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GettingOrganizedMAGAZINE

TREAT YOURSELF TO SOME SANITYSPRING 2014 • VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

www.gettingorganizedmagazine.com

DE-CLUTTERANY SPACE

STAGING TO

SELL

TIMEMANAGEMENT

FOR ALLAGES

CORRALCAR

CLUTTER

2 GettingOrganized | Spring 2014 gettingorganizedmagazine.com

Spring has probably never been so welcomed as it will be this year! For so many across the U.S. it has been the winter that would never end. But never

fear, we are headed towards summer and things are looking up! In this issue we wanted to provide spring cleaning tips as many of you may actually welcome those chores this year.

Another welcome change is an upswing in our economy and housing which may have some of you considering a change in homes. If that is the case, be sure to read “Setting the Stage to Sell” as it will give you all of the practical tips you need to make your home the one everyone wants to buy.

Here at Getting Organized magazine, we really value giving back to our community. When you de-clutter and organize your space, it is often a great opportunity for you to help those in need by donating items you no longer use. In past issues we have featured such wonderful organizations as Soles for Souls (soles4souls.org), the Stuff Stop (thestuffstop.com) and even student entrepreneurs trying to make the world a better place. In this issue we highlight two organizations that use your unwanted items to help those in need. Be sure to learn how you can help by reading “Cards for a Cause.”

And it just wouldn’t be us if we didn’t include something fun in the issue. When you read what happened to three people who cleaned their spaces, we know you will be excited to take our challenge on page 39 and clean your room! (Remember to share what you find on our Facebook page.)

And finally, we know that our readers are a diverse age group and demographic so we have great article, “Time Management for All Ages” because no matter what stage you are in your life, it is important to keep track of your time.

As I sit here and type this letter, the sun is shining and the dog is waiting for her daily walk. I am excited for spring, the sun and the chance to clean out the cobwebs from the long winter behind us. We always love to hear your feedback on stories, your organizing successes and any questions you might have. Please feel free to email us at [email protected].

At Getting Organized magazine, we don’t want to add clutter to your clutter. Our magazine is published 4 times a year and is a bit shorter than most magazines for a reason. We want you to actually have time to read the articles and implement the ideas that work for you! We publish a real life magazine for real life people and our goal is to give you simple, effective options to simplify your life.

Stacey Anderson is a Professional Organizer,

speaker, author and publisher of Getting

Organized Magazine.

It’s About Time Getting Organized Magazine15600 NE 8th St.

Suite B1 #602Bellevue, WA 98008

(360) 499-6260www.gettingorganizedmagazine.com

PublisherStacey Anderson

Board of AdvisorsWhitney Keyes

Mayna Sgaramella McVey

EditorLisa Quinn

Expert ContributorsJudith Balis

jbalisinteriors.com

Sonya Barkerathomewiththebarkers.com

Joshua Beckerbecomingminimalist.com

Sue Beckerpilestosmiles.com

My Duongspace46boutique.com

Moni Gilbert365lessthings.com

Chrissy Haltonorganisemyhouse.com

Clare Parrackclarifyinteriors.co.uk

Debbie Rosemontitssimplyplaced.com

Denise Sabiapaintedhomedesigns.com

KariAnne Woodthistlewoodfarms.com

Our apologies for misspelling Jackie Kelley (clearinghousenow.com) and Sara Pedersen

(timetoroganize.com) in our last issue.

Cover photo courtesy of thistlewoodfarms.com

Getting Organized Magazine, Winter 2013. Published four times a year, 15600

NE 8th St. Suite B1 #602, Bellevue, WA 98008. Copyright 2012 Getting

Organized Magazine. All rights reserved. Subscriptions are $19.50 within the US, $29.50 outside the US, $14.00 for digi-

tal. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Getting Organized Magazine,

