Dec/090
household organizing – Latest household organizing news – Simplified Bee: Organizing Household Paperwork and Buttoned Up …
Ok so you might find the next few links interesting. These are from around the web, just random snippets that I've picked up in my reading, but I found some very cool information in them. You might too. Here goes...
Simplified Bee: Organizing Household Paperwork and Buttoned Up ...
For those of you that
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Dec/090
get organized now – YouTube – How-To Get Organized
I’ve recently heard more and more people mention the word “declutter” and wondered what all the fuss was about. Is this a fad, a load of rubbish, a reaction to our modern excesses or a necessary remedy to make our lives more livable? Being interested in doing a bit of “decluttering” myself, I decided to conduct a little research and found there is a ground-swell of anti-clutter thinking building up across the country. In the UK there is even a trade body called the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers!
So what is all the fuss about? It seems that we all have huge amounts of disposable income and a distinct lack of time. The end result of these two factors is that we buy loads of unnecessary stuff and have no time to either use it or throw it away. Another factor is our innate tendency to hoard things. Our reluctance to throw things away, even if we never use them, results in a build up of rubbish that slowly but surely consumes our living space until we reach that breaking point when the declutter urge begins to nag! Everyone has a different declutter urge threshold, with some people unable to cope with even a small pile of old newspapers, whereas others will reach the point where they can hardly move from room-to-room before the urge to take action kicks in.
It seems that there are various locations that merit a bout of decluttering and there are a range of drivers that spur the declutterer into action. Let’s deal with the locations first of all.
The normal location is the family home. Kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and garages are the usual culprits. For bedrooms, clothing is the main clutter contributor. For those of use who can’t resist a little retail therapy, there can easily be a rapid build-up of unworn clothing, but garments are one of the easiest items to clear out. Whatever you do, unless your old clothes are worn-out, damaged or dirty, don’t throw them away. You have a perfect opportunity to donate your clothes to charity during your decluttering. Many people recommend using the “one year” rule – if you haven’t worn an item of clothing during the last 12 months then you are highly unlikely to wear it again – just clear it out! If you have children, then toys can also start to take over a room if not kept under control. If you don’t keep your toy-count in check, your children will soon have too many toys to be able to find their own favourites. Another opportunity to recycle beckons, so whatever you do don’t just throw them away. Donate them to friends with younger children, sell them at a car-boot sale or even on Ebay. In the kitchen, old utensils can be thrown away for hygiene reasons and in the garage, throw out all those old tins of paint and rubbish that you moved out from the house last year.
If you have mountains of rubbish, it may be worthwhile hiring a skip to make the job easier.
Another location that really benefits from a good clear-out is the office – either your desk at work or your home-office. You’ll be amazed at how much paperwork people can accumulate over a short period of time. I’ve known companies that have had periodic office reorganisations, purely to make people have a regular clear out of their work space.
So what are the benefits of all this decluttering? If you have tried it even once you’ll know exactly what I mean by the sense of satisfaction and achievement that can be attained from all of this. If you haven’t ever set aside time for a spot of decluttering, then I can only suggest that you try a small test run. Plan to spend just one hour, in one room and see how far you get – and see how good you feel!
Another favourite technique is the 15-3 sprint. Take a rubbish bag and for the next 3 minutes, try to fill it with 5 items to throw away each every minute. If you reach 15 in the allotted time you’ve done well and just see how good that feels. You may even be tempted to repeat the exercise every day.
You may have a few guilty feelings about being wasteful and disposing of perfectly good things, but these will be more than compensated for by your sense of achievement, your satisfaction in being able to let go and the cleaner, lighter space you have created. You’ll feel more relaxed in your home, you’ll be able to find things more easily and you’ll know exactly what you have. In fact the fewer things you have, the more you will cherish and use them. Go on, have a good old clear out today.
About The Author
Marcus Brooks writes on a variety of property and home improvement subjects for the UK skip hire company http://www.skiphiredirect.co.uk.
Organizing the household?
