Easy switch to Fall clothes for kids’ rooms

September 29, 2016

Make purging Quick for kids

Today, I got frustrated with my 11-year old’s room. Jacob is a typical boy, with lots of different interests. Sports, video games, TV, rocks, toys. Clothes are not one of his interests. As long as he has a t-shirt to wear and some shorts (clean or not) he is good to go. So every day before school I inspect his clothing to make sure he doesn’t shame the family by wearing a T-shirt with ketchup stains on it to school.

Yesterday, I found a bag of Kyle’s jeans (he’s 16 now) that I had saved for Jacob, which were in the top of my girls’ closet. (The boys had been in the room the girls now use, so I must have just left them there when we made the switcheroo.)

With the purged clothes bagged up, Jacob’s room looks great!

Mid-project with all the clothes on the floor looks messy.

That is what inspired me to get

Jacob’s room in shape. I had him do a “fashion show” to try on the jeans and show me which ones fit. I sat in the hallway and folded laundry because I really dislike waiting time and the laundry always needs to be folded. (It never ends, does it?)

Turns out, only two pairs of the jeans fit him, so we put the ones that didn’t fit in a pile. On his own, he took the long pants that were too small out of his drawer and added them to the pile, which I had placed outside his doorway. That is one of the tricks I use when organizing: Get the stuff as close to its destination as possible. If it isn’t going to end up in the room, put it outside the doorway in a box, bag or pile. Then, as soon as you’re done sorting, take it and put it in a designated “giveaway” zone in the garage or, even better, in the trunk of your car.

Next time you pass a thrift store, take 5 minutes and donate it. It’s a great feeling for me because I like to know my things will get used by someone who may desperately need them. And if you’re into recycling, this is the ULTIMATE recycling!

Next, I moved to the shirt drawer. By this time, he was asking to go play a video game with Dad. I told him once we went through his shirts he could. So he speedily put the shirts that were too small in the growing pile. Some of them were designated “PJ” shirts because they are ratty but he still loves them. Then I looked at the shirts (because he frequently puts things away when they need to go into the wash) and sorted the dirty ones into a laundry basket. (I still have not learned how to get him in the habit of putting dirty clothes into the laundry bins, which are literally 6 feet from his bedroom door.)

As I sorted, I put the long-sleeved T’s in a separate pile, because I’d decided to place them in a basket in his closet since he’s not wearing them yet. That seemed to work well. We put his painting/work clothes in another basket there.

So how long did it take us? 30 minutes.

The other drawers didn’t need attention because they are not overflowing, so I moved to the laundry, where I put stain stuff on all the shirts. In some cases, I needed to use Lestoil or Kiss off on the grease stains. Lestoil is for any oily stain, but it smells really bad. Kiss off comes in a stick, and is so powerful it can remove oil paint. (But you can’t leave it on the clothes more than 24 hours or it will bleach out the stain and the fabric color.)

So, once the laundry was started, I sat down and ate a homemade chocolate chip cookie. It’s been a good day already.

Clothes switcheroo tips:

Have the child try on the clothes that may be too small.
Make it fun (play music, give small treats) or give them a reward to look forward to when you finish.
Put any stained or ripped clothing in a giveaway bag or box.
Separate dirty clothes into a laundry basket.
As kids grow, their clothes get bigger. If they need more room than the drawers or closet provides, add a basket or a set of opaque plastic drawers to the room. Utilize under-bed space using an under-bed box for off-season clothes.
Put the remaining clothes, the “keepers,” in drawers.
Take your giveaway container to the garage or car trunk and drop it off at a thrift store this week.

Another option for donating: See if your community has a resource which provides free clothing to needy families. In Grants Pass, we have the Campus Closet, which gives clothes to kids age 5 to 18. It has moved locations from North Middle School to: The United Community Action Network building: 125 Manzanita Ave. Check the district 7 website for hours. http://www.grantspass.k12.or.us/Page/2873

They are open selected Wednesdays from 4 to 7. Campus closet Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Campus-Closet-121572287883293/

See my Pinterest page for organizing toys http://www.pinterest.com/jennyrossomorin/organized-kids-toys/

Ideas for organizing closets: http://www.pinterest.com/jennyrossomorin/organizing-your-closet/

by Jenny Morin

Secrets to an Organized Closet

June 16, 2016

Does your closet scare you? How long does it take you to find what you are looking for? Are your clothes crammed in tight or is there space between your hangers?
How would I organize my closet, as a professional organizer? Well, I just did my closet last week, so I’ll share my secrets with you.
First, a little advice. These are the 2 magic questions to ask yourself as you go through, or purge, your closet.