15600 NE 8th St. Suite B1 #602, Bellevue, WA 98008.

gettingorganizedmagazine.com Spring 2014 | GettingOrganized 3

What’s Inside

Setting the Stage to Sellpage 5

Words of Wisdom

page 11

New Life for Old Pallets

page 19

The Power of Purplepage 15

Cards for a Causepage 9

Cleaning for Millions

page 12


Quick Tips:Corraling Car Clutter

page 32Ask the Experts: Increasing Productivity

page 34Latest and Greatest: Spring Cleaning Tools

page 36

Books: Facing Food and Family

page 38

Comic page 39

What’s Inside

Departments

Managing Your Time

page 22

De-Clutter Any Space

page 26

Keeping Strange Things

page 29


SETTING THE STAGEto Sell


The property market these days is like internet dating—full of “armchair browsers” who choose what they want to know more about purely on the basis of what they instantly

see online. You are selling a dream and a lifestyle, so it pays to make sure yours is the home they fall in love with. How much does “staging for sale” cost? A lot less than having to drop your asking price if potential buyers aren’t instantly interested!

By Clare Parrackclarifyinteriors.co.uk


1. DECLUTTERBuyers will be looking for more space. They need to see that your property has plenty of room to store their own “stuff.” Pack away anything that creates visual clutter—that’s too many ornaments, the collection of fridge magnets, piles of toys and excess pieces of furniture. You’re moving anyway, so it makes sense to start packing things away now and create that much-desired feeling of space and calm.

2. DE-PERSONALIZEHelp a buyer to visualize themselves living in your home by removing any overly personal items such as family photos, children’s drawings, holiday souvenirs and mementos. These give a powerful message: “This is MY home.” Family photos are fine in the bedroom, but keep them to a tasteful minimum.

If you have too many personal items on display, a buyer will find it difficult to imagine their own possessions in your home. What you should be aiming to achieve is a look that instantly has broad appeal right across your “target audience,” for example, the kind of buyer who is likely to want the style of property you are selling, whether it’s young professionals, a family moving up the housing ladder or perhaps someone downsizing to a smaller property.

3. “COME ON IN” CURB APPEALPotential buyers will often do a “drive by” before deciding to arrange a viewing, so creating curb appeal is vital. Tidy the garden, repaint the front door if necessary, make sure that curtains are symmetrical and windowsills are free of clutter. Add some colorful plants in pots or hanging baskets by the


front door. In other words, make your property look as instantly inviting and welcoming as possible so potential buyers want to come in and see more.

4. ENTICING ENTRANCESOnce you’ve got them through the front door, buyers need to instantly feel at home. Help them literally see themselves in your home by placing a mirror in the hallway. This will also help introduce additional light into what is often the darkest part of the house. Remove all coats, shoes and sports bags from this area as a cluttered hallway can set a buyer into thinking that there isn’t enough storage space in the property.

5. DO THAT DIY—NOW!Any unfinished DIY jobs ring alarm bells for potential buyers as they send a subliminal message that your property could be maintenance-heavy and will alert them to look out for other outstanding jobs, which they could use against you to negotiate a lower price.

6. CLEAN UNTIL IT GLEAMSIt cannot be stressed enough that a spotless home always creates a good impression and reinforces the message that the property is well maintained. Clean the kitchen and bathroom until they sparkle. Shine the windows and make sure that the home smells fresh. Pet and smoke odors are big turnoffs for buyers. To create a brighter atmosphere it helps to turn the lights on and have plants or fresh flowers in most rooms for viewings.

7. DEFINE THE SPACEIf you’ve got three bedrooms, they must be presented as three bedrooms, not two bedrooms and a spare room with no obvious function other than to store clutter. And if you’ve got a sitting room and a separate dining area, they need to be presented as such and should not be seen as the kids’ playroom or ironing room. Buyers are aspirational and need to be shown the lifestyle they could lead if they were to move into your property, which is likely to include entertaining—even if the usual mealtime reality is more likely to be TV dinners than dinner parties!

8. REDECORATE WHERE NECESSARYSpending time and money on a property that you’re about to leave is difficult, but a neutrally decorated, well-presented and inviting property can add thousands to your asking price.

