21 ways to have a clutter-free home in 2021

Everyone’s looking forward to moving on from 2020 into a new year with new possibilities. While there is much out there you can’t control, what’s going on in your home is something that you can control. In fact, coming home (or staying home) to a clutter-free home is something that can really make your day-to-day happiness increase and your long term goals for 2021 more possible. Why is that? Well, for one we know research shows that clutter causes stress. Another study has shown that clutter decreases productivity. Having a clutter-free home can also help you sleep better and boost your self-esteem. All of that together could mean a happier, goal-getting version of you in 2021. Read on for 21 ways you can get your home clutter-free.

1. Surround yourself with joy. The basic tenant of Marie Kondo’s philosophy is simply to surround yourself with things that spark joy. The equal and opposite requirement to make that happen is to discard things that do not spark joy. So, to get clutter free, go through everything in your home and discard anything that doesn’t spark joy. Then, voila, you’re surrounded with joy.

Related: The KonMari Method Summarized in 3 Parts

2. Keep a donation box/bag ready. In order to make #1 a reality, you’ll need to designate a place to put your discarded items. Of course items that can’t be donated can go straight into the trash. Those that you can donate can be set aside in a specific place to donate. Make sure everyone in the home knows about that place!

3. Designate a favorite donation station. Now that you’re discarding and you’ve got a place to put the donations in your home, it’s time to figure out exactly how to donate it. Research the local area to find a donation station that matches your values and is hopefully convenient to your commute. Next, check the hours for when you can donate and then keep that information handily stored in your brain. 

4. Define clutter. Knowledge is power! Therefore, really understanding what clutter is can help you keep a clutter-free home. Clutter is simply stuff that hasn’t been put away. As you look around your home, all the things that aren’t put away is most likely what’s causing your biggest problems.

5. Solve your problems. Speaking of problems, you need to become your own problem solver. Take a tour of your home and see where clutter really is a problem for you and your family. What are the biggest culprits. Then, aim to solve specifically for that problem. Is it the in and out of the door that’s a problem? Is there a shoe rack or bin system that could help? Is the problem the overstuffed junk drawer? Is there a toolbox that could solve this problem? Then again, it may be as simple as an overstuffed closet. There are several ways to solve that problem on this list.

6. Give everything a home. The one way you can solve all of your clutter problems is to give everything a home. If everything has a home, then everything can be put away. If everything is put away, you no longer have a clutter problem! Be mindful about giving everything a home that is conducive to its use and is really easy to put away that way your family will actually put it away.

7. Put stuff away. Yes, putting things away is the not-so-secret way to have a clutter-free home. Unfortunately, that’s also very often our biggest problem. However, by now you’ve discarded everything that doesn’t spark joy and then given everything a home. You’re also crystal clear on what clutter is so it stands out to you immediately when you see it. That’ll make the habit of putting things away all the more easy to execute. We often procrastinate putting things away but it’s really a 15 second habit that can definitely change the look and feel of our home in a big way.

8. Deal with the mailbox immediately. The mail is one of the biggest culprits of stuff that often doesn’t get put away. Commit to dealing with the mail immediately when you get it. Junk mail can get shredded and tossed immediately, that only takes one minute! If you get a bill, pay it immediately. If you get an appointment reminder, note it in your calendar and toss it. Dealing with physical mail immediately only takes two minutes and it will help you stay clutter-free.

“The one way you can solve all of your clutter problems is to give everything a home. If everything has a home, then everything can be put away. If everything is put away, you no longer have a clutter problem! Be mindful about giving everything a home that is conducive to its use and is really easy to put away that way your family will actually put it away.”

9. Reduce paper. Now that the mail is under control, you can look to the other papers in your home that are causing clutter. One step is to simply gather all papers in one area. Many times they are spread throughout the home in different drawers, cabinets and bins. Bringing them all together can help reduce clutter all by itself. Then, really get smart about what needs to stay. Many things can be found or stored online. Many things represent delayed decisions you can make immediately. Finally, there are very few things that you need to keep forever. That’s a folder you can keep. Then there are very few things that you need to keep short term. That’s a folder you can keep. Keep working at your papers until these folders are slim and trim.

10. Be really picky with what you bring in your home. Once you’ve done the work to get your home clutter-free, you’re going to enjoy it so much that you’ll start being more picky about what you bring home. You’ll know that whatever you bring home needs to have a home and it needs to spark joy. And because your home is already full of things that spark joy and have a home, you’ll be less tempted to fill it. Consider adopting the buy one, give one strategy where your purchase means you donate something of the same category of the item you bought.

11. Empty your bag. Emptying your bag each day was one of the most out-there suggestions Marie Kondo brought to culture when she released her book The LIfe Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The idea is to empty your bag out each day in order to empty it of all the things you accumulated during the day and then put them away. In the morning, you can pack your bag with what’s needed for that day specifically. This small little habit can make a big difference in a clutter-free life because doing the habit speaks to the organized, clutter-free person you’re becoming.

