What Being Organized Means To Me

What does that even mean? I think we all have a different idea of what organizing means.

As a Professional Organizer, this is what being organized means to me:

1. Being able to easily find things when I want or need them. When I say “easily” it means that I don’t have to spend more than a few seconds/minutes to get my hands on the item that I want. I know where it is!

2. Being able to access things when I want or need them. This means that I don’t have to move around several other items to get to the item that I want.
** The caveat is that sometimes we store things in the garage or in the attic which makes it more difficult to get to or reach. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not organized. If for example, you have some memorabilia stored in a bin that’s properly labeled but happens to be located in the rafters in the garage, IMO, that’s still organized.

3. Being safe in my surroundings. Being able to navigate my way around without having to step over something and/or without having to move something out of the way. Not being afraid that if I reach to get something that other items might fall on top of me.

4. Time management is key! If you’re organized you will have more time to get things done and ultimately more time to yourself. My favorite time management tool is my calendar and I use it every day, all day. It includes all of my appointments, all calls that I have to make and all things that I have to do. It keeps me on track. Of course there’s always those things that don’t get done. When then happens I just carry it over to the next day or the next week to make sure that whatever it is still gets done. I just prioritize whenever possible.

5. Finally, being organized means that my house and office have to be presentable at all times. It doesn’t mean it has to be perfect or look like a picture from a magazine. For me it’s just easier to stay on top of things and do a little every day to make sure that my surroundings are presentable.

Organizing Is A Process

One of the questions I get asked the most from prospective clients is “How long will it take?” What a great question…

Most people want a time frame: one hour, four hours, something concrete. Unfortunately, the answer is not that easy. The answer I ALWAYS give is: “Organizing is a process!

Whatever the situation may be, the process depends on so many different factors. Some factors include availability, interruptions, physical restrictions. However, I think the most important factor is typically how quickly you, the client, can make decisions.

For example, if the job is about de-cluttering one person might quickly be able to pick up an item and decide whether to keep it, toss it, donate it, file it, store it. If you can make decisions quickly and keep distractions and interruptions to a minimum, the process will go quickly.

However, another person might need to tell the story about how they got the item in the first place. They might not be ready to let it go until they make some calls to see if someone else might want it, they may want to take a photo of it before they let it go. If that’s the case, the process will take more time.

Most people would like to think they are great decision makers so they think the process will go by quickly. However, that’s not always the case. Expecially when it comes to family heirlooms or memorabilia. Items that have sentimental value usually take more time.

Whatever the situation is, it’s all okay. We will work with you, our client, as quickly and efficiently as possible by helping you make the decisions, figure out what to do with the items or papers and facilitate the entire process.

Do you or someone you love need to get “better” organized? Need help in the garage? Need to get the filing done?
Give us a call or send us an email and let us help.

(310) 560-5060
dina@organizingconceptsanddesigns.com
www.organizingconceptsanddesigns.com

Letting go of your uncluttering fears

Many of us are guilty of holding on to personal possessions that merely take up space and add clutter. We often accumulate items which we are emotionally attached to and before we know it, our space is messy and cluttered. The fear of letting go of certain sentimental items may be too difficult for some people to bear. However, know that there’s help available and steps you can take in order to maximize your space and get over your uncluttering fears.

If you don’t need it, let it go. Taking the time to sort through your items can help you determine whether your sentimental possessions are truly worth keeping. People often hold on to these personal possessions because there’s an emotional attachment to them; whether a memory of a loved one or a past experience they want to hold on to. Although it may initially be difficult to let go of these items you have kept for so long, letting go will help you finally simplify your space and benefit from an organized lifestyle.

Make room in your life by getting rid of things you no longer need. Donating or tossing items you no longer need can allow you to declutter your space. By doing so, you can make room for new items that are useful and essential to your life. Best of all, you can finally find what you’re looking for with more ease without having to look through piles of mess.

Letting go of physical possessions is necessary at times. Take a moment and ask yourself if you really need the item, and if you don’t, then perhaps it’s time to let it go. Recognize that these personal possessions may be weighing you down and letting them go can free you from the attachment you’ve placed on them.

I can help people determine what to keep, what to toss, and what to donate. Sorting through all your items may be overwhelming and difficult at times. We can help you get started on your path to organizing and decluttering your space. Through years of experience, we have the expertise to help you categorize which items are important to keep and which ones are worth donating. Together we can work to eliminate the clutter in your home and help you simplify your life.

I can offer helpful advice on what to do with the items you want to keep. We can provide you with sound advice on how you can store your belongings so they that they don’t accumulate and become clutter in your home or office.

Call us at (310) 560-5060 to schedule a consultation so we can get started on eliminating the clutter in your life. For more tips on getting organized, like our Facebook page.

