Baby Steps for Decluttering

 

We are all always on a decluttering journey. Some times we feel we are ahead of the curve however mainly we sense we are not. Likely you do not have time or energy for full on decluttering. Choose one or more of these baby steps for decluttering to keep your space organized.

 

Set a timer

In as few as 15 minutes, you can make a difference with decluttering.

  • Walk around your home with a trash bag and remove all the trash.
  • Review papers that have built up around your house, then shred or recycle.
  • Do a reset. Put away laundry and place items back in their homes.

Find a small spot

Start small and build momentum.

  • Declutter one drawer at a time. Toss, donate and categorize your small space.
  • Use a shopping bag to let go right away of what is unused or less loved. Drop that bag off each week.
  • Practice the “one in, two out rule” as new items come into your space.

Say no to one activity, event or commitment

Your time and calendar are cluttered too.

  • Add self-care to your calendar with exercise, doctor’s appointments and time with friends.
  • Know how much time to allocate to tasks, projects and transitions. Use white space between time blocks to give yourself wiggle room.
  • Add in preparation time, dedicated to being sure you are ready for fun.

Enlist your team

There is power in numbers. Add more team members to declutter.

  • Choose an organizing playlist and include your family in decluttering.
  • Call a local charity to pick up your donations.
  • Hire a certified professional organizer or coach to speed up the process.

Empower your editing

Your mindset empowers your decluttering.

  • Establish a mantra for living with less. Gretchen Rubin’s mantra is outer order inspires inner calm. Write out your mantra to keep you on track with editing.
  • Follow a rule for living. Peter Shankman’s rules include only black clothes in his closet to keep his attire simple. Create simple, effective rules for your living space.

Stay away from swiping

Clutter comes in quickly from online purchases.

  • Pause before purchasing. Give yourself 24 hours before purchasing items online.
  • Remember the adage, when something seems too good to be true, it generally is.
  • Make returns quickly when a purchase is not a good fit. Drop off items at your local USPS, UPS or other location within a week of delivery. You save money this way also.
  • Less coming in means less to declutter later. It is hard to remember to shop your own closet, review your school supplies and find what you need in your home.

 

Using quick and easy decluttering strategies will help you enjoy your space!

Turning Over a New Leaf: ADHD Friendly Fall Decluttering Strategies

 

adhd friendly fall decluttering strategies

 

As the Fall begins, the energy of the season moves us forward to declutter our space. For those with ADHD, the idea and action of editing might feel overwhelming. With the right strategies, you can turn that energy into momentum. Here are some practical methods that are tailored to ADHD minds to bring clarity and organization to your spaces.

 

Understanding the challenges that come with ADHD

Decluttering can be especially challenging due to difficulties with decision-making, sequencing, and sustained attention. In addition, challenges with initiation and perfectionism may make it more difficult to start or finish decluttering in your space. These strategies are curated to align with these challenges.

 

Fall decluttering strategies

Set yourself up for success with these tips.

  • Set small goals for your work.  Rather than decluttering an entire home, start with smaller areas to work. You can focus on one drawer, one shelf, or a small surface.  Starting small will help you have a shorter time to work, making it easier to maintain focus. You will have fewer decisions to make in a smaller area. These small successes will boost your motivation and confidence.
  • Use a timer to keep on task. With the Pomodoro Technique, you can set a timer for 20 minutes and declutter. Then you can take a 5-minute break. Alternate work and breaks for 3 segments. The timer will help you maintain attention and focus.
  • Sort by categories. Using context can make a difference in knowing what to keep and how many to keep. Sorting into categories makes decision-making easier.  You can sort by season, and decluttering from the summer knowing what you have used or what is ready to go. You can tackle books one day, clothes another day and kitchen items another day. It is easier to make decisions.
  • Ask a friend to be your clutter buddy. As your clutter buddy, they are working as a body double with you.

 

Fall maintenance strategies

Keep your space organized with these strategies.

  • Make it as easy as possible to maintain your space with simple rules. Use the five-minute rule to put away items ASAP. This prevents clutter from building up and becoming overwhelming.
  • As items come in, use a two-out and one-in rule. Adopt the rule that for every item that comes in, two items leave.
  • Remember that easy maintenance prevents stress. Resetting your space every Sunday is prepping for a successful week.
  • Every item needs a home. Before you purchase, review what you have and know what you need. Never shop without a list so you know what you need.
  • Make it a team effort. Work with your family or bring in a helper to get stuff back to its home. Outsourcing assistance makes it easier to maintain your space.