12. Make your bed. A made-up bed is a symbol of neatness. In fact, it might even be the anti-clutter symbol. Making your bed takes about 15 seconds in the morning but makes your bedroom look and feel so much better all day long. A bed made is like a glistening example to the rest of the room and home of what it means to be clutter-free. It’s also really comforting to come home to a bed that’s made. This habit is important because it helps you become the kind of person who is happy, productive and clutter-free.

13. Do the dang dishes. While we’re talking about habits, let’s talk about doing the dishes. No one likes doing the dishes, we’re all united in that respect. Likewise, we can all agree that a kitchen without dirty dishes is a beautiful thing. Dishes stacked in and around the sink are one of the biggest culprits of visual clutter in the entire home. So, just do those pesky dishes and reap the benefits of a clutter-free home. 

14. Keep surfaces clear. Surfaces are not for storage, so let’s keep them clear. Resolve to give everything on your surfaces a home. Then, you’ll be able to use the surfaces as they were intended: to prepare food, to write or to do your beauty routine.

15. Pantry raid. Consider doing a pantry raid to get rid of all unused or expired items and then organizing what’s left. This simple one-afternoon-only-task will help you create room to easily put things away from then on while also allowing you to be an efficient chef.

Related: How to organize your kitchen step by step

16. Vertical storage. Using space vertically rather than only horizontally will give you more space to store things which will mean you can find homes easier for everything in your home. Clothes are easy to store vertically but you can also vertically store your papers, your linens and even your food. Horizontal piles of anything don’t allow you to see what you have all at once. That little detail is what keeps us from accessing things and putting things away. When we can’t find things, we replace them. When we don’t put things away, we create clutter. Vertical storage, however, allows you to see things all at once and easily pick what you need. It also helps you to put things away properly.

Related: How to fold your clothes to save time, money, space & wrinkles!

17. Create stations. Being clutter-free will be much easier once everything has a home. When creating those homes, you can intentionally create stations that work with your needs and the needs of your family. For example, if there is a designated charging station for devices, cords and devices won’t be strewn about the home. A designated place to unpack and keep bag items for each person can also be useful. Stations can be created for many other functions such as gift wrapping, homework, reading and doing laundry.

18. System for laundry. Laundry may be a dirty word in most houses, but it doesn’t have to be. Laundry can often be found in various stages of unfinished work throughout the house: around (but not in) the laundry basket, needs-to-be-washed, washed-but-not-dried, dried-but-not-folded and folded-but-not-put-away. However, devising a system and schedule to start and finish one or more loads of laundry at once can really help you to keep a clutter-free home. Perhaps each member of the family gets one day to do laundry and they do it at a specific time. Perhaps the entire family gets involved and does a load start to finish every family movie night. Maybe on Sunday laundry and meal-prep go together. Maybe family members split the steps of laundry with one starting, one switching, one folding and one putting away. However you do it, plan it, create a system for completing it week in and week out.

19. Commit to maintenance. Having a clutter-free home will require daily maintenance each day. Once you’ve fully sorted, discarded and stored everything in your home, keeping it clutter-free will be a matter of minutes each day. Those minutes will be necessary though, as will the habits you’ve created in putting things away, making decisions about papers immediately and even doing the laundry and the dishes.

20. Hire a professional. Sometimes you just need help getting started. You might feel overwhelmed at everything that needs to get done. Sometimes you need help staying motivated. You may have started but all you can see is a mountain of work ahead of you. A professional can really help you create momentum in getting clutter-free. A professional will also coach you through the hard parts of getting clutter-free and then motivate you and teach you how to stay that way.

Related: How much does a KonMari Consultant cost?

21. Practice contentment. Being happy and content in your home will be a natural byproduct of doing all of the things listed above in your home. When you’re surrounded by things that spark joy, when you’ve eliminated clutter and when you’ve made maintaining your home really easy, you’ll experience peace. You’ll be grateful for what you have and you’ll find you don’t desire to add to it as often. These feelings will all help you to cultivate true contentment. Contentment has been described as the deepest core of human wellbeing and is foundational to the experience of fulfillment in life. Being able to sit in your home, look around and think that everything you have is enough is how you’ll achieve contentment.

As we approach 2021, thinking about how a clutter-free home could really make your life better. Loving the home you’re in is especially important these days, but it’s also key to your overall happiness and even your ability to accomplish all you desire in the new year.

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

Clutter free gift ideas from KonMari Organizing Professionals

Buying the right gift for someone can be stressful and 2020’s COVID crisis makes it even more challenging. Whether you don’t want to wait in long lines, go to the stores, or have a minimalist mindset, you have come to the right place for inspiration. Christmas is right around the corner and here are some favorite, meaningful, clutter-free gift ideas from KonMari organizing professionals.

Kammy Lee from Organized by Kammy:

Here's a clutter-free holiday gift idea for the loved ones on your list who haven't yet discovered the joy of listening to podcasts. Choose just the right podcast, one you know they'll enjoy, and provide them with simple instructions to start listening. It's a great gift for people who are hard to buy for, or simply don't want more things, and it's budget-friendly too.

