Gifts Needs Homes Too

Happy New Year!

Now, let’s talk about those wonderful presents we got for Christmas. Did you get a new sweater? Bathrobe? Another shirt? Candles? Books? What about the kids? Clothes, books and of course toys…Oh the toys! Christmas morning is so magical and fun!

BUT

Now we have to do something with ALL.THE.STUFF.

Screech!

Back the truck up just one minute. Did she just say put it all away?

That is exactly what I said and no, I do not mean throwing it into the craft room or garage and let it all fend for itself. Those toys just like to party, no way will they put themselves away. Remember we are fighting the war against clutter, and you CAN have the upper hand here. This is how we do it.

One in, One out! Easy, right? Take that new robe and hang it where your old one use to live. Take the old one and add it to your donation station. (You DO have a donation station, right?) I totally understand that your old robe is still perfectly good with a lot of life left in it…just not for you. This really is the ideal time to part with it because nobody wants to buy a tattered old robe at the thrift store – donate it while there is still some use left in it. You just made someone’s day a whole lot nicer my friend!! Now doesn’t that feel good? It’s nice to share.

Remember what I always say…
Only keep what makes you happy!

Let’s review: One sweater in, one sweater out, five toys in, five toys out. Now you’re getting the idea. You are now winning the clutter war. You are WINNING! Clutter has no power over you. It is going to be a wonderfully organized year. Stick around, we are just getting started!

Have a Neat day!
Jennifer Snyder
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net

Gift Giving: The Ultimate Generosity

Give gifts that will provide peace of mind.

With Christmas just a few weeks away, Hanukkah already in full swing, and New Year’s Eve a little less than a month away, this time of year can be stressful for everyone. A simple trip to the grocery store to buy milk and bread can easily become an hour-long affair as you navigate your way through hordes of turkey buyers. Shopping in a brick and mortar store can easily send anyone over the edge. And no, I am not recommending online shopping, although it is an option for a little longer. I am recommending service gift certificates.

Instead of tangible gifts, which have been the focus since childhood, I am recommending a service as the ultimate gift of generosity. I suggest getting your favorite unclutterer a few hours of consultation, uncluttering, and organizing with a professional organizer; your favorite busy bee a few hours of professional housekeeping services; your favorite new driver a AAA membership; your favorite group of friends a collective cooking class. These gifts are more about experience and inner peace than the “stuff”.

Although these gifts are fun and different they are certainly gifts where you have to be careful about how you give it. You have to put out feelers, see if the person is open to the idea of working with a professional organizer or house cleaner. You will want to know the person’s personality and gauge whether a gift like this would be welcomed or deemed offensive. Then, make sure the gift is given in a way that expresses you don’t believe the person to be a slob or ill-mannered, rather that you know it is something the person wants and will really enjoy. If done correctly, this will be a wonderful gift for someone who will appreciate it for a long time to come.

The best way to give a gift of a service professional is to provide a gift certificate for either a dollar amount or number of sessions you wish to supply. To make your job a little easier, below is a list of my favorite service professionals in the Central Texas area:

Housekeeping Service: Home Maid Shine, http://www.homemaidshine.com
Etiquette Classes: Gracious Manners, The Etiquette School of Central Texas, http://www.graciousmanners.com
Gourmet Cooking Classes, The Gourmet Gallery, http://www.thegourmetgallerywaco.com
Personal Assistant: Moms On The Move, (254)722-4638
Professional Organizers: Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts, http://www.neatasapin.net

It should go without saying that none of the companies listed paid or rewarded me in any way for including them. These are top-notch quality professionals in their field with whom I have personal experience.

Have a Neat Holiday!
Jennifer Snyder, CPO
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com

Clearing The Clutter

Containers should more than just utilitarian…and plastic.

Clearing the Clutter
We are all busy, right? Even if there is not enough time in your day to actually clean your house, you would be surprised at how nice it looks by simply putting things away, clearing the clutter. You may not want to eat off the kitchen floor but you will know where to find what you need and your life will be much simpler. Here are a few ways that I recommend to keep clutter at bay.
1. Full Hands In, Full Hands Out
This is a genius trick used by waiters and waitresses. The rule is no one could go in or out of the kitchen without full hands. Use the same rule in your home. Establish areas of items that need to go downstairs or upstairs and items that belong somewhere else. No one can pass by the area without taking at least one item. I would like to add that I am not talking about laundry baskets here, I’m talking about baskets, buckets or containers that suit your tastes and décor.

