While the weather is still good
Posted by Joanna on Jun 20, 2008
It’s a great time to
1) Relish life …
2) Let go of things you don’t love or use…a super time for FREE
at the curbside or yard sales if you enjoy them! (Or just take
the stuff to your local good will!)
With all best of wishes, Joanna
p.s. Basements are good places to declutter on TOO HOT days - other
indoor spaces at times when it is truly too rainy to be outside. Tackle
a small area with gusto - and get outside again soon!
SIMPLIFY SIMPLIFY!!!
Posted by Joanna on May 17, 2008
If you are like most of us (me included) there is a TON of
information that comes at you every day - by email, snail mail,
radio, TV etc.
Decrease the volume and you will find it easier
to stay organized.
Mind you, it takes an odd kind of bravery to be able to admit,
“In reality I DON’T have time to read that __________ every week.”
It takes courage to say, “I know enough about that topic for right
now. I can go to the library or re-subscribe when I REALLY need
more info.”
BUT piles of unread magazines or dozens of unread e-zines won’t make
you happier or smarter. I promise.
Once you are clear about that, you CAN (yes- you really can)
cancel a subscription. Sure you can GIVE away the extra magazines
AFTER your receive them, or delete an e-zine but even that takes
time and attention. It IS possible to unsubscribe!
If you feel burdened by the ton of subscriptions piling up… try
cancelling at least one and see how it feels.
Packing Trauma
Posted by Joanna on Jan 31, 2008
Last week a client asked me if I was willing to help her figure
out how to deal with all her toiletries for different length trips.
She said that ever since the rules changed about what you can and
can’t have on the plane, the job of packing all those little bottles
has been driving her crazy.
I said “of course”, figuring that she and I would work out a
solution. She had a wide variety of travel cases, each one filled to
the brim, but they were just adding to the endless number of
pre-trip decisions.
We did our standard first step: old sheet on the bed and empty
everything out onto the sheet. Then we sorted by major category:
all the tooth stuff in one pile, all the shampoo in another and so
forth- tossing out anything that was gross. Of course we also had a
give away pile. (I’m sure you know that unopened little bottles
shampoo, moisturizer, etc., that you aren’t going to use are very
helpful to homeless shelters.)
My client travels lots - with different kinds of trips having
different requirements. So we talked about her travel needs and
came up with a system that felt almost life changing to us both!
Ready?
We figured out her categories - labeled big clear zip-lock bags…
voila! Sorting into the bags was easy. We decided this was a
great system and I said I would write it up as a tip.
Here are her categories - yours may be different:
1) Every Trip (this bag is all ready for any sort of overnight etc.)
2) Long Long Trip - stuff like medicines that can’t be purchased in
other countries, a little iron and so forth
3) Walking Trip- includes hat/shoes/fleece that are only used when
she’s in Scotland
4) Trips with _______ (could be trips with kids/ trips with the dog
and so forth - the things you need ONLY if you are going with
_________. )
The stuff STAYS in the zip locks! Each zip lock gets replenished
with it’s particular category and there you are…toss in the
appropriate zip lock(s)for that trip. Obviously the “Every Trip”
zip lock will get the most use.
She’s promised to let me know how it works for her; I will try
it too. If you have another system that you really like - do
tell!
What’s in here? Use LABELS!
Posted by Joanna on Oct 13, 2007
You are looking for that gift you’ve been planning as a Sweet 16 present.
Maybe it’s up in the closet. You look at that box on the closet shelf. You
can feel your forehead tighten.
The wheels start turning … what’s in THAT box? Let’s see, well it was
probably two summers ago when you put it up there… hmmm. Tick tick tick
whrrrrrr buzzzzzzzz. Hmm- well maybe the present is in the other closet! This
box isn’t the right size - but what’s in it? No time to take it down now…
supper has to be on the table in minutes and then there’s the Committee Meeting.
As you drive to the meeting you find yourself thinking about that box. As you
head to bed you feel your stomach clench as you think about that present - maybe
it IS in the box on the shelf. Grrrrr. Tomorrow you will take the time to
pull out the step ladder and get down the box AND see!
How could you save yourself all this? LABELS!!! A plain old black marker
can save you so much unconcious and concious time. When you stash anything in a box-
LABEL it! Write BIG and where you will see it — perhaps several places top/side.
If it is a present and you don’t want the world to know what’s in the box - mark
it in some way that YOU will understand instantly.
That’s the whole thing. Life is too busy and there’s too much of value to do to
take a bunch of energy (and time) trying to figure out what’s in a box!
LABEL IT!
You know that one box is not a major issue but the fact is that they multiply-especially if they DON’T
have labels! And the time you spend trying to figure out what’s in a box could easily be used
to do something that really matters to you!
REMEMBER - This October- try labels!!!
Toxic Back Packs - Organizing Tip
Posted by Joanna on Sep 7, 2007
I just received a tip about backpacks from IDEAL BITE. Since back packs
are a daily item of “clothing” for many kids and plenty of adults
I figured it best to share this tip- pronto.
If anyone in your life uses a backpack regularly, do have a look at
this info …
http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/monkey_on_their_back_back_to_school_week/
Inch by Inch - Organizing Tip
Posted by Joanna on Sep 6, 2007
Sigh! I just discovered that my August 23 tip never went out.
My apology! It was about back packs and I meant for you to
get it before school started up for the Fall. Ah well. Will send it
in a few days - just in case you have to replace a back pack sometime
soon.
Meanwhile — Reading the SIMPLE TRUTHS e-letter this week I thought
about you and how absoutely true this quote is when trying to
get organized.
“Inch by inch, life’s a cinch. Yard by yard life is hard. ” *
If you think about organizing your whole space, it can easily seem
impossible. Choose ONE surface, ONE drawer, ONE corner to work on!