Embracing the energy of Fall with decluttering can be manageable by tailoring your strengths to your work. As you clear the clutter, you will find that your mental clarity and focus also improve.

 

4 Ways a Professional Organizer Offers a Fresh Start

4 ways a certified professional organizer gives you a fresh start

 

Your home may be more or less organized.  You may be able to find most of the papers you need and the stuff you use.  But you may feel that there is still room for improvement. If this sounds like you, and you are ready to get your space more organized, it is time to bring in a certified professional organizer to give you a fresh start. Just like you would enlist a trainer or nutritionist to help with fitness or wellness challenges, hiring a certified professional organizer helps you define and update your organizing with a fresh perspective. Here are four reasons why.

Objectivity

You have seen your stuff many times. You may be too close to your stuff or too detailed to have objectivity about your space and your stuff. A certified professional organizer brings in no judgment, only questions to help you with your clarity in a space. Having someone new view your space, you have the opportunity to step back and gain objectivity as well.

 

New perspective

You may be stuck in how you do your organizing. It might be you don’t know where to start or where to go next with your organizing. A certified professional organizer can offer new ideas and strategies on how to approach your work and your stuff.  Gathering a new perspective offers an opportunity for positive change in systems and routines.

Efficiency

Life is busy! We want to move through our organizing quickly and efficiently. A certified professional organizer will help you be efficient and effective in your project. As your partner in organizing, you can be assured that work will progress at a pace that works well for you.

 

Project management and completion

Something that might have seemed easy and simple to begin with, can become more complicated. Moving might include bringing items from multiple locations. You might need to dedicate time to family and work, instead of organizing. A certified professional organizer will bring in project management skills that pull together resources, details, deadlines, and finances. With this assistance, you can work best on the project.

 

Are you ready for a positive change that brings a fresh perspective and a fresh start?  Hire a certified professional organizer to help you!

4 Ways that Working with a Certified Professional Organizer Supports You and Your Goals

4 ways that a certified professional organizer supports you and your goals

 

There are possible times you might have felt overwhelmed by clutter, decisions, and stress in your home or at work. That feeling of being overwhelmed can keep you from setting goals, starting your projects, and getting started on tasks. You might feel like you lack direction.  That’s when you benefit most from hiring a certified professional organizer.  A professional organizer helps you create and maintain systems and routines for home, work, and life.

 

Support for your organizing

Being organized saves you time, money, and stress. A certified professional organizer is a partner in helping you sort and declutter efficiently.  Immediately you know what you have and how to find it. There is no more purchase duplication because you can’t find what you have. You have not wasted time and energy looking for something because it has a home and you can find it. Being organized gives you confidence and control.

Support for your productivity

Being productive gives us back time to do what we love. Working with a certified professional organizer boosts your focus. By identifying distractions and causes of procrastination, and creating a workflow with effective tools, your output improves. Starting a workflow that includes breaking down tasks, projects, and goals into chunks creates manageable deadlines and deliverables. You feel more productive, creative, and in charge.

 

Support for your financial goals

The first step is to identify how to streamline your processes, eliminate waste, and evaluate resources. They can also help you set up systems for managing your bills, receipts, taxes, and budget so that you can avoid late fees, penalties, and stress. By saving time and money, you can free up more resources for your wellness and happiness goals.

 

Support for your well-being

As your other areas improve in life, your overall health, well-being, and emotional wellness improve. Your sense of work-life integration changes, as well as time to pursue what you love and spend time with those you cherish. Establishing healthy boundaries and self-care routines in your day improves your quality of life. With time blocking and Weekly Planning, you are able to prioritize what is most important and follow through consistently. A certified professional organizer can help you establish routines for healthy habits that support your rest, nutrition, and exercise.

 

  • Communication and connection improve your well-being. A certified professional organizer can help you find ways to easily connect through organizing events, finding time for volunteering, and creating space for family connection. Keeping connected is important to a thriving, empowered life.

 

  • Life transitions occur more frequently now. A certified professional organizer can help as you navigate these transitions by coaching and supporting you. Helping build a team, including a coach, therapist, or spiritual advisor, as well as other resources, support you and reduces your anxiety. Finding strategies for relaxation, mindfulness, and positive thinking are benefits.

 

Curious about how this might work for you? Reach out to connect! Together we celebrate your successes, accomplishments, and strengths, supporting you with acknowledgment and encouragement.