Do I use it?
Do I love it?

Anything else needs to go in one of the discard piles.
Materials needed: 1 black trash bag and a white bag, Post-its or paper, a Sharpie, a labeler or plain-old Scotch tape.
Once you gather the materials, you are ready to get started! Here are the steps:

ONE: Decide where you will donate or sell the clothes you discard. I like to give clothing to my favorite thrift store. Think about a women’s crisis center, a community closet or a resale shop close by. Now get 2 different colored trash bags, or even boxes, a sharpie, and some Post-its.

TWO: Take everything from one section of your closet—like all of your blouses–and pile them in a larger space like the bed or the bedroom floor. This gives you space to move and think. I’m a bit claustrophobic, so I prefer the larger room to work in.

THREE: Use the Post-its or some notebook paper to make categories where you will pile clothes.
Categories: Keep * Try on* Donate * Sell * Repair* Trash

FOUR: Sort your clothes by taking each item and making a quick decision about which pile it goes in. Do not think about it too much. Remember to ask yourself the use it/ love it questions if you get stuck.
One of my early clients, about 7 years ago, had an inordinate number of bras. This was inexplicable to me. She had between 20 and 30 bras. They took up an entire drawer in her bureau! I asked her to pick a reasonable number of bras, and then we whittled them down to that number. Then they only took up half of a drawer.

FIVE: Get together with a trusted friend, sister or daughter and give them a fashion show of the things you aren’t sure flatter you. If it doesn’t fit now, release it.
For example, don’t keep boxes full of the size 8 clothes you plan to fit into “someday;” by the time you fit into them they will be out of style and you will want to celebrate by getting new clothes.
Saying goodbye is so hard to do! I have a few skirts I need to take in, which I’ve been meaning to do for about 6 months. I wore them a lot when they fit me, so it’s worth it. I decided to put a Post-it with an expiration date on the hanger. If I don’t alter the skirts by Thanksgiving this year, I have to get rid of them.

SIX: Bag up or box the Give, Sell and Trash clothes. Use black bags for trash and label white bags ‘Donate’ and ‘Sell’ with a Sharpie. Put the ‘Donate’ and ‘Sell’ bags in your vehicle immediately.

SEVEN: Repeat with a section of your closet every day or every weekend until you’ve finished!

EIGHT: Once the whole closet is purged of clothing you don’t use or love, organize it. Divide up pants, blouses, T-shirts, dresses, bags, PJ’s, etc. into categories. If you think you have way too much of a type of item, like blouses, you need to do another purge. A good rule of thumb is 3x more tops than pants. Now place the clothing in their zones.

Some of the zones I use: workout, casual, professional, dresses, purses/bags, travel
Of course, we are all different. You may need to add or take away a zone depending on your activities.

NINE: Enjoy your handiwork; you just accomplished a major organizing project! Take a picture of your awesome, organized closet and post it on FB or Pinterest, and please share it with me too!
www.facebook.com/OrganizingAttics2Basements/?pnref=lhc
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Related links: https://www.pinterest.com/jennyrossomorin/organizing-your-closet/
Real Simple June 2016 article: Solutions for every closet.
Real Simple January 2015 “Clothes” purging tips p. 101.

by Jenny Morin

Deal with Desk clutter for good!

May 17, 2016

Do you clear off your desk only to find paper clutter piling up within a few days?

How much does handling invasive paper clutter cost you every week, every month, every year? How much time does your office staff spend looking at, filing, piling, looking at it again, re-piling, and finally filing it or throwing it away?

You’ve heard the rule ‘touch it once,’ but are not sure how to do that AND get the paper to its destination in just one step. This article teaches some tried and true tricks professional organizers like me teach clients.

Refuse paper—Don’t bring it in

The first step to managing your clutter is preventing paper from coming into your home or office. Yes, refuse to let it come in. Don’t take papers, flyers, subscriptions, etc., unless you have something further to do with it. Ask yourself: is there an action linked to this paper? If the answer is no, then let it go, let it go!

2. Take time to Purge

This is the most important way to prevent paper clutter. Be ruthless! Decide on a time each day or at least once per week to purge unnecessary paper from your desk. What can you purge? Anything you’ve delegated to another person, completed, spilled coffee on, decided on, or is outdated information, like old agendas, et cetera. **

Rip open Mail daily

This habit will help you stay on top of the mail, which is one of the main paper clutter-makers. And while you open the mail, make sure you do it over the trash can or recycling container. Then you just let the junk mail slip down into the disposal.

