How Organized is Your Space?

How Organized is Your Space?

You might think that organizing a house is not a big deal really, that is just common sense. If you have a lot of stuff you simply reduce the amount, use what you have and stop shopping. But many of us are aware that organizing is a big business especially in the case of container companies. According to a Newsweek report the home storage products business has become $4.36 billion industry in USA. All of sudden having a tidy house is becoming very expensive and it’s not helping those that are struggling with disorganization. A growing number of professional organizers in Canada and USA are passionately promoting reusing, reducing and recycling. The word GREEN is becoming very popular among my fellow organizers.

Before you go on your shopping spree, walk through your home or office and find out what you already have to contain your stuff. A word of caution, if you skipped the process of purging and sorting, there are not enough containers in the world that will help you to get organized.

Have you ever heard this phrase or perhaps you’ve said it yourself: “I really have to get organized,one of these days”? One of these days may never come. As with everything else in our lives our power is in this present moment. The ancient Chinese proverb, “A cluttered space equals a cluttered mind” rings true for many of us. It has been said that the majority of us lose at least one hour a day looking for the things we need and spend 20% of our annual budget buying things we need to replace things we lost! For people living with disabilities being organized is paramount to leading a successful and integrated life in the community. According to experts, organizing is a very simple and practical skill. Yet, according to the National Association for Professional Organizers (NAPO), only 25% of the population is organized. The rest of us struggle to some degree with disorganization and clutter in our home and work place.

If organizing is simple and learnable what prevents us being organized? It is helpful to ask ourselves, is the physical clutter in our home just that: physical? Or perhaps it is closely related to emotional and spiritual clutter; not being able to part with stuff, holding on to memories and relationships that don’t work for us anymore, all prevent us from growing emotionally and professionally. The benefits of clearing the clutter, physical or emotional, and owning less are tremendous and rewarding. You definitely reduce the stress that clutter creates, gaining energy and clarity to be more creative and productive. Also, when we bring order into our lives, both our inner and outer reality change and stress and frustration are replaced with a sense of calmness and serenity, which is the cornerstone of every successful person’s life.

The biggest reward often comes from sharing and donating our things to charity or individuals who need and will use the things you don’t use. Please, only donate items that are suitable and in good repair.

When you are ready to organize your home, office or your life, hope you will consider Solutions Organizing Simple. Please visit our web site for S.O.S. New Year Special services, books,newsletters,and our own line of non-toxic cleaners.
www.solutionsorganizing.com

What’s Holding You Back?

What’s Holding You Back?

“You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.”

Have you noticed I didn’t say who is holding you back. There are times when we want to blame somebody else for the choices we made and the circumstances we end up in but doing that is just postponing the work and the pain, eventually we all have to face the fear and deal with it.

1. In the left – hand column, list the top three things you are putting off at this time in your life.

____________________________ _______________________________ ____________________________ _______________________________
____________________________ _______________________________

2. In the right – hand side column, opposite each, list the fear that is holding you back.

3. What fears, in general, seem to cause you to procrastinate? Write them down.

What part does perfectionism play in putting them off?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Circumstantial Disorganization

Circumstantial Disorganization

Circumstantial disorganization is caused by a variety of reasons and can be temporary or long term. Sometimes our circumstances change suddenly and we find ourselves unprepared. A death in the family and divorce are major causes of life interruption and chaos. There are others not so traumatic, like your children leaving the nest and moving away. The people who are retiring and downsizing are also experiencing major changes in their lives and disorganization can occur.

How Can I Get Organized?

“There are only two sure ways to fail: you quit or you don’t start.”~Anonymous

“How Can I Get Organized?

When was the last time you said those words? Maybe it was when you couldn’t find your car keys or your wallet. Perhaps it was when you couldn’t find those important papers and you were late for work. Maybe you’d like to be less stressed and overwhelmed but you don’t know what to do about it or where to start.

Unorganized people often lose an hour a day looking for the things they need. They lose even more time procrastinating, not being able to decide on what to do first.

Clutter is costing you about 20% of your budget!

By organizing and maintaining your home you will find more time and joy in your life and with your family.

