20 minute Declutter

It is hard to find the time to de-clutter and well lets face it unless you are a professional organizer the chances are you are not a fan of de-cluttering!
If you take just 20 minutes per project you will be amazed at how much you can accomplish in such little time.
Try to schedule one project a week, write it into your agenda, on your wall calendar, in your phone where ever you will be reminded that this is important and needed.

Here are the top 5 areas that will make the most impact when you choose to de-clutter them:

1.  The Front Entrance Closet:  This closet is usually meant for guests coats, umbrellas and seasonal gear.  Use a couple of bins and a garbage bag when de-cluttering.  Throw out anything that is broken, take out anything that is not in the right season, fill a bin with items to donate.  To keep the closet de-cluttered have a basket for guests hats and gloves, add a couple of hooks to hang umbrellas and make sure you have a clear section where guests coats are hung.

2.   Under the sink:  So many things get tossed under the sink and not put away neatly.  Lets have our garbage bag ready. Throw out anything that is broken, return items to their correct home if not meant to be under the sink and check to see if your containers have product in them or not.  Use baskets to keep like items with like, such as; make-up with make-up, shampoo and conditioner together, cleaning supplies and so forth.  You can label each basket to keep order among them.

3.  Your Desk Drawers:  This is a place where "everything" ends up!  Empty your drawer and throw out anything that is broken, donate any items that you do not use and group items with like items. Once you have de-cluttered the drawer's items use small bins/boxes to keep like items together, such as; paper clips in one bin, pens and pencils in another, tape and liquid paper in another and so forth. This system with help keep your drawer neat and easy to find items.

4.  Garage:  Don't know where to keep something put it in the garage...Wrong! This area becomes a catch all for items without homes.  This area will most likely take a few 20 minute sessions.  To start take a garbage bag and throw out junk and broken items.  Have a box/bin for items to donate - ask yourself when was the last time I used this?  When do I plan on using this next?  On your next 20 minute de-cutter put all like items together; sporting equipment, tools, gardening items etc.  To keep your garage organized use hooks and clamps to hang bikes, folding chairs, rakes etc. Make use of shelves with bins of like items together and use larger bins on the floor for bigger items that won't fit on the shelves.

5.  Laundry Room: This is another space where people end up putting items they have no idea where to house.  Fill up that garbage bag with broken items or clothes you have not mended, unmatched socks (or use them as dusters) and empty containers.  Donate any clothes that you have not worn for the past 6 months but are still hanging in the laundry room. Consolidate all your laundry soap bottles together so you can minimize the space utilized.  Use baskets or bins to organize like items; such as; sewing in one, in need of mending, all your stain removers/dryer sheets/dryer balls in another and so forth.  Add an empty basket or bin for donations.  When you wash something your kids have outgrown or are doing a seasonal wash put aside the items you did not wear and donate them to a local charity.


I hope this gets you motivated to de-clutter your home one 20 minute project at a time!!  Share your before and after photos to help motivate others!!

No excuses....

I find most people use the excuse that they do not have time to organize and de-clutter.  I would like to challenge this excuse with 10, 10-minute tasks!

1.  Designate a spot for incoming papers.  Paper is a major source of clutter in most households.  If you keep all papers in one spot it lessens the clutter and keeps you organized to find important papers when needed.

2.  Clear your counters.  Take everything off them that you do not use on a daily basis.  Store small appliances, no room in your cupboards remove small appliances from your cupboards if you only use them 2 - 3 times a year and store it in your basement or pantry.

3.  Pick a shelf any shelf.  Commit to clearing off one shelf, in the garage, laundry room, pantry, where ever you choose as long as you complete one shelf. Take it one shelf at a time.

4.  Create simple folders. Have incoming bills, paid bills, active paperwork etc. nothing too fancy but this can be set up in your designated paper area.  This will keep you on top of this pile and not feel overwhelmed by it.

5.  Learn to file quickly.  Once you have done all you need with in coming papers, file them immediately. This will keep the paper area organized and keep paper flowing not piling up on you.

6. Have a box/bin in your trunk for charity donations. When you come across an item in our house you no longer need but is useful and in good shape add it to this box/bin . When your box/bin is full donate it to a local charity.

7.  Clear out your medicine cabinet.  Only keep items you use on a daily basis in there.  This allows for more room and less cutter so you can easily find things.

8.  Pull everything out of a drawer.  Go through items and ask if you still need it, can it be donated or is it garbage? Put back items needed in an organized fashion, use bins and boxes to separate like items together.

9.  Admire your hard work. Once you have organized and de-cluttered an area look at it, take it in. Make the decision that this is the look you want for the entire house and commit to working on it 10 minutes at a time.

10.  Create a 30 day list. To keep a lot of new stuff from coming in make a list of items you see out and about that you want, date the item and in 30 days if you still want it you can purchase it. Most times shopping is done on an impulse and we do not need nor want things we did over the course of 30 days. This will save you money and new clutter from happening.

Let me know how your 10-minute tasks go...share before and after photos to encourage others to take the challenge as well. I hope this smashes your excuse for not de-cluttering and organizing, you deserve a serene and functioning space just like everyone else does  :)

Dance Cards is the new Black

As an entrepreneur I find myself meeting several people in a week under the guise of a dance card.

