Archive for the ‘Organizing style’ Category

What’s Your Style? Setting Up Organizing Systems.

Monday, December 16th, 2019

Organizing systems for every organizing style

 

“I put it somewhere.”  But, can you find it?

Finding It

Are you setting up organizing systems for piles of papers, collections, or supplies?  Some may suggest that cookie cutter systems suffice, but not everyone thinks the same. To be successful at finding “it” in the future depends on several factors. There’s a better chance that you’ll find “it” when you need it, if you consider your style of organization.

Store Inside or Display

Organizing styles vary.  Creative people think differently than linear thinkers.  There’s not a better way. It’s your way.  For instance, are you an In‑ie (order based on systems placed inside drawers or cabinets) or an Out‑ie (order based on visually displayed systems)? The In-ies: there are drawers, cabinets, binders and boxes. The Out-ies: there are other options such as vertical spaces, clear wall files, cubbies, and hooks.

Keywords and Categories for Organizing Systems

When you’re setting up organizing systems, consider a keywords or categories. That’s where you’ll find it. If an item is related to hiking, do you store it with your hiking gear or other outdoor related items? Where will YOU think to find it? 

Where do you store your Insurance Policy…in an alphabetical file with other Insurance Policies, or specifically with your Home, Auto (Car), Business, or Medical information? Remember, there’s no RIGHT WAY, it is stored where YOU will think to look for it.

There are so many factors to your personality to consider when setting up an organizing system in your home or office.  Labels and color coding can enhance your system. Discuss your preference with an organizing professional.

You can transform your out‑of‑control spaces to Under Control after discovering your personal style of organizing.

Posted in Creative Organizing, Organizing, Organizing style | Comments Closed

The Right Strategy for Paring Down

Monday, October 9th, 2017


“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.”
– – A. A. Milne, author of Winnie the Pooh

Before you tackle your next organizing project, will you plan and strategize?  What motivates and inspires you?

I have helped 600+ individuals to successfully accomplish their organizing goals with solid plans and strategies.  I believe that there is no “right” strategy.  As your personality is unique from your friends and relatives, so are your styles to succeed.  We cannot compare our stuff with others’, nor can we compare our ways and lives with that of others’.  Each project and each individual is unique, and there are so many different strategies to pare down and/or organize your “stuff”. 

Recently, a new client asked for my help.   Sheila (fictitious name, real person) had experience paring down possessions, but this time it was too emotional for her to do alone.  Her mom had passed away, and the home needed to be cleared out.  Sheila was afraid that she would procrastinate and it would not get accomplished.  Her budget was limited, too.

Sheila accepted my first recommendation which was to complete a specific task on her own within one week.  Sheila completed her assignment successfully. She trusted the idea to work with me virtually to achieve ultimate success, and keep her expenses low. Her next assignment was also completed on time. I estimated the project to complete in six months, this was agreeable to Sheila.

With my feedback, advice and encouragement, Sheila was motivated and held accountable for her success.  Her organizing/paring down project was completed in 3 months….way ahead of schedule. The strategy, that I recommended to Sheila, worked! 

Part of our strategy was to start with easy decisions.  The easier the decision, then the organizing process flowed.  If you start with the hard decisions, one could get stuck.  I vote for easy, and small changes over time.  Leo Tolstoy, the great author of War and Peace, knew that great success was achieved by taking baby steps. He said, “True life is lived when tiny changes occur.”   Taking baby steps give us a chance to experience the changes in our lives.  When we give ourselves time to make decisions, (to keep or eliminate our things, relationships and/or relationship(s) with things or people), we have great opportunities for success.

The industry of Professional Organizing officially began in 1985 by a handful of bold women.  Today, there are thousands of professional organizers in the world, each having a specialty, unique personality, style and philosophy. Marie Kondo, a new popular author of simplifying, emphasizes that if “the thing” does not resonate with you, “it” no longer belongs in your life.  That makes for an easier decision to keep or eliminate. 

Be successful at organizing your space and your life.  Make thoughtful decisions to keep or eliminate, and organize the “best way” for you.

Winnie the Pooh and his friends gave everyone, at every age, a sense of joy, adventure, loyalty and accomplishment.  Allow them to be inspiration for your next organizing project.

Posted in Organize your home, Organize your Space, Organizing, Organizing Strategies, Organizing style, Strategy for Paring Down, Thoughtful Organizing, Time to Organize | Comments Closed