The K-cups sit next to the coffee maker in a large glass container. I also have a second container for tea or cocoa and the toaster oven along side, in case someone wants more than coffee. The sugar and Slenda are located in the cabinet just above the coffee maker. My vitamins even live in the same cabinet, so I don’t forget to take them each morning. Everything is right next to the sink, so I am good-to-go.

A place for everything and everything in its place. I can make coffee without moving a step. I love living a simplified life. What can you do to simplify a daily task?

This week, one of my sons decided to clean the clutter out of his bedroom. Part of what he tossed was this pile of electronics. Old and dusty – I am so glad that he is letting go of this stuff. I don’t even know what some of it is. Maybe you can identify the green thing?

As he was growing up, he loved electronics, taking things apart and seeing how they worked. But this stuff has not been touched in years. You can tell by the dust.

Are you ready for a blast-from-the-past? It’s a Macintosh Powerbook 165 – a dinosaur! It is time for this to go.

Since he was willing to let them go (as long as they were recycled) we moved these items to the garage to join some old computer parts.

Now it’s time to recycle – No problem! It is Electronic Sunday in my county this weekend. Do you have a program like this in your area? If not, the Best Buys stores in my area except items for recycling. Maybe this is available in your area too.

It’s getting easier to be “green” all the time. You can participate the movement the next time you declutter too.

Sock organizers from neatfreak. I just love these little gems. They keep your pairs together from wash, to dry, to drawer, to wear. No more orphaned socks or pairing-up when folding laundry. Now all you need to do is train yourself and your family to use them. Be the first person to comment on this post and you will receive this sample pack of Sock Organizers to try on for size.

In order to get what you want, here are the top 10 questions to ask yourself in the elimination process.

1. Have I worn this in the last year?
2. Does it fit?
3. Does it need altering?
4. Is it ripped?
5. Does it have spots?
6. Is it in style?
7. Is it good quality?
8. Do I have more of this same item?
9. Do I like it?
10. Can someone else use it more than me?

If you hesitate with items, put them in a separate pile and reevaluate those items at a later date – like a month from now. You may feel differently about these items after you have some time away from them and after you have been enjoying your newly decluttered closet.

Be honest with yourself. Make the change!

People tend to spend time doing things that they enjoy and putting off the tasks that they don’t like. We’ll do anything to avoid what we see as distasteful.

We also tend to take the path of least resistance, completing easy tasks before starting something difficult. The more complex a task, the more steps (and time) it will probably take. We naturally follow the path of least resistance.

People don’t always put their priorities first. We spend time on other people’s priorities and put our work lower on the list. We don’t want to disappoint, but it really shows a lack of respect for our own time.

If you schedule blocks of time in your calendar, these tasks become commitments. You are making an appointment with yourself to do a specific task, at a specific time. Rarely will you forget these appointments with yourself if you use your calendar well.

This won’t be easy, but if you challenge yourself to make these decisions you’ll end up with a clear and organized storage area. We’ll take it slow. Now let’s get started on your storage area.

Week 4

Like most organizing project, don’t try to complete the whole thing in one day (especially if your storage area is big). Doing too much will just discourage you. Keep each day’s project short and simple.

Day 1 through 3 – Attack a shelf in your storage area. Just one shelf. What I want you to do is name that shelf. What is going to live there? Is it your camping gear shelf or your Christmas decor shelf. Focus each day on putting only that category of item in that space. Make a pile of everything else that doesn’t fit the category. You should end up with some neatly sorted and stored categories of your very own.

Remember to label boxes and bins as you go, so you can quickly find what you have worked so hard to organize.

Day 4 and 5 – Now is the time to deal with the pile of things that didn’t fit your categories for the shelves. Why didn’t they make the cut on to the shelves? Ask yourself. . . think about it. . . really. . . think. . . I am guessing that they were not as important to you as the items that found homes on the shelves. Do you love these items? Are they useful?  If the answer is “yes” then you need to find another place to store these items cause I’ll bet, your storage space is not going to grow.

Unfortunately, if you have no other storage space, this will be the hardest part. It’s time to let some (all) of this stuff go.

Congratulations! If you completed this job, you are awesome! Organizing a storage area is not fun and it doesn’t reap the quick satisfaction of a more lived in area of your home, but it will make a big difference in the end game.

If you missed week 3 of Get Organized in 2012 check it out here.

Organize Everything – Simplify Life

This year my local chapter of NAPO will be working at A Wider Circle, volunteering our time to this wonderful organization to help them declutter their warehouse.

For more information on what we will be doing check it out on the NAPO-WDC website.

I encourage everyone to bring a little organization to your home or work place. If you are organized, maybe share your gift with someone else.

Let me by honest. This isn’t all of it. More PHOTOs!

Here is what didn’t make it on to the table. The boxes are filled with albums, so I did try at one point. Actually, I made two attempts at this project. See, I tried to get some photos into boxes at one point.

A long time ago I learned that those sticky page albums that I used actually damage the photos, but I was busy raising my family and didn’t have time to redo what I had done. Well, now is the time. I want to get the old photos out of those albums and organize all of it into photo boxes.

I have in the past started a couple of scrapbook/photo albums. I’d like to continue this project, but first, I need to get organized. By posting my personal project I hope to stay accountable to all of you.

She told us that the chaise lounge chairs were not comfortable and therefore she never sat in the room and started just using it as storage space.

There were some wonderful built-ins on the wall opposite the fireplace. They had been custom made to fit her sewing machine and a fold out cutting table.

The problem was that she no longer sewed and had really stopped using the storage for what it was intended.

We went to work, first discussing what the client wanted to use the space for by asking her what was working, what wasn’t working and what her ideal sun room would look like in her imagination.

It didn’t take long really. Once we have a goal to focus on, we could work towards it.

We worked to find new homes for any items that the client wanted to keep, since most everything in the room did not support her goal for her sun room. We got rid of the uncomfortable furniture and moved in the love seat and did some rearranging of other pieces.

The storage got a complete overhaul to work with the room’s new focus. So pretty!

Now, with so much space, she can create whatever she wants with the ease of a clear and functional area.

What do you think? As I said I love before & after photos. They allow you to remember and see how far you have come. What a difference!

If you’d like to see more transformed spaces check them out on our Before & After page on the web site.

Get Organized Today

A collaboration of many professionals, to provide inspiration that affirms the power and importance of getting organized. The book provides practical ideas that you can use immediately to live a better, more effective life.

Look for my chapter Staging Your Home – Transforming Your Space to Eliminate Clutter and Fit Your Lifestyle

Be the first person to comment on this blog and you will receive a free copy!