By getting rid of your clutter, you will feel less overwhelmed, better able to make important decisions about your life. Studies show that we only use 20% of our belongings. Remember this when you decide to organize and clean your home.

I wish you the best of luck keeping your space organized and clean.

Ranka

What is Hoarding?

For the last decade or so there has been a lot of media attention given to this subject yet to many of us it remains a mystery why anybody would choose to live in a constant struggle with their possessions. So you might ask, what is hoarding? I have firsthand experience when it comes to hoarding and have personally helped many people to successfully deal with their challenges; it helps if the person is ready to confront their fears and get help. Hoarding is excessive collection and retention of books, clothes, magazines, food or even animals. It doesn’t recognize gender, nationality, level of education or wealth.

Compulsive Hoarder or Just Clutter?

• Do you buy or collect excessive amount of clothes, jewellery, books, magazines, food or helpful gadgets? Yes / No

• Do you experience difficulty discarding items that are broken, not used, needed and of limited value? Yes / No

• Does the clutter in your home or difficulty parting with items cause you depression, anxiety and shame? Yes / No

• Is your home cluttered to the point that you can’t cook, have a shower or sleep in your own bed? Yes/ No

• Does your collecting and difficulty to discard cause tension with your spouse, children? Yes / No

• Has the clutter in your home/ yard led to confrontation with neighbours, landlords or city officials? Yes / No

You might have Compulsive Hoarding if you answer YES to 1,2, and 3
You answered YES to at least one of questions 4, 5, or 6

NOTE: This questionnaire is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a psychological or psychiatric assessment.

Recommended Reading
Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding by Fugen Neziroglu
Buried in Treasures by Randy O Frost
Or my book “ S.O.S Guide to organize and Clean Your Home” www.solutionsorganizing.com

Your Garage or Dumping Ground

WORKING ZONES – Categorize and store your items into working zones. You could have as many as five zones in your garage. Paint zone, woodworking, gardening and car accessories zone. Think about what tools or materials belong in each of the zones you create. Example: the paint zone would have brushes, thinner, paint sheets, scrapers, wallpaper remover and sand paper.

A HOME FOR EVERYTHING – If items are scattered all over your garage and you have a hard time finding the things you need, find a permanent home for everything. When things are contained, they are easily found. If you have a long ladder that is taking up too much space, use big, metal hooks to hang it on the wall.

MAINTENANCE – You must be diligent when it comes to maintaining your garage. Forget about saying “it will be temporary”, you either need it or you don’t. Evaluate once a month to check if the system is working for you or needs a little adjustment. Are things accessible when you need them?

DONATE OR SELL – The items left by your grown children are taking up your valuable space. Call them and give them one month to collect, or donate to charity. Sell your possessions and take a trip with your family. Everybody is going to remember the trip.

If you haven’t used items for years donate them or have a garage sale. If you get sentimental, fight the urge to keep the things you haven’t used or don’t need. “I might need this some day” doesn’t cut it anymore. Realize that you will find what you need in life as you need it.

I wish you the best of luck keeping your garage organized and clean!

Ranka Burzan

RESOURCE BOX:

Ranka Burzan is the owner of Solutions Organizing Simple, a professional organizing company specializing in senior downsizing, residential organizing and cleaning. She is the author of Helpful Hints to Organize and Clean your Home, Your Junk or Your Life, 10 Tips to Organize your Child, Praise Helps to Get Children Organized, Liberate Your Garage and a published book “S.O.S. Guide to Organize and Clean Your Home.

For S.O.S. services, workshops, books, free newsletters and her own line of natural, non-toxic cleaners visit her web site www.solutionsorganizing.com

Your Garage or Dumping Ground?

