One box might not seem like a lot to organize, but when it comes to stamps it can be overwhelming, especially if you have a lot. It does not have to be. There are many ways you can organize your stamp collection and here is some guidance for a step by step tutorial:
How knowing your tendency can help you achieve your goals
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Ever wondered why you can get some things done but not others? How do other people get fit, organized or stay accountable? Knowing your personality type and tendency can help make a difference in accomplishing the tasks that lead you to your best life.
Last month I read the book “the four tendencies” by Gretchen Rubin. In this groundbreaking analysis of personality type, bestselling author of Better Than Before and The Happiness Project Gretchen Rubin reveals the one simple question that will transform what you do at home, at work, and in life. Gretchen Rubin realized that by asking the seemingly dry question "How do I respond to expectations?" we gain explosive self-knowledge. She discovered that based on their answer, people fit into Four Tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so using this framework allows us to make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress, and engage more effectively. (Amazon)
I took the quiz and discovered that I was a “Questioner” which was not surprising to me. According to the definition on her website , “Questioners question all expectations, and they respond to an expectation only if they conclude that it makes sense—in essence, they meet only inner expectations. They’re motivated by reason, logic, and fairness. They wake up and think, “What needs to get done today, and why?” They decide for themselves whether a course of action is a good idea, and they resist doing anything that seems to lack purpose. Because Questioners want to make well-considered decisions and come to their own conclusions, they tend to be intellectually engaged, and they’re often willing to do exhaustive research.”
This describes my personality to a T. When I did my 10x10 challenge project I did not do it, because it is on trend or because it is something minimalists are doing. I researched the benefits of having a capsule wardrobe and wanted to see if it would work for me. I found the idea for the challenge online and thought I should try it out, because I want to (inner expectation) stop buying clothes and use what I have efficiently for environmental and economical reasons.
What is your tendency? Find out by taking the quiz here:
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.
My ten by ten wardrobe experiment
/Have you ever opened your closet and felt like you have nothing to wear, despite owning tons of clothes? I’ve been there! Last year I came across a couple of minimalist fashion Instagram accounts with the hashtag 10x10 Challenge. It got me interested in trying it out.
What is the 10x10 Challenge?
Basically you get to pick out 10 pieces of your wardrobe (not counting underwear, shoes or accessories). Then you Mix and match the ten items you have picked out for the next ten days.
What I loved about it:
It literally only took me 5 minutes to get dressed in the morning. Since I had limited options, I did not feel overwhelmed by the choices, but had enough to choose from (casual to business). Also for an experiment it is not too long of a commitment. Ten days is long enough to get into a habit and short enough to decide if a capsule wardrobe is something to consider long term. I was able incorporate a couple of “fancy” pieces I usually don’t wear but it gave me the opportunity to have to wear them and I really felt good about myself wearing those beautiful pieces even on an ordinary day.
Things to consider:
This reminded me of streamlining your wardrobe and creating a “basic wardrobe” with some accent pieces. This is easy and saves time picking your clothes. When shopping your own closet instead of buying new things, you save the environment from adding more trash to the landfill and save cash by not going shopping for new clothes all the time. Also owning less clothes will help you organize your closet more efficiently and and practically. Once you get used to the accessibility of your items you might want to implement the concept of minimizing to the rest of your home and life as well.
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.
How to organize your Kitchen step by step
/Organizing your Kitchen can seem daunting, especially if you have a large space and many cabinets that are filled. The first step is to take a big breath. Then Imagine your perfect lifestyle. What will a tidy home enable you to do? What does your kitchen look like? How long does it take you to find things and put them back? Now that you have a vision, get started!
First we take out all the items from the cabinets. if you have a small kitchen you could take everything out at one time. However, If you have a big kitchen, time or physical restrictions I recommend only working on a couple of cabinets or set a time limit for no more than 2-3 hours per session. The kitchen is a big job, so don’t hesitate to hire your help.
The process:
Gather all items in one space (kitchen, counter, table or floor)
Joy check your items: Ask “does this spark joy”, how often do i use this? Is it broken, What’s the purpose for this? Do not hold on to items because they were “a good deal” or because they were gifted to you. You want to surround yourself with only things that spark joy for you and support you in your desired lifestyle. For Items that do not spark joy, say thank you and either put them in a donation box or discard them if they are broken or expired.
Sort items: If your items spark joy put them aside by category. For example cooking pots and pans will be stored together, spices or small appliances etc.
