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How to Declutter When Staying Home

Published: April 15, 2020

As many people continue to stay home to flatten the curve of Coronavirus, you may have more free time on your hands. When working with my organizing clients to declutter, organize and simplify their lives, they tell me that one of the top reasons they never got around to decluttering was because they didn’t have the time. Now that time is not an issue for some people, there are other obstacles to consider, such as children and other family members also at home, closed retail stores, closed donation centers, not to mention the stress of the current pandemic.

In a world where we have less control, taking control of your own home environment can be a stress reliever, and it can help to improve your well-being. If you’d like to work on home decluttering projects at this time, check out my tips below.

Schedule a time to declutter

If you have children at home, this may be more challenging, but try to schedule a short length of time (anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours per day) to focus on your decluttering project. Usually, after a few hours, decision fatigue may set in, so it will be best to take a break at that point, and resume another day.

Decide where you want to begin

Make a list of all the areas in your home in need of decluttering, and then list those in your priority order. Maybe your home office is your top priority at this time, or maybe the kitchen pantry. Begin in that one space and focus on it until it is complete.

Bring in 5 boxes, bins or bags to categorize items to be removed from that space

Trash
Recycle
Donate/Give Away
Sell (only make this category if you have a plan on how and where to sell things).
Move to another room or space in your home.

Toss or recycle trash and recyclables

Remove the trash and recyclables you’ve gathered, according to your local disposal and recycling guidelines. If you have an overflow of trash, contact a junk hauler, at this time, they are an essential service and still operating.

Gather donations and items to be given away in one place

I usually tell my clients to donate items as soon as possible, but that is not possible with most charities closed or not accepting household donations at this time. If you’re not driving, you could put the donations in your car, for when places re-open. If you have a garage, basement or spare room, you could store donations there. If you’re living in a smaller space, box up donations into one corner of a room. Place a sheet, blanket or tablecloth over the boxes to help eliminate visual clutter.

Gather items to sell in one other place, and make a plan to sell them

Separate anything you deem worth selling. If you plan to sell online, take photos, write a description, and post those online now, or save selling online or in-person to consignment shops for a later date after the pandemic. Give yourself a sell-by date. For example, If you decluttered on April 1st, and you plan to donate anything that you haven’t sold within 6 months, write “sell by October 1st” on the boxes you’ve gathered.

Disperse some belongings to other rooms

Take the time to bring anything from the “move to another room” pile or box, and place those in the room where they belong.

Organize items you are keeping

Once the space is decluttered, you can place the items you are keeping back into that space in an organized manner using containers that you already own.

Make a shopping list for storage products needed

With many stores closed, and to practice social distancing, you probably don’t want to shop for new organizing supplies yet, unless you feel comfortable ordering them online. At this time, just make a list of what you need for the space you’ve decluttered. You will want to take measurements to help with finding the right storage products that will fit your space. For example, maybe you need bins, baskets, drawer dividers, or labels. Then order these things for delivery, or make a plan to shop for them once stay-at-home orders are lifted.

Move on to the next space

Once you’ve completed decluttering in that one area, now you can move onto the space that is your next highest priority. Repeat this process until you feel every space on your list is decluttered.

For a more detailed and personalized look at what will work for YOU in YOUR home, feel free to contact me for a free phone consultation to discuss your organizing needs and to learn more about On Task Organizing’s virtual organizing services.

Ways to Lower Stress While Staying Home

Published: April 8, 2020

As many of us are staying at home to flatten the curve during the Coronavirus pandemic, we’re feeling stress, anxiety, fear, and a loss of control during this time. We are in the middle of a crisis, and it is normal to be afraid, worried and overwhelmed. Even though you may feel stuck, or even bored, there are a lot of activities that you can do to help lower stress and help with self-care and self-improvement.

Here are some ways to feel productive, accomplished, and lower your stress:

Improve your Home and Yard:

Declutter.

Organize.

Spring clean.

Catch up on all house work.

Do yard work.

Garden.

Do small home projects, such as repainting a room.

Wash your car.

Create Routines and Plans:

Keep a routine sleeping schedule, exercising schedule, and eat meals at the same time each day.

Plan for your essential shopping trips by planning meals in advance, and making an inventory of food supplies, toiletries and medications.

Practice Self-improvement and Self-care:

Meditate.

Make a vision board.

Take online classes.

Journal.

Relax outdoors in your yard, deck, porch, or in a park (if allowed).

Hobbies:

Cook.

Write.

