Archive | January, 2009

Organize your Pantry!

Posted on January 12, 2009 by in Home Organizing

Here are some helpful tips on how to get your pantry organized for the New Year!

1.  Keep like items together –  Separate your items into food groups.  Groups could include:  Baking items, canned food, soups, cereals and other breakfast items, kid snacks, etc.  This way every food item has its own place.  A place where it’s easy to find when needed and easy to put back when finished.

2.  Put heavily used items up front –  Make it easy to reach, other items only used for special occasions can be stored in the back.  

3.  Watch for expiration dates and items you have had in the pantry for over a year-  If it’s expired- get rid of it, if it just hasn’t been used- donate to a food shelter, maybe someone else could you use it more than you.

4.  Use organization shelves and containers-  To add room in a pantry, add a wire shelve or use a lazy susan with all of your baking items for example, it makes it easy to find and condenses the space.  You can find these kinds of pantry organization products at any home store, like Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, or the Container Store.  

5.  I suggest using clear organizing containers rather than baskets or things you can not see through.  If it is out of sight, it can be harder to find and easier to forget.  

5.  Keep a notebook and pencil nearby-  Add to your grocery list as you run out of things.

6.  Teach your family –  Give a tour of your pantry to your family – this way everyone knows where the peanut butter is and where it gets put back.

Getting Started!

Posted on January 6, 2009 by in Getting Started

You see the benefits of living a more organized life, you see how you can save time and money. Now, you need to know what to do to get started?  

A big part of living an organized life, is not just about getting organized but it’s the system that is put into place to help you stay organized.  My tips are a guideline to help you get started on your projects today and maintain organization throughout your lifetime.  

1.  Have a plan of action –  Decide what areas in your home are the most frustrating for you and prioritize them.  Don’t try to do all of it at one time.  Pick one area, visualize how you want the space to function, what is your goal in this space?  What’s working in the space and what needs to change?  What is your goal by the end of the month?

2.  Before you organize – EDIT!  Get rid of anything that does not belong in the space.  Only organize what is staying.

3.  Make a commitment to yourself that you will organize everyday until the space is being used as you vision it.  If you only have a few minutes a day, that is ok, start with one drawer, one shelve at a time.  It can be very overwhelming, so take the baby steps you need to take to get it done.

4.  Everything needs a home – every object, every piece of paper- in order to eliminate things getting lost or dumped somewhere to add extra clutter, they absolutely need to have a home to be put back to…

5.  Evaluate your progress as you go – are you meeting your goals?  Reward yourself!  Nothing is better than giving yourself a little treat after working so hard!  

6.  Talk to your family members and others who live in the home about how the new space is organized, walk through where things belong and what the new process will be to maintain the space.

Organizing yourself and your home is a process, it takes time and commitment.  Once it’s done, and in a way where you can maintain it easily, the time will be all worth it and more!

Get Organized – Why hire a Professional Organizer?

Posted on January 4, 2009 by in Getting Started, Home Organizing, Office Organizing

Why hire a Professional Organizer?  What a great question, first you need to know what a Professional Organizer does…

What is a Professional Organizer?

A Professional Organizer is someone who can take an objective evaluation of your organizational need and make it into a high functioning area. We devise an action plan for your unique needs providing information and assistance. An organizer guides and educates a client by offering support, focus and direction. We want you to Take Control of your surroundings and your time.

Your next question might be….

Shouldn’t I be able to organize on my own?

Possibly! You may have the ability and resources yourself, however, do you have the time, the know-how and the will to get it done? Do you know where to start? Many times people put off organizing projects because it’s too time consuming, and it becomes too overwhelming they end up doing nothing. Many of us will go into a store to buy storage containers and then some how we end up with more clutter and the wrong containers. Hiring a professional guides you and your project with a plan, which is so important when tackling an organizing project. It will be a faster process and I can bring ideas and recommendations that you may not have considered.

Did you know….. (According to the Napo website)

  • The average American burns 55 minutes a day, roughly 12 weeks a year-looking for things they know they own but can’t find.
  • 80% of what we file, we never look at again!
  • 23% of adults say they pay bills late ( thus incur fees) because they lose them.
  • We wear 20% of clothes we own 80% of the time.  The rest hang there, just in case.
  • Getting rid of clutter eliminates 40% of housework in an average home.
  • 80% of the clutter in most homes is a result of disorganization, not lack of space.

In the next month, I will be posting several organizing tips and tricks on things you can start doing NOW!  Remember, don’t be afraid to ask for help, that is what I am here to do, without judgement, without any embarrassment, Let’s make a difference in 2009.  Take back your Time, your Space, and your Control.  Call for a Free Needs Assessment:  541-514-8573.