I recently worked for a client, a well-respected business owner, who had 2 years of mail piled up in boxes. When we finally ripped through that mail and disposed of it, he heaved a sigh of relief.

Do those 2-minute Tasks now

I credit this tip to David Allen’s brilliance. It makes so much sense everyone should be doing it. Instead of putting that paper on a pile or putting that action on your to-do list, do it now! Sort through the papers on your desk (or your emails) and do everything that requires 2 minutes or less. I promise you will feel like you accomplished something, and the paper won’t weigh you down any more.

5. Transfer the Action (to calendar or to-do list)

To be more effective, take whatever action the paper demands and transfer it to your to-do list or calendar. You kept your meeting agenda because you want the information the team leader shared about the new production team, but are you ever going to look at it again? Or did you use writing as an exercise to help you remember the information? (As many do.)

Here’s what I do: any information I want for later, I type into my tablet or phone in a nifty Note app while I am in the meeting. Then I email it to myself. The information is not lost, and doesn’t end up cluttering your desk. Later, usually during planning, I transfer any action items to my to-do list or calendar any events. Sweet solution!

Paper is not a reminder

Say you kept the agenda from last week’s staff meeting to remind you to call the head of HR for a link to a training she talked about. Why not just email or call her right now, or write it down so you won’t forget, then toss the paper?

Refuse to pile up magazines, newspapers

Just like you did with mail, flyers, and other paper, refuse to keep stacks of magazines to “read later.” This is a trap. If you have trouble with this, discipline yourself to recycle last month’s magazine when this month’s arrives. If you have more than 2 magazines unread, stop your subscription or put it on hold. Especially if you get a sinking feeling when you add a new magazine to the pile of older issues. If getting the magazine still gives you joy, that’s fine. Just see step 8 for options about information you want to keep.

Scan articles and other information to read later

Instead of keeping an entire magazine, newspaper or other publication, take 2 minutes to scan the article that interests you most, then toss the original. Or, if you don’t have a scanner, cut the article out and create a file– “Real Simple articles,” for example.

I actually have a file of Real Simple articles because I love the practical solutions and timely topics they present in the magazine. So it’s OK to keep some information– in reasonable amounts.

I’ve been a professional organizer since 2008, and these steps work wonders for my varied clients. Which tip is the most helpful to you? Please share with me!

Email Jenny your comments: jennym@efficientspacesco.com

**Be sure to record next actions and tasks you’ve delegated on appropriate lists… For more on this, read David Allen’s book Getting things Done.

by Jenny Morin

What to do with all the Toys?

March 30, 2016

Toys. . .

So your kids are in school and you walk past the toyroom or their bedroom. Ugh! You think: ‘I can hardly see the floor in there! Every time I try to organize it, it lasts for a week or so, then it’s back to this mess! What can I do about the toys?’

Well, do you remember the toys you had growing up? You probably were able to keep them orderly. Think back. Just how many toys did you have growing up? I’ll guarantee it’s nowhere near the volume our children have today. Our kids are practically drowning in toys. We have whole rooms dedicated to the overflowing bins of fast-food giveaways, stuff from grandparents, birthday parties, Christmas, et cetera. I feel that kids today are overwhelmed by the amount of toys they have, yes, even burdened by them. It’s definitely an overwhelming task for a child to clean up all those toys!

Now don’t get me wrong—I don’t have anything against toys. I just think we have too many of them. It is time to discard the toys children don’t play with or have outgrown. So, how do you do it?

When is the best time to purge toys? Short answer: When the kids are gone.

Long answer: Purging toys when kids are home is pointless. You must tackle it while they are away. Most children get attached to their toys even if they don’t play with them any more, (they are like us, holding on to clothes we never wear!) and they will promise to play with them. Don’t believe it!!!

What if something is valuable or has sentimental value?

Real-life example: My friend has a train table her husband made. She asked me if she should get rid of it, stating that her son never plays with it. I advised her to remove it from the room and hide it for a few days to see what happens. See what her son’s reaction is and decide whether to reinstate it. Since our talk, I thought: Why not talk to your son about selling the train table and then buying some toy or sports equipment he has been wanting?