9. SET THE STAGE TO SELL If you really want to see your property through the eyes of someone else, take photos of each room from different angles and then take a cold hard look at them. It will be pretty obvious what needs to change. Today’s buyers are attracted to clean, bright, clutter-free spacious environments with aesthetic appeal. Buy a few home decor magazines as they give good examples of what people find attractive today. You’ll also see how good accessorizing can enhance the look and feel of a room. Depersonalizing doesn’t mean boring, attractive focal points in each room will make your property memorable for all the RIGHT reasons.

10. MENTALLY MOVE OUTYou’ve decided to move, so do all you can to help yourself achieve a quick and profitable sale. Remember, living in a property that is for sale is not the same as living in a home you’ve settled in, so don’t worry if the new look of your property is not to your taste—it doesn’t matter, you’re moving out anyway! And hard as it may be to live in a “show home,” it’s not forever. The more effort you put in, the quicker you will reap the rewards with a sale at the best price. This will give you more to invest in your new home. Present your property to show off its full potential and you can soon look forward to creating your own personalized space again, just as you like it, in your next home.

Living in a property that is for sale is not the same

as living in a home you’ve settled in, so don’t worry

if the new look of your property is not to your taste.

GO


This time of year, the holidays are long since over and spring cleaning is upon us. Now is the perfect

time to de-clutter for a good cause. We wanted to highlight two organizations that can put to good use the greeting cards and gift cards you received from the holiday season, but know you will never use or look at again.

Cards for a Cause


St. Jude’s Ranch for Children (stjudesranch.org) is an organization that cares for abused, abandoned and neglected children. Their mission is to transform the lives of abused and at-risk children, young adults and families by empowering them to create new chances, new choices and new hope in a caring community.

One of the ways they strive to reach their mission is their recycled card program, which is an entrepreneurial program for kids. They recycle used greeting cards and create new holiday cards to sell to support the program. They happily accept used all-occasion greeting cards. (They do have a few guidelines on their website, so review them before sending them in). Take a moment to read and cherish your greeting cards, then donate them to this worthy cause.

The Cancer Card Xchange (cancercardxchange.org) is a non-profit organization that was set up by Emily Tickle Thomas after her experience with cancer. While receiving treatments, she had to return to the medical facility on a regular basis for check-ups. On one visit a friend arranged for a gift card to be waiting for them to a local restaurant, which was a gesture of kindness she never forgot.

This program connects cancer patients and their families with one-time gifts of various gift cards. Instead of letting your gift cards go to waste because you will never use them, consider donating them to a patient who could use the positive experience in their lives. W

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Peel+ Stick

Dry EraseBoard!

GO


Joshua Becker, author of the book Clutter Free with Kids (available on amazon.com) challenges people to change their thinking, discover new habits and free their homes.

His widely popular Facebook page and website (becomingminimalist.com) help people own less and live more. We love the way he thinks.

things to think aboutGO


Cleaning Your Room…Could Make You a Millionaire


Cleaning Your Room…Could Make You a Millionaire

“Go clean your room” is a commonly uttered phrase in many homes

and for most of us the result is a semi-clean floor, stinky clothes in the hamper and the bed being made. Yet recent stories might entice you, and even your children, to clean your room with a new sense of determination.

Last year a 19-year-old teen in Scotland was nagged continuously for two weeks by his mother to clean his room. When he finally did, he found 12 lottery tickets. “I was about to trash them but at the last minute I got this strange feeling that I should get them checked,” he told The Telegraph of London. He took the tickets to the local supermarket where he worked part-time and checked the numbers only to discover he had won $83,781!

And just a few months ago, a Georgia man was cleaning his room and found a lottery ticket that was collecting dust. That

AtticMaxx.com

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Easy-to-install shelving that maximizes otherwise wasted space between attic trusses.

ticket matched all five numbers and was worth $1 million dollars! Luckily, under Georgia lottery rules he had six months to claim his prize, but could you imagine the heartache of finding that ticket seven months after the lottery drawing?

Yet another Georgia man found a forgotten Powerball ticket that he had tucked into the console of his truck that also turned out to be a million-dollar winner.

No clutter is worth a million dollars! Make sure to have a plan for all of your important paperwork, you never know when it might really be worth something.