2. Out the door
To prevent piles from growing all over the house, it is wise to have established places for things likely to pile up. For example, create a container near your exit door for items to be donated or borrowed items to be returned. On-the-Go items are good to have in this area as well. This would include car activities for kids, water bottles, diaper bags, etc. An over-the-door shoe hanger is a perfect way to keep up with small items and avoid piles. Take care not to allow flat surfaces in this space to be a dropping point for items coming into the home, such as completed school projects or unread mail.

3. How much?
It is so much easier to have fewer, high-quality items than a lot of “stuff” that you rarely use and may not even like. Imagine if you loved all of your clothes and used every toy and tool that you own. That would make life a lot easier, right? When you reduce the amount of “stuff” that you have, your clutter will automatically begin to disappear…just like magic! Not sure how? For newbie’s to purging, I recommend each day make a conscious decision to find one thing in your house you no longer use/need/like. The more you do it the harder it will become and then the really digging begins! Place these items near your entrance as outlined above.

4. Stop the Insanity
Paper is usually the fastest thing to accumulate in a home. Strive to make decisions regarding papers within 60 seconds. Papers in your home should fit into one of these categories (name them as it is meaningful to you: Address within 24-hours; Address within 7-days, Address within 30-days, Read and Decide, To Be Filed, To Be Paid, Discard. These categories should be either file folders, in a file sorter, stacking tray, open-top boxes, whatever works for you. Just do it. Magazines should be read within 30 days, catalogs and other free publications should be read and discarded/donated within 24 hours. It might take some getting used to, but you can do it!

How do you deal with your clutter? I would love to know! If it piles up on the kitchen table, then that is what you do with it. If you have a personal process that you have developed for you and your family I would love to hear about that as well. Share your clutter-conquering techniques on our Facebook page: Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts.

Have a Neat day!
Jennifer Snyder
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net
Facebook & Pinterest: Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
Twitter: @Neatasapin

Photo Cred: heatherbullard.com

I’m Stuck…Now What?

Compare tough tasks to those you enjoy.

Organizing is seldom a quick or easy task, which is why many people put it off as long as possible…or don’t do it at all! We go into the project with high hopes and expectations that we will rarely be able to meet because it is a process. Sure, I can organize the hall closet in an hour or so, but actually locating homes for all of the items that will no longer live in the closet is where the trouble starts. You see, if I take the gift wrap out of the hall closet with the intention of putting it in the guest room closet (so I can wrap gifts on the bed when needed), I now have to create space in the guest room closet for the gift wrap…you get the idea. What about embarking on the annual garage cleaning and just can’t find a place to start? Well help has arrived!

First, break down a really big job (like the garage) into smaller, more manageable pieces. For example, instead of tackling the entire garage, focus on one shelf or even start by removing all of the lawn supplies you can see. By taking out categories of items one at a time, you are taking one giant step toward completion of the project as you are sorting while removing. Just make sure you don’t throw it into the driveway in a big heap or you will have to re-sort and waste time.

When you have a job like the closet that will create a domino effect for organizing other spaces to make room for stuff being shifted around, you can use the same principle on different scale. Organize the hall closet and the gift wrap that was removed is bound for the guest room closet, we know that. Now, odds are that the guest room closet is in need some organizing TLC and we know that already (because you live there). Who says that both closets have to be organized at the same time? The second closet could easily be completed the following weekend or later in the day. Only proceed to the second closet if you are energized and motivated. Even so, know your limits and have a wind down plan in place should you lose interest or stamina.

Also consider the true nature of your stuck-ness. Are you physically tired, have you tried to do too much in one session, are you struggling to make decisions? Before you say a word, I know what you are saying. No…no…no… I just feel so overwhelmed!

If this is truly how you feel, try to compare this project to a detailed, multi-faceted task you have completed in the past or (yikes!) even enjoyed. It seems everyone in the world scrapbooks except me so let’s use that as an example. If I wanted to create a scrapbook for each of my children, I would first need the children (read: photos and memorabilia), I would need the book, I would need some way to put the photos in the book, and finally, I would need to create the time to make it all happen. Fancy paper and embellishments would be nice but they are not vital to the completion of my scrapbook, right?

Now, let’s compare the scrapbook to the garage. Getting it done takes some planning just as I need children to make scrapbooks for my children. I sort pictures by child, you sort garage stuff by category (sporting equipment, home improvement, tools, lawn tools, etc). I use an Elmer’s glue stick to adhere my photos to the paper, you use cardboard boxes to sort and store items. (Cardboard boxes are not ideal but certainly convenient.)