Where do I take used toys? Have a favorite thrift store? Donate them there. It’s a good idea to call first to save yourself a wasted trip or a runaround trying to find a thrift store that has room. Locally, The Mission is my favorite, followed by Salvation Army and Goodwill. Don’t forget the preschool or nursery nearby, which is likely to accept toys. It’s a good idea to call first.
Where do I donate used story books? That depends. Most towns have used bookstores that sell books on consignment or will buy them outright. You could make it fun and use the proceeds for an ice cream cone together or a trip to the Pharmacy (A Grant’s Pass icon;old-fashioned soda-jerk counter and all). Another good way is to donate them for a good cause. Local schools have annual white elephant sales and they LOVE to receive children’s books. You are doing 2 good turns: helping the school raise funds and getting a book into the hands of a child who will love it.
Will my child be emotionally scarred if I get rid of toys while she is gone? No, 8 out of 10 dentists agree that letting go of toys is part of growing up. Seriously, folks. I’m not saying get rid of their cherished items, like the panda bear that has been their lovey since age 2, or the quilt their grandma made them. Store those precious mementos in a safe, dry place like a cedar chest, a labeled cardboard box, or a clear plastic tote. I keep one box of baby clothes and special toys for each of my children, which I will give to them (with their other belongings) when they are settled.
How do I organize the toys once I’ve purged? Short answer: By category.

Long answer: See the picture I’ve included. Some categories for starters: Legos, wooden toys, cars and other wheeled toys, people, balls. One great tip for even small children to put away their own toys, take a picture of the kind of toys that belong in each bin as an easy label. Or, just draw a simple picture and tape them to each bin. It worked for my children!

Can I get tax credit for my donations? Yes!

Whenever you donate to a thrift store or a school, library, etc, be sure to record it. The number of books, and the approximate value are helpful. Thrift stores will give you a receipt with your name on it, but they don’t write even the number of bags/ boxes you donated. Make a note RIGHT then on the slip with the number of bags you donated and the general contents like: Household items, books, toys, clothing, shoes . . . you get my drift.

Just make sure that the organization is legally a nonprofit, says accountant John Warekois.

“They have to be a qualified nonprofit organization; it’s good to get a letter from the organization saying they are a non-profit.” He described a client of his who had claimed some donations as tax deductions, but the IRS denied the deductions because the organization was not registered as a nonprofit. So be careful!

To recap: purge your toys, use these tips, make the results fun for the kids by using the profit for something they desire or a special outing. And claim your due from Uncle Sam!

Resources for You: John Warekois, CPA, Medford. http://www.oregontaxcpa.com/

Local bookstores: Oregon Books, http://www.powells.com/sell-books-online will buy used books in good condition. In Medford: Rogue Book Exchange: (541) 779-1326, Village Books, (541) 779-7576, HQ Books: (541) 779-2326

Grants Pass Thrift stores: Gospel Rescue Mission: (541) 479-9748, St. Vincent DePaul: (541) 476-5137, Goodwill: (541) 479-6000.

Medford Thrift stores: St. Vincent DePaul: (541) 772-3828, The Salvation Army: (541)773-7335, Refashion Consignment: (541) 772-2302, Goodwill: (541) 772-3300

Freecycle.org is a great place to give away items you don’t need to someone who wants them. See article: http://www.moneycrashers.com/freecycle-network-free-stuff/

Tax deductions knowhow: http://www.moneycrashers.com/charitable-contributions-tax-deductions/

Valuation: www.goodwill.org/wpcontent/uploads/2010/12/Donation_Valuation_Guide.pdf

by Jenny Morin

How does Organizing save you Money?

January 19, 2016

Whose New Year’s resolution is to get more organized? Quite a few Americans, in fact. It is the 2^nd most popular resolution. And this is the best: Getting organized will actually save you money! (Saving money is the 3^rd most common resolution.)

Not only that, but having an organized home brings peace of mind, helps you feel in control of life, and generally makes life more enjoyable.

In America, a capitalist economy, accumulation is a problem. We buy things we don’t need, they take up space in our home, and eventually we donate them or throw them out.

So, how exactly does spending money to get organized SAVE money?

You can see what you have. If your clothes closet is jam-packed or your office supplies are stuffed willy-nilly in a cabinet, it is difficult to see what you have on hand. Often, you will go out and buy more file folders, staples, or another pink top because you don’t realize you already have one.

Just last week, I worked with a client in his office closet and we purged 4 boxes of mostly office supplies, which I donated to a thrift store for him. Now, he does get tax credit for the donation, but it is not even close to those supplies’ original cost of about $200. Another client has spent HUNDREDS of dollars replacing power tools he already owned because the original tool was buried!

You use what you have: Our grandparents/parents are good at this because they lived through the Depression. They made do; they used things up.

