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[Organizing] Bathroom Products

7/13/2016

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Do you have drawers bursting with products?

Do you buy duplicate products because you can not find what you need, when you need it?
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Do your products expire before you use them because you forget they are even in there?

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Get yourself ready and out the door quickly by having what you need at hand! This organizing project will follow the two rules of TIME and SPACE. Dedicate the time to work on the project and repeat maintenance, and then dedicate a space or home for all the items. Yes, it really is that easy. How you decide on the time to give yourself depends on how much you have to sort! I suggest giving yourself a good block of time to wipe out cabinets as you go through the process. And besides, you do not want to short yourself on time and leave piles of product all over! If you finish early, they kudos to you! 

1. Tools: Start by collecting your tools: trash can, recycle bin, masking tape or scratch paper marker, and your local recycling guidelines. City of Madison Recyclopedia

2. Location: Decide where you are going to sort. (If it is not in the bathroom, you may want to protect the surface from the products.)

3. Categories: Will you put anything related to a category in the same bin or break them down in to more specialized containers? That really depends on you and how much you have of each and how much space you have! Here are some examples of categories. Decide what you will use and label the piles for sorting. As you are touching each product, look for expiration dates and ask yourself when the last time was that you used it or if you would ever use it again. This is a great time to purge the unnecessary, not organize it!
  • Hair:
    • Brushes & combs
    • Accessories
    • Products.
  • Face:
    • Cleansers
    • Moisturizers
    • Makeup: Great quick guide for makeup expiration on Popsugar!
  • Oral:
    • Brushes
    • Floss
    • Mouth Wash.
  • Body:
    • Soaps and washes 
    • Moisturizers
  • Paper:
    • Rolled paper
    • Tissues
    • Cotton swabs and balls/pads
  • Shave:
    • Razors
    • Creams
    • Aftershave
  • Travel: I highly suggest that you keep a travel bag packed with all your essentials. As you need other product, you can pull from your back stock.
  • Towels: Body, Hand , and washcloths. 
  • Medical: Be aware that temperature and humidity make the bathroom less than an optimal storage space for many medications. 
  • Household cleansers: Store away from your personal hygiene products! Especially if there are children in the house, use extra caution.
4. Home: Where will all this product live? In drawers, under the cabinet, in a linen closet? If the items will be stored multiple places, consider keeping what is accessed most nearest to you and the less frequently used items out of reach. Make sure containers are labeled well so when you or someone else in the house goes looking, they can find what they need. 
5. Everyday items. Some people will do better keeping some of their everyday use items in one place and using the other bins of items as a back stock. Maybe one drawer or small basket on the counter where you get ready to go!
6. Maintenance. This does not have to be lots of time. Take just a minute or two when you go looking for something, or if you are putting something away to straighten things up. I suggest making this a stop on your Spring cleaning list to purge and overhaul as necessary.
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[Organizing] New Years Resolutions - Failure and SMART Goals

1/16/2016

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It is that time of year again when everyone regroups and sets focus on self improvement.  I think this is a magical time of year when we allow ourselves to dream...  Often however, many will soon look back and realize that they did not accomplish their dreams.  What happens after that is disastrous...they give up.  What makes this self defeat even harder is the constant reminder on social media that others have succeeded, or at least that is the piece of their lives they choose to share. 

According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, already 29% of you have given up.  We are barely over 2 weeks into the new year, and have already lost 1/3 of those who set New Years Resolutions ;-(  Have you given up for the month or the year? That I could not find a statistic on.  How will a failure this early in the year affect the outcome for the year?  It likely depends on how important the goals was. I think is important to continue to dream and continue to get goals for yourself.  Will you wake up tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year and be doing the exact routine you are in today?  If that makes you happy, good for you!  What I find with my clients is that would not satisfy them. 

So will our goals for 2016 be different?
You have 2 choices:

My sources say no.
They will not be unless you change the way you make goals for yourself!  

or...You better believe they will be!!!
Consider setting SMART goals for yourself!  The acronym SMART helps you set goals that are more realistic.  
  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Relevant
  • Time-Bound

Consider the difference between these two statements:
  1. I am going to purge and organize the house in 2016!
  2. I am scheduling 2 hours each Saturday to work on the basement purging and organizing. I give myself 4 weeks to purge and sort, that us 8 hours total.  I want to reduce the amount of stuff stored down there by at least half (50%).  I will keep track of the number of boxes that I take to donate on a notepad to track my progress.  I will set aside the items that I can not make decision on, tell the person to whom the items belong where I put the items, and give them 3 weeks to remove the items or I will donate them. I will ask others living in the house to not put anything in the basement until I complete the project so I have control over my sorting.  I will contact my accountant to determine what papers I need to keep for legal reasons.  Then I will give myself 2 weeks (4 hours) to reorganize and determine if I need any storage containers or shelves. My friend Debbie will be my accountability partner and text me every Saturday evening to check on my progress.  If she is willing, I will invite her over to have coffee and chat with me while I sort and purge.  I will continue to set time aside each week to maintain the progress in the basement and then continue this plan of sorting, organizing and purging throughout the whole house...one room at a time, 2 hours each Saturday until it is complete!