What is the best way to organize a household in cleaning so that you don't spend the whole week cleaning a house from room to room?
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Dec/090
organize systems – 7 levels of organization?
7 levels of organization?
i need to know the seven levels of ognization!
I know 4 ; cells, tissues, organs, and systems.
I’ve recently heard more and more people mention the word “declutter” and wondered what all the fuss was about. Is this a fad, a load of rubbish, a reaction to our modern
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Dec/090
clutter removal – Latest clutter removal news – Crap Cycling & Walking in Waltham Forest: Waltham Forest: a …
Back with more news for you today. It's amazing how much good information there is on this stuff out there if you know where to look. Three in particular that I found really valuable were...
Crap Cycling & Walking in Waltham Forest: Waltham Forest: a ...
Unfortunately, a lack of funding halted work,
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Dec/090
declutter my home – Fighting Frustration by J. Ramiro Sejas M.
A WAY YOU CAN OVERCOME FRUSTRATIONS
I don't know you. But I have been frustrated many times. My heart was broken many times. I divorced. I have been unemployed. I have been in the street. I have felt totally alone. I became an alcoholic. There were nights I closed my eyes waiting not to wake up any
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Dec/090
clutter free living – YouTube – Oprah Inspries Gyant To Live Clutter Free
Do you find yourself tripping over things as you make your way to the bathroom? Are there kids toys and clothes strewn throughout the living room? Do you just want to tear your hair out when you try to find something in the closet?
This may not describe you and your home to a T, but maybe you recognize that it describes you at least part of the time or in part of your world. I know it does me.
As is regularly said, you have to admit you have a problem before you can fix it. I'm not sure that it's really a problem for most of us, just an annoyance.
Some people never allow clutter to creep in, my wife is a good example. But, I think that is pretty rare. Some experience clutter that sits idle under layers of cobwebs for years.
For some, it's an intermittent malady that comes and goes, alternating between having a home that is a shambles, and a home that is pristine. Most people finally get it in gear and get the job done. This can be a problem for some people, because they place such an emotional attachment on "things". It's this attachment to possessions that is often at the root of the problem.
Some people hire an assistant to help, such as a professional organizer, because they need that fresh perspective.
So, let's assume, shall we, that you are going to tackle this on your own. There are a few things that the pros suggest you do.
1) Divorce yourself from emotional attachment to all this "stuff".
2) Be prepared to let go of that "stuff".
3) Organize into piles
4) LET GO OF STUFF!
Sorry to shout, but if you can't make the tough decisions you are condemning yourself to constant chaos.
Get guidance if you need it. There are resources available that can help you come to grips with the process. The most important part is to get started.
Arnie Jacobsen is a closet clutter creator. He has found a way to declutter fast. When he can find his desk he loves to write about target rifle scopes [http://www.1st-rifle-scope-depot.com] and mini-trampoline rebounding [http://www.1st-trampoline-depot.com].
Hiring a Professional Organizer
by: Carol Weeg
Have you been thinking about organizing your home or office, but you never get beyond the thinking-about-it stage? What you may need is a professional organizer—someone who can help you get all that clutter under control so you can live and work more freely and easily.
What’s it like to work with a professional organizer? Victoria Pearlman, a professional organizer in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, who calls herself the Order Artisan (www.orderartisan.com), answers our FAQs:
What types of people hire a professional organizer?
It’s quite a variety. A lot of clients are professional women. They’re working all the time and have no time for the stuff that needs to get done at home. Busy mothers and people who are chronically disorganized are also frequently clients. Working with a professional organizer is good for anyone who needs a semblance of organization in her busy life. If you just don‘t have the time or you can’t get it scheduled, having someone come in and help you with it means you’ll get it done.
How does it work?
It starts with a phone conversation. Typically a professional organizer talks at length with the client to get an idea of what’s going on in her life. Most of the time people call because they’re under stress: there’s some life change going on, or they just can’t take the chaos anymore. Then you set up an appointment, and the organizer comes to the person’s office or home for a tour of the space they want to organize. You talk about a game plan and get started.