No not that type of dance card...
If you are not aware of what a dance card is here is a brief description: it is where you put your business card in a "hat" and then draw out a card.  You connect with whomever got your card and vice versa. This sets up 2 meetings in a week. I am naturally an introverted person so I have grown quite a bit and am coming out of my shell by being myself with several people on a weekly sometimes daily basis.  I am all the better for this experience and would not trade it for the world.  I live by the philosophy that all people are teachers, they teach you what you want to be or what not to be.


                    



Here is the latest thing I have learned along the way while on a dance card of course it has a little bit of organizing involved!!

Scott McEachern, a financial planner, taught me quite a bit when we met for a coffee.  The one thing that stood out for me was his "LifePath Essential Document Checklist", ok its true I love check lists and feel everyone needs more of them in their lives.  This check list is a smart one.  It is a few pages that you fill out key information about your important documents, such as; who is your lawyer, where your will is kept, insurance policy numbers, TFSA, GIC's, RRSP's etc contract information, computer codes and passwords and the list goes on and on.  If you want more information check out his website.  www.McEachernFinancial.ca
He also taught me that new dad's have baby brain too and they can somehow survive on no sleep just as well as new moms. Congratulations again on the new baby Scott!

Challenge Recaps!!

Every week or so I put a challenge out on Facebook, a challenge to organize an area of your home/office.  I thought this would be a good place to put them all together, thus far, so those who have not seen my posts on Facebook can get on track with de-cluttering their homes and organizing it to become the serene and functioning space they deserve!

Week 1: I challenge you to take fifteen minutes right now and organize one drawer, the closest one to you! Go for it now is the time!!! You won't regret it 

Week 2: get rid of at least 3 duplicates you have of something in the kitchen! You know you have them; just in case...donate them to a shelter or salvation army or throw them out. They are cluttering up your space. Make room for new gadgets and utensils you will need in the future 

Week 3: is for all you Crafters/Seamstresses/Knitters/Crocheters etc. It is called the 100 item challenge. You have to make 100 items with the supplies you already have without purchasing new ones!! Yikes I know but if you are like most crafters you have a room or two full of supplies you are going to make something with one day...well today is the day you can start. This will save you money and create space for new supplies to come in. I have done it a few times over the last 2 years and what an awesome feeling it is to complete it and how creative you have to be to create with what you have on hand!

Week 4: Think of the spot in your home that causes you the most stress due to its cluttered nature (closet, spare room, drawer, pantry), now book in 20 minutes this week to work on it. This will show you how much can get done in just 20 minutes and hopefully you can do this weekly, bi-weekly and poof your stressful spot will be gone!

Week 5: Go through your files and see what can be shredded, condensed and what needs to be added or if there are any duplicates. On your electronic files see that you have no duplicate folders or sub folders. We can get busy and over look files especially if we haven't used it in awhile.

Week 6: Your spices, put them in alphabetical order, label them if they are not labelled already.

Week 7: Collect all your wrapping paper, tissue paper, bows, ribbon, greeting cards and gift bags together. Either have them all in one drawer, in a box labelled, or all in the largest gift bag and put away in a closet. You can also add a roll of scotch tape and a couple of pens. You will always be able to find that greeting card you picked out special for that good friend

Week 8: The Laundry Room
Make sure everyone has a hamper in their room. Keep lids off hampers in laundry room makes it easier to add dirty clothes to them and remove for washing. Keep a basket for items that need mending and make it a monthly chore or drop off to seamstress. Keep a small basket for items found (money, notes, buttons). Keep items for the dry cleaners hanging in one closet or in laundry room if you have a rod and have a weekly/biweekly day you take them to get washed. Make sure you have back up of all your cleaning detergents and spot cleaners so you will never find yourself without. Choose one day a week to do all the laundry or do 1 - 2 loads a night whichever suits your routine best.


Week 9: The Fridge 
Take everything out of fridge, take out drawers and clean them, and put them back. 
Go through food and sort like with like and keep them in same drawer or container, go so far as labeling the container and drawers.
Throw out past due date items and ones that are due soon put in a separate bin labelled "use me first". 
Containers can be purchased at very reasonable prices at the local dollar store , Walmart or Canadian Tire.
Look to the pictures for inspiration, your fridge can look that good and will make life easier when looking for items in the fridge, especially for kids and men who don't seem to know how to bend and look directly into the fridge for items lol ok not all kids nor men tee hee hee

Week 10: Pick a Sink any Sink!
Let's clean under a sink this week.
Take everything out and throw out what is never used or out of date.
Use baskets or bins to group like items, nail polish with nail polish, hair care with hair care, make up with make up etc. Label each bin/basket to make it easy for all to know what goes where.
Have one tote to carry all your cleaning supplies so you can go from room to room cleaning with ease.
You can use a small tension rod under your Kitchen/Utility sink to hang cleaner spray bottles from it, makes more room on the floor of the cabinet.

