Reorganize – to Make Your Parent’s Home Your Own – Part II

Continuing from last month’s post:

Sometimes we do things without thinking about how they originally came about and if they’re still relevant. We need to reorganize our thoughts and emotions to update our “mental/emotional software” as we experience life…

Putting plastic on furniture (here in Pittsburgh) originated for a variety of reasons, one of them was the steel industry. There was a lot of soot and dust in the air, which got on the furniture and ruined it unless it was covered. Also, people who worked in those environments got a lot of dirt on their clothes, so if they sat down, the furniture was protected.

So, feel free to pull the plastic (or other coverings) off and use those rooms and items. That’s what they’re for. Also, if you’re not using your dining room, it’s okay to clear the table and chairs and china cabinet out of there and use that area as a home office, or as a space for the baby and her toys.

Think out of the box. As you reorganize, question why you do what you do – and if it’s still relevant.

Do you fold the towels a certain way and put them in a certain place because that’s what you were taught? And does that still work for you?

I took a class once and learned to clear a drawer in the kitchen for my kitchen towels and (I know this is heresy) drop them in without folding them. Honestly, it didn’t make a difference that the towels weren’t “properly” folded and I saved time. Same with the bed linens, just put them into a pillow case (unfolded); it’s fast, easy, practical – and doesn’t make a difference. You do know that once upon a time bed linens were ironed, don’t you?

I’m just sayin’…

Free yourself up. Ask yourself if it really matters. And if it does, then keep doing what you’re doing. And if it doesn’t matter any more, re-inspect your habits and change them to fit your current lifestyle. 

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Reorganize – to Make Your Parent’s Home Your Own – Part I

If you inherited a home here in the Pittsburgh area and are in the process of organizing and making it your own, consider these ideas:

Just as we update our computer software, we need to organize and update our mental, emotional, and “social” software…

Once upon a time, people didn’t use the
living room. Do you remember that time? It was all covered in plastic sheets to protect the furniture. Well, that strategy is still happening – and not just here in the Pittsburgh area. Some of us, especially in certain age categories, are still prone to what’s called “depression era mentality.” We don’t use something because we’re saving it for a special occasion.

This happens both literally and also metaphorically. By metaphorically, I mean, we don’t use things as they are intended. We save them for some future time. (Or we go to the opposite extreme and use everything now without regard for the future.)

It’s all fine – there’s just some balance and rethinking that needs to occur to keep updated in our lives.

If you inherited a home and are still using it as your parents did (plastic covered living room, for example), think about the impact that has on visitors – who are taken past the nice living room to be entertained in the family room. They feel second best, not good enough, not worthy, like second-class citizens, in fact!

It’s the old “ham in the pan” story. Ever hear that one? It’s about the fellow who always cuts off the ends of the ham before baking it. One day his mother comes to visit and sees him doing this and asks why. He replies because that’s the way he saw her do it. And she says, “I did that to make it fit into the pan!”

See you next month with the conclusion of Reorganize – to Make Your Parent’s Home Your Own.

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Effective Email Organizing Strategies – Part 2

To stay current with emails, it’s really important to build time into your schedule for organizing them on a regular basis. Ideally, you’ll want to organize your emails daily.

Continuing from last month’s post, here are more steps for effective email organizing strategies:

Step 3. Create and use folders for reference and archives

If you believe you will need an email for reference some day, move it out of your inbox and into a
folder. Keep your emails organized and accessible by creating aptly named repositories for them. Name the folders by the first thing you think of when characterizing the email into one simple category. For example, use the name of your bank, the name of your insurance company, or perhaps “Recipes” or “Travel Ideas.”

Don’t worry about the name of the folders making sense to anyone else; organize them in a way that makes sense to you. (Unless someone else uses your email and you need your organizing to be in sync with them.)

And if there are items you’ll want to read later, you may wish to create a folder labeled “1 READ THESE.” The ‘1’ will put the folder at the top of the list where it’s more visible. Also, schedule time on your calendar; otherwise you’ll probably forget to return to them. 

Step 4. Leave them and ponder, then act

Leave only “actionable” items in your inbox. However don’t leave more than a couple dozen, otherwise it gets unwieldy. 

There are two categories: those you’ll probably respond to sometime soon, and those you’ll give more thought, and perhaps respond to some time later.

If something is time sensitive, flag it for follow up.

The key is to get back to your inbox on a regular basis and carry out these organizing steps. If you find that time passes and you’re not organizing your emails often enough, schedule time on your calendar to do so. And follow through. However, don’t be rigid. If you find that you don’t have the energy or focus to process the emails at the time you scheduled, then reschedule – just make sure and follow through.

Pay attention to your energy. It’s essential to have that plus the time and focus to process emails, otherwise you won’t be as productive as you might, because you’ll be working in “diminishing returns.”

Step 5. Unsubscribe

Take time to get off email lists that you don’t find value in any longer. This small investment in time will save you a lot of time and energy.

Step 6. Engage in bulk decluttering if necessary

If you have a lot of unopened and/or unprocessed emails, the best strategy is to schedule a block of uninterrupted time to focus on them and engage in “bulk decluttering.” Group by category, scan and delete by date. And remember – sometimes things just take a little self-discipline and “mental elbow grease.”  🙂

If it’s a hardship for you to work through your email inbox, reward yourself for your effort in some healthy way. And, it may benefit you to hire a professional organizer to help you through the process.