Next consider the fancy the Craftsman rolling tool armoire and matching plastic totes as the paper and embellishment of my scrapbook. Not required but certainly makes it look better!

This is truly a silly analogy but hey, I’m pretty silly. The idea is to use what you know (well) then create a mental template based on that process for more difficult tasks. Use this for all your tasks – even long division and you are sure to succeed!

Have a Neat day!
Jennifer Snyder, CPO
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net
Facebook & Pinterest: Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
Twitter: @Neatasapin

Photo Credits: phoenixscrapbookstore.blogspot.com

Now Is the Time to Tackle the Garage

It’s time to clean garages & storage spaces

Now is the time to tackle the garage!

Do chores feel like a waste of the beautiful cooler days? Although they are not at the top of our list of ways to spend a weekend, they are very important. Taking care of the most dreaded chores now will be your saving grace when it gets colder or (gulp!) warm again.

Start by grooming your garage and/or storage buildings. This should take about three hours if it is done regularly. If you haven’t worked on your garage in several years then it will take a little longer. It is also pretty hard work so I would not try to do it the same day you have tickets to the symphony.

As with any organizing process, the trick to cleaning is to clear the clutter. You can’t clean clutter. Make sure you have plenty of receptacles for the trash that will be generated throughout this process. Then start sorting!

For clarification, sorting is not moving things around to sweep behind them then putting them back where they were. Sorting is actually sorting into separate categories (sporting goods, tools, lawn supplies, etc.). There will also be a group for donate, trash, and borrowed items to be returned. The best way to accomplish this is to actually remove everything from the space that is not attached to the wall.

Storage is very important. If you do not have a shelving system already in place, invest in one now, whether by purchasing or building one. The purpose of shelving is to get as much as possible off the floor. At least 2” is the standard recommendation. This reduces possible flood damage or rodent habitation. Also utilize hooks with pegboards and rolling carts whenever possible. Be sure to identify the need before making the purchase. Know what you will use an item for then take measurements before purchasing.

Consider mapping out the space with blue painters tape. This will help you to visualize the results but also help family members become more aware of the new areas. Move items back in that you are 100% certain you have used in the past year. All other items should stay outside the garage for now.

Combine small items into containers. If you can use old baby food jars, you can install a magnetic strip for them to stick on. Try to keep all tools and their accessories together in the original case, if there is one. Consider shallow plastic tubs for specialized tools and their accessories. Be sure to label them.

Take a good hard look at what is left and be honest with yourself. Things that you “might” need are clutter. Things that were once used often but not so much now is clutter. Things that you do not use are clutter regardless of how much you originally paid for them. Do not move clutter back into the garage.

Remember that anything you move back into the garage will be moved out again in the spring. Be honest with yourself and you will do fine.

Have a Neat day!
Jennifer Snyder
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net

Photo Credit: fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net

How To Organize Anything

Organize Anything!

One of my favorite things is to be and work in an organized space. It is peaceful, quiet, and can inspire amazing amounts of creativity. Clutter makes noise and can be a real distraction to not only your physical effectiveness but your mental effectiveness as well.

Each of us see being “organized” differently and are in different stages along the path to what we uniquely consider “Neat as a Pin”. That being said, regardless of your goal in organizing or how far along you are to reaching that goal, there are some very basic strategies that are the foundation of organizing. It does not matter if you are a Hoarder or the spouse of a gentleman that wants his half of the room to resemble his bachelor pad. Still not convinced, try it!

Ready, set, here we go!

Sort
Place like with like and this is not the time to get technical. I’m talking clothes with clothes and paper with paper (regardless of what is printed on it). You will get your OCD fix later. This is also the time to forego neatness. You actually have to make a bigger mess to get the original mess in order. Trust me. You can do this by making piles or using plastic containers. I only recommend purchasing plastic containers for this event if you are 100% certain you will be able to use them later. Please do not buy them for your sort with the intention of returning them. Not cool.

Process and Purge
Once you are sorted, it is time to give careful consideration to whether or not the sorted items still belong in your space. Get rid of anything that is broken, defective, stained beyond your cleaning capacity or chewed up by the puppy. Go ahead, toss it. It will be ok. Donate any items that are in good shape but that you haven’t used in a while. Be realistic here. If it has more dust than the coffee table, you are not using it. The exception is that if it has true sentimental value, in which case it should go to long-term storage. Otherwise, toodles!