Photo courtesty of Georgia Lottery

GO


The Power ofPURPLEColor is an important part

of organizing, productivity and creativity. The right color can not only help you find something more easily, but can elevate your mood to help you work harder. The Pantone color of the year for 2014 is radiant orchid, which is a very vibrant color. To help you get in the spirit of the color we have found these fun purple products to keep you stylish and trendy.

(For more color insights see our website blog post on the “Psychology of Color”.)


Featured at poppin.com

Purple Complete Outfit ($82)

Purple Starter Set ($40)

Soft Cover Folio ($14)


Cobi Task Chair ($529)

Medium Spiral Notebook ($9)


Featured at theorganizingstore.com

Neatnix Tool Box ($36.99)

Neatnix Square Stuff Bucket ($29.99)

Lamont Home Brights Bench Hamper ($69.99)

Lamont Home Brights Wastebasket ($26.99)

Mini-Suitcases ($35.99)

Household Essentials Nested Box Set ($28.99)


When it comes to getting organized, many people like to reuse items they already have on hand, rather than purchasing something new – which may, in itself,

become clutter someday.

NEW LIFE FOR OLD PALLETS

Photo by My Duong, space46boutique.com


The concept of “green organizing” is also becoming a larger

movement in the world of organizing. Many people would rather recycle and reuse items making something useful out of something someone else couldn’t use. With these ideas in mind we have found four fantastic solutions to reusing a wood pallet. With just a coat of stain, some ingenuity and inspiration you can use a simple wood pallet to transform your home into a more organized space! GO

Photo by Denise Sabia, paintedhomedesigns.com

Photo by Judith Balis, jbalisinteriors.com


Photo by KariAnne Wood, thistlewoodfarms.com


By Sue Becker pilestosmiles.com

There are many basic time management tips that are helpful throughout one’s life: setting goals, prioritizing tasks, and planning your day, just to name a few. While the

benefit of using these skills is ageless, our time management challenges change as we age. The recent college graduate trying to juggle a full-time job while keeping up with an active social life needs a different approach to time management than retirees who may have fewer external demands on their time.

timemanagementfor all ages


COLLEGE GRADUATE TO AGE 30Just because you no longer have to track homework assignments does not mean you don’t need a planning tool. Whether it’s your phone, a web-based calendar or a paper planner, use something to keep track of appointments and to remind you of things you need to get done.

Establish a set time to manage your finances (for example, Sunday evening). Use this time to balance your checkbook, review your credit card statement and pay your bills.

Be on time—your friends may have been willing to wait, but the work world is less forgiving. Calling or texting to say you’ll be late doesn’t absolve you from your obligation to be on time.

AGE 30 TO 40By now, you might find yourself juggling multiple obligations such as work and caring for young children. As exhausting as that may be, make time for friends and family, including a regular date night with your spouse. It will help keep your marriage and relationships strong.

Prioritize and schedule tasks so you get important things done during your down time.

Don’t underestimate what help your kids are able to provide around the house. Choose age- and skill-appropriate chores for them.

for all ages


AGE 40 TO 50Be mindful of how many activities you allow your children to participate in. If they’re overscheduled and you spend all your free time chauffeuring them to activities, nobody will be happy.

Family time is increasingly important, one way to bond is to schedule time for your family to eat together. If you can’t eat dinner together as often as you’d like, try a family breakfast or lunch on the weekend.

If you don’t participate in them already, explore hobbies, recreation or volunteer activities that will be of interest once your kids leave home (yes, that day will come!). It will help reduce your anxiety about transitioning into the empty nest phase.

AGE 50 TO 60Your kids may be leaving home, and the crazy busy life you once had can become very quiet. Remember those hobbies, recreation and volunteer activities you were exploring in the age 40 to 50 phase? Sign up for a relevant class, join a team, or jump into a volunteer activity now that you have the time.

You may finally have time to organize those bulging boxes of photos. Schedule time for the kids to come over and help you enjoy the memories as you sort, pare down and archive them.

Remember the friends and family you were making time for during the Age 30 to 40 phase? Now you have time to plan more frequent or extensive activities with them.