Put Items back into the empty space after you are finished joy checking all of your belongings. Items you seldom use such as the rice cooker or a toaster should be stored on the top shelf on in the cabinet, while things you use frequently should be stored where they are easily accessible. Store likewise items together and use (cardboard) boxes or plastic bins to keep then separate.
Lastly, sell you unwanted items at a yard-sale or with this app locally or drop them off your donations at your favorite non-Profit. Then take your discarded and broken items to the trash.
Once you have organized your kitchen and given every singe item a home, You will find the things you are looking for and your family members will know where to put things back. you will save time and clean less. Ideally, you do not want to have anything sitting on your counter tops except for 2-3 appliances you use every day. A clean and organized kitchen is the center of the home and should not give you anxiety, but a sense of peace and pride as well as gratefulness to have everything you need available when you need it.
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.
My five favorite Products for home and office organization
/Organizing your home can be fun and energizing, but having the right equipment in hand can also save you space and make all your hard work look even more pleasing. Here are my top 5 picks for organization products:
Drawer dividers are great for separating anything from file folded clothes to kitchen products and office supplies. they come in many different materials such as plastic, clear acrylic and bamboo. they are versatile and adjustable to the size of your drawers. Make sure to store similar items together to quickly find what you are looking for. This also gives you an opportunity to stage your belongings just like this underwear drawer.
2. Velvet hangers:
Velvet hangers are great because they not only save space, but also make your hanging clothes look more uniform and upscale. The velvet material that covers the hangers makes them non slip and perfect for even the most silkiest of materials. Make your closet look like you are walking into a boutique with this easy upgrade. Learn how to organize your clothes efficiently here>>>
3. Wire or wicker baskets
these are great for kitchen and bathroom organization. Wicker hides products you don’t want to while and clear or wire baskets do. These are great for pantries, open shelves and cabinet storage. They come in different sizes, shapes and heights. Make sure to measure your cabinets/ pantry before buying these. You can mix and match your baskets or buy all the same kind to make it look uniform. You can be creative in how you want to display your storage containers this way.
4. Clear food containers:
For closed containers clear glass or plastic ones are great for pasta, rice and flour storage. They remove the busy labels from your view and you can see, what and how much of things you have. Once you have assigned your food items a fitting container make sure to use labels on them as well so you don’t mix up ingredients.
5. Drawer inserts
These are great for small things in the office, crafting items or beauty supplies. Sort like wise items together in the containers and place in drawers. this ensures that every item has separation and a place to be. Ready to get your office organized yet? Read more here>>>>
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.
How to Organize Your Home Office for Good
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Guest Blog: Melissa Bryan from Mrs. Melissa Bryan Home & Office Solutions is a professional organizer who shares methods to keep you and your family happy, healthy, and organized. You can find her tips and tricks along with a healthy dose of large family living on her website www.mrsmelissabryan.com or check out her Facebook page for where she shares her daily stories and words of inspiration. If you are a fan of inspiration, be sure to find her on Pinterest
Lessons from Marie Kondo on eliminating paper clutter once and for all
Recently, I tackled a home office for a friend. She has a beautiful home and is herself a very organized person, but her home office had gotten out of control. After building her new home, several boxes from different family businesses had finally all made their way to the home office from storage. This created a large collection of papers and left the family without a space where they could work and enjoy. How can you organize your home office for good?
I must admit that while I do not have several businesses that I run from my home office, my own space had gotten shabby and in disarray. It is so easy to set that stack of mail down and plan to get to it later or to collect everything for the accountant and become distracted. Lots of us do this right? Keeping your paper clutter controlled can be done without creating a panic attack I promise. What you need is a good plan.
If you have read the book by Marie Kondo “The Life-Changing Art of Tidying Up”, she goes into detail about the order in which one should tidy. I am not an affiliate, but you can get her book here. By breaking down the categories of clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous, and sentimental, she provides a simple road map to a truly tidy home. Regarding paper she says,
““MY BASIC PRINCIPLE FOR SORTING PAPERS IS TO THROW THEM ALL AWAY.””
Organizing your home office for good begins with getting everything in one place
Carry ALL paperwork to one central location. Drag it all over to your dining room table if you have one or your living room floor and group everything into one space and dig in. This will help you avoid the pitfall of having duplicate items in multiple spaces. Be sure to start with your office paper clutter and save sentimental papers for after you have completed this challenge. Sorting office papers are much easier to be objective about.
The paper clutter plan – you can do this!
Sorting – Create a now, later and forever method of sorting.