Inch by inch you CAN transform your space– faster than you imagined.
* Here’s the site: www.simpletruths.com. I enjoyed the mini-film
version (after turning off the music).The quotes and images are good.
The BUY Test! - Organizing Tip
Posted by Joanna on Aug 9, 2007
A friend and I were chatting the other day about the danger of words
like BARGAIN! She said she always has to stop and give herself a good
talking to - even when she had NO plan to go shopping,and has NO known
use for a particular whirlygig, and has been determinedly
decluttering for months so she can use her upstairs to give workshops.
The pull is SO STRONG!!! Even for me, though I spend hundreds of hours
helping folks figure out how deal with stuff that clutters their
space and lives and have become like a hawk about my own stuff.
These words are designed to make us SHOP!
FREE
BARGAIN
10%,20%,30%,40%,50,60% OFF
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE
SALE
SAVE
COUPON
They are designed to stop you in your tracks, make you forget
what you were PLANNING to do with your hard earned pennies and getcha!
Instead of getting caught - try using a purchase test, not unlike
my Keep Test. See
http://www.breathing-space.com/documents/clutches_of_stuff_000.pdf
Maybe make a little card to carry in your wallet with these questions:
1) Do I LOVE it? (Will it REALLY make my heart sing to have it?)
2) Is it something that I have already been wanting/needing for a
specific use? (Or is it the idea of getting a bargain that is
pushing me to buy.)
3) Is it truly a treasure? (Something that I will use and cherish
for a long time?)
Sales and bargains can be great if you don’t let yourself get trapped
into buying stuff that you never needed and may never use.
To actually save money(and space) …test every bargain to confirm that
it will truely be a savings for YOU!
Wishing you a month with time to relish what you already have!
Reasons for STUFF - Organizing Tip
Posted by Joanna on Jul 26, 2007
Peeking out from between the cosmos,calendula and petunias in my garden
there’s a wonderful praying mantis - about 24 inches tall, made of
scrap metal, a gift from my adventurous friend Silva. At 78 she has
just moved from Vermont to Colorado. She told me the mantis had
served it’s purpose in her life and should start it’s next era - in
my garden. Thank you Silva!
Silva had called me to help her think through her move. She wanted
to take only what made sense - to save on cost as well as to fit
her life into less space in her next home.
Using my “keep test” -
(http://www.breathing-space.com/documents/clutches_of_stuff_000.pdf)
as her measuring stick , she did an amazing job of keeping only the
items that passed the test. ( Note: Her moving sale paid for special
shipping of the desk she loved.)
During the process Silva decided to write down a list of her
reactions to different items and all the reasons that were coming
up for having each item in the first place. She said she’s gladly
share her REASONS list with you. Here ’tis:
- I THOUGHT I liked it
- A friend gave it to me
- If I have one of these I will do X_________.
- It IS (was) ME!!!
- My friend has one.
- It’s SUPPOSED to be good for __________
- It’s beautiful and owning it will make me FEEL beautiful.
Sound familiar? Do you have others to add to the list? Silva said
she’d love to hear yours…so would I.
How Much is Enough? - Organizing Tip
Posted by Joanna on Jul 13, 2007
A long while ago a sweet young Mom asked me HOW MUCH STUFF was the
right amount for her daughter.
At that time her daughter (I’ll call her Sara) was 4. Toys,craft
materials, and children’s books were taking over the kitchen and
living room as well as Sara’s bedroom and it was making the whole
family miserable. These young parents wanted to provide as much
opportunity as possible but knew that something wasn’t working.
We talked about it for a while and my answer became,”How much
sould she (Sara - not the Mom! ) manage well and what does
she REALLY love?”
Working with that as our measuring stick we were able to figure out
what to do.
This has continued to be a key concept in helping folks make their
spaces work for them.
***
Last week a long time friend and I stayed at a lovely monastery for
a brief retreat. During lunch one of the monks asked what I do and
we were instantly into a discussion about clutter - yes, even monks!
Asked for my most important piece of advice, I said, ” If you are
doing what you want to do and clutter isn’t causing problems, then
don’t worry about it. After a few seconds I added, “and less is more.”
There are so MANY helpful strategies. I keep a running list of them
to share with you over time, but bottom line, you have my most
crucial advice right here:
1)If you are doing what you want to do and clutter isn’t causing
problems, then don’t worry about it
2)Ask yourself: How much can I manage well and what do I REALLY
love?
and
3) Less is more.
Wishing you a wonderful couple of weeks. Comments and questions
always welcome.
Joy - a key ingredient - Organizing Tip
Posted by Joanna on Jun 28, 2007
What an incredible time of the year… I think it’s about time to
wrap up my current discussion about paper handling - for at least a
while.
What’s been on my mind is how vital JOY is when you are trying to
do ANYTHING! Seems to me that it’s more basic than any specific
techniques.
As in: this morning BEFORE I sat down at my desk, I went outside
into my yard. Mind you, it’s a postage stamp size yard but it was
cool and lovely and there were more birds singing than I could
possibly count. Deep breath- JOY!
There’s plenty that needs attention,in our personal lives and in
the world. To me- the reason for getting organized is so that you
have more time and energy to work on the things that
matter most to you and /or bring you joy.
But it’s a chicken/egg sort of thing. To have the energy to organize
you need to have time doing something you LOVE! And, in order to have more
time for the things that you love you need to have your STUFF and
space laid out so it’s easy to get things done.
TRY IT- in the next two weeks: to get some difficult task done, take
a half hour to an hour to do something you REALLY love- that makes
you feel great. Then set the timer for an hour and dive in to do the
thing you’ve been dreading. See how it goes and let me know!
