http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogList.asp?sort=organizer&schedule=4 In this busy world we all find areas of clutter in our homes. Simple and consistent practices can help us eliminate daily clutter like mail and bill paying. Some of us clutter for deep psychological reasons. The reason needs to be explored and a decision needs to be made if the person is ready to let go of old habits or not. If they are ready, steps can be made to eliminate clutter and then set up ways to stop clutter form creeping back! This blog will deal with both kinds of clutter. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:45:14 EST en-us http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2513 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2513 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST Organizing in the Fall By Frances D'Amato As the days grow shorter, children return to school, and leaves begin to fall we think of spending more time indoors. This is the perfect season to organize our outside space. First of all we think of the garden, leaves get raked and put into the compost heap or bagged and put on the side of the road for city pickup. Bushes get trimmed, bulbs get planted for next Spring and mulch gets put down. Now all we need is a plan. Some of us have ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2444 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2444 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST Clutter Free Forever, How do I get there? Frances L D'Amato As I enter a client's homes for the first time, I ask how did this house get this way? As you will imagine there are numerous answers, I've listed some: I've just been too busy at work. My aging parents now need my help daily. My children have returned because of the lagging economy. I just haven't been able to keep up with the mail and things. I buy multiple things because I don't know where to find what ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1907 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1907 Wed, 8 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST Insulating self with stuff Have you ever felt that some of your objects are really preventing you from being whom you are? You may ask what does she really mean by that question? Let me see if I can make myself clear. I have an office containing three bookshelves. I do love books and have bought many for research purposes, but do I need to keep three bookcases? I doubt it. So why do I do it? Having three bookcases prevents me from having the room to put a bed in my office and turn it into ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1839 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1839 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST SEPTEMBER -- PROACTIVE ORGANIZING As Americans we do not like to talk about death especially our own. I contrast that attitude with one of my Grandmother who died in 1971 after living a long and very happy life till she was 84. I had just come back to the US from Beirut, Lebanon where I had been teaching at the American University. I loved being there and absorbing the culture but when Israeli jets started flying over Beirut and we were told to pack two suitcases that we could carry. My ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1838 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1838 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST Clearing the Deck for Autumn I live in Charlotte and we have experienced an unusually hot, dry summer. I have hardly been able to enjoy my outside patio or deck. But alas there is a glimmer of hope, the rain of the hurricanes has helped cool us off and we are enjoying 65-degree temperatures in the evenings and early mornings. I may once again enjoy my coffee on my patio, but oh what a mess has accumulated over this hot summer. My glass table is covered with leaves; my chairs need a good ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1789 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1789 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST Clearing the Way for New Possibilities Summer is coming close to an end, schools are beginning, some of us are looking forward to the holidays others are dreading them. Suppose we could wave a magic wand and clear all the clutter we have been gathering all summer. What would you wave away? Mail, clothes, books/magazines, objects from trips, family heirlooms to name just a few. I'll start in the easiest category: incoming mail. Whenever I come home from a trip I have a box of mail that ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1408 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1408 Wed, 7 May 2008 08:00:00 EST Clearing clutter in the Garden It's May and time to turn our attention to our garden. During the winter months I don't get outside to do much gardening but as soon as the weather warms I love to sit on my patio and watch my perennials come out one by one. I also get my rake and take out all the weeds that flourish with the warm weather. There are also a few leaves from the Fall that I find hiding among my Rosemary leaves. So one day, I just rake and pull and fill a huge garbage bag ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1341 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1341 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST Buying Too Much As the economists argue over whether or not we are in a recession, we all know we need to cut back. My car gas bill has doubled forcing me to look to other places to cut funds. Instead of complaining I look at this time as one where I may be able to review my spending habits. I look in my closet and see about 20 pairs of shoes that I seldom wear. Since it is springtime, I'm pulling out my sandals and beige and white shoes. I realize that I don't often wear high heals ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1312 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1312 Wed, 9 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST Saving for Security/Identity We continue looking at the psychological reasons we clutter; today it's security. How many times have you heard someone say, I need to keep this because I may need it someday and I might not have the funds to buy another one at that time. To some of us this may seem reasonable. However, when we look at the psychological and physical cost of keeping things we no longer need we may think differently. If you have an object that once was useful but is no longer ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=781 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=781 Wed, 2 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST Preparing for 2008 The hustle and bustle of the holidays are over and now it's time to plan for 2008. It will take some time to put away all the holiday decorations and to finish up giving away the treats. New Year's Eve will soon be here and with it a time of contemplation. We'll have time to be quiet and review all that we accomplished in 2007 and a few things we have yet to tackle. I suggest we begin with the accomplishments: Take time to look through photos of time spent ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=552 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=552 Wed, 5 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST The Holiday season is here and we all have lists of parties to attend, presents to buy and things to cook. It is easy to overdo and to buy more than necessary. Let's take each item above in turn. Parties: I live in Charlotte and people love wearing special Holiday sweaters. I have two and simplify my party going by having three dresses that can be accented with the sweaters. Conveniently the colors of the dresses are red, green and black. I have jewelry that complements each. So ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=499 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=499 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST Organizing our Suitcase Holiday time is here and travel home is on our minds. Homeland Security has just issued an order for travelers to organize the suitcase to make inspection easier. Apparently our suitcases have been a reflection of our lives and they are very disorganized. Here's my solution: Buy or make an underwear bag with a compartment for items by categories: socks, stockings. bras, panties. The one I have is cloth on one side and clear plastic on the other. Each compartment ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=450 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=450 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST Some of us were brought up in homes where parents were always working and didn't have time to spend with us. A young child misses a parent who often travels for business. The parent always brings the child a present from the trip. Eventually the child begins to see the presents as the parent's love. So the child keeps the things to comfort him/her. Is there any doubt that as the child grows older she/he wouldn't want to pass on the toys. The toy becomes the love of the parent and ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=390 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=390 Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST So far we have talked about two reasons People clutter Indecision and inheritance. Today let's look at Sentiment. Sentimental objects are those that remind us of a person, place or time that we love or have experienced. Some of us attach the feeling with the object instead of realizing the feeling lies within us and can be recalled anytime by sitting quietly and perhaps closing our eyes. Our brain is the best computer ever created and the files are enormous. In addition science tells ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=269 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=269 Wed, 7 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST Another reason we clutter I like to call inheritance. If we came from a house that was cluttered we may have inherited the clutter bug. On the other hand if our family home was too neat we may be rebelling and allow our home to be cluttered. If you inherited the clutter bug, you'll have some journaling to do. Ask yourself if you like living with the clutter or if it bothers you but you feel you lack the skills to deal with clutter? If skills are what you feel you need then do read some ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=211 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=211 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST Fall is here and that means the holidays will soon be here. I take this opportunity to start organizing my bills, and receipts for the task of preparing my taxes. I know the end of the year is a few months off but the holidays will always be more demanding than we anticipate. If you create systems to deal with your financial reporting now the after holiday tax season will be easier. If you have Excel on your computer make a sheet for Medical Costs, Contributions, and Expenses: mileage, ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=204 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=204 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST Today we'll deal with one of the underlying causes of clutter Indecision. Have you ever decided you were going to look through a pile of papers that have been piling high on your desk only to find you can't decide what to do with each piece? If you have you are experiencing indecision. Perhaps when you were growing up, you never had an opportunity to make choices. Perhaps now you have too many choices. It would be great if you could journal on just why it is difficult for you to ...