For example, how many times have you gone out to buy travel-sized shampoo, conditioner or lotion when you have a drawer full of hotel samples at home?

Cha-ching! Another great example of this is using the food you have. How much produce, meat and other perishables do you throw out per month? Instead, if you make a menu, shop for that, and cook the meals planned, you will seldom have to throw out spoiled food.

Organize your finances: This is an obvious one. When you have a SYSTEM for bill paying, you know which bills get paid at the beginning of the month, which get paid on the 15^th, for example. Organizing your bills starts with organizing your mail.

One thing professional organizers excel at is creating a SYSTEM for incoming mail. That means mail :

Always goes in the same place (doesn’t have to be fancy)
Gets sorted into categories like File, Respond, Pay
To complete your SYSTEM, include another 2 or 3 categories: Bills paid on 1^st , bills paid on 15^th, bills paid on 30^th

This SYSTEM lets you see at a glance what gets paid when, and takes so much stress from monthly bill-paying!

Not only that, stick with your SYSTEM and you will never have a late fee again. That is definitely worth the time or money spent!

Actually find money! I can’t tell you how many times I have actually found money while sifting through a client’s papers. Uncashed checks especially. Once, as I sorted through a box of newspapers and discarded magazines, I found a $350 check from my client’s Grandmother. He had convinced himself he had already deposited it. Other organizers tell about finding thousands of dollars in one home!

Get back your time: Time is money, after all. Think about all the times you have had to go searching for a tool like the duct tape or Philips head screwdriver and spend an hour looking for it?

Think about the frustration, the missed opportunities the delay in your project—you could be exercising, moving to another project, having family time, reading, etc. And your weekend time is valuable, just like your billable time.

It does pay to be organized. The savings are worth the extra effort and expense, if you need help. An expert like me will help you get the job done faster and create a SYSTEM with lasting results!

Resources: http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/,http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/money/advice/a19197/organizing-save-money/, http://www1.cbn.com/family/get-organized-%09%09-to-%09%09-save-money, http://www.moneyunder30.com/how-being-organized-can-save-money

by Jenny Morin

10 Secrets to get More done in your Home Office

October 8, 2015

Tip 1: Figure out what your best focus time is. Do the work that requires the most brainpower then. If you’d like to pinpoint the time of day, email me and I will send you a quiz that will show you when you do your best work! jennym@efficientspacesco.com

Tip 2: Limit distractions. If you spouse or kids are home, make sure they know not to disturb you. Close the doors if you need to. Put on headphones with some music that helps you focus. This has a dual job: to let people know you don’t want to be disturbed, and it keeps you from hearing background noise.

“Ambient sounds, especially with words, occupy about 5-10% of your intellectual bandwidth. By wearing ear protectors, you acoustically isolate yourself. This freed up bandwidth can now be focused on the desired task.

It’s a great deal. Just put on some earmuffs and you become 5-10% smarter.”

~ Peter Rogers, Straight A Stanford and on to Harvard

Tip 3: With emails, you can take one of 3 actions: File, respond, or delete. Try not to think about it too much! It doesn’t have to be complicated. The general rule of thumb: if it takes 2 minutes, do it now. (From Getting Things Done by David Allen)

Tip 4: Set up folders for emails. Organize them by topic, project, or individual names. A person wastes 6 weeks annually searching for lost documents or because of unorganized folders for the one project they need. Be consistent about filing them.

Tip 5: Have an inbox for paper , and clear it daily.

Tip 6: Have a “hot spot” for today’s most urgent project. Personally, I prefer a clear file folder standing up in a vertical file sorter. My file sorter holds 5 files. Also, put your to-do list in plain sight and review it each morning before you start.

Tip 7: If you tend to distract yourself: ahem… yes I do that! I find that setting a timer is very helpful. This works well if you are easily distracted by “bright and shiny” new emails. Say your purpose for opening your email is to write one necessary email and then close the email so you can focus on a project. Set a timer for 15 minutes before you open your inbox to avoid getting “sucked in” by your email. This really works!

“One way to boost our will power and focus is to manage our distractions instead of letting them manage us.” ~ Daniel Goleman

Tip 8: If texts, incoming emails, skype pop-up, or calendar notifications have alerts that distract you when you are trying to focus, make sure to turn off those alerts for the hour or 90 minutes when your project needs your full attention. (Before you do this, check your calendar to make sure you don’t have a meeting or scheduled phone call.) If you are not sure how to do this, ask a tech-savvy friends! Or link to the article I provide at the end of this post.

