My Journey to an Organized Life!

Welcome to my little corner in cyber-space!

I’m so excited to share with you tips and strategies that I’ve learned as a Professional Organizer for the past 4 years and from my own struggles with getting and staying organized.

I’ll admit it right here … I was not born with the “organizing gene.” In my younger years, my mother used to declare that my room resembled the aftermath of a tornado that had blown through. As an adult, I teetered on the fence between being mildly disorganized to feeling completely out of control. Like I hear from so many clients, I thrived within the structure and routine of a corporate environment, but in my personal life, I was a disorganized mess!

Perhaps you can relate to my experience? I didn’t recognize the need for systems and structure in my home life like was inherent in the corporate world. After all, what did I need systems and processes in my home, where I was my own boss. I didn’t recognize the negative effects of a disorganized environment. And as long as I didn’t invite anyone over, my secret was safe. What a way to live?!

My transformation toward an organized home life began in 2002, following the adoption of my second daughter from Russia at age 3 1/2. WOW did life change after Alena’s adoption. I hear this from so many of my clients … the life I knew before kids was now a distant memory, and I lacked the skills to dig myself out of the mess once it started spiraling out of control. It was then that I recognized that these issues no longer involved just me. If I didn’t get my act together, my kid’s lives would be impacted too, and that realization was my wake-up call.

They say that “necessity is the mother of invention.” It surely was for me! I began to immerse myself in all things organizing, from books to decluttering sessions by myself and with a clutter buddy, teaching and enlisting help from my kids, to trying new organizing products. I began to recognize that our home operates not unlike a business, with departments, rules, consistent systems, behaviors and habits. Once I made that connection and began viewing our family life like a small operation, the solutions for improvement became crystal clear.

In 2004, after the transformation of our home, my passion grew to share my newfound knowledge and skill with others who were struggling as I had. Simplified Spaces was born in early 2004 and I haven’t slowed down since. So you see, I wasn’t born with the organizing gene, like so many assume to be the case for us organizing types.  Rather I came to the profession as a Professional Organizer after my own life transformation that developed into a desire to share my epiphany with others.

I can’t wait to share with you through The Organizing Genie blog what I’ve learned personally and through my profession as a Professional Organizer. I am confident that you can experience the same transformations in your home and family!

So what are the benefits of home organization? Why should we care? Well, the benefits are huge and our health and wellness depends on it. From kids and chores to tips on space planning, to reviewing the latest and greatest products, I invite you to join me every Monday, as we explore and learn the recipe to achieving The Simplified Home.

Wishing you Simplified Spaces …

Janet
The Organizing Genie

Originally posted 2008-08-15 07:34:49. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Finally Get Organized in 2010 with a Declutter Challenge

One of the most interesting Declutter Challenges that I have come across is one called the “2010 in 2010 Declutter Challenge”. The concept is easy, and the results are huge! You simply choose one way to make the challenge work for you, and during the year 2010, declutter away! Keep track on a calendar and look forward to a having a much more organized home by the end of the year!

The first idea to get rid of 2010 ITEMS. Big items, small items, multiple part items, items from your garage, items stuffed into your attic, items that you can’t recall who gave them to you, items of which you have too many, items you never use or read any more.  If you are worried that you won’t be able to get rid of 2010 items, don’t forget that “get rid of” doesn’t have to only mean “throw away”. USE UP that huge supply of shampoo in your bathroom storage cupboard instead of buying new product! USE UP that overload of detergent, or that bulk purchase of canned tomatoes! As long as you are REDUCING YOUR CLUTTER item by item, you are succeeding in your challenge!

The second idea is to commit to decluttering for 2010 minutes in 2010! If you do the math, you will discover that it’s only about 45 minutes per week! Less than 10 minutes per day… which is not much at all, is it? 10 minutes of commercials well spent? 10 minutes of waiting for your ride to come? Have a small declutter project for the week, set the timer at 45 minutes, and simply declutter your way down to zero each week!