Sew.

Knit.

Quilt.

Paint.

Draw.

Read.

Play an instrument.

Sing.

Listen to music.

Listen to podcasts.

Play video games.

Play board games or card games.

Watch TV.

Watch Movies.

Exercise:

Walk.

Run.

Bike Ride.

Hike.

Exercise at home with online workouts, or in a home gym.

Practice Yoga.

Dance.

Socialize at a Distance:

Spend time conversing with your the people in your household.

Have phone calls or videoconferences with family and friends.

Talk to neighbors, while maintaining a safe distance.

Participate in social media.

Talk to friends and family about your worries and fears, or reach out to mental health professionals offering telemedicine appointments.

Reminisce by looking through old photos and keepsake boxes with those who live with you.

Volunteer to help others, anything that you can do safely at a distance, such as calling seniors, or donating money or food to a worthy cause.

There are so many ways to stay productive and lower your stress during this trying time. I suggest you try some of the activities listed above. As a Certified Professional Organizer®, I usually help my clients to reduce stress and improve productivity through in-person, hands-on home organizing sessions and time management sessions. During this pandemic, I am exclusively offering virtual appointments. If improving your home environment or your routine is something you’d like to do, and you want the guidance and assistance of an organizing expert, feel free to reach out to me to schedule a free consultation call to discuss your needs. Please stay safe and take good care of yourself!

How to Stay Focused and Avoid Procrastination

Published: April 1, 2020

Why do we procrastinate? Quite honestly, because there’s a task we don’t enjoy doing, we don’t want to do, or it is not a priority at the time. People will find many other ways to fill their time rather than focusing on that dreaded task. The activity you are procrastinating on may be overwhelming, boring, or something you need help doing. All of us procrastinate, even professional organizers, but there are several resources and techniques available to help us stay focused and avoid procrastination.

Here are some ways to stay focused and avoid procrastination:

Use apps and reminders

Technology such as productivity apps, alerts in our email, and alarms and timers on our phones can help us stay on task.

Adjust social media settings

If social media is your preferred time waster/procrastination tool, adjust settings on your mobile device, web browser or inside the individual apps to alert you (or log you off of those social media apps) after you’ve been logged in for a predetermined amount of time.

Write to-do lists

There are many options here, both paper and digitally, such as digital calendars, bullet journals, or simply writing down everything you need to do on a piece of paper.

Prioritize your to-do list

Determine what task you need to do first, what is most important to you. Organize your to-do list based on your own priorities.

Tackle that “procrastinating task” at a time of day when you have the most energy.

If you’re a morning person, do it first thing when you wake up, if you’re a night owl, plan to work on it later in the evening. Work on that task during your high-energy time of day.

Eliminate distractions in your surroundings

Look at your surroundings and determine if there are any distractions or interruptions that frequently take you away from focusing. Do you work best in a coffee shop? Do you need to go to a co-working space, or a library? Do you need to close your office door and hang up a “do-not-disturb” sign? Do you need to turn off your phone ringer, text alerts, email alerts, etc.? Do you need to have someone watch your children? Ask yourself these questions, and do what you can to eliminate distractions.

Ask for accountability

Tell a friend or family member what you are doing, and when you’ll get it done. Then tell them that you will check in with them at a certain day and time to report on what you’ve accomplished. Just knowing that someone is going to hold you accountable can make you finally get things done.

If you would like guidance and assistance with time management from a certified professional organizer, I’d love to help you! I offer time management consultations virtually via FaceTime and Skype, and in person in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. Please contact me for a free phone consultation to learn more or get started.

Reasons to Get Organized Before a New Baby Arrives

Published: March 25, 2020

Life transitions often bring about the need to get better organized. If you’re expecting a new baby, you’ll need to make room for all of the baby’s belongings, plus you are going to be heading into a time of physical healing, sleep depravation, and a complete change in schedule as you focus on caring for a newborn. The good news is, you have 9 months to prepare!

Here are some reasons to get organized before a new baby arrives:

-To coordinate plans for your life in the first months after the baby is born. This can include postpartum meal planning (having friends drop by with meals during the first weeks), and making plans for completing usual chores such as cleaning, laundry, washing dishes, and grocery shopping during that time.

-To pre-schedule help with childcare (from your partner, family members or friends), so you can get sleep when needed.

-To already have a calendar system in place (paper or digital) to easily schedule the baby’s doctor appointments, your postpartum doctor appointments, times for visitors to meet the baby, etc.