To make giving a podcast even easier, visit this link: giftofpodcast.com (thanks Gretchen Rubin!) The site lets you download a PDF gift certificate (which you'll personalize with the name of the podcast your recipient will love and why), along with easy instructions for how to listen on iPhone or iPad, Android phone, or smart speaker.

 Related: Clutter free holiday gift guide for supporting San Diego business

“This mindful gift won’t break the bank and won’t clutter up the homes of those you love. ”

Sandy Park from Tidy with Spark:

There is no better season than Christmas to share your love for deliciousness. Baking for friends and family during the holidays is my number one hands-down best clutter-free idea. It’s my go-to present and it’s really for me just as much as it is for the receivers. You see, I love to create delicious treats and it is a creative extension that is low cost, fun and won’t clutter up anyone’s home because my treats never last. Whether it’s cut out sugar cookies or easy peasy drop cookies, delight those on your Christmas list with this clutter-free gift idea. Over the years I found that rarely people will remember my store-bought gifts, but they always remember personalized homemade cookies. This mindful gift won’t break the bank and won’t clutter up the homes of those you love. It’s really a win-win gift idea. Try it today and thank me later.

Aparna Sundar from Global Mindful Journey:

Ever since my family and I began our minimalist journey, we have become mindful of not only what we give to others but also of our requests for gifts. We focus more on experience-based gifts and/or those that serve the needs of the less fortunate in our communities. The idea is to cherish the memories from these experiences. When we do decide on ‘product-based’ gifts, we look at supporting local businesses, a ‘need’ that requires to be fulfilled, the versatility of the item and/or if they are sustainably produced. That being said, even if a gift we receive doesn’t necessarily “spark joy” to us, showing gratitude to the people who love and think of us when they gift us something is important. Our children will also learn from us to give relationships far more significance than to worry about what enters our homes.

“Our children will also learn from us to give relationships far more significance than to worry about what enters our homes”

Victoria Nicholsen from My Wardrobe Zen:

I love art and like to gift annual membership to art galleries so friends and family can enjoy beautiful pieces without cluttering up their homes.  It’s also fun to pair a museum or gallery to the recipient, for example, science museum membership for a nephew, film museum membership for the movie buff in your life. It’s a gift that keeps giving and supports these amazing institutions.  

Related: How to make room and teach mindfulness for the holidays

Selina Mills from Restful Space:

My all-time favorite clutter-free gift is home-made vouchers and let me tell you why:

1. They can be handmade, simply or in artistic detail, by any member of the family.

2. They can be made out of recycled bits of colored paper or whatever’s lying around so are truly zero monetary cost.

3. They are a great creative project in themselves for children.

4. They are a lovely exercise in connecting with what family members genuinely treasure as individuals.

5. They make a super (small!) keepsake – I still have a “Kitchen Tidying Voucher”, a “Dog Care Voucher” and even a “Love Voucher” from my children. I use one under my home office cuppa.

6. They can incorporate a heartfelt message easily and who doesn’t love one of those.

7. They can be for ANYTHING!

Clutter free Holiday Gift Guide for supporting San Diego Business in 2020

If you have de-cluttered your home before or have a minimalist mindset it can be challenging to give gifts. If you enjoy a clutter-free home you don’t want to clutter up someone else’s space. There are some categories for clutter-free gifts:

·      Consumables

·      something that is a need

·      Something that isn’t physical

·      Something that sparks joy (can be physical, but is not considered clutter)

Here are some ideas of gifts to give that are not going to clutter up anyone’s space and support local San Diego businesses:

Photo session. Whether it be a family photo shoot or a business head shot session, professional photos are great for prints, artwork on your wall, or sharing on social media. Gift cards are available from Brisa Roberts Photography.

Related: 4 Tips on how to have clutter free and joyful holidays

Food. Everyone loves a good meal they don’t have to cook up themselves. With more than 7000 restaurants to choose from why not try something new and support a local restaurant in these exceptional times? Twist is a unique casual restaurant located in North Park, San Diego. They serve a combination of staple American dishes with ethnic ingredients. Burgers, sandwiches, wings, and fries are the foundation of their eclectic menu. Buy a gift card from this top-rated restaurant here>>>.

Color Street. Are you tired of the shutdowns for in-person salon services, but want your nails looking like a million bucks? Try color street stick-on gel manicure nails. They are easy to put on and last up to two weeks without discoloring your actual nail. When you are done just pull them off and add a new set! Order a nail kit from the comfort of your home and have it shipped to a friend or family member’s house.

 Event Coupons. A new year needs new goals. Invite your entrepreneur friend to a fun vision board making experience at FEMX Quarters. This women-owned business is a modern, feminine co-working space, and amazing event venue in San Diego.