Now papers are your bills. Organize your bills in the front of your cabinet or folder and toss once paid. Subscribe to online bill pay when available. This service will save you money on stamps, time, and late fees. Go paperless on bank statements. Many banks and cell phone companies will reduce their fees for using this feature.
Later papers are for taxes and business paperwork. Organize those into totes or clear plastic containers and label. One should be for the current year and one (or several) for the previous years. Shred the rest when possible.
Forever papers are important documents like birth certificates, social security cards, or contracts. I highly recommend creating a family binder. If you need an idea on how to create this, check this one out https://rockitmama.com/family-emergency-binder-free-printables-to-create-your-own/ I grab mine every time I need to file a shot record or sign my kids up for school. Even doctor’s visits may require some of this important info. Keep this where you can just grab and go.
Create a now, later and forever method of sorting.
Scan important documents into a digital format.
This method will help you to eliminate accruing paper clutter in the future. Simply scan, dispose, and go. Use a similar process for receipts; keep them in a coupon organizer until you can scan them or snap a pic with your phone and email it to yourself. Adobe has an app that makes this really simple. I know someone who uses his wallet for this. You should see the size of it!
Dispose anything that doesn’t go into one of the three categories
When you have gone through the now, later, and forever categories, you will have determined what is really needed and what can be disposed of. Tax records should be kept for 7 years. Neatly place in a tote with the years labeled on the outside. Dispose of anything you can or shred documents with sensitive information. Use this as some therapy time! Shred the stress away and recycle it! Keep a separate trash can in the kitchen for recycling. This will keep everything tidy unlike those bins that some cities provide.
What do you do with your neatly sorted piles? Organize what is left into a file cabinet or expandable file folder with labels designating each category. Your important documents should be organized according to individual and placed inside the family binder. Organize your bills according to when they are due or set them in the first file of your cabinet.
Sentimental Items
Admittedly, this is the hardest part for yours truly to get rid of. Hold those sweet child drawings and ask yourself, “Does this item spark joy?” If it does, it can go into one of the clear plastic bins. Try to limit yourself to only one bin. If you have multiple child coloring book drawings, don’t beat yourself up over tossing it. It is my preference to keep the pictures with hand prints.
Photos need to be sorted too. Be sure that you know at least one person in the photo. I inherited photos from family and felt that I had to keep these photos of a distant uncle that I had never met. Store the photos you keep into a photo box. This is the thing I personally struggle with most. No judgement my friend.
Maintenance – keeping your home office organized for good
So, how are you going to keep your papers organized for good? Find a space in your home to designate as your drop zone. This space could be a bowl, basket, or tray. After you have removed the junk mail, set the remaining mail in its place. Wherever you choose to keep it, dedicate only one place for it. Set a weekly alarm to remind yourself to take care of it and pay, file, scan, or trash it.
Enlist help if you need it for tackling this project. Accruing papers is easy thing to do. Be brutal in your conquest for a tidy home office. Create the habit and practice it daily.
How to organize your clothes
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Before you start organizing you must ask yourself why. What is the goal of organization? Do you want to minimize your distractions, have more time for playing with the kids or maybe you just want to be able to find your keys in the morning. I got you! But I invite you to look further down the road and imagine your ideal life! If you want to stay organized for the long run you need a long term goal to be able to create everyday tidy habits. Some of my clients envision their ideal lifestyles such as traveling more, working less (or changing careers), going back to school or spending more time (really being present) with loved ones. Once you have figured out your long term goals and ideal lifestyle then you are ready to get started.
We start by organizing our clothes because we want to learn to make easy decisions before we make hard ones (It is easier to decide about a stained shirt than it is about grandmas old china). Making good decisions about your belongings will train your brain to make good decisions about your life.
Step 1: Gather all your clothes in one place (the bed or bedroom floor are great)
The reason we want to do this is to see how much we really own. For many of my clients surprise it’s often much more than they anticipated.
Step 2: Touch every single Item and ask if it sparks joy!
Yes I know it sounds cheesy, but we have been trained to make decisions based on other peoples opinion all the time. We have to re-learn to make decisions based on our own well being and happiness. So, if you touch your favorite shirt you will feel happy and warm and you will have an emotional reaction to it. Make your decisions based on how your clothes make you feel and if these items are something you would want to wear in your ideal life.
Related: Minimalist Closet: Practice Minimalism with Your Wardrobe
Step 3: Sort you items into a keep, donate or discard pile
If the answer to the question “does it spark joy” is yes, keep it. If the answer is no, make sure you thank the item (yes gratitude is important to let go and to appreciate what the item has done for and meant to you in the past). Then either donate it if it is in good shape or discard it if it is stained or ripped or too old to be reused.