A third idea is to declutter 2,010 pounds of “stuff”! I know it sounds like a lot, and it is. However, this Declutter Challenge may be perfectly suited for those who have excess furniture taking up space that they would love to get back, stacks of heavy catalogues or magazines stashed in the basement, or a garage piled high with who-knows-what. Purchase or borrow a basic scale, or ask the weight at the dump where you drop off your big load. Decluttering 2,010 pounds from your house in the year 2010 will no doubt give you a lot more space, and get rid of a lot of unnecessary clutter!

If you take the 2010 in 2010 Declutter Challenge in any of the forms suggested, or if you adjust it to suit your own particular needs, you will take a huge leap towards your desired clutter-free state. Enjoy your challenge and get clutter free!

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-2010-in-2010-Declutter-Challenge&id=3588705] The 2010 in 2010 Declutter Challenge

Think in systems to organize your home and life

When I worked in the corporate world as a business analyst it wasn’t a stretch for me to think in systems.  In an office environment processes and procedures are established to create order and and establish habits.  Often office systems are documented in a Procedure Manual for all to follow.  We are also accustomed to having the supplies needed in our work space in order for us to perform our job and to follow the company’s systems. 

When I became a Professional Organizer in 2003, it occurred to me that we can transfer this same ’systems theory’ to managing our home. You manage your home in systems as well.

So what do I mean by a a home management system?  It is a set of procedures and processes, or a routine/habit that is put in place in your home to manage five key variables:

·   Space

·   Your stuff

·   Information flow

·   Your time

·   Relationships – with those for whom you share your space 

 

Develop systems to manage these variables and you have designed solutions to calm the chaos of your daily life. A system can be as simple as a labeled folder to a specific organizing product designed to hold all your personal information, like those available in our e-store The Simplified Home.  The important thing is that you establish a consistent routine or process for yourself and your family for the repetitive tasks you perform regularly. These routines/processes done consistently become habits.  One of my favorite quotes, by Ben Franklin, is …

 

 “To change a habit begin immediately and let no single exception to occur.”

 

Consistency is the key to establishing a habit.  

When I work personally with clients, I assess the systems they have in place and those that are missing. So what systems should you consider to simplify your home?  Here’s a list of home organization systems I suggest that my  clients consider.  

 

• System for keeping track of your daily schedule

• System for processing incoming mail – from the mailbox and from children’s bookbags

• System (or consistent home) for finding car keys, purse/wallet, cel-phone, laptop, etc.

• System for paying bills on time

• System for teaching and delegating household chores within the family

• System for food shopping (grocery list and organizing coupons)

• System for keeping track of daily and weekly To Dos (actions)

• System for regular decluttering / weeding

• System for tracking birthdays, anniversaries

• System for the home laundry process

• System (routine) for getting out of the house on time for work, appointments, meetings

• System for staying focused and productive (i.e., timer, alarm)

• System for processing children’s school papers

• System for keeping track of home information (warranties, operations manuals, room dimensions, carpet samples, etc.)

• System for family communication

• System for merchandise returns, errand-running

• System for weeding out no longer needed clothing

• System for filing and retrieving vital family records

 

I call this a ‘Home Systems Checklist’ and I give this checklist to new clients so they can evaluate and analyze their own household. 

 

So how about you? I invite you to use this list to do the same in your home. Also think about the supplies you need to establish these systems.

 

You too can get organized by thinking in systems.  I’d love to hear your feedback – please leave a comment about home systems that have worked well for you and if you can think of a system that I didn’t include. Also, if you’d like to hear more detail about any of these systems, leave a comment about your greatest challenge and I’ll do a future post about specific systems you want to learn more about.

 

I also invite you to visit The Simplified Home for many ready-made home organization systems and solutions so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

Originally posted 2008-10-24 21:27:45. Republished by Old Post Promoter