INSTALLING THE SYSTEM – After everything is spotless, start installing pegboard, hooks, and shelves to organize your things. Ask family and friends to donate their old kitchen cabinets or read the Buy and Sell; often people just give them away. Use a large bin to store very large kids’ toys. The small toys are better contained and put on shelves. Take before and after pictures of areas as you organize, that will add to the feeling that this is an important event and will help bring you up when you feel sluggish

Practical Tips to Organize Your Child

Practical Tips to Organize Your Child
By Ranka Burzan
Clean your room!
Your child might tune you out because you’re nagging him or her again – or know that, if you get frustrated enough, you’ll clean the room yourself.
Nobody wins this one.
Your child needs your help and guidance. More likely your child doesn’t have the skills, enough space, shelves or containers to organize his room.
Talk to your child and choose a date to organize and clean his or her room.
In order to commit, persuade your child to mark it on the calendar. This is a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your child, teach him or her a skill and accomplish something.
CLOSET: Pull everything out of his or her closet. Sort the items that belong together: clothes, shoes, books and toys. Ask him or her to try on the clothes to make sure they fit. Get two big boxes and mark them: donate, and keep. Go through every piece of clothing, keeping only what fits and what your child likes
CLOTHES: Keep in mind that 25 T-shirts is a barrier to the things they really need.
To reward your child for donating his or her clothes and toys to a less fortunate child, take him to a movie, offer to do some of his or her chores or have his or her friend over for a sleepover.
SHELVES: Use open shelves and containers instead of a toy box to store his or her toys. They will have a better view of their belongings and easy access.
ORGANIZING TOOLS: Help your child choose a color for their personal containers, baskets or shelves. Let your child decorate his or her containers with stickers, stenciling or pictures of animals, flowers or their favorite sports stars. Label everything. Buy a laminated chores poster and help him or her write down weekly chores, then erase the board when the chores are finished.
• Lower the rods in your child’s closet to make it easier for him or her to hang clothes.
• To make it easier for your child to hang his or her clothes, buy child-size hangers.
• For older children, buy a portable filing system to store their documents, awards and pictures.
• Buy attractive big pegs to hang robes or pajamas.
• Buy a laundry hamper and garbage can for your child’s room. Write down the laundry and garbage day.
UPKEEP: Help your child to maintain his or her room by having him or her make the bed every morning and putting the dirty laundry in the hamper. Once the room is organized and cleaned, it will take him or her three to five minutes to keep it clean and tidy
Ranka Burzan is the owner of Solutions Organizing Simple, and the author of numerous articles including Your Junk or Your Life, 10 Tips to Organize Your Child, and Praise Helps to Get Children Organized, Everything in its Place, 12 Simple Tips to Get You Organized, and her new book “S.O.S. Guide to Organize and Clean Your Home.” She offers workshops and tips on senior downsizing, organizing, cleaning, staging and maintaining your home. Visit her website for articles and systems to help you kick the clutter. www.solutionsorganizing.comcloset,
guidance,

The Comfort Zone

The poem bellow has been around the world at least once. I received hundreds of emails from those that could relate to being in the comfort zone.

I believe the fear is a big contribution that prevents us from moving on.

What do you think?

The Comfort Zone

The best part of Life is not just surviving but thriving!
Maya Angelau

I used to have a comfort zone, where I knew I couldn’t fail. The same four walls of busy work were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things, I’d never done before. But I stayed inside my Comfort Zone and paced same old floor.

I said it didn’t matter, that I wasn’t doing much;
I said I didn’t care for things, like diamonds, furs and such.

I claimed to be so busy, with the things inside my zone. But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by, just watching others win. I held my breath and stepped outside, to let the change begin.

I took a step and with new strength, I’d never felt before, I kissed My Comfort Zone “Goodbye”, and closed and locked the door.

If you are in a Comfort Zone, afraid to venture out; Remember that all winners were, at one time filled with doubt.

A step or two and words of praise, can make your dream come true. Greet your future with a smile, success is there for you.
Author Unknown

Why Do I Want To Get organized

Why Do I Want To Get Organized?
I never could have done what I have done without the habit of punctuality, order and diligence. Charles Dickens

“Stop spending so much time looking for the things I need.”

“Set a good example for my children and grandchildren.”

“Reduce my stress, frustration, and anxiety level.”

“Lessen the feeling of being overwhelmed.”

“Gain energy and tranquility from my space.”

“Focus on the achievement of my goals.”

“Improve my relationships with my family.”

“Increase the value of my house“

“A better quality of life.”

“To expand my social life.”

“Gain a sense of control.”

“Make more money.”

“Spend less money.”

www.solutionsorganizing.com