rewards

When you’re done, don’t forget to reward your children and yourself for all your hard work!

Remember, you don’t have to complete your entire list in one weekend!

Check out our “Get the Associate Scoop” section below. Martina of Naturally Clean provides some great natural cleaning solutions.



A Few Notes on Compulsive Hoarding

Posted on: February 4th, 2014 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

Cathy MendlerIt’s February already! 

With the winter we’ve experienced so far this year, I think it’s safe to say that the snow and cold weather won’t be gone any time soon–despite whether the groundhog did or didn’t see his shadow.

Remember to add snow shovelling and extra driving time to your schedule as needed. But don’t let the cold weather deter you from your important tasks!

So let’s get started and turn over another leaf! 

COMPULSIVE HOARDING

When I tell people I’m a professional organizer, the conversation inevitably gets around to the topic of hoarding. This month I’d like to clarify some misconceptions about this topic.

With the popularity of programs such as A&E’s The Hoarders and TLC’sHoarding: Buried Alive, this once taboo subject is now seeing the light of day.The Hoarders begins each episode with the statement “more than 3 million people are compulsive hoarders.” This is an estimate only, as there is no accurate way of knowing the actual number.

Definition of Hoarding

When people tell me they know someone who is a hoarder, I caution them to be careful how they use the term “hoarder.” Many people are very quick to pass judgment or jump to conclusions about the people in these scenarios. Keep in mind that these episodes are real-life situations. It can be difficult and/or heartbreaking to watch. Understanding and compassion are needed by these people.

A&E provides the following definition: “Compulsive hoarding is a mental disorder marked by an obsessive need to acquire and keep things, even if the items are worthless, hazardous, or unsanitary.”

The Fairfax County, Virginia government provided the following information on their website:

“Hoarding is not limited to any age, race, gender or nationality. Hoarding behavior can begin early in life but is more prevalent in older adults. Hoarders can be of any educational or socio-economic level. They are unaware that their living circumstances pose a danger to themselves and to others. They are unable to change unsafe conditions on their own.”

Signs of Hoarding

Geralin Thomas, a professional organizer who has appeared on The Hoarders,advises that the signs of hoarding may include:

    • “Extreme [acquisition] and storage of items in the home and in the yard
    • Accumulation of combustible materials
    • Blocked exits (doors/windows)
    • Narrow pathways in the home
    • Rat and/or insect infestations
    • Rotting food and/or used food containers
    • Human and/or animal waste
    • Long-term neglect of home maintenance
  • Non-working utilities, such as heat, running water, sewer, refrigeration”

Hoarding Situations

Unsafe living conditions can be discovered by emergency personnel such as police, fire and paramedics. Neighbours will sometimes report a person to authorities because their yard has become an eyesore.

In a number of episodes, the hoarder has been reported to authorities. It is not uncommon for them to live in fear of being evicted or having their children removed from the home.

What NOT To Do

A common misperception is that hoarders are lazy or just can’t be bothered. Geralin strongly emphasizes that a hoarder “can’t do” it, not “won’t do” it.

Clearing out the clutter will not solve the problem if the underlying root cause is not being dealt with in the proper manner. The hoarder must make the decisions about what will remain in the living space and what will be removed. It is not uncommon for people living with a hoarder to make the situation worse. Irreparable harm can be done to relationships.

The best thing you can do is encourage a suspected hoarder to seek professional help. Do not attempt to handle this type of situation by yourself, or with the help of family members, unless you are qualified.

Treatment

In 2013 the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defined compulsive hoarding as a distinct disorder within the chapter about obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

A group of people (including socialservice workers, psychological/mental health professionals, professional organizers, etc.) may need to be assembled to determine and provide the required treatment. Successful treatment can include cognitive behavioural therapy combined with the use of medication. Often a hoarder does not comprehend that they have a problem. It is extremely important to realize that not everyone is willing to accept help or treatment.

Education

The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) in the United States is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is “to provide education, research and strategies to benefit people challenged by chronic disorganization.” ICD developed a Clutter-Hoarding Scale with Levels I-V on a continuum. This scale “is an assessment measurement tool . . . to give professional organizers and related professionals definitive parameters.” For more information, please go to their website, and click on the Resources tab.

If you or someone you love is looking for help, contact me and I can direct you to local professionals for assistance. Communities are starting to establish task forces to deal with hoarding issues.

Online Support Groups

Children of Hoarders – support for those who grew up in a hoarding environment and/or currently have a relative who hoards. Many resources, online videos, shared stories and more are provided.

Squalor Survivors – stories, photos, tools, community forums and chat, resources and information for people who know someone who hoards



Get Checking…Your Vacation Itinerary!

Posted on: July 23rd, 2013 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

 

Organize your vacation itinerary with TripIt.

I heard about a new app last week. Check out Artkive–a clutter-free way to enjoy your children’s artwork.



Find out how we helped our client Martine!