Which goal do you think is more likely to be achieved?  

Which goal is a SMART goal has been thought through with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound structure?

Which goal most resembles the New Years Resolution you set for yourself?

Are you willing to give goal setting another chance and with a new format?



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[Organizing] Cook Book Purge

12/18/2015

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I love it when I walk in the door and my client says..."I have an idea!"  No matter what the project, big or small, if the client has inspiration, we roll with it!

Below, we emptied out a cabinet that housed cook books and magazines.  Cook books are such a wonderful donation during the holiday season!  It warmed her heart to know that the books would get a new lease on life and be used <3 The cabinet is now much safer!  All sorts of items were falling out as I unloaded.  Only one item made it to the top shelf for long term storage.  The rest of the items in the cabinet are easy to access and without any reaching!

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Projects like these with seniors can bring on a lot of emotion.  In a former life they may have cooked for a large family or enjoyed cooking as a hobby.  Letting go of items that are no longer used can bring sadness. It is important to honor those feelings and not rush the process.  
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[Organizing] Holiday Purge

11/30/2015

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With so much coming at us during the holiday season, you may be feeling bogged down. Here are three simple places to reduce and donate items you are not using.  (I have a list on the bottom of places you can take your items.)
  1. Decorations: Everyone has a few items (or a few totes...) of holiday decor that has not been used in awhile.  This is the year to let it go!  It really is ok that tastes change and you have moved on to another theme.  Warm someone else's home by donating decorations to a charity, church, or school.  It will make you job easier when it comes time to pack up at the end of the season and it feels great to give those unused items a fresh start!
  2. Kitchen: Preparing for a large meal can be so stressful, not to mention two meals in such a short time!!!  After your holiday meals, evaluate what cooking, baking, and serving pieces were not used. There are so many specialty kitchen gadgets these days that are novelty, not necessary. If you have not used them for two of the biggest meals of the year ask yourself a few questions.​​
    1. When is the last time I used it?
    2. Do I have a plan to use it?
    3. Would I rather have the space?
    4. Do I have another item that has the same purpose?
  3. Linens: This is also a time of year that our homes sometimes feel more like a bed and breakfast!  As you rotate through sheets and towels for your guests, pull out the sets you are no longer using. Many charities will take gently used linens. Help keep someone warm this holiday season by donating your excess!
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Holiday Decorations can be donated to:
  • The Madison Childrens Museum http://madisonchildrensmuseum.org/support/individual-giving/wishlist/
  • United Way of Dane County https://www.unitedwaydanecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/Wish-List-2015-Final.pdf
  • St Vincent dePaul http://www.svdpmadison.org/
Donations of household goods:
  • Middleton Outreach Ministry http://momhelps.org/give-help/donate/donate-goods/
  • River Food Pantry http://www.riverfoodpantry.org/clothing-household-and-furniture-donations.html
  • YWCA http://www.ywcamadison.org/site/c.cuIWLiO0JqI8E/b.7964781/k.F660/Wish_List.htm
  • Dane County Humane Shelter http://www.giveshelter.org/ (Towels)
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[Organizing] Caution to "Helpers"

10/30/2015

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This is a project Life Organized resolved after a helper started a much too ambitions project!  In the City of Madison, anything over 6 bags is considered a Household Cleanup and it can be piled outside the bin.  Under 6 bags need to be put in the bin over the next couple of weeks, or make friends with your neighbors ;-)  Cardboard can be bundled. 
I will often see the remnants of attempts made by friends and family to help my clients with organizing projects.  While I think this is a wonderful offer, I urge them to reconsider jumping in to anything too quickly.  The reality is that more harm can be done than good (depending on the person).  This may happen if the person is not prepared to tackle the project, feels rushed, does not have the space to adequately work on the project, and can not keep the project organized.  So ask yourself a few questions before jumping in to any spontaneous "helpful" organizing sessions...
  • Do you have permission?  This might seem obvious, but you must ask permission before starting a project and potentially overturning someone's world.  I suggest doing this in advance of when you would actually like to start the work.  Give them time to process and agree rather than accept and regret.  Remember, it is their stuff and should be treated respectfully, no matter how much you disagree with some of their decisions. Offering assistance should come from a loving place, not one that is judgmental or pushy...that is not the way to be helpful!
  • Do you have time?  I am referring to a large scale project here, not a closet.  Generally sorting a room will take many, many hours.  (I have spent up to 16 hours to clear a chronically disorganized living room in the home of a highly motivated client.)  Be prepared to put in the time for the long haul, not creating more chaos and then running out of time.  The area should be left safe and more orderly than when you started, as well as come with a plan of when you will return.
  • Do you have the tools you will need?  Be prepared with PPE (gloves, masks), bags, boxes, painters tape/labels, sharpies, and a notebook.  There is nothing worse than stopping progress because you do not have the tools needed to move forward.
  • Do you have a plan?  It is not helpful to put everything in bags or boxes and move it out of the space to just empty it.  It will take time to sort and many of my chronically disorganized clients need to see everything sorted before determining what they can purge.  Be realistic with the project you would like to help with and then follow through.  
As family or friends of someone struggling with clutter, you can absolutely be a great help. I often encourage clients to recruit helpers to make progress go more quickly.  We can leave clear instructions for them to use or they can come to our session and work along beside us. The end goal is the same, to improve quality of life and safety.  We just have to be careful about how we get there <3 