Week 11: Papers oh the Papers!!
Create a spot where all your mail/receipts/invoices and other important documents are kept until you have time, I mean undivided attention, to go through and do what you need to with said papers; pay bills, file it, make phone calls, create an invoice etc. 
You can use a basket or bin or a file folder that can house all these papers. Next choose when you will go through your papers in the week, once, twice, daily and make a commitment to do so. Mark it on your calendar and stick with it 

Week 12: Sock Drawer
The best way to get a handle on your sock drawer it to have dividers, bins, boxes or specific solutions to help separate your socks.
First off empty the drawer, go through socks and throw out any unmatched socks, (or use as a duster or make a sock puppet family) fix the ones you need to, and keep seasonal socks with seasonal clothing (away in a bin in the garage/basement or a closet)
Fold all socks the same way, keep like colours together and sort from light to dark.
You can have one area for your panty-hose/tights/knee highs/thigh highs.
I want to see pictures of before and after sock drawers


Week 13: The Linen Closet!!
Make sure you are keeping like items in the same closet; towels, bedding, shower caddy's, Toiletries over flow, blankets and comforters and pillows.
Go through all your items and see what is worn and can be thrown out or used as a rag to clean the cars with or what is not used anymore can be donated.
Fold all towels the same way and have them placed with largest and medium sized together and another pile for hand towels and face cloths. Place them on one of the middle shelves since you will be accessing them regularly.
When folding your bedding, put the flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillow cases all into one pillow case this way you are always able to find the set. These too can be stored on a middle shelf.
Some folks have small bathrooms so every person in the family has their own shower caddy, this is a bin/basket to carry all their toiletries and bathroom needs, choose an easily accessible shelf to store these on too.
Store blankets, pillows and comforters that are not used daily on the highest shelf, this way you will only have to reach high on a limited basis.
For overflow of toiletries can be stored on the lower shelf since you will only have to bend low on a limited basis as well. Use baskets to make them easier to access and to make it look cleaner all around


Week 14: Front Entrance/Mud room!!First off think of who comes in through which entrance and what they bring to and from the space: Keys, purses, back packs, briefcases, mail (this should go immediately to your paper organizing centre), leashes, umbrellas, cellphones, shades, coats, winter/summer accessories (hats, scarves, gloves) and so on.
Secondly de-clutter the area remove and find homes for items that do not belong in this area. Keep it seasonal. Use Hooks, baskets, shelving and other solutions to house all the necessary items in the entrances. A nice bench with storage under the seat is a great solution for both storing items but to allow people to sit while getting their shoes on and off. Check out the pictures for beautiful ideas.
Third thing to do is make it part of our nightly de-clutter routine, the last 15 - 20 minutes before heading to bed, make sure only the items that are stored in these areas are there, put the rest away, get the entire family involved.



















Keep up with the weekly challenges like my facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Serenity-Organizing-Solutions/393321850821415

I love to hear feedback, see before and after pics, please share some with us it will help inspire others to combat the clutter!!

Happy organizing, you can do this and better yet you deserve this  :)

Small Spaces ~ How to organize

Living in a small space poses its challenges but it is very easy to create areas with in the space that are organized and efficient. When in a small space always think about how furniture and other items can be used as double duty and think of storing up way up...so much dead space near ceilings you can store so much that isn't used daily.

Here are some fun and creative ideas you can use to organize your small space:

1.   In your living room think about your coffee table being used as storage space as well so buy one with storage under it or use an ottoman with storage, you can store blankets, remote controls, movies and toys depending on what suits your lifestyle.

2.  Its tough to have enough closet space but if you do you can always turn one of your closets into a home office and then you can close the doors to tuck it away neatly when you have guests over. In there you can house all your files, bills, computer/laptop, printer, invoices etc.  You can also buy a wardrobe cabinet and transform it into one as well.

3.  A loft style bed is an awesome way to open up floor space below the bed, say for a desk, extra storage for crafts, toys, games, books whatever your lifestyle needs space for.

4.  Use the space under your bed to store seasonal clothing, you can use plastic bins for this or drawers on wheels what ever works best for you.

5.  In your kitchen think about using a pot rack that hangs down from the ceiling and also hanging wire fruit baskets to give more space in cupboards and on the counters.

6.  If your kitchen is small use a folding style table one that can expand in size if needed but is quite small when not in use.  There are tables that are attached to the wall and fold down for giving the most space when not in use.

7.  If you have a bachelor or need space for guests you can use a fold-out bed built in cabinets.  very functional and hides bed in cabinet until ready to use it.

8.  Add a shelf over a window frame or door frame, add baskets to hold essential items, I suggest items that are not used frequently or are overflow, ie. towels, toilet paper, tissue, books etc.

9.  It is a good investment for small spaces to get rolling drawers so you can access items way in the back of the cabinet.

10.  There are fabulous fold up furniture nowadays: fold up kitchen islands, table with chairs stored in them when not in use, coffee tables that pop up and can be used as a console table etc,

11.  Think storing items vertically like your trays and cutting boards, use tension rods in a cupboard to create vertical spaces.

I hope this gives you ideas of how to optimize your small space and keep it organized.  Please share pictures of your small space or small space ideas
Thanks :)