-To organize your car, with a space for the car seat, a stroller, and portable storage for other supplies you can take on short trips for feeding, diapering, and clothing the baby.

-To set up an organized space in the kitchen for storing and washing bottles, and a system and space for storing breast milk, if breast feeding.

-To create storage areas for strollers, bouncers, play yards and toys.

-To set up a functional diaper changing area in your home.

-To make storage for bulk purchases of supplies like diapers and baby wipes.

-To set up baby bathing and grooming supplies in the bathroom.

-To make a laundering plan, if you’ll use cloth diapers.

-To set up an organized storage space for baby related linens, such as baby blankets, crib sheets, quilts, burp cloths, towels, and wash cloths.

-To have the baby’s clothing organized and sorted by size and season.

-To set up a functional and organized nursery.

-To be prepared for visitors to come into your home to meet the new baby.

-To plan for your own self-care time while caring for a newborn.

Decluttering and organizing your home, so that you feel comfortable welcoming guests, you’re able to easily find things and care for the baby, recover from childbirth, and focus on your own self care, will make a big difference in lowering your stress level during this life transition. By setting up a more functional and organized home before the baby arrives, you can spend more time enjoying your newborn.

If you live in the Raleigh, North Carolina area and need hands-on organizing assistance or want a do-it-yourself plan to get better organized before your new baby arrives, I’d love to help you! If you live elsewhere, I offer virtual organizing services via video chat. Please contact me for a free phone consultation to get started.

My Favorite Office Organizing Products

Published: March 18, 2020

I enjoy organizing both home offices and business offices because changes in these spaces can increase productivity and reduce stress for my clients. There are many great products available to help improve organization in an office area. Take a look at some of my favorite office organizing products:

Desktop Organizers

Laptop Risers

Phone Holders

Cord Organizers

Charging Stations

Desktop File Boxes

Hanging File Folders

File Folders

Wall Pockets

Post-it Notes

The exact organizing product you choose depends on the layout, the use of the office, the size of the space, and of course your personal organizing style. For a more detailed and personalized look at what will work for YOU in YOUR office area, feel free to contact me for a free phone consultation to discuss my virtual organizing sessions, available nationwide, or in-person organizing sessions available in the Raleigh, North Carolina area.

On Task Organizing, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

How to Maintain Momentum When Sorting Through Paper Files & Keepsakes

Published: March 11, 2020

How to maintain momentum when sorting through paper files and keepsakes

In today’s blog, I’m going to answer a question that I recently received, which is a very common issue. A reader writes, “The hardest thing for me about organizing is when I go through old files and I find all sorts of things to read, mull over, grieve over, etc., and I get stymied. How do I deal with that?” Sorting through paper files can be a tedious process, and when those papers are attached to memories, it can be emotional, and sometimes overwhelming.

Here are some tips to keep up momentum when you’re sorting through your paper files and keepsakes:

Be Gentle with Yourself

Know that emotions will come up during this process, especially if sorting through papers after life changes such as a death of a loved one or a divorce. Make sure you’re well rested, well hydrated and that you’ve eaten something before tackling this process. Also, plan to reward yourself with something relaxing after you’ve worked on this task.

Set a Time Limit

Don’t try to go through all of the papers in one day. In general, after one to two hours, you’ll be exhausted by making decisions on papers with an emotional connection. Set a timer, and focus on this in short spurts of time.

Do a General Sort First

If you can quickly look through paper without reading everything, sort the papers into piles or folders by category, such as things that refer to or belong to your late spouse or parent, things that bring up memories of your grown children’s childhood, paper relating to financial histories, etc. After sorting, you can then look through one topic at a time in detail.

Ask for Help

Many people find that it is helpful to sort through these types of things with someone by their side such as a friend, family member, or professional organizer. When someone less attached to the papers is nearby to help you sort and stay focused, the organizing process can move more quickly, and be less overwhelming.

I personally love sorting through these types of things side-by-side with my clients. They are able to share some stories with me, but stay focused and move at a faster pace than they would alone. I’m able to sort papers into categories, while they look through the details of the documents, and then I assist them in making a decision on what to do with the papers they want to or must keep. My clients feel that having someone there to hold them accountable really keeps up the momentum when tackling an emotional task like this.

If you live in the Raleigh, North Carolina area and want hands-on organizing assistance, I’d love to help you. If you live elsewhere, I offer virtual organizing services via FaceTime and Skype to help you with any size organizing project. Please contact me for a free phone consultation to get started.