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[Organizing] Not dirty...or clean.  Clothes in limbo.

10/15/2015

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I was asked a variation of this question twice within two days:

"What should I do with the clothes that I have worn, but they are not "dirty" enough to throw in the wash and they are not "clean" either.  I will wear them again before I wash them, but I do not want to mix them in my closet next to freshly laundered items." 

Like with all organizing projects, it is all a matter of perspective and depends on you!  Let's go back to the basics: everything needs a home! Remember it does not have to be perfect or permanent.  You just have to pick a solution, try it out, and adjust as necessary.  

Do a little thinking about the project to help you find the right solution:
  • Identify how many pieces of clothes in limbo you will have to accommodate.  The solution here could be very different depending on if you have 3 items or 30 items that fit into this limbo category.  
  • Are the clothes folded or hanging?  
  • Where have you been putting these clothes?  Are they currently piled high on a chair in your bedroom, top of a dresser, or closet floor?
  • What is not working about your current process?  Do you not like the visual scene with clothes on a chair in your room, are the clothes getting wrinkled?
  • Identify other logical spaces where they could be stored. Start by looking where you get dressed and undressed.  Remember that keeping organized is easiest when you create systems near where the activities take place.

Everyone will have unique circumstances. After you have thought about what you have to work with and the space that makes the most sense, decide if you will need any organizing helpers to get the job done.  This might include:

  • Wall hooks to put up inside or outside the closet to keep items separate.
  • Different colored hangers so you know which ones are on the second wear and headed to the wash.
I always prefer the solution with the least amount of change and unnecessary expense, so it will be easy to maintain and start using right away, little or no barrier to entry.  Maybe that means that you still hang the clothes in the closet, but always put them together at one end rather than putting them away by color or use.

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I can personally relate to this struggle.  A couple of years ago I installed a couple of simple hooks inside my closet for these very items.  The hooks were something I already had in a toolbox, so the solution was quite easy and free.  It was as simple as giving the items a home!

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[Organizing] Expanding Hours

9/21/2015

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We are excited to add an additional day per week that we can assist clients!  We also look forward to increasing these as our team grows!


Our NEW office hours are:
Tuesday 7am-11am
Wednesday 7am-4pm, 6-8pm
Thursday 7am-11am, 6-8pm
Friday 7am-4pm
Saturday 7am-noon
Sunday closed
Monday closed

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[Organizing] Now Hiring!!! Part-time Organizer

8/31/2015

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Life Organized is hiring professional organizer assistants to join our growing team! Please take a look at the website to find out more about Life Organized, before and after photos, press, etc. www.lifeorganizedllc.com

Job Description for Professional Organizer Assistant
Job Title: Professional Organizer Assistant
Location: Madison, WI Metro 
Job Details: This is a fast paced business and the organizer assistant must be a self-starter who is reliable, responsible and ready to take on new projects with little notice. The ideal candidate will be able to work weekdays with most client sessions between 8am-4pm Monday through Friday.  Some sessions 9am-12pm on Saturdays, and evenings.  This is a 10-20 hour per week temporary position with potential to become an employee.

Job Summary
Be part of a team to solve all levels of organizational issues for clients. Before sessions, you will have access to a client brief from the phone assessment.  Upon arrival, you will develop an action plan with the Professional Organizer for the organizing session.  After completing the designated tasks, you will remove trash, recyclables, and donations from the home, and complete a "Session Checklist" for the client file.  You will have the opportunity to build relationships with clients in addition to organizing.   

Job Objective
Create a professionally organized and safe space in the client's home. 
Encourage continued client relationships resulting in on-going organizing work and referrals.

