Posts Tagged ‘productivity’

Mud Rooms

Posted on: September 13th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerIt’s September already!

As I’m putting together this edition, it is 23C (73F) and I’m out on my deck–even though we’ve already had frost a number of times. If you’re one of those people who doesn’t want summer to end, make sure you get outside and enjoy everything that fall has to offer.

I’m excited that I have become a grandmother! Congratulations to Jason and Amber on the birth of Nash Carter Blaxall on the morning of August 20. He’s adorable! Spending time with Nash has definitely been added to my list of priorities. I just wish they lived closer!

MUD ROOMS 

Let’s talk about mud rooms. This topic piggybacks nicely on last month’s topic of laundry areas. While writing this article, I realized a separate discussion about front/main entryways is needed. Stay tuned!

When I Googled “mud room”, I found over 21,000,000 results–just a few more than expected!

Perhaps you’re one of the many people who wants a “to die for” mud room you’ve seen on Pinterest. Unless you’re building a new home or renovating, it may not be realistic. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find some great ideas and inspiration which can be adapted to your home.

While a mud room isn’t usually the main entrance to your home, it’s likely a very high traffic area. If you have a garage, often the door from the garage into the house leads to a mud room.

If you’re thinking about renovating to add/create a mud room, there are many things to consider. What are your expectations?

Take the time to plan your space. Make it as functional as possible. Yes, you want it to look nice, but it needs to function on a day-to-day basis. Nowadays, a main floor laundry is often located in this area. I frequently see clients who find it’s difficult to do laundry in a mud room when there is nowhere to store 15 pairs of shoes. Piles of dirty laundry on the floor often make the entrance impassable.

Unless you’re a designer, consulting a professional for his/her expert advice will be worth the investment.

Make a list of everything you would like to store in your mud room.

  • Outerwear – Sweaters, coats, hats, scarves, mittens/gloves
  • Footwear – Shoes, boots, sandals, flip flops
  • Sports Equipment
  • Backpacks
  • Laundry Supplies – Detergent, fabric softener, stain remover, hamper, laundry basket(s), hangers – (if your laundry is located there)
  • Pet Supplies – Food, water dish, leashes

Unless you have a large room, you will need to limit the number of items that can be stored there. Otherwise, disorganization can still occur.

REMEMBER – No amount of storage space will satisfy you if the people using the space don’t put things away. Designate homes–with LABELS–for everything! If your children don’t hang coats or jackets on hangers, consider adding some hooks. Hooks generally work better for young children. Just remember to hang them at a height they can reach!

Until next month,


Cathy Mendler



6 Summer Productivity Tips!

Posted on: August 21st, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Get Productive...


Stephanie Vozza of Fast Company shares some great ideas in “Six Productivity Experts Share How To Actually Get Work Done During The Summer.“

Check out this summer reading list from 40+ TED speakers.

 

Ask yourself, “How can I be more productive?”

 



Slow Down and Enjoy Your Summer!

Posted on: July 12th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerI hope you were able to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. It’s great to still see so many Canadian flags everywhere. Our neighbourhood get-together on Canada Day was a lot of fun. We enjoyed great company, a delicious assortment of food and ended the night with a campfire watching several fireworks displays. 

SUMMERTIME

“Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective.” I love this quote of Doe Zantamata’s. And it’s so true! How often do you find that you’re worried about something and after taking a break, it’s not as much of a problem?

In our last edition, I talked about life’s fast pace and the fact that most people feel they are too busy.

Take some time to slow down and enjoy all that summer has to offer. Continue to reflect and make some decisions about what you can do differently to lighten your schedule this fall. Yes, it will take some effort–especially if you’re trying to create some new habits.

“I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they do their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.” Jim Rohn

In 5 Reasons to Streamline Your Life, Susan Krauss Whitbourne tells us “…. clutter, physical and mental, can interrupt our flow–both your ability to move and your ability to think. … your well-being could also become victim to what we might call the “clutter effect.”

The 5 reasons:

  • “Low subjective well-being
  • Unhealthier eating
  • Poorer mental health
  • Less efficient visual processing
  • Less efficient thinking”

Susan’s article is worth reading in its entirety. She concludes with “Streamlining seems to have its advantages, … not just as a housekeeping tool, but as an essential process for maintaining your happiness in your home environment and at work.”

And for those of you who have trouble unplugging while you’re away, ParkSleepFly’s How to Unplug while on Vacation is a great read.

If you’re cleaning out your closets this month, please consider donating any gently used professional attire to Moore’s Canadian Suit Drive being held July 1-31. This drive assists at-risk men and women who want to join the workforce. Give a suit. Change a life!

So get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

a new leaf-cathy.png



Wouldn’t YOU like 10x the results?

Posted on: June 23rd, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Get Productive...


Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique? It’s similar to other productivity ideas where you focus on your tasks for a block of time–25 minutes.

Thomas Oppong explains the technique in This Simple Life-Changing Technique Can Help You Achieve 10x Results.

 

Ask yourself, “How can I be more productive?”



A Quote from Robin S Sharma

Posted on: June 19th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments



Now THIS is a GREAT Deal!

Posted on: June 5th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments


Gift
Do you own a storage locker–2 perhaps or even 3?