 

 

Back to School: Setting up and Organizing a Home Office

 

Back to school is a great time to evaluate all the spaces in your home and how these are functioning. While the debate continues on the success of working from home, we have all learned the importance and value of setting up a home office. A home office gives you a dedicated space to work productively and keep up with the details, papers, and stuff that go along with work and home administration.  There are several parts of setting up your office you will want to consider as you create a workspace that works for you.

 

Location

Decide on what space works best for you! Some families relinquish the dining room to become an office, some families work well in the midst of the media area.  Decide if you need quiet, paper management, and printing capability, and what tools you will use to work.  You are ready to set up your space after thinking this through.

 

Desk, chair, and ergonomics

Those who have worked in a dining room all this time might have back pain. Choose an ergonomic option that gives you good support. Lighting for work and Zoom are considerations. Your desk should be ample in size to not only hold your computer but also have space to work. Look at these as strong foundations for a good setup.

 

Paper management

Function and beauty are both important for your office.  Your command center with mail and actionable papers can be located in this space to keep all paper together. Establish a paper management system for your files with easy access using a file cart or a file bin adjacent to your desk. Lateral file cabinets are easy to access and can also work as a credenza for storage behind your desk.

Storage

Bookshelves with attractive notebooks, magazine sorters, and bins help you create storage for each office supply. Projects can be stored on a shelf in an attractive container. This is the spot to store back-to-school supplies for your kiddos to access. Label the storage containers and shelves for everyone to know what is stored and where to find it.

 

Technology

Technology and internet speed are crucial to your success. Be sure to have ample space on your hard drive and fast internet. Back up your computer routinely with an automated system and have a backup internet option in an emergency. Set up your printer and scanner for daily use. Corral your cords with attractive coverings.

 

Family

Multiple workspaces help everyone be more productive. School-age kids can work alongside you during homework time with an additional chair and laptop. If your partner works from home, an additional desk or partner desk can be a part of this space. You can include headphones for those who need quiet or a microphone for Zoom. Your home office can be set up for you and your family with double duty for your work and homework too.

 

Setting up your home office will give you the opportunity to be most efficient and productive at home.

Back to School: Setting up and Organizing a Study Space

Setting up and organizing a study space

 

Back-to-school success depends on a great home study space for your kiddos. With the best intention, families add a desk to their kids’ bedrooms for studying and homework. Adding a desk to their rooms might be the answer to students’ productivity, however, there are other options for families to consider. Here are some setups and strategies for back-to-school homework study spaces.

Prime real estate for studying

Decide on what space works best for you and your student. When we were in college, almost never did we get work done in our dorm room. We went to the library for quiet and desk space. Choose a location where your student can avoid distractions. Many students do best in the dining room. It is an uncluttered space with a big table. You can view how homework is progressing and also step in if help is needed.

Add interest by creating multiple locations for study. Your student could work in the family room, outside under a tree, or at the coffee shop nearby.  Each location gives your student the opportunity for tweaking what works best given the seating, internet access, and focus.

 

Dig in on details of ergonomics and lighting

Keep in mind that a good environment extends beyond location. A desk or table conveys that work is being done and keeps your student at work. Your student might like a standing desk or rolling table top. A chair that supports your student’s posture and good lighting are important parts of your study space. Some students prefer “spinning” chairs or yoga balls that help keep their interest while studying. Portable, battery-operated lamps can be added to any space to add light. Sit with your student as they begin their homework to experience the environment.

 

Consolidate resources and supplies

There’s stock and back stock. Elementary school and middle school students need supplies to complete their assignments. Take stock of what you have for school supplies and create a caddy or cart that can travel with them to that study space. They will likely need a supply of writing utensils, paper, scissors, and a stapler. You can organize this in plastic boxes and a plastic caddy. Stock your student’s backpack with a zipper case with what is needed at school.

Keep restocking supplies in your home office in well-labeled containers. Categorize the items by a group so you know what you have and where you are storing it.

 

What else might be helpful?

  • Cute counts! Add some splash to this spot with fun wall art. An inviting workspace adds fun to after-school assignments.
  • A dry-erase board in the study area helps as a visual reminder of due dates. It can also be used for processing and breaking projects into manageable pieces.
  • Remember to add storage for completed projects and papers. A display spot for art or a shelf for projects celebrates the success of a project in the short term. Create an archive spot for these with a file box for that year. Many families photograph the artwork and create digital photo albums each year.
  • There is always trash with your students whether it is empty drink bottles or crumpled papers. Consider adding a trash can to the area that is big enough for a week’s worth of trash.