Tip 9: Delegate email deletion and unsubscribing from sites to your kids or grandkids (it works great!). Also, make sure to limit spam by having good firewalls in place to limit what gets to your inbox.

Tip 10: For information you want or need to keep, have it scanned by someone you can delegate to (an assistant, tech-savvy son/daughter, grandchild, high school student) and file or organize it into files. Make sure and train the workers to do it at a time when you’re doing something low-focus, like responding to emails. That way the interruptions with questions won’t affect your productivity.

Use these 10 tips to achieve more and reach your business goals!

https://efficientspacesco.c.wpstage.net/2014/05/30-minutes/

https://efficientspacesco.c.wpstage.net/2014/02/extra-hour/

How to turn off distracting notifications: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-distracting-desktop-notifications-turn-windows/

by Jenny Morin

How to Take the Stress out of Moving

August 14, 2014

Moving the SMART way

It is summer. Lots of people are moving. Are you one of them? If you are stressed, this post will help you.

The question is, how do you have a SMART move? If you follow these steps, I guarantee you a lower stress level during your move!

S : START EARLY

It is never too early to start purging. Even if you are just thinking about putting your house on the market, get started. Some easy things to purge include:

old toys
children’s books that your kids have outgrown
clothes that don’t fit
exercise equipment you never use

Look to thrift stores to donate items. Salvation Army even picks up donations!

M : MAKE A PLAN

One of the most useful tools I use with any client, moving or organizing, is a plan. With a plan, you avoid running around from room to room, and waking up in the middle of the night because you forgot to have the mail forwarded. You get the point. To do this, make a list of all the tasks you need to do before you move. Many of us have items that need to get returned to friends, or household repairs to be done before the move. Plus, moving companies and websites have great checklists for all the details you need to take care of when leaving one home and entering the next. Check it out! Why reinvent the wheel when a professional mover has already put a great list together?

Once you have a plan, and it is WRITTEN DOWN, your peace of mind increases dramatically.

Have a system for labeling. Some people color-code for different rooms in the house, which you can do with just a colored marker. Or just write the room the box needs to go to right on the box.

A : ASK FOR HELP

Trying to do everything yourself and then realizing a day before your move that you are not ready is a horrible feeling. Instead, ask for help early. Ask friends to come and help out a week before the move or earlier. You can order some pizza for your helpers to show your appreciation!

There are several things that friends can pack quite easily. Books, videos, children’s toys, for example. Packing up a kitchen is easy to have help with as well, as long as you are there to supervise what needs to stay out until the last minute.

And if you are still feeling overwhelmed, go ahead and call a professional like me for help. It is great to have a professional on your team for such a big undertaking.

R : Gather your RESOURCES

Take 15 minutes to list your resources. It is well worth the time.

People (especially ones with moving experience)
Budget for the move
Number of boxes and packing material on hand
Real estate agent
Websites (for packing lists, etc)
Amount of time you have before the move
A truck

Can you think of other resources you have?

Now list the moving resources you still need. Have more newspaper, bubble wrap and boxes than you think you need. I usually budget 1 small box for each shelf of books, for example. Keep in mind unless you have a mover, you have to LIFT these boxes, too!

Tip: make sure to keep your towels, dish cloths, sheets and blankets accessible to fill the tops of book boxes. They are also really handy for packing your delicate china, glasses and serving dishes.

T : TAKE A BREAK

Now I’m not saying to pack one box and sit down to look at what a good job you did, but do take a break when you need it. If you are starting to get stressed and are flitting from room to room, you are not effective any more. It is time to clear your head for 15-20 minutes.

Call a friend, take a shower, watch something funny, have a cup of tea or a snack, etc.

Then when you get back to work, your brain will be rested and you will come back with renewed energy for packing. It really works!

So, for a less stressful move, be SMART and start early, make a plan, ask for help, gather resources, and take a break when you need it.

Please don’t be shy. Share this blog post with some friends who can use it!

SalvationArmy: http://www1.usw.salvationarmy.org/usw/www_usw_medford.nsf 541-773-6965

Goodwill: http://www.sogoodwill.org/ Mfr: 541-772-3300 CP: 541-665-0025 GP: 541-479-6000

More Moving tips: http://americanmoversorlando.com/moving-tips-that-really-work/

photo courtesy of American Movers Orlando website

by Jenny Morin

How to Network like a Boss & grow your visibility

April 23, 2013

I just returned from New Orleans where professional organizers from around the world gathered for the annual NAPO Conference (National Association of Professional Organizers). NAPO put together such a beneficial program. The experience was worth every penny. I took 6 classes, attended 2 panels and listened to 3 keynotes. I met and networked with organizers from all over, and rekindled older friendships. I am so inspired! I’m raring to go; I feel that anything’s possible!