Step 4: File fold your clothes to save space
When you are finished sorting, my advice is to fold as much as you can. Most modern fabrics don’t wrinkle anymore and folding will safe you tons of space. The neat thing with file folding is, that you can see every single item and are able to pull them out from the dresser, without making a mess. Here is a tutorial on how to fold your clothes vertically:
Step 5: Store items back in the closet
Folded Items should be stored in a dresser, from light to heavy. Lighter items such as bras, panties or socks should be stored in the top drawer and heavier items like jeans should be stored on the bottom. When hanging up items make sure o hang them up in an angle from long to short or sort them by color.
Step 6: Discard your trash and drop off your clothes donations at your favorite non-profit or second hand store
I recommend to make a donations drop of the same day you finished organizing your clothes, or the bags might be laying around in your home and becoming a nuisance for weeks. Also do not leave them in the garage or they might be forgotten forever. The sooner you can take the responsibility to donate/ discard them is when you have finished the clothes category of organization.
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.
I am challenging you to a 10 WEEKS OF DECLUTTERING CHALLENGE!!
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Is Corona virus leaving you stuck at home? Now is the time to get organized and stay that way. Join us on our 10 week spring de-cluttering challenge, where we as a community get organized together. No matter if you live in San Diego, Antarctica or Germany, this is for everyone that is willing to give it a try.
During these 10 weeks you will:
Figure out what your ideal lifestyle looks like
learn to decide what sparks joy and what does not
learn to let go with gratitude
organize in an efficient and practical way
create a effortlessly tidy home
be able to apply these principles to all aspect of life
Pre-Organization: Create a Vision for your ideal Life
WEEK ONE: CLOTHES: (timeline 3-6 hours)
WEEK TWO: Books: (Timeline 1-4 hours)
WEEK THREE: Papers/Office supplies (Timeline 4-6 hours)
WEEK FOUR: Bathroom/Beauty supplies (Timeline 3-6 Hours)
WEEK FIVE: Electronics (2-4 Hours)
WEEK SIX: Kitchen (Timeline 4-8hours)
WEEK SEVEN: Cleaning Supplies/Linens (Timeline 2-3 hours)
WEEK EIGHT: Toys/Pets (Timeline 2-4 hours)
WEEK NINE: Hobbies (2-6 Hours)
WEEK TEN: Sentimental's (Timeline 2-4 Hours)
Post-Organization: Permanent Storage Solutions
This Challenge will start on May 4tth. I will guide your through all the categories and give you helpful tips on how to de-clutter and organize efficiently and permanently.
If you would like to accept this challenge and get your home in order once and for all come join our 10 Week Challenge Facebook group to participate via our online platform.
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.
Organizing a schedule while being confined at home
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With many San Diego schools, businesses and events being cancelled, we are now getting the gift of time. Time at home with our kids, time to finish the one or two projects we have started or maybe even to organize and deep clean our homes.
Here are some tips from a local San Diego professional organizer and KonMari Consultant on how to handle scheduling and hire help during the social distancing period.
Set yourself (and your kids) some goals for the day:
Clean out the fridge or getting your daily steps in by taking a walk, make sure you give yourself a goal to accomplish to feel productive. Your kids should have their goals too; finishing homework, doing their chores and maybe work on a project together (maybe learning how to prepare a meal?)
Make sure to get some sun:
One hour per day should be set aside for outside time. Play some soccer with the kids or take your bike out for a ride. Research shows that going outside is good for your health, lowers depression and it gives us a break from these overwhelmingly negative news on TV.
Time out for screens:
Make sure to turn off the screens and read a book that you have been wanting to read or play a board game with your family. Puzzles can be a great alternative for activating your memory and increasing focus.
Support small business:
Especially in times like these it is more important than ever to keep supporting small business. Even though we can’t physically go into crowded places and attend events, we can still order a to go meal from a local restaurant, buy a gift card from a local store online or take advantage of online classes/ virtual sessions offered.
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.
3 Ideas on how to make de-cluttering fun
/Getting organized when you feel overwhelmed can be hard. Finding time to start, when you are busy is challenging. An organizing marathon is not for everybody. If you are like me, challenges make it fun. Get together with a friend or join an online community like the KonMari+Dave Ramsey Facebook Group to find motivation, inspiration and accountability. Here are some ideas and fun challenges to help you enjoy the process.
Make a vision Board of your perfect lifestyle and hang it up in your closet to remind you of the why.