AGE 60 AND BEYONDWhether retired or not, life is most likely happening at a slower pace. You may suffer from “I’ve got all day syndrome” which means there’s no sense of urgency to your day. Write some goals for yourself to help give some direction to how you spend your time (for example, garden two days a week, call one friend or family member every day, learn that complicated piano piece you’ve always wanted to play, etc.).

Consider making a weekly routine for how you spend each day. For example: play bridge on Monday, try a new recipe on Tuesday, spend time in the garden on Wednesday, pare down belongings for a future move on Thursday and volunteer at animal shelter on Friday.

Maybe it’s time to celebrate that you don’t have to adhere to a specific schedule—enjoy waking up and doing whatever your mood dictates. GO


By Chrissy Halton organisemyhouse.com

De-cluttering and organizing are similar terms you may have heard when looking to clean up your home or office. But what is the difference between them? De-cluttering

is the process of tidying up a space and putting things back where they belong, where organizing is about setting up systems, goals and processes to help you over time. In this article we wanted to walk you through the easier steps of de-cluttering a space.

HOW TO DECLUTTER ANY SPACE


STEP ONE: DECIDE WHAT TO DE-CLUTTERI have chosen to de-clutter my utility room as there are a variety of items waiting to be put back after a busy family weekend of chores and other activities. Because my room is fairly small I am going to work on the entire space. If your room or space is large and overwhelming, you may want to start with a smaller section like a single cabinet or drawer.

STEP TWO: ASSESS THE SPACETo declutter properly, you need to know what actually constitutes clutter in that space.

Simply put: Clutter is simply that which does not belong in the space.

STEP THREE: CLEAR YOUR WORKING SPACEYou will, indeed, make a mess in the process. It is a known fact that when organizing, the space will get worse before it gets better. The best thing you can do for yourself is to have a good working space before you begin.

AREAS THAT YOU COULD USE:• An adjacent room• A table in the middle of the room• A sheet on the floor• A table or bed or any large space

that’s clear in the room already

You are basically looking for somewhere that is easily accessible to you, that you don’t have to bend down too often. For me, the dining area in my kitchen is right next to the utility room, and the dining table and the space around it was clear—so that will be the perfect space to help in this process.

STEP FOUR: GET YOUR KIT READYYou shouldn’t need many tools when just de-cluttering a space (unlike the task of organizing when you are likely to need bins, folders and other organizing tools). The three main items you will need are:

• Category labels and pen• Containers / bags• Step stool (to get to the hard to reach places!)

It is likely that this won’t be your last time you de-clutter a space. To save time on your next project, create reusable category labels that are laminated. You don’t have to go to this much effort and you can get the same effect with sticky notes and a marker. Whichever you choose, think of what you need for the space you are de-cluttering.

Categories you may want to include:

• Different room• Keep• Trash• Recycle• Mend• Charity• Donate• Sell

TIP: Use a large garbage bag for trash and one for donate items so that you will have the chance to take them out of the house immediately after you are done with the task. Otherwise you may start to look at your items again and change your mind about certain things.

TIP: Use a basket with handles for the category FOR ANOTHER ROOM as then you can easily carry it around the house when you are finished, and put things back where they should go.

STEP FIVE: DE-CLUTTER THE SPACETouch every item in the space and make a decision on it. Place each item in one of the categories you have created, and work your way around the space. Make the decision right then and there, don’t delay. These questions will help you to decide:

KEEP IT?• Is it in the right room? If not, put in “DIFFERENT ROOM”

category • Do you need it now? If not, put in “OUT OF SEASON”

category• Does it need anything repaired before it can go back in the

space? If yes, put in “MEND” category• If none of the above, then simply add to the “KEEP” pile


TIP: Don’t move out of the space until you have finished – you have a category for “DIFFERENT ROOM” so don’t be tempted to wander off when you find something that goes elsewhere. Distractions mean things will take longer and you are more likely to not finish.

GET RID OF IT?• Is it in good condition? “GIVE AWAY,” “SELL,” “CHARITY”

categories are all options• Can it be recycled? “RECYCLE” category• If none of these, then “TRASH” category

TIP: Make it fun! Turn on some music, watch TV, this doesn’t need to be a dreaded chore.