One major take-away from the conference is to change my outlook on networking. I have not completely embraced the BNI mantra of “Givers Gain,” even though I am a member of BNI and have been working on it. I need to spend more energy asking myself: “What value can I give to my friends and business associates?” instead of focusing on how they can help me.

Peter Shankman, our closing keynote speaker, really opened my eyes to this. I went to his class and listened to his keynote address. He talks a mile a minute, has many pearls of wisdom, and is a world-class networker. During his class The New PR is Called Customer Service, we laughed and learned so much. (He reminds me a bit of my brother, Ben.) He pointed out that being passionate about organizing is contagious and urged us to really connect with people.

Here are some main points about networking from Peter Shankman and other speakers/teachers. I am going to attribute each idea whenever possible.

Don’t collect friends. Your network is only as strong as its weakest link. Either really make that follower a friend, or unfriend them. ~ Peter Shankman
We are a society of sharers. We trust our real friends, not Angie’s List. We trust friends’ recommendations 100 to 200 times more than we trust an ad. ~ Peter Shankman
Willpower is contagious. (Willpower is doing something even when it makes you feel nervous or anxious.) ~ Kelly McGonagal
Focus on the audience you have to get the customers you want. ~Peter Shankman
Pave the way to Possibility: Have a plan for everything and consult your big picture goals often. ~ Tamara Myles
When writing a FB post, make sure it either helps friends to get to know you better or provides value to them. ~ Peter Shankman

I have some insights about these ideas. One thing that hit home for me is that Facebook should not be a brag-fest. People get tired of that.

On the other hand, when you do have a really great accomplishment, like reaching a goal you have been working hard on, celebrate it. It would be a good idea to include your FB friends in the process, too. First, by sharing your goal and sharing each milestone with them. Then, it won’t be a surprise when you come out and say “Hey, look what I did!” It will mean much more.

Baby Steps. One of the presenters, Tamara Myles, touched on this, too. With all this great information come ideas, new goals to set, new processes to incorporate in my business and client work. But take it easy, girl. If I try to do it all at once, I will get overwhelmed. Yes, have a big list, but just work on 1 to 3 things at a time. When I get those done, or at least well in hand, I will move on to a few more goals that are a priority.

To sum up: Be passionate about organizing. Focus on people, relationships, and providing value to those I know, like and trust. Be a friend, a support, an advisor. Help people.
Jenny

Jenny at the NAPO conference in New Orleans

by Jenny Morin

Three Reasons we Procrastinate

February 4, 2013

Procrastination is like a leaky faucet.

Procrastination –it’s a killer. It slays good intentions, New Years’ resolutions, and big-picture goals.
When is the last time you procrastinated? What did you put off? I procrastinate blogging, big time. Other people procrastinate cleaning out their pantry, their sock drawer, their shower, whatever. Oh yeah, I procrastinate cleaning my shower, too. Since we’re being honest…

The point is, if you want to stop procrastinating, you MUST figure out what the root reason is for your Herculean procrastination efforts. If you find yourself cleaning the fridge (assuming you work from home) just to avoid having to call someone back or write a proposal, there is a reason for that. Because cleaning out the fridge is a nasty job, so you must be desperate to avoid something.

Sometimes you procrastinate because you don’t have enough information. An example: If I need to call someone, but first I have to look up some information online, I may put off the phone call every time I think of it because I have not made the time to go online and find out about the XYZ product they want for their desk. So if the task has too many steps, that may lead to procrastination.

Sometimes you procrastinate because you don’t have the skills to do a task. Example: organizing. Many people berate themselves for not knowing how to organize their miscellaneous drawer at the office, or their files, or their pantry. Whatever the chore is that you’re putting off, it may be that you simply don’t possess the skills to accomplish it. That’s when you call in an expert, like me. If you had a leaky faucet and your water bill goes up, it makes sense to hire a plumber to fix that leak, right? The same goes for organizing. How many hours are you going to waste looking for those post-its or envelopes which you wrote a potential client’s phone number on? Not only do you waste time looking for it, it also distracts you from the productive flow of work because you get flustered and possibly upset with yourself, which can cause you to “lose your place” in the day’s work.