When you have a visual of the things that you value and desire, you are more likely to think about them. Make sure you create your vision board around how you want to feel in all areas of your life such as home, career, relationships, money, travel or personal growth. Once you know what’s important to you, you can delegate your time into achieving your goals. Visualization can be one of the most powerful exercises you can do and there is research to prove t too. Psychology Today reported that a study looking at brain patterns in weightlifters found that the patterns activated when a weightlifter lifted hundreds of pounds were similarly activated when they only imagined lifting. In some cases, research has revealed that mental practices are almost effective as true physical practice, and that doing both is more effective than either alone.
Play the Min-Game Challenge!
The rules are easy. You have 30 days to de-clutter and it starts with one item on day 1, then two items on day 2, three items on day 3 and so on. The further you get into the moth the more challenging it gets. At the end of the Month you have gotten rid of about 465 items! The great thing about this challenge is that it does not take a lot of time and once you get into it, it is hard to stop. There is also a whole community playing this game online and sharing their progress, you can find them on Instagram with the hashtag #minsgame to join.
Make Money!
It does not matter if you are moving, just moved in or have lived in your home for a couple of decades, making money is always helpful. Many of my clients plan to hold a yard sale at the end of their organizing journey. Make sure you set yourself a date and advertise it to hold yourself accountable. Through the process of de-cluttering your home you might even come across some unused gift cards, gift certificates or even checks that have not been deposited. The thing to remember is to price your items that they will sell. The money is already gone and you have decided that all these items are going, so remembering that all of it is going to donations afterward anyways, should give you a realistic outlook on money goals. Any money you make is going to be a profit.
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.
My story
/I have a confession to make!
I wasn’t always super organized. Before I became a Professional Organizer I had my own struggle with clutter. Don’t believe me?
This is my story:
I am originally from Germany where I grew up in a 700sqft. home with my Parents and a Bernese Mountain Dog. We only had one car and no Garage. I rode my bike to school everyday and we did not have dial up internet until I was a teenager. It was a simple life where we spend most of our free time outside with friends when the weather was good. We never bought a lot of stuff, we had everything we needed.
When I came to San Diego as an adult I experienced the freedom of making my own money and being able to purchase whatever I wanted. Also there was always something on sale. I started to accumulate lots of stuff as well as debt. I was under a tremendous amount of stress, being a working mom and full-time student, juggling career, family-life and self care. Even though I loved my job, there was no potential for growth or promotions possible. I felt burned out in my career and overwhelmed with all the stuff at home that I had to maintain, clean and take care of.
When I came across Marie Kondo’s book “the life-changing magic of tidying up” I just wanted to organize my home to get my mind clear. When I was going trough all my belongings, I found so many things that still had tags on them. I found items that were never used or have forgotten I even had them. I used shopping as a temporarily fix for happiness. With the help of the the KonMari Method™ I discovered what I truly valued in my life by asking the question “does it spark joy?” and the WHY behind every single item I owned.
I purged about 80% of my belongings including a car. I felt lighter, calmer and happier. My husband and I had paid off all of our consumer debt by selling unwanted stuff and learning to say no to spending temptations. After experiencing what an improvement this lifestyle change has made for my home, my family and my mental health, I quit my job and became a certified KonMari Consultant, so I can help others become more organized, productive and happy. Through the process of de-cluttering the KonMari way, I learned that my true values are my Family, Education and Travel. So now, I spend my time and money accordingly. I would have never been able to to figure this out on my own, I was so distracted by all the clutter, physically and mentally.
My KonMari journey has led me to my true potential. I became better at organizing, as well as more confident in making decisions that help me live a joyful life on my terms. I no longer engage in activities that don’t spark joy or hold to things because of feelings of guilt. I only make time for people that treat me well and I try to be very intentional about what I bring into my house.
I feel very grateful for the roof over my head, running/clean water and a fridge that’s filled. I really learned to appreciate the ordinary things in life, like having an afternoon tea with my husband or playing board games with my 6 year old.
The KonMari Method™ is about having or creating a vision of your perfect lifestyle, regardless of your current circumstances. It’s like creating a roadmap to happiness. Once you have figured out where you want to go you just have to follow the steps to get there. Marie Kondo’s Philosophy is applicable to all aspects of life and therefore learning to make decisions about joy, happiness and gratitude is an essential skill that will lead you to succeed in organizing your home and your life.
If you have finished your tidying Marathon I would love to hear your story! Send me an email or contact me on Social Media! If you enjoyed this blog post please leave me a comment.
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.
