One of the problems my clients tend to have with organizing is that they to see everything in black and white. Whether an item is extremely valuable or completely useless, it's easy to find a home for it. The real challenge comes with all the shades of grey in between.
It may seem too early to start thinking about holiday organizing, but a big part of organizing is planning ahead, so your next steps are easier. Besides talking about holiday storage, I'm also going to throw in some general storage tips as well.
I have written a lot on the subject of perfectionism-as-a-barrier. People often confuse organizing with a quest to be perfect and that’s a mistake. Organizing is more about managing priorities effectively. That said, although we usually don’t have the time to be perfect, there are times when managing priorities benefits from pushing things to 100%. Here are three examples.
It is impossible to stay organized without action. If there’s no action on paying bills, the mail will pile up; if theres no action on the laundry, the clothes will pile up; etc. Certain points of compulsion are necessary to ensure that these actions happen.
All of my organizing solutions are built around a plan for circulation and now is the time to look at a very important one: seasonal rotation of clothes. Here are some thoughts on how to store seasonal clothes, how to store daily clothes, and products that make it all easier.
The Stanley Bostich Dynamo Stapler is a great back-to-school office supply with a lot of really nice features.
It’s very easy to beat oneself up for not finishing tasks like decluttering, but there are usually pretty good reasons for it. Sure, laziness or lack of motivation can play into it, but what makes tasks difficult is not the actions, but the decisions involved. In fact, my favorite definition of “clutter” is Barbara Hemphill’s “postponed decisions.”
One of the things I often hear during my consultations with prospective clients is “I know things are disorganized in my home, but, believe it or not I’m very organized at work.” Well I do believe it. Here’s why.
OK, I haven’t always had nice words to say about clutter, but today I’m happy to report a fresh perspective on clutter.
Stuff, clutter, trash, get rid of it……Have you heard this before from your wife? But, Honey it’s stuff I might use…Shoot, I shouldn’t have used the word stuff.
Saturday we celebrate Independence Day and the birth of our country. This country grants us many freedoms, but it’s amazing the barriers we impose on ourselves. I have found organizing to be a great liberator.
For all of you who have been asking if I have read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, the answer is finally “yes.” Here are my thoughts.
The best way to organize what’s MOST important is to start by organizing what’s LESS important. If that seems like it makes no sense, bear with me.
The number one mistake people make, when trying to get organized, is to run out and buy containers, before they know exactly what they are containing. It’s certainly tempting. I mean look at that sampling of gorgeous containers picture to the right. They’re like candy. Like any dessert, they should be saved for last.
It is very common for me to meet with a potential client who can’t decide if she wants to begin with organizing the cluttered bedroom, the cluttered kitchen, or the cluttered home office. For me, it’s always a clear choice: the garage.
I hate clutter because it feels like death. (Can’t accuse me of burying the lead.) Don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about your purposeful collections, piles of laundry, or ongoing project, sprawled across you table. I’m talking about that excess stuff, with no plan for movement.
Professional Organizer Matt Baier and his team declutter and organize homes and offices in Stamford, New Canaan, Greenwich, Westport, Darien, Norwalk, Fairfield, Westchester County, and New York City.
Matt Baier Organizing, LLC
Professional organizer • Stamford, Connecticut
14 Forest Lawn Ave. #B6, Stamford, CT 06905
Phone: (203) 253-8414 • Email: matt@mattbaier.com
Home Organizing Greenwich CT, Darien CT, New Canaan CT, Stamford CT & Westchester County NY
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