How long does it take?
It depends on how quick a decision-maker the client is. Professional organizers help you move along. We’re not going to sit there and look at the box of pictures. That’s part of the benefit—we keep you on task and help you to prioritize what really needs to get done right now. We focus on what’s driving you the craziest. And we help you examine why you’re keeping things and how to let go of items that you don’t love or want. But we’re not going to say that you have to throw everything out. People are afraid of that, too. We help you find the treasures both emotionally and physically.
What does it cost?
Organizers charge anywhere from $50-$250 an hour. Business organizing usually is double the cost of residential organizing.
Should people expect to go out and buy new storage systems?
It depends on the organizer and the client. Many people have all types of organizing and storage devices; they just aren’t using them. Sometimes organizers can see things in a different way and get better use from storage that clients already have.
What should you look for in a professional organizer?
I would recommend finding somebody through the National Association of Professional Organizers (www. napo.net). NAPO members have a code of ethics and ongoing education.
Look for someone you have a good rapport with. You can get a feel for the person on the phone. Just as you want to go to a hairdresser you feel comfortable with, you need to have a comfort level with a professional organizer. The things we’re going through are very personal. (Of course, everything is confidential.)
A good professional organizer will tailor his or her system to you. We work with clients to figure out what works best for them. We don’t just set up a system and leave. We talk, we tweak, we do it together.
How do people feel about the results?
People are always happy in the end, even if they cry during the process. (One client actually did cry, but it was a good thing because she was letting go of something that was a burden to her.) But everyone’s happy because they’ve accomplished something.
So if you’re tired of dealing with the mess, consider hiring a professional organizer to restore your home or office to a place that works.
About The Author
Carol Weeg writes and edits Finding Our Way: Wit and Wisdom for Women, the newsletter for thinking women in midlife. Carol inspires women to explore their lives today—from work, to relationships, to dealing with perimenopause and menopause (is it hot in here?). Visit Carol Weeg on the Web at www.findingourway.com to download a free sample copy of Finding Our Way.
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Dec/090
home office organize – YouTube – How to Organize Your Office
How to Conquer Clutter ?
I really like Heather Eyena's answer, and I will add that a lot of times, the answer to chaos is psychological.
There are a lot of methods to clearing out. Keep sell toss, and all that. But if you have ever watched those shows on TV, like Clean Sweep, you know that often times people get emotional about their stuff. And we hang on to things for really deep reasons, even if they aren't rational. So knowing HOW to clean out the chaos is just half of the answer, then you have to decide if you are willing to do it.
Often times, our STUFF has way way way too much power. And yet it IS just stuff. You just have to remember that clutter is a THIEF. It robs you of ALL your resources...time, energy, money, peace. Takes longer to clean and find things, things get damaged being stored improperly, have to replace lost or broken...and in terms of peace it is a psychological hassle to look at mess (even if the things IN the mess are a comfort to us.)
Looking at clutter from a financial perspective it may be an eye opener to realize just how much of a thief it is. If you are an accumulator of one thing, like books, you may just be an accumulator of other things, like movies or clothes. For every object you bring into your home you have to store, maintain, and otherwise deal with it. If you are an accumulator across the board, by changing your ways, you just may be able to downsize the amount of house you need. That may mean you can move into a nicer, smaller house, or into a better neighborhood...or not have to remodel to get more storage space. That sounds like THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS saved or better spent to me.
Related, for everything you own, you had to WORK for that thing (or maintain a relationship that resulted in it being given to you). If you translate the monetary value of your possessions or a new purchase, into HOURS worked at YOUR current rate of pay, and the way you feel doing your job/the amount of effort it takes to DO your job, how much did they cost you? A 10 dollar shirt may mean you have to work an hour to earn it...you may have to deal with 15 cranky customers or co workers, put away 4 pallets of store inventory, change 8 tires, configure 1 computer, risk your life in public service as a police officer or a paramedic, teach one math class, sow half a field of soybeans, or wipe 25 snotty noses. Whatever it is you do for a living, most people believe they work HARD for their money and that there are some aspects of their jobs that they do NOT enjoy at all, even if they are fairly passionately in love with their work.