Sometimes you procrastinate because you just don’t have the desire to do a task. That’s how it is with my shower. I love my shower. It has 2 shower heads. But it is HUGE and it takes 20 minutes to clean it right. So I hire my kids to do it. They’ll do my shower for a nominal fee. That makes me happy.

So three of the reasons you procrastinate are: Lack of information, lack of skills, lack of motivation. Find the root cause and you are on your way to fixing whatever is holding you back.

Please contact me to continue this discussion…

Any time one of my blogs strikes a chord, please take 30 seconds and forward it to a friend who needs to hear it! That’s how my business grows best. Thanks!

by Jenny Morin

Christmas Savings

December 13, 2012

Christmas Saving Tips

It’s 12 days until Christmas! Do you believe it? I’m almost ready, thanks to internet ordering on Cyber Monday!
I have some great last-minute holiday shopping tips for you. Follow them, and you won’t get caught in the trap of the spending frenzy just before Christmas.

Tip 1: Plan ahead. Make a last-minute Christmas shopping list. Make sure to inventory your decorations and see what you still need before you go. If you need one strand of lights because one is out, that’s not going to break the bank. And don’t forget the candy canes!

I don’t know why, but I routinely forget them (probably because I don’t like peppermint). Now they have all kinds of fun flavors: chocolate mint, Starburst, cherry, Lifesaver, you name it.

Anywho, I recently went black Friday shopping, and it is so easy to get caught up in the Christmas frenzy, but I had a list and I stuck to it. Pretty much….

When you get into the stores, you see all these beautiful, blingy decorations and you think: what a cute look. If I just got some of those stockings… mini trees… bulbs… lights… singing reindeer… you get the point. Remember your house is full of decorations already!

Tip 2: If you see something that’s displayed beautifully but it isn’t on your list or wasn’t in your mind already, that’s an impulse buy. Impulse buys are not good. Be strong. Walk away or at least think about it while you go to another store. If you are still convinced it’s a must have after an hour or two, and it fits in your Christmas budget, by all means, buy it.

I almost fell into the trap of thinking I had to have some decorations I saw. They were these perfectly conical silvery trees. I just fell for them, but I walked away from them and then realized, hey! I bought some silver trees like that on clearance last year! See what I mean?

Tip 3: Avoid impulse buys: Keep a list of all the presents you’ve already bought this year either on a list in your purse, in your smartphone or in your head so you won’t be tempted to overbuy. Sometimes when shopping, women especially tend to temporarily forget that we already have 4 presents for this child when we see an adorable holiday dress. . . . That’s how last-minute overspending gets us. See tip 2 and repeat.

Tip 4: Limit your time and shopping frequency during the last 2 weeks before Christmas. The marketers are experts in their work, and are skilled in separating you from your hard-earned money. One way to do this is order online. Usually when I order online, I just order what I entered the site to buy, and I don’t impulse buy.

Tip 5: If you must go to the store, limit your time there, go straight to the aisle that holds the item(s) you are after, and/ or get just enough cash out to pay for the sale items you are planning to buy.

I’m not saying I’m perfect in these methods, but if you follow them you will end up spending less money on last minute impulse buys at Christmas. Or, if all else fails, (and you are a close friend) I’ll send my daughter Emily with you. She’s really good at dragging me out of stores after I paid for the “one thing” I went in for. No dilly dally allowed.
Remember, Christmas is about the spirit of giving and bringing joy to the ones you love. Time together is what children want most, not things.

by Jenny Morin

Easy switch to Fall clothes for kids’ rooms

Make purging Quick for kids

So how long did it take us? 30 minutes.

Clothes switcheroo tips:

Secrets to an Organized Closet

Deal with Desk clutter for good!

Refuse paper—Don’t bring it in

2. Take time to Purge

Rip open Mail daily

Do those 2-minute Tasks now

5. Transfer the Action (to calendar or to-do list)

Paper is not a reminder

Refuse to pile up magazines, newspapers

Scan articles and other information to read later

What to do with all the Toys?

How does Organizing save you Money?

10 Secrets to get More done in your Home Office

How to Take the Stress out of Moving

Moving the SMART way

SalvationArmy: http://www1.usw.salvationarmy.org/usw/www_usw_medford.nsf 541-773-6965

Goodwill: http://www.sogoodwill.org/ Mfr: 541-772-3300 CP: 541-665-0025 GP: 541-479-6000

More Moving tips: http://americanmoversorlando.com/moving-tips-that-really-work/

photo courtesy of American Movers Orlando website

How to Network like a Boss & grow your visibility

Three Reasons we Procrastinate

Christmas Savings

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