Try a yearly Theme instead of a New Years Resolution
/Haven’t set a new years resolution yet? Maybe you don’t want to make one this year, because the previous years it just didn’t work out? Try a “Yearly Theme” instead! I listened to the Cortex podcast the other day, where they mentioned the idea of a yearly theme instead of a New Years Resolution. The reason being, there isn’t a way to fail. it’s the idea of thinking and creating habits to live your “ideal life”. The hosts of the Cortex Podcast discuss their own experiment with the past yearly theme they have had for themselves: “the year of less” which is a really interesting way to approach decision making and habit forming, especially if a “yearly theme” is a new concept for you. For me, i decided my yearly theme for 2020 will be “intention”. My goal is to put more intention in my time, work, schooling and relationships. If you decide to set yourself a Theme for 2020, I would love to hear about it!
Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas..
10 Last Minute clutter free gift ideas
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The best gifts are not gifts. The best gifts are fun (giving and receiving), don’t bring clutter, involve experiences and create memories.
1. For moms: Massage or Spa day
2. For Kids: Zoo pass or museum tickets
3. For Music lovers: subscription to Pandora
4. For the working mom: Food delivery subscription or House Cleaning service certificate
5. For the Health conscious: Gym membership or yoga class pass
6. For the person that doesn’t want anything: Make a donation in their name to their favorite Charity
7. For Seniors: Handmade Coupons for IOU’s: lunch dates, trip to the library, bingo night etc.
8. For the book lover: library card
9. For the adventurous: Horseback riding and wine tour, paintball tickets
10. For the Crafty: Tickets to a arts and crafts workshop/class
Copyright © 2019 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego, CA.
4 Tips on how to have clutter free and joyful Holidays
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Be a role model- De-clutter your own stuff first and make sure your kids see what you are doing and start a conversation about the purpose of de-cluttering (ex: getting rid of worn clothes, making room for things that fit better and donating good items to people that can’t can’t afford new things). Don’t go though your kids room and de-clutter your children’s room without them present. Make sure to include them, ask them what their favorite toys/ clothes are and which ones they would like to pass on to children that don’t have toys (don’t just make it about them, but also include reasons of giving, kindness and responsibility). Also do not get sentimental if your child is ready to let go of their first stuffed animals but you are not. Teach them to thank their belongings and say goodbye, which is a great ritual for letting go with gratitude and you might even want to take your kids with you when you your drop off the donation box at Goodwill, SalvationArmy or your local second hand store.
Do not keep gifts that don’t spark joy- Once you have received a gift or a card, it has fulfilled it’s purpose. Say thank you and appreciate the gesture. You are free to donate the item and not hold onto it because of feelings of guilt. Remember you only want to own items that support your perfect lifestyle and make you happy.
Make a list before you go shopping- If you buy gifts make sure you know exactly what you are buying and for who.For children I reccomend asking what they want or have them write a list to Santa and share that with your family members/friends, so they actually get something they really wanted, not just a bunch of plastic junk. I am also a big supporter of consumable and experience gifts. For example a bottle of wine and some home made cookies for the host of the Christmas Party. I also love experience gifts, as they are usually more memorable that material ones. Take your kids ice-skating or your loved one on a dinner cruise. For your friends how a bout an escape room experience? Groupon has some great deals for Things to do in your neighborhood.
Lastly, donate money to your favorite charity/church, volunteer or take part of a toy drive to support the community, because after all giving is always feels better than receiving and according to AARP lowers stress, boosts self confidence and decreases depression.
Copyright © 2019 by Janine Morales, Professional Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and Imperial Valley, CA
Notes: If you are in need of motivation or guidance in your KonMari™ journey you can find a Certified KonMari™ Consultant in your area on the official KMI webpage
Organize your time for happiness
/I saw this quote on Instagram this month and it said “it is No!vember, a time to say “no” to people, places and things that drain your energy”. I can’t agree more with this, because it has the philosophy of the KonMari Method™ written all over it.
Marie Kondo is a big advocate of creating a vision of your perfect lifestyle. By doing so, you will have a guideline on how to make decisions. This does not only apply to your household items, but ultimately to your precious time on this earth as well. Our lives are always so busy, time flies by as our kids get older, our bodies age and we always keep pushing our timeline of happiness forward. I’ll be happy when I lose 20lbs or when I get that promotion or marry or have children or whatever it may be. There will never be a right time to be happy. The right time is now. The right time is today. You just need to make a little time for it. Start a gratitude journal and write down all the awesome things that happened today. Schedule a weekly call with your mom or a friend. Set that dinner date that you have been putting off. Do the things that make you happy and practice gratitude. I personally keep a colorful Family Calendar with everyone’s tasks and schedules written on. I also make sure there are fun things planned to make memories with the family and scheduled time for self-care, may it be a massage or a wine night with the girlfriends. Just remember to prioritize the vision of your perfect life in mind and saying “no” will come a little easier.