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Effective Email Organizing Strategies – Part 1

To stay current with emails, it’s important to build time into your schedule for organizing them. Ideally, organize emails daily.

This six-step strategy is a good guide for organizing:

Step 1. Scan and delete emails down to “actionable” items

Scan your emails and if you can delete them without anticipating future regrets, do so. As you scan, with each one, ask yourself, “Can I safely delete this?” “Will I want to take an action on this later?” (For example: to read them fully, reply, ponder or schedule.) Always be clear on why emails are left in your inbox.

I don’t believe in the, “Drive your inbox down to zero” strategy. When you reduce your inbox down to the potentially actionable items, it provides a good up to date to-do list. It allows you to focus on what needs done. 

Decluttering down to only potentially actionable items also allows you to decide what you truly don’t want to respond to at all – rather than missing things by default – because you forgot to get back to your emails and process them. In this busy world, it’s important to be clear on what to respond to now, and what you may want to respond to later.

This process allows you to engage in more conscious living. You’re making informed decisions, rather than running late or reacting to things at the last minute. If these things are happening, you’re probably not organizing yourself effectively.

 Step 2. Respond immediately

When scanning and organizing emails, respond immediately to those that can be answered quickly. Also, immediately record any corresponding events on your calendar. Don’t try to hold event details in your head with the idea that you’ll get back to them and record them later. After taking these actions, remove the email from your inbox.

I’ll share how to create folders for reference and archives – and other strategies and tips for effective email organizing – next month.  See you then!  🙂

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When Organizing – Break These Five Rules!

I’m a big rule breaker when it comes to organizing – and cooking 🙂 … I rarely follow any sort of recipe for anything. Can’t really say why, just notice that’s how it is… I guess it’s because I like to be alive to the process and consciously co-create what works for me, not just carry out someone else’s ideas. Here are my guidelines for organizing – with rules I break:

1. “Get rid of it if it hasn’t been used in a year.”

Don’t believe it! Don’t get rid of quality items
you feel good about and may use one day. Here’s an example: I bought some great quality classic leather boots, thinking they’d be useful, and never wore them. Ten years later (yes really, ten!), I pulled them out of storage when I moved – am happy I have them, and wear them often now.

2. “Keep good quality items.”

Not necessarily! Sounds like I’m contradicting what I wrote above, however, I’m not. If it’s a good quality item, give it a little more thought than if it’s not good quality. Pay more attention to the “energy” of the item. Some items have “good energy” whether they’re good quality or not. Deliberately surround yourself with good energy items – and people.  🙂

3. “Keep it if it’s from your grandmother.”

Set yourself free! You can keep the good feeling you had about her, and let the belonging(s) go. Or if you had a bad feeling about grandma, is it perhaps time to let go of the item as well as the resentment? The bottom line is – it’s okay to let the items go – or gift them to someone else in the family, if that’s appropriate.

4. “Keep no more than three items (per category).”

In general, this is a good idea: however, like all guidelines, they apply only in a general way. Pay attention to what you really need and use. For example: one of my clients uses lots of great bags when she travels; it would be foolish for her to limit them to three. Also, if you love to collect certain items and have a passion for them: collect, organize, and enjoy!

5. “Sort through your stuff mercilessly and get rid of everything but the essentials.”

As one of my clients said, “Don’t make me throw away my dreams!” Probably most of us dream of things we hope to do one day. Some of our belongings represent those fun projects we intend to get to when there’s time. Declutter and then put things in clearly designated categories. This process allows your physical environment and your head to get clear. Once clear, you can move forward with making those dreams a reality.

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Five Ways to Enjoy Getting More Organized

For a lot of people, decluttering and organizing are dreadful experiences to be avoided at all costs!

Here are some ideas for increasing your enjoyment of the process:

1.         Take some pictures!

Photograph items you’re ready to let go of, yet want to remember – like your kids’ or grandkids’ many projects. If you’re computer literate, store them electronically. If you’re
not computer savvy, you may wish to create a memorabilia photo album.

 2.         Make a lunch date!

Set up a time to meet with your kids or grandkids and reminisce. Pass family heirlooms and other items onto them; write down little stories about the items – and celebrate the time you’ve spent together over the years.

3.         Break your china!

If you no longer invite six or more guests over for dinner, yet love your china, consider doing the unthinkable ! and break your china set down to the amount you actually currently use (with some extras). Donate, give away, or sell the remainder. Someone will be thrilled to have them.

4.         Get help from a friend or family member

Before I started my organizing business, I helped my sister and mother organize their homes. We had fun in the process and learned a lot at the same time. It started out with me helping my sister paint her kitchen. Painting is a good time to reduce clutter, clean, and get more organized.

 5.         Hire a pro

If you don’t have a friend or family member who is naturally organized (organizing is actually soothing for me), it may be time to hire a professional organizer. Find one who suits your personality: check out their website, give them a call, and make sure it feels right for you. Trust your intuition.

If you have ideas to share on ways to enjoy getting more organized, please email me, I’d love to hear from you!

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