Organize age-appropriate books on a bookshelf in themes: fiction, non-fiction, history, or poetry. Today I am bringing you an interview with the awesome Andrea Montali. But sometime between restructuring your fridge and taming that paper dragon, take a step back. Stick with one or two categories (e.g., sunglasses and jewelry) so that you know exactly what’s stored inside when you need it. Use social, happiness-producing events for clutter maintenance. Zoom in on the photo. When it comes to organizing and living with less clutter, something that we can all do very easily is to be more conscientious consumers and live within our spatial means. In the closet and dressers, donate outgrown clothes. We’ll pick up any bulky winter coats standing between you and your soon-to-be she-shed. Decluttering and organizing takes time and can be hard work. For example, shoes go on the bottom of the suitcase along with jeans and sweatshirts, which are heavier than a silk blouse you may want to lay on the very top. By asking ourselves a few questions before we bring something home, we can easily help stop the clutter before it enters our house. A file organizer and a grocery bag holder are all you need to keep your gift wrap and gift bags organized. By the time I am done, I may have forgotten about the other task I had started to do. Cheryl is a mother of three (already big) boys and in 2016, she founded the Uncluttered Simplicity blog. For airline travel, employ “the rule of fractions.” If there are four people in your family, pack a fourth of each person’s clothing in each piece of luggage. Remove any accumulated trash at the end of the day to give your purse a reset. published Dec 26, 2020. Have a craft room but prefer to sew at the kitchen table? If you’re a visual person, label everything! One of the best-kept secrets of professional organizers is their use of trays in virtually every area of the home. Most freezers are extremely hard to keep organized. the contents of containers so you know what’s inside. Generally, you’re calmer then, and if there are things you need, you’ll have time to purchase them. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. 1. Organizing Tips … What information are you going to store/organize/retrieve in your journal? Then, open a word processor or text editor, and create sections for general information, dates/times, and notes. A list of Professional Organizing Tips and Tricks that have been helpful to my clients over the years. Julie Morgenstern at JulieMorgenstern.com. We all have too much stuff (yes, even organizers have more than they need). Use Lazy Susans, bamboo drawer dividers, or wire shelves to corral smaller items such as spices, herbs, utensils, and hand tools. Duis iaculis vel magna tristique amet iaculis: We'll let you know when we come your way. Snippets saves time by allowing you to create templates of saved text that you can insert within any email just by typing a short command. Pack small items in individual Ziploc bags. Organizing is about creating systems that cater to your needs, not just tidying up or putting things in piles. Double hang your clothes in your closet to double your hanging space. How often? And a calendar nearby (digital or hard-copy) is a necessity to keep your schedule in check. Nobody (even Superwoman) can remember all of the things all of the time. They often find their niche in the field by specializing in a certain type of organization, such as working exclusively on estate organization or reorganizing office spaces for businesses. My recommendation for individuals wondering if they have clutter is this: Take a photo of the space. 07/05/2017 04:53 pm ET. The beauty of a blank journal and notebook is that you can create and organize information however you like. Regular plastic storage containers are cloudy and hard to see into. Start by utilizing only the calendar section of the planner and fill in any upcoming appointments, important dates, vacation time, and appointments. Once you’ve arrived, unpack the rooms you need to use the most first: Kitchen, bathroom, bedroom. Create a separate email address just for subscriptions and online shopping, and migrate everything to that address so your personal one is reserved exclusively for actual correspondence. Sort like with like. We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Remove all extra hangers. Be open to alternative ways to access and enjoy physical objects. If you live or work with anyone, you should do them as a family, team, or roommates. If you aren’t in the math, you’re in the story, and the story seldom has a happy ending. Facebook-f . Set up a storage cabinet for sewing supplies in the kitchen. Move: Moving motivates us to evaluate our stuff and release the extraneous. It’s full of anecdotes and science, but presented in an interesting and intriguing read. Todoist: A task management app that coordinates effortlessly with Gmail. The benefits of getting organized are endless: There’s less housework. Clear off a desk for studying and provide good lighting and a comfortable, sturdy chair. But, it doesn’t have to be this way! Get rid of the mess and reduce your stress. Pack the suitcase in layers, and place heavier items on the bottom. The benefits of getting organized are endless: There’s less housework. tic-tac containers to store bobby pins, safety pins, needles, paper clips, etc. The Neat Spaces blog is your destination for professional tips & news on organizing, decluttering, & cleaning. When a pen runs dry, throw it away and go get another from your storage area. 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