 

Engage your student in the process of designing study spaces. This means that they have buy-in and will love the finished space.

Back to School: ADHD Friendly Family Routines

 

Back to school is back to routines. Every fall we are getting back to routines have a less structured summer. Family routines create cohesiveness and support responsibility. These routines are the foundation of life at home. As well, it is a way to make life simpler and easier. Check out these tips on communication, laundry, meal prep and more.

 

 

 

 

Family Calendar

Post a paper family calendar where everyone can see the upcoming activities and tasks for your family. This month-at-a-glance calendar can be posted on the refrigerator or in a pathway everyone passes daily. During your family meeting and all week long, populate the calendar with activities that are coming up. Color-code your calendar to know who is doing what and when.

 

Meal prep

The meal prep goal is the nutritious meals eaten during a time together. Keep it simple with a dinner rotation every 2-3 weeks of the same easily prepared meals. Or use theme days for meal planning, like Meatless Monday and Taco Tuesday. Whatever your plan, rotate who is the chef and who is clean up.

 

Theme days

Assign a day of the week for specific tasks, especially grocery runs and laundry days.

 

Communication

Encourage responsibility and independence with a coaching conversation. Encourage some details, some deadlines, and some accountability.

 

 

 

Getting buy-in from your family is important.

  • Keep it simple! Less is more to keep routines going. When tasks are complex, look for ways to simplify to get these done.
  • Remember that as a family you are all in this together. Partner up to work as a team. Variety makes the tasks more interesting.
  • Write stuff down. With checklists, calendars, and notes, your family sees what to do and when to do it.
  • Self-care ensures you and your family have the energy needed to get stuff done. Self-care includes appropriate rest and bedtimes for everyone in the family. If you are feeling drained, your family will too!
  • Always have a deadline for family tasks. These deadlines keep you and your family accountable and happy.

What more ADHD-friendly family organizing ideas? Check out my youtube!

Back to School: Quick Tips to Thrive during Busy Family Times

Back to school is when we all gear up and get organized. It’s back to structure and routines. Busy people are the most organized. Here are many organizing, productivity, and self-care tips from those who are in the trenches too.

Organization tips for busy people

 

  • Having a joint email with my husband that we use for ANYTHING related to the kids, the pets, the car, the home, vacations, digital tickets etc. Even if I’m the one who reads and answers 90% of them we both have access to entire conversations, booking numbers, dates and details.
  • It is ridiculously simple but I use the notes app on my phone. I’m able to scan documents and email them. Keep a running tab of my to-do list and groceries. I also have a notes page for gift ideas.
  • Color-coded calendar (each person has a color) including how they’re getting to/from the practice or game, etc… and review that at least weekly but ideally every 3 days to ensure we’re all on the same page
  • Personal: morning workouts before fam wakes up. Familial: shared family Google calendar. Marital: weekly marriage meeting.
  • Written and Google calendar for myself, dry-erase monthly for my daughter, and verbal communication with my husband
  • I meal plan every dinner and prep accordingly. I add all things to the phone calendar and “invite” whomever in my family needs to know. The kids have a daily chore schedule and also lay out their clothes for the week on Sunday so I can steam them in time. During the summer, I started “marvelous Monday’s” where we do all the chores on a Monday so we can forget about it. I also stopped folding laundry. I made them each a basket in the laundry room where clothes are sorted coming straight out of the dryer. They are responsible for putting away their own clothes. I love it!!!
  • Cozi Gold family organizer app. With 2 active teens, it really helps keep everyone informed and organized.
  • I have a cleaning service so I don’t resent every mess as a personal slight. Kids have a very large calendar on the wall for all things as my ADD DH doesn’t look at online calendars, emails, or text messages. He didn’t look at the wall calendar either but it modeled good organization for the kids at least, lol. Also, tell DH plans over dinner and remind him in the morning.
  • Use a digital family calendar, order the week’s groceries for pickup on Mondays, and once a month have someone come in to clean!

 

Summary

I am grateful to those who shared their wisdom.

  • Having a calendar that works for your family is important. Choose what you love, model this for your family, and collaborate with those who need extra support on this.
  • Build your best team with outside help and buy-in from your family. Set up systems in your home where kids can partner and everyone benefits. Make it fun!
  • Set up routines that reinforce and support your goals. Weekly meal planning and grocery delivery, as well as regular cleaning people, help everyone at home.