 Estate planning. Why does one need an estate plan? To avoid probate, reduce estate taxes, and to protect beneficiaries and assets. You can prevent family discord and costly legal expenses by taking the time to designate a guardian and trustee for your minor beneficiaries. San Diego Legacy Law can help you provide asset protection for your family and other beneficiaries.

Related: How to make room and teach mindfulness for the holidays

 Home organizing. Know someone that is overwhelmed by clutter? Give the gift of a home organizing service that teaches the skills to de-clutter and become more organized long term. In-home service or convenient online learning courses are available to access from anywhere in the world.

 If you own a business or know someone who offers clutter-free gifts, please comment with the website address for readers to see. I hope these ideas are helpful, if you like to give or have received clutter-free gifts I would love to hear your ideas in the comments as well.

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

Installing Artwork in a corporate Space

Guest Blog by Jaclyn Thom from Systematic Art

Artwork in a corporate office is a great way to add culture and personality to a workspace. Vibrant colors and exciting art were both top trends in corporate offices in 2019.  Research shows that well-designed workspace can boost employee satisfaction and well-being. This includes areas for collaboration, relaxation, and physical activity. Well-placed artwork can create an appropriate atmosphere for each of these areas and help distinguish them from each other in an open office setting. Incorporating company branding and colors in the art can also create a cohesive sense of identity that helps employees feel more connected to each other and their work.

Choosing the Right Artwork

Decorating an office can be a daunting task. With hundreds of pieces in various styles to choose from, it can be hard to come up with an authentic and cohesive art scheme that supports the values of the company and the needs of employees. Here are three tips that can help create the perfect office space.

• Use the story of the company or brand as the basis for the design concept. A brand that began in Los Angeles can use motifs like palm trees and street names that evoke that city and show where the company comes from. Clothing companies can incorporate fabrics and buttons into custom art that reflects the product.

• Represent the company values through art. Many art pieces can use subtle messaging to promote ideas. A law firm may promote justice and fairness through pieces that balance light and dark. A brand that focuses on sustainability can bring green elements into office decor through moss walls or nature-inspired artwork. This can include art inspired by sustainable technologies like solar panels and wind farms. If there is a particular cause that the company believes in, that can also be a great theme to incorporate into office artwork.

• Create a mood. Colors have long been known to affect how people feel and work. Vibrant colors can add energy and motivate employees, while calmer colors can create a relaxed atmosphere. Incorporate appropriate color schemes into art pieces that best suit the mood in various areas of the office.

  Related: Productivity Tips for Working from Home while Homeschooling
  

Installing Art

Once you've chosen the pieces that best represent the company and the office's feel, you'll need proper installation to prevent damage to the walls and the art itself. For pictures and frames that will be mounted directly on walls, hanging cables attached to picture rails are an easy solution that can hold a lot of weight and are inconspicuous. You can also use hanging cables with ceiling-mounted rail systems to hang sculptures and other unique pieces. These have quick attachment and detachment processes that make it simple to redesign an area by moving pieces around when needed. Corporate offices may also require space and equipment for hanging posters, promoting company events, product launches, etc. Simple poster-hanging systems can help keep posters looking flat and professional with easy setup and takedown.

Thirteen Items To Declutter from Your Kitchen

If you’re eager to get your kitchen decluttered and ready for the holidays, this is the article for you. The kitchen is the place where magic happens, but it can also be the place where clutter overflows. Read on for 13 items you can declutter from your kitchen today!

1. Expired items. Let’s start off with a no-brainer. Take all of your pantry items, fridge items and other miscellaneous items out and discard anything that is expired. Voila! You’re off to a great start.

2. Broken appliances. This one is easy! If the appliance is broken, missing key parts or cords, it’s time to say goodbye.

3. Things you could borrow or buy disposables of. Do you really need a Fondue set? Or maybe, if you decide to use one, you could borrow it? How many big roasting pans do you need? Maybe you could choose to buy disposable pans on holidays to reduce clean up and double as transport for leftovers? You might be hanging on to more than one crockpot because of a party you host once a year. Consider borrowing a crockpot just that one time and saving the space in your own kitchen. Take a hard second look at anything you’re keeping that you don’t need because it would be just as easy or functional to borrow or buy disposable.

4. Duplicates. There are very few things you need more than one of in the kitchen. How many cans are you going to open at once? Likewise, how many frying pans do you actually need? DO you find yourself using the same spatula everytime? Then why do you keep so many other, non-awesome spatulas? Things you have duplicates of are an easy target for decluttering if you’re honest with yourself and the way you function in the kitchen.

5. Junk drawer items. A junk drawer is a receptacle for items in your home that don’t have a home. That is, everything in that drawer is homeless! Instead of having a junk drawer, assign the items in the drawer homes. Office supplies should go in the office or near the desk. Batteries should all be kept together, neatly sorted. Electronic cords, chargers and other items should also be stored and maintained somewhere where they are useful for their purpose. What else is in your junk drawer? Is there a better way?

