Thursday, November 22, 2012
Organize: Greeting Cards
What do you do with holiday and birthday cards after you're finished displaying them? Here is an idea that may work for you. My grandma puts her cards into a photo album and they almost always fit perfectly. This is a great way to organize those cards that you don't want damaged or lost, plus you can flip through them whenever you want.
Tech Savvy: E-Mail
Most of you probably know how to work E-Mails, however, some people may need a refresher. Folders are good when you need to keep your inbox organized. One of the most important folders I have in my E-Mail account would be the one labeled 'Registration'. When I sign up for a new website, forum, or whatever, I put the log-in information into this folder when it is sent.
Another one is labeled 'Family' for when a family member sends me an E-Mail that I would like to keep.
Each E-Mail service uses a different way to set up folders, so I cannot really do a tutorial on the various ways to set up folders, but there should be a 'Help' area of the service you use in order to walk you through the process. They will also have a way to add certain E-Mails to different folders so you don't have to do it manually.
It is good to go through the E-Mail account at least every other day, or every three days, so you don't get overloaded with E-Mails.
Another one is labeled 'Family' for when a family member sends me an E-Mail that I would like to keep.
Each E-Mail service uses a different way to set up folders, so I cannot really do a tutorial on the various ways to set up folders, but there should be a 'Help' area of the service you use in order to walk you through the process. They will also have a way to add certain E-Mails to different folders so you don't have to do it manually.
It is good to go through the E-Mail account at least every other day, or every three days, so you don't get overloaded with E-Mails.
Tablet App: Notes
I believe the app "Notes" comes installed on the IPad. With this app, you can makes as many lists as you want. On my IPad, I use it for inventory for my large collection of DVDs and video games. I have a different 'sheet' for each category of movies and game consoles I have. This has helped keep me from buying duplicates. Don't waste your time like I have making sure the categories or whatever is in any particular order, because once you update the note, it goes to the top of the list. Unfortunately, as it is, there is no way to put them in any order whatsoever, but maybe in the future there will be an update that allows that feature.
Hoarder Help: Forced Clean-Up
Many hoarders go through this process, and unfortunately with city clean-ups, they are not given enough time to do everything that needs to be done. Add to that the fact that city officials who order the clean-up do not understand the facts of hoarding much of the time. Though there are council members who are learning about hoarding, I feel not enough of them are considerate of the hoarder.
If you find yourself in the middle of a forced clean-up, you need to get a good team to help you. If you have a psychologist already, enlist their help. If not, try to find one near you who specialize in hoarding and behavior therapy.
Although you may feel the council members who are forcing you to clean up are evil at the time of the order being issued, you will want to work with them nevertheless. Working with the council members will hopefully help them understand the issue of hoarders better.
Almost every clean-up will have a fire marshall who comes to check out the place. Work with them to see if you can get an extension of time to do what you need to do. Many are considerate enough to work with you and set goals. If you complete these goals, you may have days added onto the time limit.
The local sheriff may also become involved if there are numerous complaints from the neighbors. They will be another person to have on your team, because they can explain to you what needs to be done and why. They will also come by to check up on whether there is sufficient progress and hold you accountable if progress is not made.
Another good resource to have on hand is waste management. They will be there to help you throw items away and out of site. At the end of the day they will go and deal with the items that have been thrown out.
Friends and family members are probably the backbone of your team. The most important things to consider is whether you trust them with your items. The last thing you need is somebody who constantly throws things awy behind your back, because that will only slow down progress, if not make the project come to a standstill altogether.
A building inspecter may be on hand to make sure the structure of your house is solid, to make sure the plumbing and wiring is working properly, and to make recommendations if they're not.
If you are renting the place and are in danger of being evicted, have your property owner on hand and make goals with them as well to extend the time limit before you are evicted.
I hope these suggestions will help you if you are ever in this situation, because teamwork is what makes or breaks a forced clean-up.
If you find yourself in the middle of a forced clean-up, you need to get a good team to help you. If you have a psychologist already, enlist their help. If not, try to find one near you who specialize in hoarding and behavior therapy.
Although you may feel the council members who are forcing you to clean up are evil at the time of the order being issued, you will want to work with them nevertheless. Working with the council members will hopefully help them understand the issue of hoarders better.
Almost every clean-up will have a fire marshall who comes to check out the place. Work with them to see if you can get an extension of time to do what you need to do. Many are considerate enough to work with you and set goals. If you complete these goals, you may have days added onto the time limit.
The local sheriff may also become involved if there are numerous complaints from the neighbors. They will be another person to have on your team, because they can explain to you what needs to be done and why. They will also come by to check up on whether there is sufficient progress and hold you accountable if progress is not made.