“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.”-Marie Kondo.
Copyright © 2019 by Janine Morales, Professional Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and Imperial Valley, CA
Notes: If you are in need of motivation or guidance in your KonMari™ journey you can find a Certified KonMari™ Consultant in your area on the official KMI webpage
How to make room and teach mindfulness for the holidays
/If you’re a mom and are dreading that the upcoming holidays will completely clutter up your kids room and home, here are my top 3 tips to kick clutter out and invite peace to your home.
Making room for “Santa’s List”
Once a year before Christmas and or Birthday’s my son and I will take 2 big moving boxes and fill them up with “donations” for the kids that don’t have toys, and trash, for the toys that are broken. We do this to make room for new things to come. It’s a refreshing exercise that teaches your child to be grateful for the things he/she is keeping and the one’s they are deciding to toss, as well as get excited for the new things to come. The more room we make, the more space for the new (which does not mean it has to be replaced by physical stuff by the way).
Talk about experience over stuff
When I ask my son what he wants for Christmas or his Birthday I usually add the words “to do”. When you ask the question “what do you want to do?” rather than “what do you want to have” you will re frame the assumption that it has to be something material. A friend of mine told me that grandma got her 4 year old son a gift certificate for the local YMCA for Christmas and in the weeks and months to come he still told everyone at the pool proudly that his “grandma got him swim lessons for Christmas”. Experiences often have a longer lasting memory in addition to the relationship factor.
Amazon wishlist’s
Of course I understand that grandma wants to see her grand child unwrap a gift and see his/her surprised and happy face, that’s what the presents under the tree are all about. I believe balance is everything and to make grandma happy, I suggest creating an Amazon wish list for things such as toys or things your children are asking for through out the year. This list can be easily shared and items can be mindfully purchased knowing that it’s something they have wanted and not just the latest black Friday junk.
Copyright © 2019 by Janine Morales, Professional Organizer, Certified KonMari™ Consultant, San Diego and Imperial Valley, CA
Notes: If you are in need of motivation or guidance in your KonMari™ journey you can find a Certified KonMari™ Consultant in your area on the official KMI webpage
How streamlining your wardrobe can save you time and money
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Have you ever heard of a capsule wardrobe or a mom uniform? These “trends” suggest streamlining your wardrobe for either your job, seasons or even everyday life. Imagine walking into your closet and feel like you know exactly what to wear for every occasion. No wasting 30 min. looking for clothes, accessories or things that match. How much time would you save each morning?
Let’s examine the capsule wardrobe: Capsule wardrobe is a term coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique called "Wardrobe" in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that don't go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces.
Last year I have tried a 10x10 challenge where I only wore 10 pieces for 10 days interchangeable .
What I loved about it:
I always felt like had something beautiful to wear that day
It shortened my morning routine by 20 min.
It challenged me to wear my “nicer” pieces
Now the Mommy uniform is designed with similar intent in mind for feeling and looking good, but the most important aspect of this fashion practice is comfort and durability. Caring for a baby or multiple small children comes with challenges of its own; spills, food stains, burbs that turn into throw up, as well as potty training accidents on mom.
The Mommy Uniform allows you to play and have fun, get dirty and not feel guilty about having ruined a delicate fashion piece. Most Mommy Uniforms include, leggings or soft jeans, yoga or sweat pants soft shirts or maxi dresses that are not easily ruined by daily washing.
Another helpful tip is to streamline your undergarments; for example use all the same black socks and black undies, so you never have to spend another minute finding the socks mate, they are all the same.
Whatever your wardrobe needs are, Capsule or Uniform will make your daily routine a breeze and save you time and money by not buying more items you already have and love. Why not give it a try?
need inspiration? Check out Style Bee’s 10x10 fall challenge
Copyright © 2019 by Janine Morales, Certified KonMari™ Consultant, El Cajon, CA
Notes: If you are in need of motivation or guidance in your KonMari™ journey you can find a Certified KonMari™ Consultant in your area on the official KMI webpage
How to Organize your Finances
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Do you have credit card debt, a car loan or live paycheck to paycheck? Do you feel overwhelmed by how little money you have left over, at the end of the month after working so hard? You don’t have any savings and put things you want on your credit card? Are you tired of living in constant fear of not being able to pay for an emergency situation like a car accident or a loss of job? If you answered yes to any of these scenarios it might be time to organize your finances and get back on track for financial freedom.
