Posts Tagged ‘organizing’

Welcome to Cathy’s Desk

Posted on: February 7th, 2012 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Welcome to our very first edition. My hope is that you will be inspired–as well as motivated–to improve your personal and business life by turning over a new leaf. I want you to live your ideal life.

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

So let’s get started and turn over the first leaf!

“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris (1834-1896), English Designer

Do you need to get more organized in 2012?

Ask yourself the following questions:

  •  How much time does it take you to look for your car keys or other misplaced items?
  •  Have you bought something because you couldn’t find it?
  •  Are you afraid to open your closet because of a possible avalanche?
  •  Has it been a long time since you’ve invited company into your home?
  •  Is your clutter causing problems in any of your relationships?
  •  Have you spent a whole day or weekend attempting to sort through your clutter and ended up with a worse mess?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, don’t worry—you are not alone. It’s never too late to start!

Everyone has clutter to some extent. There are many reasons for clutter. Our lives are so busy. Overscheduling ourselves and our children often doesn’t leave much spare time. Procrastination, perfectionism, traumatic events, indecision and illness are only some of the reasons that clutter collects. It’s easy for things to get out of control over time. Why does this happen?

It happens because we (North Americans) like 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. How do you deal with that clutter?

A frequent complaint is that people never seem to have enough storage space. Did you know that buying in bulk is only recommended if you have sufficient storage space for your items? More storage space is often an important consideration when buying a new house. Before moving, a major purge usually takes place—it’s an opportunity for a new start. However, a bigger house just means more space to fill up.

Unfortunately, other than when people move, a major purge doesn’t usually occur unless there’s a good reason. When I tell people I’m a Professional Organizer, a frequent response is: “Could I ever use your help!” Often it is obvious that their clutter is causing them some stress. When you come home at the end of a busy day, you want to relax. It’s easy to understand why sorting through clutter isn’t at the top of your to-do list. There are many more fun things you can find to do with your time.

Did you know…

  •  80% of paper that is filed is never looked at again?
  •  Most people only wear 20% of the clothes in their closet 80% of the time? Do you have an outfit hanging in your closet that still has the price tag on it?
  •  There is an Institute for Challenging Disorganization in the United States?

To quote Peter Walsh, the well-known professional organizer, you need to “Imagine the life you want to live.” Simply clearing out the clutter won’t solve the problem. While change can often be difficult, it’s not impossible.

Are you overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? I tell clients to start with the area that causes them the most stress. Determine which area you would like to organize. The next thing I do is break an overwhelming project down into smaller more manageable chunks. Get out a pen and a piece of paper and make some notes. List the action steps you will need to take. Plan a block of time in your schedule to get started. If you write it down, it is much more likely to happen. When your designated time period arrives, don’t procrastinate. As the Nike slogan says, “Just do it.”



Resolving to Get Organized

Posted on: January 8th, 2012 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

“The biggest reason most people fail is that they try to fix too much at once – join a gym, get out of debt, floss after meals and have thinner thighs in 30 days.”  Marilu Henner

Have you already given up on your New Year’s resolutions?  If getting organized in 2012 is on your list, here are some tips to help you succeed.

Planning

“Most of us start out with a positive attitude and a plan to do our best.”
Marilu Henner

Set aside some time to think about what you want to organize.  Make yourself a cup of your favourite hot drink.  Grab a pen and some paper.  Did you know that if you write down your goals, you are more likely to achieve them?
It’s the start of a new year.  Dream big—even if you think it’s unattainable.  It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you break a big dream down into small projects.

Create a Master List

Go through your house thinking about one room at a time.  Take pictures of each room; decorators say you’re able to view it more objectively.  Determine what functions each room has to fulfill.  If the room has to perform multiple functions, create a different zone for each activity.
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.  It’s best to start with the room that causes you the most stress.

Scheduling

When you schedule organizing 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 organize a number of areas, schedule a family meeting.  Involving the whole family in the process can teach them valuable life-long skills.  Just remember that children can’t stay focused as long as an adult.  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–garbage bags, recycle bin, empty boxes, cleaning supplies, rubber gloves, etc.  Label boxes—Keep, Sell and Donate.
Use storage containers that you already own—the ones you emptied when you decluttered.  For some items, you may need to purge before you can determine what you need.

Getting Started

“. . . don’t let perfectionism become an excuse for never getting started.”  Marilu Henner

Harold Taylor, a leading Canadian time management expert, tells us studies have found that you’ll accomplish more if you focus on one task at a time.
Gather together everything you want to store in an area before you start organizing that space.  Start by grouping similar items together, so it’s easier to make a decision about what to keep.  Place items that belong elsewhere in a box just outside the room.  It’s easy to become distracted if you leave the room.
Resist the urge to tell yourself, “I may need it someday.”  Remember to REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE.
Take a break–set a timer–to keep up your energy level.  This is especially important when working with children.

Storage

Similar items should be stored together and as close as possible to where they are used.  An item is more likely to be put back if its home is close at hand.
Clear storage containers should be used as much as possible, so you can see what is inside.  Be sure to label all containers.

Maintenance

Maintaining your organized space will require some effort from everyone.  Make tidying up part of your children’s chores.  Schedule a daily or weekly clean-up time, so things don’t get out of control.  If you find something isn’t working, don’t give up.  Schedule a family meeting; a small change may be all that’s required.
Rewards
When you’re done, don’t forget to reward your children and yourself for a job well done!

 “Being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy and rewarding life.”  Marilu Henner



Welcome!

Posted on: December 21st, 2011 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Welcome to my new blog!

We’re turning over A New Leaf for 2012 and launching a brand new website.  While it’s been a lot of work, it’s finally ready.

Please celebrate with us by checking out our new website.

If getting organized in 2012 is one of your priorities in the New Year, we invite you to sign up for our daily Organizing Tip and/or our Monthly Organizer newsletter.  We look forward to providing you with valuable tips to help you organize your home and office as well as your busy life.

We’re excited to share our expertise with you, your friends and family, as well as your business associates.  Visit our site often to see what’s new.

Remember that we value your feedback.  Thanks for your support.

Wishing you an organized day!

~Cathy