Related: My five favorite Products for home and office organization

6. Cookbooks. Think about the last three recipes you made. Did you use a cookbook? Or, like most people, did you look it up on your phone or make the recipe from memory? These days, we’ve shifted from family recipes, newspapers and cookbooks to apps, social media and food blogs to learn about food. Cookbooks are a nice idea, but if you don’t actually use them consider trading them for space and lack of clutter in your kitchen!

7. Unmatched sets. If you have full sets of anything whether it’s dishes, measuring cups, potholders or wine glasses, consider discarding other random items of the same category that don’t belong in the set. Keep the matching set, discard the random, in matching items.

Related: How to organize your kitchen step by step

8. Food storage containers without lids. You know there are food storage items without lids lurking in your cabinets. You know there are food storage lids without containers lurking there as well. It’s time to drag it all out, match it up and discard the rest.

9. Bakeware. If you’re not baking for the pure joy of it, you’re probably the kind of person who lets other people bake for you. That’s wonderful, but it also means you can probably say goodbye to some of that bakeware.

10. Gadgets. There is a gadget for every imaginable kitchen function. Sometimes the gadget is more complicated than the good ol’ fashioned way of doing things. For example, do you need a yolk separator? Or can you simply use the eggshell like Grandma used to? (Here’s a video if you never learned how) A large percentage of kitchen gadgets could be replaced by one simple tool: a knife. Consider whether you use the gadgets and, if you don’t, say goodbye.

11. Free novelty items. Yes, the cups, magnets, mugs, towels and whatever other free promotional items you have laying around can probably go. Why? Because the cups, mugs, magnets and other items that you picked out are likely the ones that spark joy. Those are the ones you should keep. Free promotional items are probably just taking up space and not bringing you joy.

12. Gifts. If you’ve got things in your kitchen that were gifts but are never used, it’s likely time to discard them. Yes, the tiny glass bowl from your wedding that you never figured out how to use can probably move on. The gadget you got one year for Christmas and have yet to use, yes, that can go as well. The potholders that don’t match your kitchen colors or design that you received at an office party? Well, you get the idea. Remember that the act of giving and receiving the gift is when the warm, fuzzy feelings were expressed. Keeping the items in a cluttered kitchen does not make that moment in time more or less special. So, be okay with saying goodbye.

Related: The Biggest Misconceptions regarding the Konmari Method™

13. Written Noise. In the KonMari world, clutter can come from written labels too. Visual clutter competes with your ability to focus, which is why it has to go. Imagine when you open your pantry or cabinet doors and you see all the labels describing tastes and ingredients and functions. According to Kondo, it’s almost like someone is muttering every single label you see to you at once. We don’t think about it much, but our brains must process and sort all of the written information, even if it does it “behind the scenes.” If, instead, you can remove labels and allow the beauty of containers, food and liquids to be all you see you will notice a difference in your kitchen.

There you have it: 13 items you can quickly declutter from your kitchen today so that you can start sparking joy this holiday season!

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

How to fold your clothes to save time, money, space & wrinkles!

One of the most intriguing things Marie Kondo introduced in her book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and her television series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo was the way she advised us all to fold and store our clothing. According to Kondo, our clothing is best suited to be folded standing upright. In fact, Kondo says folding your clothes vertically can save time, save space and increase the longevity of your clothes. 

Vertical folding saves time. When you open a drawer of folded items stacked one on top another, you can only see the items on top. Now, imagine opening a drawer of items folded vertically and stored in rows. At that point, you can see all of your items at once. Making wardrobe decisions is much easier and even much faster when you can see everything at once. Keeping all of your clothes in eyesight can also potentially save you money simply because you’ll be more cognizant of what you have when making new clothing purchases. This might just prove to be a very important time saver indeed since one study showed women spend over eight years of their lives shopping!

Vertical folding saves space. Hanging clothes might seem like less work, but if you’re in the market to maximize space, folding your clothing vertically is the answer. According to Kondo, you can fit 20 to 40 folded items the same amount of space it would take to hang ten items. When handling your clothes this carefully, you’ll also find it easier to discern which clothes don’t spark joy and therefore must go. When you spend time lovingly folding an item of clothing that you don’t actually love, it becomes apparent quickly. By being more decisive about what to keep, you’ll save even more space. That decisiveness might even help you save money since the average American family spends $1,700 on clothes annually.

Related: My ten by ten wardrobe experiment

Vertical folding saves wrinkles. One of the more counterintuitive things to consider when folding clothes vertically involves wrinkles. When folding things vertically, your clothes will be more compact which actually means more folds. But guess what? That doesn’t actually equal more wrinkles. Actually, wrinkles are caused by pressure and the weight of clothes folded and stacked. That pressure results in more wrinkles than clothes folded compactly and stored standing on their own. This tiny little difference also results in clothes that will last longer for the same reason.

How to fold

Can you believe that each item you own has a sweet spot of being folded and stored? It’s true. Each item is unique depending on its size and material. Luckily, this particular folding method fits everything once you get the hang of it.