Assign a home
Assign a home…this might be the most difficult step for most people. Once you have processed and purged, you can see what is left. Think about who will be using the items (small children? guests?), where they will be used (laundry room? garage?), and how often they will be used (daily, weekly, yearly). Assign homes to items one at a time trying to keep the big picture in mind. If you assign a home to, say candles, and you have too many for the space it may be necessary to return to the Process & Purge step again specifically for candles.

Purchase
This is a very important and precarious step that should only be used if absolutely necessary and never-ever done prior to the other steps. This is where you purchase baskets, bins, shelves, buckets, etc. to store your items in. Take caution here…if you have a cabinet for your candles, put only the votives and/or plates in a basket. Trying to put everything in every cupboard in a basket will waste a lot of space. Determine what is more important, baskets or volume? Also, buy only what you need. Excess organizing tools are clutter too.

Keeping Up
Once everything has a home, thinks must return to those homes. Think of it as invisible magnets trying to suck the items back to where they belong. This is the number one most important step of the entire process as lack of maintenance will simply result in more of what you just cleaned up. If it takes less than 60-seconds to put something away, don’t delay and do right away!
As simple as these steps seem, I would caution you against trying to tackle your entire home all at once. Doing so will result in frustration and disappointment. Getting organized is about feeling good and rejuvenated. One small area can make you feel fantastic. Give it a try!

Have a Neat day!
Jennifer Snyder, CPO
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
Website: http://www.neatasapin.net
Facebook & Pinterest: Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
Twitter: @Neatasapin

Photo Credits: http://www.sisboom.com

Time Management for Busy Parents

Parents today are pulled in a million different directions, making it hard to find the time for everything, especially to spend time with your family. This makes time management essential and we are here to help.

Use a calendar.
To avoid missing appointments keep everything in a planner or calendar in your phone. If you are easily distracted, turn on an alarm 15 to 60 minutes before your appointment so you are prepared.

Set goals.
The importance of setting goals is immeasurable. If you don’t know where you want to go it’s pretty hard to get there.

Create a ToDo list.
Now you know where you are going, let’s make a to-do list. This is the grand list so write down everything you can think of that you need to take action on. Don’t panic if it’s long, we are going to make it more manageable.

Determine your priorities.
Put a star next to items to be done today, and a circle next to those that are low priority. Those without marks can be fit in as needed.

Place the important items in your calendar.
Map out your day based on your starred items. No single task should take longer than 1 to 2 hours to complete. If it does, break it down into smaller pieces.

Use small periods of time to be productive.
Instead of sitting through commercials, use that time to empty the dishwasher, dust the living room, or knock out some other small task.

Avoid multitasking.
Trying to do too many things prevents us from doing any of them well. Anything that isn’t worth 100% of your attention isn’t worth doing.

Identify where time is lost.
You will be surprised at how much time you waste and where you can recapture some time in your day. Keep a time log to see where your time is actually spent. Be honest! Otherwise you are only cheating yourself.

Delegate what you can.
Look at your list and see what can be delegated to another family member or coworker. Create a reward program for kids who help with chores. Be sure to keep a list of delegated work so that you can follow up.

Check email on a schedule.
Emails can wait. If it is urgent they will call. Check emails 3-5 times daily on a strict schedule. Keep it closed otherwise.

This is a lot to learn so take it one step at a time and you will do great!

Have a Neat day!
Jennifer Snyder
Certified Professional Organizer
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net

Photo Credit: fraser.typepad.com

Invisible Clutter

Do you wish your clutter were invisible? It may be more invisible than you think – especially to you. When we live with items and see them day-in-and-day-out, they tend to dissolve into the background of our lives. Want to see your clutter with new eyes? Take a photo and post it on a social media site. Your clutter in all its glory will quickly appear.

If you would like to see your clutter without revealing yourself to the entire internet, try sitting in a different spot or in a rolling chair. Sit and observe your environment from places other than the normal place. Stand on a chair in the middle of the room or even lie on the floor and look up.

Now that you have found your clutter it is time to do something with it. How long has it been hiding? Is it covered in dust? If it has been years since you have laid eyes upon your newly found treasure, put it straight into the donation box. (If you don’t have one, make one right away.) If you think you will use it – notice I didn’t say “might use it” – clean it off and move to its proper home.

Not sure if you want to see the clutter? Just remember that your guests sure will. When all else fails, invite a friend over to be brutally honest about your clutter. You have to see it before you can address it.

Jennifer Snyder
Neat as a Pin! Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net

Photo Credits: oberlinphoto.blogspot.com

Back To School Organizing Basics

Neat as a Pin Back To School Organizing Basics

Back To School is big business. The United States Census Bureau reports that 77 million students will be going back to school this fall. Consequently, $7.4 billion is spent at family clothing stores during the month of August, second only to December in gross sales. The first day of school is a fashion show noting who has the best sneakers or the nicest backpack.