Great ways to donate old clothes

Discard items you don’t want or need and get a tax deduction in the process. Although storing away old clothes in boxes and hiding them in the basement or the attic is always an option, getting rid of them in the first place is much easier. Sorting through all of your clothes and separating them into new and unwanted clothes can simplify the de-cluttering process by helping you quickly decide which clothes should stay and which ones are good to go. As an additional benefit, you can claim tax benefits when you de-clutter your closet. Donating your clothes to charities not only maximizes your closet space but benefits you when tax season comes around.

Stay organized to prevent clutter from accumulating in your closet. We often buy more clothes than we get rid of, and before we know it, our closet has become cluttered; making it difficult for us to quickly find what we’re looking for. To ensure your closet stays organized, it’s important to neatly categorize similar clothing items together (e.g., pants, tops, dresses). Another helpful strategy is to use organizing tools which can maximize your closet space.

Open up space for the things that you need, want, and use by getting rid of old belongings. Out with the old, in with the new. Many of us hold on to old clothing items in the hopes that they may come in handy someday. The same goes with clothes that no longer fit. Some people hold on to these items thinking that one day the clothes will once again fit. If your clothing items are too big or small on you and aren’t in great condition, it’s advised that you donate these items and make room for new clothes that you’ll enjoy wearing. Don’t let unused items take up space; take advantage of the room you have by keeping items you’ll actually use.

B&A_closet_purses

We have a list of charities to donate your specific items to. Donating clothes to charities help you get rid of unwanted clothes and also allows you to help those in need. Simply give us a call and we can help provide you with a list of charities that will accept your donations. You can do something positive for your community and your home at the same time.

We can facilitate donations by either dropping them off or scheduling a pick-up directly at your home. Not sure how the donation process works? We can help guide you through the process. Certain charities such as The Salvation Army will pick up donation items directly from your front door. We help make the donation process simple for you so you can focus on cleaning and maintaining an organized closet.

Call us at (310) 560-5060 to get help with de-cluttering your closet and don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

Great Tips For Getting Your Kids Ready To Go Back To School

Unbelievable! Time is going so fast. August has just begun and everyone is already talking about kids going back to school.

When I was growing up, school was over at the end of June and started right after Labor Day. Obviously much has changed since then.

What hasn’t changed is what we have to do to prepare ourselves and our kids for going back to school.

Here are some great tips to help you and your kids get ready to go back to school:

Get back on a schedule two weeks before school starts: Routines are helpful so that everyone knows what to expect.
Get your kids back into the groove by reintroducing the ground rules: That means getting to bed earlier; having them read and/or write a little bit every day; taking a few minutes before bedtime to clean up and get ready for the next day.
Make sure that everyone is getting enough sleep: Getting your kids to bed earlier at least two weeks before school starts is a great way to reset their internal clocks.
Have them read: If they haven’t been reading all summer, have them start again. It is one of the best ways to keep a child’s mind sharp.
Make it fun: Take them shopping to get their school supplies and some new clothes. There are a lot of sales this time of year so take advantage of them.
Get a calendar and put it in a place where everyone in the family can see it and have access to it.
- Check it every morning before school to make sure everyone knows what the activities of the day are and are prepared;
- Check it again at night to make sure that everyone knows what’s going on the next day so that they can prepare accordingly.
If your child is attending a new school, visit the school before the first day so that he/she can get a feel of the surroundings. This will definitely alleviate some anxiety as the first day in a new school can be a bit scary no matter how old they are.

The following are some more tips for when school actually starts:

Have them pick out their clothes the night before. Make sure they have the appropriate attire for the next day’s activities.
Showers and/or baths should be done at night. In addition to saving time in the mornings when things are more hectic, the warm water will also help them unwind and sleep better.
Check homework and make sure that assignments have been completed before bedtime and especially before TV time or any other leisure activities.
Get backpacks ready the night before as well.
Stick to your morning routine. When the same things are done the same way, as much as possible, kids will automatically know what they are expected to do and when.
The less there is to do in the morning, the better it will be for everyone! There will be less fighting and fussing and the mornings will be more pleasant for everyone.

Make sure that going back to school is something your children look forward to!

Call us today at (310) 560-5060 to help get you ready and organized for the new school year.

Ten great reasons to get organized

Why get organized?

To reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.
To achieve more in less time.
To gain a sense of control.
To set a good example for your kids.
To project a better image to your clients, colleagues, and friends.
To reduce your stress level.
To clear your head of all the clutter.
To gain energy and calm from your space.
To make better use of your talents and skills.
To have more time to spend on what’s important to you.

Need help? No problem! Call us now to schedule your 1/2 hour consultation.

Before and after:

Living room before and after organizing