Contact A New Leaf between May 15 and June 15 to help you clear out your storage locker. Pay for 3 hours and receive a 4th hour at no charge! 

 



It’s Yard Sale Season!

Posted on: June 2nd, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

Get Checking...


Whether you’re putting your home up for sale or are clearing out some clutter, check out our Yard Sale Checklist.



Introducing… Lynda Schmidt from Staged to Sell

Posted on: May 29th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments
STAGED TO SELL

Staged to Sell 1

As a professional home stager, Lynda Schmidt notes that many homeowners trying to sell their homes often make the same mistakes:

  • too much stuff
  • dated flooring
  • dark rooms, or
  • startling wall colours

Lynda works with homeowners and real estate agents who see untapped potential in homes about to go on the market. “The biggest thing is clutter, too much stuff,” she says, referring to the clutter as “visual noise.”

With rooms filled with collections, family photos, religious icons, furniture and toys, prospective buyers tend to focus on the stuff rather than the room itself. If that first showing proves negative, chances are the buyer will simply move on.

“Every potential buyer only knows what they see, not the potential (of the house).”

Buyers will also zero in on specific items like that defeated old couch in the rec room. “Even though the furniture shouldn’t matter, it does.” Use slip covers or remove the couch all together. Also, think of furniture placement: in a small dining room for example, placing the chairs at two sides of the table rather than on all four sides will provide more space.

It is most important for sellers to “de-personalize” their space by removing all personal items, anything that smacks of the homeowner’s tastes or interests.

“Painting has the biggest impact and is the cheapest,” she says. “And remove old, dated wallpaper.” Removing extra furniture can also make a difference: a small living room with a couch, loveseat and three or four chairs makes the room seem cramped and small.

Lynda suggests having the bedrooms and bathroom appear unused. Remove cleaning products as well as personal items such as shampoos and cosmetics. Kitchens are also an issue, as homeowners tend to keep everything–from coffee makers to spice racks–on the counters. Clear it off. “You’re selling counter space, not the stuff on the counter. “Empty and organize your closets too.”

Repairs should be done before the first showing. Every flaw–from having to remove wallpaper border to updating the kitchen flooring–will give the buyer an excuse to “chip away” at the price. This can mean the seller loses more in the sale than it would cost to do the upgrades.

When she is hired to stage a home, Lynda rents larger items such as furniture. She has her own warehouse filled with everything from candlesticks to art work to give homes some oomph — which could mean the difference between a quick sale and languishing on the market.

“A high percentage will pay more for a property they can move into without doing a thing.”

Staged to Sell 2

Lynda Schmidt is the owner of L.B. Schmidt Creative Services and was one of the first Home Staging professionals in Waterloo Region. She has been in the buiness of creative visual presentation for over 25 years. You can contact her at lbschmidt@rogers.com or 519-589-7456.



Everyone Loves a Good Hack!

Posted on: May 26th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

Get Productive...

Even though Dunja Lazic’s article is entitled “10 Time Management Hacks Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know,” these hacks apply to everyone. Try out a couple!

 

Ask yourself, “How can I be more productive?”

 



A Few Words About Storage Units…

Posted on: May 17th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler
“I have three storage units, and that’s no lie. Three storage units. All books.”
Junot Diaz, American writer 

Spring cleaning is well underway in many households!

Do you own a storage unit? If your answer is “Yes,” do you know exactly what is stored there? Did you know that furniture is the most common item found in a storage unit?

Have you ever watched an episode of the reality show “Storage Wars?” The show chronicles storage units which have been abandoned–the contents of which are put up for auction.

While researching this month’s topic, I came across some statistics which may surprise you. 

Joshua Becker tells us that “[t]he United States has upward of 50,000 storage facilities, more than five times the number of Starbucks. Currently, there is 7.3 square feet of self storage space for every man, woman and child in the nation.”

In late 2013 there were “… only 10,000 in the rest of the world” according to the Self Storage Association in Alexandria, Virginia. “About 10% of Americans have a storage locker compared to 1% of Canadians,” according to industry experts.

“For the most part, storage units were meant to temporarily absorb the possessions of those in transition: moving, marrying or divorcing, or dealing with a death in the family.”

What has been your experience? In my line of work, I would say this is partially true. I was just speaking with a client today about this very topic.

THE PROS AND CONS OF STORAGE UNITS

Pros

  • temporary storage while staging a home for sale
  • useful for people who are between homes when moving
  • alternative to renting a larger living space
  • less costly for a small business to store inventory
  • many units have 24/7 access
  • security of storage units
  • climate-controlled storage can be better for furniture and heirlooms  

Cons

  • #1 – cost of storage unit – Often the long-term cost exceeds the value of items stored.
  • storing items that are rarely or never used
  • Out of sight is out of mind!
  • vehicle rental cost to transport items to storage unit – if required
  • security of storage units

Alternatives

  • Declutter your home
  • Organize your storage areas so they are efficient
  • Store items with a family member or friend
  • Store items in your garage or shed

Remember – “The more storage you have, the more stuff you accumulate.”
Alexis Stewart, American TV host

Take advantage of A New Leaf’s offer below in “Get the Deal.”

Get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

a new leaf-cathy.png