TIP: Time it! Why not race against the clock so you keep motivated and it takes you less time? I like to set the oven timer for 30 minutes—it’s amazing how much you can get done, and you usually find you are happy to continue for another thirty minutes!

By now you should have your working space fully stocked with the items from the space you are de-cluttering—I expect that the “KEEP” pile will be the biggest in most cases.

STEP SIX: PUT EVERYTHING AWAYThis should now be quite easy to do, as you have put everything in the right piles. Start with putting back everything you want to keep in the space (Note: it’s worth cleaning the area before you put it all back, as this will take just a moment.) Next, get rid of anything that’s leaving the house. Even if you can’t make it to the donation store or mending location, right away put the items in your car. Be sure to take your trash and recycling to the bins. Finally take everything that belongs in a different room and put it back where it should go.

Your space should now be fully de-cluttered and ready to enjoy!

Why not race against the clock so you keep motivated

and it takes you less time? I like to set the oven timer

for 30 minutes—it’s amazing how much you can get done,

and you usually find you are happy to continue for

another 30 minutes!

SUMMARYIf you follow this simple step by step guide the next time you de-clutter, it should go pretty smoothly!

• Step 1 – Decide what to de-clutter• Step 2 – Assess the space• Step 3 – Clear your working space• Step 4 – Get your kit ready• Step 5 – De-clutter the space• Step 6 – Put everything away

GO


By Moni Gilbert365lessthings.com

I shudder at the idea of going back to my old ways. My home was filled with stuff; stuff that was stored, stuff that was part of a

collection, and just plain old stuff!

KEEPING THE

OF THINGSStrangest


I have worked to fill my home with only the items I need, but I still keep the strangest of things. I don’t know why, there is no logic to it, but I have difficulties getting rid of empty cardboard boxes and shopping bags, especially if they are from particularly nice clothing stores.

There is a wee corner of my brain that insists cardboard boxes are useful. Maybe they are, maybe they’re not, but I can get as many as I want any time that I want from my local Pak’n’Save. I have no plans to store anything and no need to carry anything in the foreseeable future, but I faithfully stack a small pile of them in the garage until finally the rational part of my brain turns up a few days later and breaks them down for recycling.

Shopping bags. I’m not talking about supermarket bags or ones from the mainstream stores, but the rather nice looking ones. I carefully fold them and place them inside a bag in my craft cupboard. There is only ever 5-10 sitting there and every so often I decide that today is the day I will de-clutter them, but it just doesn’t happen. The only reason I can think of is that when I was a girl my mom used to do the same thing.

At the time the economy was suffering under high inflation, extreme interest rates and a government introduced compulsory car-less day once a week to combat fuel costs. Our town was small and this was before the era of cheap “Made in China” clothing, so mom sewed what she could of our clothing and we accepted donated hand-me-down clothes. It didn’t bother us as passing down clothing was widely accepted in our community.

A pretty shopping bag represented luxury and they were probably still a new thing as I recall a drawer full of folded up paper bags used for everything from lining baking tins, to art projects, to lighting the fire to holding garbage. Wherever possible, we passed on our hand-me-down clothes in a nice plastic bag with a shop logo on it.

I mentioned this story to a friend over the weekend and she got a smile on her face and told me that she keeps the paper flour sacks to line baking tins for making fruit cake. The thing is; she has never made a fruit cake. Her mother and grandmother were fruit cake legends but the baking gene completely skipped her. Even so, she feels a need to keep these paper flour sacks.

Another friend religiously saves seeds from pumpkins and dries them on the kitchen window sill as her mother used to dry hers for planting, but my friend lives in an apartment block and has never had a garden.

So why do we carry on these little traditions from yester year? Who knows? Strangely I feel an attachment to these pretty plastic bags.

So what is my strategy to deal with this? Well, the first step is to make sure that no more come into the house, although this is fairly easy as I am not the shopping fiend that I used to be. I also politely decline a plastic bag at the store when I make a purchase and try to keep all of the items purchased that day in one bag.

And as for the existing bags? I have a number of items on eBay at the moment, and I will honor my mom’s tradition of passing on clothes using re-purposed bags and will use other bags for wrapping items I mail.