As parents, we give our children the physical tools for Back to School…binders, spirals, pencils, paper, tissue, etc but do we give them the tools of know how to organize all of the papers, dates, and data – all while amidst a social hurricane? Here are some ways to help your children be better prepared for school…

Homework Central
Quite possibly the most important thing you can provide your child is a suitable place to complete homework. It can be as elaborate or simple as suits your family yet it should have a desk, computer, chair, and flat surface on which to write. Establish the homework area before school starts and stock it with a toolbox containing necessary supplies.

Bedtimes and Scheduling
If your student(s) did not have summer assignments, they may need some help getting back into the swing of things. Start early and gradually make bedtime more appropriate and assign some reviewing type tasks to get their brains back in the swing.

Plan Before You Shop
Instead of running out to the store to buy ALL of the necessary supplies, buy only what they will need to get started: backpack, binder, paper, folder or two, and pens/pencils. Most teachers will give specific supplies on the first day and those can be purchased later. If you would prefer to plan ahead, buy only things you are certain they will need.

Same thing goes with school clothes. I wouldn’t break the bank in August buying a winter coat and cords when it is 90 degrees until October. Start with shorts and shirts and gradually add more throughout the year. This will also help your student(s) have nice clothes toward the end of the school year too.

Have students try on clothes from last year. If they still fit – great! Teach him or her to pair older items with newer ones for a fresh look.

Implement a Family Calendar
Create a family calendar, somewhere near Homework Central is ideal. Assign a color to each student in the home and have them write assignments and practices on the calendar. This is great for mom if they need reminding to complete a long-term project. Encouraging the student(s) to write their own assignments is teaching them a valuable lesson!

Morning Central
Just as you now have a Homework Central, it is also very important to have Morning Central…the place where everything needed for the following day is staged and ready to go. Before going to bed, make sure everything is ready for morning in a location near the exit to be used by the family. This could be a coat rack, pegs in the wall, or buckets lined up on the floor. Make sure clothes are picked out and lunches packed the night before. This teaches your student(s) the importance of planning ahead.

Color Code Classes
By having your student color-code classes (favorite color for favorite subject, etc) it helps them keep everything together. When they can see at a glance what class it is for, the time spent searching will be greatly reduced.

If your student(s) struggle with folders, consider clear plastic document pockets. Visual learners need to see their items to associate the contents…which might explain why all of the papers end up crammed in the bottom of the backpack.

These are some ideas to hopefully help you get a handle on Back to School. Feel free to modify them to fit your family.

Have a Neat day!

Jennifer Snyder, CPO
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net
Facebook: Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
Twitter: NeatasaPin

Photo Credit: marthastewart.com

Paper Is Harmless

Vintage Vertical File Drawers are Neat as a Pin

We all know (or should) that clutter is simply delayed decision making. Almost everyone can relate to this in terms of their closets. They become filled with clothes that we are undecided about…are we going to lose weight to get back into them, are we ever going to find the perfect top to wear with that skirt bought on sale, are we ever going to wear those shoes enough so they are comfortable? I could go on and on. Our closets are important; don’t get me wrong, but where the decision dilemmas matter most is in regards to our papers.
And so it is with paper… Counters, desks, file cabinets, and storage containers fill up with paper because we’re unwilling to make the time or decision to toss, shred, recycle, or digitize.
In reality, however, the problem is really not the paper. The problem is what the paper represents. Paper represents our intentions, our dreams, and our fears—our past, present and future. It’s often very easy to help someone else clean up their paper, but very difficult to clean up our own, because we don’t want to face our own emotions.

Keeping paper is a practical issue. You can keep everything you want if you are willing to pay the price—the price of time, space, money, and energy. We should want to make decisions regarding our paper and a small impetus is usually all that is required to start the ball rolling. A good therapist, coach, or professional organizer can help you determine the price you are paying for your paper.

In the meantime, if you struggle with paper, sort into the following categories
a. Action required
b. Pay
c. File
d. Decide Later
e. Trash/Recycle

It is also prudent to also include a Tax file. These few files (NOT piles) will help take the sting out of your paper situation.

Paper is harmless in itself, the only power it has over you is what you give it.

Have a Neat day!
Jennifer Snyder, CPO
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/RevivalSmith/103076066434388#!/pages/RevivalSmith/103076066434388