Posted on: January 29th, 2013 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

“I felt overwhelmed until Cathy of A New Leaf came to my rescue. I had lived in my house for 26 years and wanted to put it up for sale. Every nook and cranny was filled with stuff. I didn’t know how to begin.

Cathy is extremely well organized and meticulous. She came promptly each day with a smile on her face. Together, and with Cathy’s resourcefulness, we were able to separate things into piles for keeping, donating, recycling with little left for garbage. I was finally able to put my house on the market!

I would highly recommend A New Leaf if you are looking for some professional assistance organizing.”

Martine V.

Thanks for reading…

 

P.S. CLICK HERE to read more testimonials!



Ideas for Clutter-free Gift Giving This Year!

Posted on: December 13th, 2012 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

The holidays are here, and the big day(s) is(are) edging closer and closer. If you want your preparations to run smoothly, your objective should be to accomplish the priorities on your list. Don’t let your perfectionist tendencies keep you from completing your tasks. There’s no reason why that can’t happen.

So let’s get started and turn over another leaf!

CLUTTER-FREE GIFT GIVING

“The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value.” Charles Dudley Warner

We have become a country (along with our neighbours to the south) that likes to accumulate stuff. Why is there such a high value placed on having so many possessions? Are you trying to keep up with the Joneses? Are you drowning in debt in order to do so? This compulsion to accumulate causes clutter.

Getting Started

One of the first steps in dealing with clutter is to reduce it. Think Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Given the state of our economy, many people are out of work. The holidays aren’t supposed to be about who spends the most money.

Family Traditions

Schedule a family meeting, and review your family traditions. Consider eliminating the least favourite. You don’t have to do something just because you feel it is expected. It might not be as important to others as you think.

Gift Giving

When you give a gift, give it without any strings attached. If you are concerned that the gift may need to be exchanged or returned, include a gift receipt.

Regifting

The decision whether or not to regift is a personal one. If you decide to regift, the item should be in mint condition. Make sure you aren’t returning the gift to the person who gave it to you.

Gift Ideas

Ask for suggestions. Don’t assume everyone likes what you like. Listen carefully to people; they often give you ideas without even realizing it. Jot down ideas as you think of them.

Be creative. A membership for car services can be appreciated at any time of the year—whether someone’s stuck in a snow bank or has a flat tire. A magazine subscription—decorating, crafts, health or sports—can be a thoughtful gift. Tickets to a play or concert are also another idea.

Give gifts that are kind to the environment. Check out the many church bazaars and shows which showcase talented local artisans.

Gift Cards

Give a gift card to a person’s favourite store. A gift certificate to treat themselves for lunch or dinner at their favourite place will always be appreciated. For someone who loves gardening, a gift certificate to a nursery makes a great gift.

Make your own gift certificates—several hours of babysitting for a friend, a home-cooked dinner, shovelling snow for a neighbour, etc. Let your children have some fun suggesting ideas and creating the gift certificates.

Homemade Gifts

Homemade baking, jams, soup, pickles or canning wrapped in a festive tea towel, basket or cookie container are always appreciated–particularly by someone who doesn’t bake or can.

Organize a cookie exchange. If you have a friend who loves to bake, ask her if she’ll bake for you in exchange for wrapping gifts or another task.

If you knit, scarves, hats and mittens in a person’s favourite colour will be appreciated on a cold wintery day.

Services

Give a gift of your time. Running errands for a friend or having afternoon tea with a senior are just a couple of ideas.

Donations

For those people who have everything, make a donation to their favourite charity. Make a donation to your local Community Services Christmas Goodwill program in their name. Or give them a card stating that you have purchased an Angel Tree gift, so that a child has a gift to open on Christmas morning.

Instead of another mug for your child’s teacher, ask if you could donate classroom supplies.

Holiday Clothing

When you’re going through your closet deciding what to wear to your holiday get-together, think about donating the outfits you no longer wear.

The Princess Project provides young women who may not have the means to afford a beautiful dress for their graduation or prom. All dresses, accessories and shoes are provided at no cost to these young women. For more information, contact Kelly Steiss.

Make it Meaningful

Make time to volunteer. Involve your children. Whether it’s serving a meal at a soup kitchen, helping at the Food Bank, delivering Christmas hampers or visiting with someone who lives alone, there are numerous ways to get involved in your community. Volunteering is a reward in itself.

The important thing about the holidays is that you allocate some time to do whatever means the most to you.

Remember–clutter-free gift giving can apply to the whole year, not just the holidays.

ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!

I invite you to share our newsletter with your friends and family. As well, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.



Kind Words from Our Client Nancy Schreiner!

Posted on: August 2nd, 2012 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

“Cathy has helped me immensely with a family member’s move.

Not only is Cathy pleasant to work with, very knowledgeable and proficient at her work, she went above and beyond her duties. Cathy was able to reuse or donate items to assist other families which meant a great deal to me.

I highly recommend Cathy as her expertise would benefit those who must take on any type of project!”

Nancy Schreiner, Burlington, ON

Thanks for reading…

P.S. To read more testimonials, please Click Here