Peter Walsh is famous for saying that if you love something and want to keep it, you should honor it by displaying it.

Sonya Barker from athomewiththebarkers.com has found a way to honor her shopping bags by making them into

artwork.

A pretty shopping bag represented luxury and they were probably still a new thing as I recall a drawer full of folded up paper bags used for everything from lining baking tins,

to art projects, to lighting the fire to holding garbage. Wherever possible, we passed on

our hand-me-down clothes in a nice plastic carrier bag with a shop logo on it.

GO


Quick Tips

• Take 5-10 minutes at least once a week to take everything out of your car that is not essential to your daily commute.

• Have a small folder/accordion file in your car to hold receipts and paperwork that may accumulate from your daily errands.

• Be sure to have a trash bag in the car.

• Consider removing the manuals from the glove compartment and use that space for other items you use more regularly.

• Have an emergency kit in the car and remember to stock it at least every six months. Have supplies for both a roadside emergency (flares, blanket, etc.) as well as any natural disaster (bottled water, food, etc.)

• Contain as many items as possible by using a car organizer or tote in the trunk.

• Store coupons and discount cards in the car so you will have them when you need them.

• Keep baby/hand wipes in the car for quick clean ups.

• Consider an over the seat or visor organizer to contain items such as kids toys and CD’s.

• Have a map in the car just in case your phone/GPS battery dies and you are in need of directions.

• If you keep reusable shopping bags in your car, have a tote for them or way to organize them.

• Consider using an air freshener, as cars can often be a bit stuffy.

• Keep things off the floor. Either take the items out or have a storage container for them so they don’t slide around and cause safety concerns while driving.

Corral Car Clutter


Ask the Experts By Debbie Rosemontitssimplyplaced.com

Question: Help! I’m drowning in incoming email. I start opening email in the morning and soon hours have passed and I haven’t done anything but sift through email. How can I both manage my email and get my work done?

Answer: This is a very common challenge. Here are some tips for getting in control of your email and assuring you have time to work:

Don’t start your day by opening your inbox. Get something, perhaps the most important something, done from your task list first. This assures you’ve met one of the day’s goals before you delve into your inbox.

Reduce the frequency you check email. Checking email every few minutes when you’re trying to stay focused on your work is a very distracting and costly behavior. Experiment working in 25-90 minute sessions without checking email. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done and how the quality of your work improves without so much distraction.

Turn off notification sounds and icons. These notifications, even just hearing or glancing at them, can cost hours a day in lost productivity. Take control of your email and check your inbox on your terms.

Question: Things are falling through the cracks at work. I’m constantly forgetting to do things or neglecting to follow-up with clients. I use sticky notes to remind myself of what I need to do and it often looks like my desk is covered in sticky notes. Worse, I often either can’t find a note or forget that I made a note. How can I get organized so things don’t fall through the cracks?

Answer: Not only does having things fall through the cracks prevent you from meeting your commitments and goals; it also creates stress for you. You need a more reliable process for collecting and storing your tasks and commitments. You’ve made a good first step in writing things down. The sticky notes fail because they aren’t safely consolidated into a task or to-do list and because it is difficult to manage your work when commitments and ideas are scattered about. Here are some tips for preventing things from falling through the cracks:

Start using an electronic or paper task list. Make this the one and only spot you write down all of your commitments. Carry it with you. If you do jot down something on a sticky note, make sure to transfer it to your official task list.

Create an end of day routine to review and prioritize your task list. Things fall through the cracks when we lose sight of what’s on our task lists and what’s important. Take a few minutes at the end of each day to make sure you have all of your tasks written in one place and to make decisions about how to prioritize your work for the next day.

Question: I’m very busy. I have lots of things I need to get done and I work long hours. I feel overwhelmed and stressed because I work hard and yet still have trouble getting things done. Are there ways for me to be more productive?

Answer: Yes. Many people feel busy and also frustrated because they still don’t get things done despite being busy. Here are some tips for working smarter:

Plan your work and work your plan. A few minutes of planning can save you hours of time. Create a routine that supports planning for your work day. Review your calendar and prioritize your task list. Schedule time for getting work done. Then work your plan. This will help you stay focused on what’s important and allow you time to get things done.