Thinking about the value of your services to earn the money to buy things that add to your own unhappiness makes clutter seem pretty ridiculous. Kind of ironic that when we see something we want to buy...that we often tell ourselves we DESERVE to own it, we feel like we are treating ourselves TO it. I say most of us do NOT deserve that!
Another big psychological barrier with clutter is self-esteem. LOTS of people gravitate to chaos not because they enjoy it, but they do find it strangely comfortable and familiar. And some even feel like they don't deserve to live in a beautiful, smoothly running home. They may also invite chaos into their lives to have that crutch...an excuse why they aren't as successful, that nagging voice in the back of your head that says, what if my life was still problematic even after I did my BEST to solve those problems? (Best not to find out.)
SO methods aside, you have to be in the right mindset to bust clutter, otherwise no matter what you do, it is going to replenish itself.
Hey Readers! I've been comin across some crazy stuff the past few days from a few different blogs around the web which I just had to share with you. Check em out below...
I also still need to deal with my mother's death and my shitty relationship with her. I need to work on my self and my life as it relates to other people. I need to loose weight, de-clutter my house and my life, and finish that last ...
MyOntarioDivorce.com: The Blog » Blog Archive » De-Clutter Your ...
If you're selling your house as a result of your divorce, consider holding a garage sale before you put your house on the market. Even if one of you is staying in the house, holding a garage sale is a good way to unburden yourselves ...
shovel snow and sew: Addicted to Decluttering
I started off on my decluttering kick after watching a friend transform her home, and downsize her major possessions like her house, and dramatically start to simplify her life, home, job, and possesions. I love the feeling of empty ...
Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.
Have a great day!
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Dec/090
declutter office – YouTube – De clutter your Mac OS X Dock using Stacks
Ok so 3 more posts today that I've dug up - I'm an information JUNKIE on this stuff lately. Give em a browse and let me know what ya reckon. They're just from a few different sites I've been surfing lately that are generally good for information like this...
Home Organizing – How to Organize the Bedroom: Organizing Bedrooms ...
Organizing the bedroom is not a difficult task. All it requires is some time and a regular maintenance. Start organizing the home by creating an organized and peaceful bedroom. Use these tips to declutter, clean, organize clothes and ...
5 Small Decluttering Projects For The Rest Of The Year | Apartment ...
Declutter and organize my dresser drawers; organize my bookshelves by genre; put up the pot lid organizer and organize pot lids; clean out and organize my office drawers. posted by captainmordinary on November 25th 2009 at 6:04pm ...
declutter,organize living room - Steps to Decluttering the Living Room
Use these steps to help find a place for everything in your home. Use.
Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.
Have a great day!
DIY Desk Organizer For A Cluttered Computer Desk.?
My computer desk is kind of large, but it is also a collector of everything essential and nonessential to computing! Is there some way to make simple little desk organizers out of things like cardboard, etc? (I actually do mean something kinda corny like that! When I was younger I had this cool little pen, pencil, eraser, etc organizer made out of paper towel tubes cut in small portions and glued on a piece of cardboard)
So, I basically need something or some way of organizing my desk mess ASAP and preferably without buying anything.
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Dec/090
how organize your home – Latest how organize your home news – How to Organize Your Financial Records
How about these right... I think you'll find the following nuggets of wisdom particularly insightful. Leave your comments below. Check out the second one in particular...
How to Organize Your Financial Records
There's likely no shortage of paper around your home. There's a pile for this, a pile
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Dec/090
declutter my life – Latest declutter my life news – Franco family’s ‘Metamorphosis: Junior Year’
I hope you've been enjoying my posts lately. I thought I might do something different today and rustle up a few bits of info from around the WWW. These are some of the news items and blog posts that have been popular over the last few weeks. Leave me your thoughts.
Franco family's 'Metamorphosis: Junior Year'
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