Related: The Biggest Misconceptions regarding the KonMari Method™

The first thing to consider when folding your clothes is the height of your space. Your clothes, when vertically folded, will need to be as tall as your space. Your goal at the end of the fold is going to be a nice, smooth rectangle that stands up and fits in your drawer so it’s important to visualize the end result.

Next, you’ll start with a flat item, ensuring to smooth the wrinkles out. This step also allows you the opportunity to inspect your clothing and spot any places that have been frayed, stained or worn.

Now you’ll fold each side of the item lengthwise toward the center. If there are sleeves, fold them in similarly so that you end up with a long, skinny rectangle. Now you’ll fold the short end of your rectangle in half toward the other short end. Repeat this process again, folding short end to short end again either in halves or in thirds. At this point, you’ll most likely be left with your treasured item in a perfectly balanced, upright rectangle ready to be stored neatly in your drawer. Different materials, sizes and thicknesses of items will determine how to adjust the folds but every item has a sweet spot that helps it be stored just right! 

Related: How to organize your clothes

When it comes to items like socks and undergarments, the KonMari Method™ again has it figured out. Socks and stockings should be able to rest in your drawer. That is, we are going to ensure the elastic and fabric aren’t being worn out while sitting in a drawer. Just like you would do with your other items, you’ll fold them neatly into a rectangle buy folding them over onto each other, then in halves or thirds.

Folding undergarments can really help you understand how each item has its sweet spot since they seem to be trickier. Lay your underwear flat, then fold in half lengthwise (crotch to waistband). Next, fold widthwise half into the center and then the other half into the center. Finally, one more fold bottom to top will usually do the trick to create a lovely rectangle that makes your undergarments easy to store and easy to pick out.

So often our drawers are masking an unruly mess of clothes. The idea of opening those drawers or trying to find something specific in them certainly does not spark joy. In fact, research shows it might even be raising your cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Imagine instead your drawers hiding neat rows of clothing that fully utilize the space and are also pleasing to the eye each and every time you open a drawer. Drawer dividers can help your clothes stay in their row and look nice and neat. Give the KonMari Method™ for folding and storing clothes a try and see how it improves your clothing experience!

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

Working and Learning From Home in the New Normal: Here’s How Parents Can Make It Work

Guest Blog by Cherie Mclaughlin

With COVID-19 continuing to be a threat, the reality of staying at home remains necessary. What a time to be alive now that it’s possible for parents to earn a living and kids to get an education from the comfort and safety of home. On the surface, this seems like a cakewalk. However, with a lack of structure and boundaries, this can also be a recipe for disaster. To make it work, you need to take certain steps. Tidy Closet wants you to help you towards success, so here are some of the best ones.

Make learning pleasurable.

It’s great that children have the option to learn from home. However, it’s important to recognize the challenges associated with online learning and how to address them. When it comes to ensuring your children stay focused, establish a routine and schedule. Having consistency will help everybody find a rhythm and know what to expect.

When it comes to actual learning, the goal should be to keep your kids engaged. You can help keep boredom and distractions at bay by making learning fun. Thankfully, there are several new technologies to support this, such as the gamification of online learning. This sort of learning can be anything from code camp to the use of virtual reality (VR), both of which are cool and enjoyable ways to learn for kids of all ages. Plus, these types of activities can open up a door to a whole new world for your children when it comes to learning.

Improve the way you work.

Getting the kids squared away is only half the battle. It’s equally important to make sure you can handle working remotely full time while juggling the responsibilities of home and family, too. Aim for optimal productivity—take stock of the way you work, set up your workspace for success, get organized, and look for ways to make efficient use of your time so you can work more effectively.

Among the main struggles of working from home is staying productive, especially with kids around. But if you want to make your workdays more streamlined to get more done in less time, it’s crucial for you to take pains to maximize your focus. Some great ways to achieve this are by observing a healthy morning routine and using productivity apps. Managing your time well and establishing firm boundaries are just as critical, too.

Allow yourself to get help.

In that same vein, another great way to streamline your days is to outsource help. Don’t get stuck in the mindset that you have to do everything yourself. In fact, when you hire an assistant, you can take administrative and routine tasks like making phone calls, responding to emails and scheduling appointments off your plate, allowing you more time for important tasks. Moreover, by opting to hire a freelancer, you can get the invaluable assistance that you need without having to deal with employee taxes and other overhead expenses.

You can also do the same on the homefront. You’ll find that outsourcing household responsibilities will not only keep your life more balanced, but it can also make you happier, too. So consider hiring professionals to clean your home, tend to the yard.

There’s no denying the new normal is upon us, and it’s here to stay for a while. But there’s no need to fret because you can work a full-time remote job and set your kids up for online learning with as little drama and chaos as possible. Ultimately, it all boils down to using available resources and tweaking your day to day where needed. You’ve got this!

Turn to Tidy Closet for more ideas and information that will help you keep your life happy, healthy, and organized!