Take regular breaks throughout the day. If you’re working a marathon day, treat yourself like an endurance athlete. To perform well your body needs to recharge with food, water and a change of pace (rest or physical activity depending on the type of work you do). Your mind also needs a break from focused or intense work to recharge. Try organizing your workday into 25-90 minute sessions. Between sessions recharge and come back to the next session with renewed energy and focus.

Do you have a question for our organizing experts? We would love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected]


Latest and GreatestSpring Cleaning Tools

What’s That Paint? | $4.99/packThe garage is usually on top of the list when the topic of spring cleaning comes up, but no one ever wants to tackle the pile of paint cans from years gone by. These labels make organizing your paint cans a breeze. The fill-in-the-blank, self-stick labels allow you to label the cans with all of the important information you will need. Never again wonder what mystery color is inside.whatsthatpaint.com

Spring usually means time to spring clean. For some, this task is welcomed- time to shake out the cobwebs of winter and let the sunlight shine. While for others the idea

is less than desirable. We found these fun, unique cleaning products that will make spring cleaning and organizing less of a chore.

Calendar Sponge |$12.99Digging through all of the paint cans, you may have made a mess of things. These sponges are an organizers dream! Never again wonder how old that sponge is- it tells you! These unique sponges are labeled with the months of the year which will automatically prompt you to change them out each month. calendarsponge.com


Bag Up | $20The dustpan has been revolutionized with this product. You no longer have to worry about your debris falling out of the pan; you don’t have to make several trips to the trash can and clean up is a cinch. Bag up is the perfect spring cleaning tool for yards, pet messes, sweeping out the garage and inside the house. bagupcleanup.com

Trash Krusher | $159What a great idea, a trash can and a trash compactor all in one. Simply grab the handle and push down- your trash will compact to about half its normal volume. This means fewer trips to the curb! A beautiful design that would work in any room and built sturdy to handle whatever you throw at it. trashkrusher.com


BooksFacing Food and FamilyAs one of the expert organizers on A&E’s Emmy-nominated TV series “Hoarders,” a three-time recipient of NAPO’s “Most Innovative Organizer Award” and a high-energy, sought-after national speaker and talk show guest, Dorothy Breininger’s career was soaring. Yet underneath her sunny disposition Dorothy carried around a secret shame of her own – food addiction. It wasn’t until the third season of “Hoarders” as she was talking to people with hoarding issues that she had an epiphany. Instead of hoarding possessions Dorothy was hoarding sugar & flour on her body the same way her clients were hoarding things in their home. In her book Stuff Your Face or Face Your Stuff, Dorothy opens up about the food issues that consumed her and provides a guidebook on how to clear the emotional or physical clutter out of your own life – in your mind, on your body or in your home.

Dorothy Breiningerbarnesandnoble.com, $12

It takes more effort to be disorganized than to be organized. Written by a mother of seven with the overwhelmed, stretched-too-thin, sleep-deprived mom in mind, From Frazzled to Focused walks busy readers through the easy-to-follow steps that will help them arrange their lives so they have more time to do what they love each day.

The four components of Caroline’s unique time-management method will help any overextended mother create systems from the chaos of a hectic household:

• Select (help moms determine what that should focus their limited time and attention on)

• Simplify (how to streamline mental and physical space)• Systemize (create simple systems for everyday life to keep things running

smoothly)• Sustain (maintain those systems and tweak when necessary).

Having these systems in place is the key to a more organized, relaxed life. Readers will learn how to free up space, reduce anxiety, and spend more time on the things that really matter.

Rivka Carolineamazon.com, $15

Take theGettingOrganized Challenge

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We challenge you to spring clean your bedroom and see what hidden

treasures you might find! Take 10-30 minutes to tidy up, put things away

and organize what’s left. Then pop over to our Facebook page and tell us

the best or strangest thing you find in your room. (If you find a winning

lottery ticket we promise to only ask for 10% of the winnings.)


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