Job Responsibilities and Accountabilities
  1. Participate in the planning the organizing strategy with the Professional Organizer and the client.  
  2. Execute the organizing plan from start to finish; including on-site work and delivering donations to charity after each session.

  1. Responsible for monitoring quality standards, policies and procedures (as outlined by Life Organized), schedule with client during the duration of the project.
  2. Perform any additional tasks outlined by the Professional Organizer/Operations Manager.
  3. Complete the job as assigned and mail follow-up note.
  4. Drive sales performance for Life Organized LLC through professional and personal networking and by building relationships that generate industry/trade and existing client referrals.
  5. Participates in writing organizing posts on for the Life Organized LLC blog and potentially take part in social media campaigns.
  6. Pursue/receive training in organizing methodology, both inside and outside the company as relevant, at the company's request.

Education: High School Diploma required.  Higher education with preference to coursework in: psychology, mental health, communication, education, or equivalent work experience.
Skills
  • Candidate will be a self-starter with strong organizational skills and be comfortable producing detailed, visual work.
  • Candidate will have exceptional interpersonal skills with a high level of customer service aptitude; clear and concise speaking and communications ability, proficient at active listening, good writing skills and basic computer literacy.
  • Candidate will be comfortable working with challenging clients.
  • Candidate will be able to work independently while managing schedule, and requirements.
  • Candidate will meet physical expectation of job; able to lift and carry up to 35 pounds.
  • Candidate will have access to their own vehicle with a clean driving record.

Experience: Applicants who provide three (3) before and after photographs to showcase their organizing experience (can be at your home, friend, or family) will receive priority interviews.

Attributes preferred: Ability to plan/organize/direct/control; ability to deal with ambiguous/conflicting priorities or information; ability to positively influence people; verbal comprehension; problem solving; aesthetic judgement; compassion. 

Please email info@lifeorganizedllc.com with your resume, references and supplemental materials or if you have any questions!


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[Organizing] Homework…to do or not?!?

8/25/2015

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I am always impressed by my glossy-eyed and eager clients who are ready for homework!  Some even ask for it!
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At the end of our session we discuss our accomplishments, homework, what they need from me, and future sessions.  Almost everyone is excited about the homework!  
But do they do it...Not always, and that is ok.

Ignore the List:
I admit, this does happen frequently, and it is ok. Some people hire an organizer for the simple time and accountability equation.  If they are scheduling someone to help them, they will show up and get it done, and that is the only way progress will happen.  That is ok.  

Work the list:
Many folks will get some homework done.  The longer between sessions the more likely it will not get completed.  

Rock It!:
I am always really proud of clients who get their homework completed.  It is like a proud parent moment!  I also feel like they are getting closer to actualizing their dreams of getting organized, because finishing their homework levels them up!  



Think of it as a math equation, if working with an organizer=1, and homework=1...then working with an organizer and getting your homework done would =2?  Nope!  It is far more! Working with an organizer AND on your own is like a multiplier! The important piece to remember is that working with an organizer, you are learning skills to transfer to organizing on your own.  If you work with an organizer, and then put those skills into practice on your own, you will be further ahead, not just on the project itself, but because you are developing your skills faster and will sooner be more independently successful at organizing your own spaces.  

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[Education] Hoarding Specialist

6/9/2015

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I am very excited to announce that I have earned a certificate as a Hoarding Specialist.  That makes me one of only two people with this certificate in the State of Wisconsin!

I began by taking six tele classes focused on working with CD and clients with hoarding tendencies.  
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: When Environmentalism Goes Wrong with CD Clients (HRD-445)
  • Harm Reduction (HRD-450)
  • Collaboration with The Hoarding Project: A Case Study (HRD-460)
  • When Things Go Wrong: A Discussion of "Failed" Client Experiences (ADM-345)
  • How to Assess Hoarding at Home Before it Threatens an Elder’s Right to Age in Place (AGE-155) 


In addition to taking the classes, I read the following books to prepare to take my written exam in April at the NAPO 2015 conference.
  • Overcoming compulsive hoarding, by Fugen Neziroglu, Jerome Bubrick and Jose Yaryura-Tobias, 2004.
  • Compulsive hoarding and acquiring workbook, by Gail Steketee & Randy O. Frost, 2007. 
  • Murphy, T. W. (2009). Life in rewind: The story of a young courageous man who persevered over OCD and the Harvard doctor who broke all the rules to help him, by Terry Weible Murphy, 2009.
  • Buried in treasures: Help for compulsive acquiring, saving, and hoarding, by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost, & Gail Steketee, 2007.
  • Digging out: Helping your loved one manage clutter, hoarding, and compulsive acquiring by Michael A. Tompkins, & Tamara L. Hartl, 2009.

 
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