Picture credit: Pexels.com

The KonMari Method Summarized in 3 Parts

If you’ve been tuning in, Tidy Closet has been sharing many of Marie Kondo’s hacks for organizing your home for a while now. However, you may find yourself wondering what the bird’s eye view of her method is. If so, this is the article for you. Marie Kondo’s method, the KonMari Method™ to be exact, has taken the world by storm because it’s giving people the pathway to truly loving where they live.

There are three big ideas that the KonMari Method™ encompasses: mindset, a two-step method and the amount of time in which you finish tidying up. Let’s dive in.

1. Get your mind right. One of the biggest differences with the KonMari Method™ is how much emphasis this particular style of “tidying up” your home places on your mindset. This may seem hokey, but then again it may not when you consider that research has shown clutter affects your attention span, performance and even increases mental anxiety. So, it’s already affecting us mentally, we just need to change our mindset which will help us get to work.

We start by acknowledging that we don’t know what we don’t know. That is, we’ve been taught reading, writing, math and science. If we’re lucky, we may have been to a cooking class or had Grandma’s mentorship in the kitchen. If we’re really ahead of the game, we were taught things like laundry and balancing a checkbook as a young person. But tidying up your home? Most of us have never specifically learned this skill. And it is a skill. You know that because you got in trouble for not doing it well as a young person, didn’t you?

After we prepare ourselves mentally that we have to study and grow as a person to get our homes in order, there’s more mental work to do! Now it’s time to visualize the end result of tidying up before we start.

When you’ve gone through and applied the KonMari Method™ to your home, what do you want it to look like? How do you want to feel? How do you want to be able to function in your space? In fact, when we work through this method, we’re going to tie this end result to your ideal lifestyle. Your organized and joy-sparking home should help you live your life in the way you truly desire. That’s the goal.

Speaking of sparking joy, that’s the last piece of the mental work we’re going to do. Rather than being purely transactional with items as you go through them in your home, we’re going to connect with each and every item. It may seem a little overwhelming, but it is this particular step that is going to help you end up with a home where you are surrounded by things that make you happy and that is easy to maintain.

You’ll physically handle each item and determine if it sparks joy. The items that spark joy start to stack up and create that exact emotion throughout your home. Here’s the real game changer: if an item doesn’t spark joy you will then thank it before discarding it. It seems crazy, but this process really helps you learn about yourself, about the purchasing habits you have and, most importantly, about the items you truly want and use in your life. It’s a great opportunity for self-reflection and self-improvement.

Related: The Biggest Misconceptions regarding the Konmari Method™

“This process really helps you learn about yourself, about the purchasing habits you have and most importantly, about the items you truly want and use in your life. It’s a great opportunity for self-reflection and self-improvement.”

2. Strict two-part method. When it comes to the actual process, you might find it relieving that there are only two “steps” of the KonMari Method™: discarding and organizing. But it’s not quite that simple.

Discarding is the first and most difficult step. With this method, we start by going category by category. Yes, we are going to discard by category rather than by room, by drawer or by closet. We want to be able to look at every single item in a category before making decisions about what to keep. This can’t be accomplished without going category by category because certain types of items are often stored in many different locations around the house. Going category by category is very important in order to avoid a “rebound” where all of the clutter and problems come back! 

Related: My five favorite Products for home and office organization

Within this rule of category by category, we have an order to go in. The order is very important as it is specifically crafted to help you grow in skill and determination with discarding as you move from relatively easy decisions about, say, clothing to more emotional and complicated items like baby items. The order to go through items in your home category by category is:

• Clothes

• Books

• Papers

• Komono (Miscellaneous items)

• Sentimental items

Once you’re done discarding, you will organize by giving every single item a home. The definition of clutter is stuff that hasn’t been put away, so you’re going to be very thoughtful about storage. Ensure everything has a home that makes sense, is with like-items and that is easy to put away. Ensuring items are easy to put away is a key secret in the KonMari Method™ because it helps to ensure your home stays tidy.

Another key component of the KonMari Method™ is the vertical fold. Imagine opening your drawers to an array of perfectly folded and filed clothes arranged in color from darkest to lightest. The vertical fold allows clothes to be stored “standing” rather than flat, one on top of each other. This means, when you’re picturing opening your well-arranged drawers, you’re able to see all of your clothes at once and you’re able to fit more in your drawers. The vertical fold helps use space better, which can solve a lot of storage issues. Some folks report being able to fit 50 percent more clothing in drawers when using the KonMari Method™ of folding and filing. How to do the vertical fold is not complicated, it is simply a matter of folding items in thirds, then in half, then again in thirds. See next month’s post for a lesson on different clothing items.

Related: How to organize your clothes

3. Do it all at once. One of the most important elements of the KonMari Method™ is to do all of this work at once. Instead of doing a little bit at once and risking the clutter creeping back just as quickly, we are going to change our homes and our lives all at once and once and for all. Doing all of this work in one fell swoop will allow you to have a fresh start so you can then create habits that allow you to maintain your new lifestyle. 

Going through every item in your home will take forever if you allow it. Going through every item in your home will take a few months, however, if you make a plan, stay focused and use this method.