 

What works for you at your home or office?

Back to School Transitions

 

back to school transitions

 

Summer is shorter than we like and soon we will be preparing for transitioning back to school. Everyone in your family might have many emotions about this transition, some being happy, sad, anxious, or fearful. You might be thinking about family routines and how to get back into the groove. Creating a smooth transition back to school can help you start the year strong.

 

Listen to everyone’s feelings

It might not feel so matter of fact to start back to school, end summer, and start routines. Gather as a family to chat about all the feelings of school. Hear about everyone’s feelings without judgment or application to your feelings. According to Dr. Becky Kennedy, one of our jobs as parents is to listen to our kids with empathy. When there is a transition, it is important to check in and be empathetic about feelings.

 

Work as a team

Show support for everyone by working as a team. Chat about what support everyone needs and how to work together on challenges.  Work together to see how to set up success for everyone. Practical examples of this are how to partner up for study time, meal prep, laundry, and other family responsibilities.

Establish support

One of my clients reminded me that everyone needs a different kind of support. Each of you and each of your children will need different support this year. Look around to establish a bigger team that includes a therapist, coach, cleaning service, concierge service, medical team, and more. It is well worth the investment for everyone to do their best during the school year.

Set boundaries

Good boundaries help us balance work and play.  Those boundaries include time blocks for work and self-care for adults and kids. Discuss with your family how to set up boundaries and why adhering makes a difference for everyone. Ensure that everyone has an opportunity to share a boundary that is important to them.

 

Reset routines

Routines of all types help us make life easier, simpler, and more peaceful. Get back into your routines by starting small. That might be starting a new bedtime routine like plugging in devices early in the evening. Start prepping back-to-school meals with your family to encourage dinner time together. Write out a chart of routines so that everyone can reference this.

 

Addressing transitions could be something new to your family. Take the opportunity during a family meeting to deepen conversations as the school year begins. Start these conversations two weeks out from the first day of school so that you have ample time to meet as a family.

 

 

 

 

Use this Cute College Cart to Organize Your Dorm Room

Are you setting up your college dorm room? There is one organizing must-have product for you to include to maximize your space and access your stuff. It’s a cute, fun, and functional three-tier to four-tier cart! Check out the variety of uses of this cart that will make any dorm room more organized. All carts are available on Amazon (Amazon photo credit for all carts).

 

This cart is a versatile extra storage space for many different functions and zones in your dorm room.

 

https://www.amazon.com/DTK-Foldable-Organizer-Collapsible-Kitchen%EF%BC%88White%EF%BC%89/dp/B08XKDNKWZ/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=Dorm+Cart&qid=1684973093&sr=8-15

Study storage for books, office supplies, and technology.

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Sywhitta-Rolling-Utility-Multi-Functional-Organizer/dp/B09R1TMP83/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=Dorm+Cart&qid=1684973093&sr=8-7

Night stand for self-care including the analog alarm clock.

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/LEGUANG-Rolling-Multifunction-Assembly-Bathroom/dp/B0BMM39FQ7/ref=sr_1_84_sspa?keywords=Dorm+Cart&qid=1685036608&sr=8-84-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExNlRNSzJLUDVESkk1JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDY1ODc0M05FMFhYR0wzVEdOQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDQ3NTMxMjIxUkJTMVFZWVZVWSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Snack and veggie area

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/5142C91B-AF33-435E-B971-5E14AC643AF8/?_encoding=UTF8&store_ref=SB_A01431103UDQDU2834Z4P&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=279e3718e15a41539010ca86b9864258&hsa_cr_id=6275849300701&lp_asins=B08TTK1XPH%2CB082HJK63W%2CB093T1KDMQ&lp_query=Dorm%20Cart&lp_slot=auto-sparkle-hsa-tetris&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_lsi4d_ls&pd_rd_w=hW8Zv&content-id=amzn1.sym.5faa16e6-12e6-4957-8854-f8e78b273063%3Aamzn1.sym.5faa16e6-12e6-4957-8854-f8e78b273063&pf_rd_p=5faa16e6-12e6-4957-8854-f8e78b273063&pf_rd_r=6H852R3YSC61Z9V6D8S3&pd_rd_wg=PBQYg&pd_rd_r=0fc7078d-6eae-40b9-9589-84e82b7bbf02

Choose a color you love for fun and functional storage!