Another good resource to have on hand is waste management. They will be there to help you throw items away and out of site. At the end of the day they will go and deal with the items that have been thrown out.
Friends and family members are probably the backbone of your team. The most important things to consider is whether you trust them with your items. The last thing you need is somebody who constantly throws things awy behind your back, because that will only slow down progress, if not make the project come to a standstill altogether.
A building inspecter may be on hand to make sure the structure of your house is solid, to make sure the plumbing and wiring is working properly, and to make recommendations if they're not.
If you are renting the place and are in danger of being evicted, have your property owner on hand and make goals with them as well to extend the time limit before you are evicted.
I hope these suggestions will help you if you are ever in this situation, because teamwork is what makes or breaks a forced clean-up.
Organizing: Where to Start?
I want to organize my home, but where do I start?
That is a question so many people ask themselves and others. My advice is to do what is obvious, though anyone who has a mess to look at will feel overwhelmed. This is totally normal, so don't feel bad about it. Start with the smallest room in the house. As you're organizing that space, go ahead and deep clean the area. Have you wanted to redecorate the room? Now is the time to do it. What about repurposing a piece of furniture for the room? Again, now is the time to do it. Once you get the room complete, you will feel much better and get a second wind to be able to continue with the rest of your house.
That is a question so many people ask themselves and others. My advice is to do what is obvious, though anyone who has a mess to look at will feel overwhelmed. This is totally normal, so don't feel bad about it. Start with the smallest room in the house. As you're organizing that space, go ahead and deep clean the area. Have you wanted to redecorate the room? Now is the time to do it. What about repurposing a piece of furniture for the room? Again, now is the time to do it. Once you get the room complete, you will feel much better and get a second wind to be able to continue with the rest of your house.
Organizing: Binders
Many people use binders for their organizing needs. I use them myself, coupled with page protectors. This post is about warranties and user manuals.
Many people that I know keep their user manuals and warranties in a drawer near where the item is kept. Usually manuals/warranties for kitchen appliances are kept in a drawer in the kitchen, while the manuals/warranties for electronic equipment are kept in a drawer in an entertainment unit. Other people keep them all together either stacked or in a jumbled mess. Either way, keeping them together that way will only make it more difficult to find what you need.
There is nothing wrong with doing it that way, however, binders take up much less room and can be stood up. Coupled with page protectors, each manual or warranty can be quickly flipped through so you can find it easily. Each room can have its own binder, depending on whether there are items in the room that have user manuals or warranties kept there. Some people also dedicate a space on an office shelf to keep all the binders from each room together, though that may be ineffecient for you, so do what works best for you.
Many people that I know keep their user manuals and warranties in a drawer near where the item is kept. Usually manuals/warranties for kitchen appliances are kept in a drawer in the kitchen, while the manuals/warranties for electronic equipment are kept in a drawer in an entertainment unit. Other people keep them all together either stacked or in a jumbled mess. Either way, keeping them together that way will only make it more difficult to find what you need.
There is nothing wrong with doing it that way, however, binders take up much less room and can be stood up. Coupled with page protectors, each manual or warranty can be quickly flipped through so you can find it easily. Each room can have its own binder, depending on whether there are items in the room that have user manuals or warranties kept there. Some people also dedicate a space on an office shelf to keep all the binders from each room together, though that may be ineffecient for you, so do what works best for you.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
House Branches
Here is an idea from the Get Organized Now forums. I hadn't heard about this before reading it on the forums on that site.
Think of your house a tree, and each room is a branch of that tree. Choose a different room each week to clean and declutter. Focus only on that one room for the whole week, and spend a little time each day to clean and declutter as much of it as you can. You can even choose to do a few minutes during commercials if you are watching TV. Or, set a time for 15 minutes at a time multiple times a day. I would recommend doing one drawer and one shelf at a time to keep your stress level down.
Taking a before and after photo will also help give you confidence that you can use to get your whole house clean in no time.
After your week is over, take the weekend off to do whatever you want, or you may choose to continue your project. With a new week comes a new room. Leave the previous room alone unless you finish the current room.
Think of your house a tree, and each room is a branch of that tree. Choose a different room each week to clean and declutter. Focus only on that one room for the whole week, and spend a little time each day to clean and declutter as much of it as you can. You can even choose to do a few minutes during commercials if you are watching TV. Or, set a time for 15 minutes at a time multiple times a day. I would recommend doing one drawer and one shelf at a time to keep your stress level down.
Taking a before and after photo will also help give you confidence that you can use to get your whole house clean in no time.
After your week is over, take the weekend off to do whatever you want, or you may choose to continue your project. With a new week comes a new room. Leave the previous room alone unless you finish the current room.
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