http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogList.asp?sort=organizer&schedule=122 I've been organizing people for over 10 years, and during that time, I've learned a lot about what works and doesn't work. Blogging give me an even better way to share my ideas about organizing with the masses -- and dadgummit, I intend to do just that! This weekly blog is a compendium of tips, tricks, techniques, and theory about how to organize every area of your life. You will find a little bit of everything -- time management, paper management, space organizing, clutter-clearing, home, work, kids, finances, travel, holidays, you name it. If you're new to us and starting at the very beginning (which Julie Andrews says is a very good place to start) you will find a discussion of my organizing philosophy (so you know where I'm coming from), where our clutter and disorganization come from, and the first steps for organizing any area of your life... Thu, 4 Mar 2010 12:45:17 EST en-us http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2737 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2737 Thu, 4 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST So you're planning on relocating to another area -- very exciting! Unfortunately, these days you can't just pack up the car and take off. You will need to settle all of your old business before starting fresh in a new community. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make the transition to your new home and new life a bit easier. Changing Accounts And Addresses Shutting off your old utilities and turning on the new ones is a lot easier ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2736 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2736 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST I have a friend who is in the process of relocating her home 3000 miles away -- and she is really struggling. Moving is challenging, even when you're organized, and more so if you're attempting to haul tons of clutter with you. So I'm going to spend a couple of weeks talking about ways to make moving easier. A Great Opportunity When I tell people what a freeing experience moving is, they usually look at me like I'm crazy. "What do you mean ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2735 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2735 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST It's amazing how many people park their $20,000+ automobiles in the driveway, left to the mercy of the elements -- while using their garage to store a couple hundred dollars worth of junk that they never touch! What you need is a system for setting up a functional garage that still leaves room for your car. By simply sorting, re-arranging, and containerizing, you can create new space in the garage that you never knew you had... Think In Terms Of Activities ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2734 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2734 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Some people assume that "collector" means "packrat" -- but collections are quite different from garden-variety clutter. Collecting is the outward manifestation of a deeply-felt emotion or urge. A traveling businessman who brings home a memento from every town he visits -- a woman who wants to be a writer and fills her house with books to keep her dream alive -- a son who inherits his father's passion for baseball cards -- these people are all fulfilling a need with their collections. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2733 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2733 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Keeping your kid's room in order can seem like an insurmountable task. You put things away, and they just end up in a pile on the floor again. You set up systems, your kids use them for a half a minute, then you're right back where you started. You create a neat environment, and it just gets torn apart. You could spend your life cleaning, straightening, and tidying your child's room -- and never see any improvement. What is a parent to do? Kid-Friendly Organizing Most ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2732 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2732 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST Have you ever noticed that some people manage to get a complete aerobic workout just while preparing dinner? Back and forth, back and forth -- feeding your family doesn't have to be this hard! Making Mealtime A Bit Easier Today, pay attention to the way that you move while you cook -- and the energy you expend in the process. How many times do you cross the length of your kitchen in one evening? Do you find yourself doing squats to get at your pans? Stretches to reach ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2731 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2731 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST Your closet is often the first thing you see in the morning, and its condition can determine your mood for the day. There is something about an orderly wardrobe that makes a person feel stylish and in-control. But spending hours digging through a cluttered closet, trying to find a matching outfit can dampen even the brightest of spirits. Not a very good way to start the day! What's In Your Closet? The road to organization begins with an honest evaluation of your wardrobe. Is ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2730 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2730 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST I don't have enough room! -- this is a common cry amongst the disorganized. But sometimes, you just aren't looking closely enough. You can find additional storage in the most unlikely places. Think about all of those wasted areas in your home or office -- "dead space" that can't be used for living activities and seem inappropriate for conventional storage. You can turn this sow's ear into a silk purse with the right tools and a little imagination! ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2729 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2729 Thu, 7 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST Space organizing needs to be a very personal experience. For your efforts to succeed, your methods and techniques must be customized to your particular situation -- but they must also uphold some very basic organizing principles. It is when these rules are ignored that you run into problems with clutter. So as you work, try to avoid these common storage mistakes: Starting Without A Plan Imagine taking a trip to a new city without a map, a GPS, or even ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2728 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2728 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST What do your storage spaces look like? Do you know exactly where to go when you are looking for something? Is your system logical? Designing a meaningful storage space requires a bit of thought -- there's more to it than simply moving a pile "stuff" off of a chair and into a closet or drawer. You need structure -- some proven guidelines to follow while setting up your storage spaces. Let's begin with these basic organizing principles: Plan Before ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2727 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2727 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST Quite often when you are cleaning out, you come across a few items that you feel are too good to simply put in the "donate" box. You might discover a rare book, an expensive item of clothing, or a hard-to-find piece of sporting equipment -- something that you think has value and is worth selling. However, you can't find anyplace in your town to consign these -- and it's not worth the trouble of having a yard sale. What do you do? The Electronic Option ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2726 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2726 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST Does the idea of setting up your wares in the front yard and spending a weekend selling unwanted items make you break out in cold sweats? Garage sales don't have to be so painful -- not if you plan ahead from the very beginning. Here are some quick tips for making your sale both fun and profitable. Advertising Your Sale Many people don't realize that you can't just put a pile of junk in your yard, slap up a bunch of signs, and hold a yard sale -- ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2725 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2725 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST When you start organizing, the first step is often cleaning out -- but this process doesn't have to create bags of trash for the landfill, if you take the time to make sure than anything usable goes to a better home... Donating Household Items Nearly anything you clean out of your home can be donated to a local thrift store. It's okay if items are worn (people know they are used when they buy them), but make sure they are clean and functional -- don't just dump ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2724 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2724 Thu, 3 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST Cleaning out can seem overwhelming -- especially if it's been a while since you've done it. But following this very simple process will help you sort and separate your belongings into manageable piles! When you begin clearing an area, you should have three large boxes close at hand. One box is labeled "Keep" -- one is labeled "Get Rid Of" -- and the third is labeled "Not Sure"... The Keepers "Keep," is meant for items that you have defined as either ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2723 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2723 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST Some people have an awfully hard time letting something go on the first go-round. They vacillate, back and forth, trying to decide if they will regret the decision. So I want to talk to you a bit about "waffling" as you are trying to clean out unnecessary clutter... A Bad Case Of Indecision You know what "waffling" is. It begins when you decide to get rid of that old waffle iron you never use. As you put it in the donation bag, you think to yourself, "But what if someone ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2722 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2722 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST At this point, you have probably run across some belongings that don't exactly serve a practical purpose in your life. Of course, some items simply cannot be judged according to their function alone. Certain objects, such as artwork or collectibles, are kept because they are aesthetically pleasing. Others are treasured for their sentimental value. What do to? Quit With The Excuses Already! It's fine to keep things that you don't use everyday -- I don't believe in the "you ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2715 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2715 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST Childhood is a time of learning new skills -- you don't know how to do it until someone shows you. And organizing your home or office is the same thing, except no one teaches "Organizing 101"at school! So let's pretend that class is in session and look at some basic organizing principles, through the eyes of a child… Group Like With Like Try singing the Sesame Street song "which of these things is not like the other?" as you organize your storage spaces. Do you see anything ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2659 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2659 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST Cleaning out your junk can be incredibly freeing -- but where do you start? There's so much to do!! Before we talk in detail about "de-cluttering," let's take a minute to look at the bigger picture. Here are a few rules of thumb to follow when you begin cleaning out -- either at home or at the office: Have A Plan Of Attack Begin working in the area that is the biggest thorn in your side -- the part of your home or office that causes you the most agony. Even if you feel as though ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2658 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2658 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST Let's face it, we love our stuff! We are a society of consumers. That's one of the benefits of living in a prosperous capitalistic country -- we have a lot of disposable income and a wide variety of ways in which to spend it. Americans, in particular, shell out a tremendous amount of money each year for leisure consumable goods -- purchases above and beyond those required to meet our basic needs for shelter, food, clothing, and transportation. Why Do You Buy What You Buy? ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2657 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2657 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST Sometimes, life can creep in on you from all sides -- and before you know it, you're knee-deep in clutter, behind on everything, and feeling so overwhelmed that you don't know what to do! The trick is to recognize the "danger signs" before everything spins completely out of control. So how do you know if you need to clean out? Here's a sure-fire ten-step way to spot (and deal with!) all kinds of clutter in your life. You Have To Move A Pile Off A Chair So Someone Can Sit Down ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2656 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2656 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST Before I start offering advice about how to organize your life, I thought that you might want to know a little bit about me -- my organizing philosophy, my background, etc. That way, you won't have to say, "Why the hell should I listen to your suggestions?" -- and we can get right down to work helping you create some order. My Background I have been a Professional Organizer since 1998. Prior to that, I was a Social Worker, running a welfare-to-work program at the Atlanta Housing ...