When we were kids, no one thought it would be this hard to adult, right?!
8 out of 10 Americans are in debt. Broke is the new norm. If you are sick and tired of being broke I have some tips that helped me become debt free and take charge of my finances. Books like Dave Ramsey’s “Total Money Makeover” and Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” have changed the way many Americans view and handle their finances and helped them get out of debt.
Here are my personal favorite 5 Tips to get your finances organized:
Make a vision Board: What are your long term financial goals? Ask yourself WHY do you want to become financially independent. What will your do when you are?
Take a step back. Reevaluate your spending habits. Print out the past 3 months of your bank statements and determine where you spend most of your money. Create broad categories such as housing, groceries, loans, etc.
Create a 0 based Budget and stick to it. (These are your short term goals, so you can reach your long term goals)
Have an emergency plan in place. Have 1000$ in your savings account for emergencies, so you do not have to use your credit cards.
Pay off your debt and cut up your credit cards. You will not be able to create wealth without paying your debt first. I suggest trying Dave Ramsey’s debt snowball method, where you make minimum payments on your biggest debts and pay off the smallest debt as fast as you can. You go from paying off your smallest debt to biggest, for a fast success experiences and to learn to change your behavior.
Copyright © 2019 by Janine Morales, Certified KonMari™ Consultant, San Diego, CA
Notes: If you are in need of motivation or guidance in your KonMari™ journey you can find a Certified KonMari™ Consultant on the official KMI webpage https://konmari.com/pages/consultants
What will a tidy home enable you to do?
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One of Konmari’s most important philosophies is to envision your perfect lifestyle. What are your plans after you are done with your tidy festival?
For me personally it was starting a business. Some of my clients visions were; more time with family, travel or going back to school to get that degree. Whatever your reason is for tidying, figure it out before you start and when the organizing gets exhausting, (believe me it will) remember WHY you are doing it.
The KonMari Method™ should only be done once and you should never again have to repeat it. Of course editing is allowed, but through this process you will learn to make decisions based on your values. “Does it spark joy?” is such a simple question that you can use it for all aspects of life. For example you might have heard the saying “surround yourself with people that lift you higher”. The same should be said for your belongings. They should reflect who you are now and who you are striving to be in the future and only support that vision of yourself.
So before you tidy, ask the WHY, then start organizing your home. Many of my most disorganized clients say after even the first organizing session “this method is life-changing”, and I agree. When you remove the negative mindset and change your thinking to surrounding yourself with (things you) love, everything will fall into place.
Copyright © 2019 by Janine Morales, Certified KonMari™ Consultant, San Diego, CA
Notes: If you are in need of motivation or guidance in your KonMari™ journey you can find a Certified KonMari™ Consultant on the official KMI webpage https://konmari.com/pages/consultants
5 Spring Cleaning Tips
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Spring time is here, which means the days are getting longer, the sun is coming out more often and flowers are blooming. Get done cleaning big maintenance items now, so you come home to and effortlessly tidy home and not worry about the things that still have to be cleaned for the season.
1.Clear your counters
The less stuff you have on your counter tops, the less you have to clean in the first place. When counters are clear, it’s quick to wipe them off with soap and water for a sparkle clean feeling.
2. Deep clean the fridge
Take out every single item and assess if it is still going to be used. Check expiration dates. Take out shelving and drawers. Wash them with soap and water. If they are made of glass, use glass cleaner or disinfectant.
3. Kids toys
Wash plush animals. Lego’s and other plastic toys can be put in a Mesh bag and cleaned in the dishwasher. Have your child choose what their favorite toys are and donate the rest to make room for new toys (Birthdays/Christmas etc).
4.Sinks and faucets
Sinks and faucets tend to get calcium stains and build up. Lime Away will help break down the gunk and hard to reach corners can be scrubbed with the help of a toothbrush.
5. Ceiling Fans
Clean your ceiling fans and other light fixtures with a damp microfiber cloth or a Microfiber Ceiling fan duster with expandable arm to get all the dust off.
Copyright © 2019 by Janine Morales, Certified KonMari™ Consultant, San Diego, CA
Notes: If you are in need of motivation or guidance in your KonMari™ journey you can find a Certified KonMari™ Consultant on the official KMI webpage https://konmari.com/pages/consultants