It’s also important to consider how refreshed you’ll be when you give yourself quick, serious and dramatic results. Compare that to slow, seemingly never-ending, work that results in slow, gradual, hardly noticeable changes. It’ll be so much better to do the hard work all at once so you get the pay off quickly. You’ll feel better and truly be able to change your mindset and lifestyle. And, after all, that is the entire goal of tidying your home in the first place.

Related: How to organize your kitchen step by step 

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

Fifteen Kitchen Organization Ideas

The center of every home is the kitchen. That’s because people have to eat and food is a fun, celebratory, communal and ritualistic part of our human experience. So, whether you’re a world-class chef or just have a world-record in being hangry, having your kitchen organized is essential to maximizing this memory and meal-making space.

There’s a lot going on in the kitchen between food, prepping, cooking and storing so there are many ways to tackle getting it organized. Let’s look at 15 ideas that will help you get your kitchen organized. 

1. Decide what to keep category by category. You might instinctively choose to organize your kitchen drawer by drawer or cabinet by cabinet. Instead, consider tackling each and every item according to the category it belongs to all at once. In this way, you’ll go through all your utensils at once. You’ll go through all of your appliances at once. You’ll even go through all of your food items category by category. When doing so, gather every like-item and create the pile so that you can use the “Power of the Pile” when deciding what to keep. The “Power of the Pile” happens by seeing all items in one category at a time, piled together. It helps lessen the pang of getting rid of stuff because there is so much visually apparent, but the pile also helps you to see and eliminate duplicates.

2. Store things category by category. You’ll also do well to store your items category by category. In this way, when you go to choose a pot, tupperware container, spice or condiment, you’ll see all of your options at once. Storing things this way helps you and your family to be more efficient when using things and reduces the effort needed to put things away. That’s because everything in each category goes with all of it’s category members, making it a “no-brainer.”

3. Don’t use surfaces for storage. The temptation can be to store appliances or other items on your counters, but you need that surface space for the art of cooking and preparing food! If you can find a home for everything in your kitchen while keeping your counters clear, you’ll be amazed at how much easier and freely you’ll be able to work. By keeping your counters clear, your kitchen will be more functional and you’ll have less visual clutter. An added bonus is your kitchen will be easier to keep clean if the surfaces are clear. A clean kitchen is a happy kitchen! Plus, studies have shown we eat more the more clutter and messes there are in the kitchen! 

Related: How to organize your kitchen step by step

4. Remove unnecessary visual clutter. Speaking of visual clutter, consider purchasing items to house your soaps, oils, and other items that will allow you to eliminate the unnecessary visual clutter and will instead spark joy. Visual clutter competes with your ability to focus on what’s important and it wears us out. If you can’t purchase items for your kitchen liquids yet, you may consider removing labels from these items while they are in use in your kitchen until you can afford to replace them with containers that add to your delight while in your kitchen.

5. Simplify the gadgets and appliances. Take a look at the tools and kitchen gadgets you have. Is there a simpler way that you perform a task than what your gadgets and tools call for? For example, do you actually use the apple slicer or do you use a knife? Do you need the grilled-cheese sandwich maker or do you cook them on your cast iron skillet? If you prefer to perform a task in a simpler way than what your gadgets or tools call for, it’s time for them to go.  

6. Ditch the duplicates. Many times we have more than one thing that we don’t need. You might have two can openers, five round pie pans and three crock pots. If you’re honest with yourself, you probably have a favorite of every duplicate that is your go-to, the one that you always reach for, even though you have options. While you’re being honest with yourself, you probably can admit you don’t need more than one. Ditching the duplicates will give you the space to store things easily and eliminate the need to make decisions about which of the duplicates to use! It’ll be a win-win.

7. Make things easy to put away. When organizing your items in cabinets and drawers consider Marie Kondo’s advice that storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away. Situate your cabinets and drawers in such a way that everything is easy to put away when clean. That means every item has a specific home that is easy to get to.

8. Give the most used items the best real estate. Store things that you use daily in the easiest-to-get-to spots. While you’re at it, make sure those spots are close to where you’re going to use them, i.e. pots near the stove and coffee cups near the coffee machine. Save the step-stool-needed spots for items you’re only going to use just once or twice a year.

9. Maximize drawer space. Drawers are useful and helpful in a kitchen but it is up to you to ensure you use your drawers to their full potential. This means no drawers with loose items! Instead, each drawer should have containers or separators allowing the space to be organized and functional.

10. Consider vertically folding your kitchen linens. Speaking of drawers, consider folding your kitchen towels, napkins and other linens vertically inside drawers. Doing so allows you to see everything at once when opening the drawer and it better maximizes the space in the drawer. When folding vertically, you will fold an item width-wise in thirds, then in-half lengthwise and finally in thirds. This will allow you to find the perfect rectangle shape that will balance in your drawer.

11. Keep things that spark joy. Everything in your kitchen should spark joy. Is that surprising? Well, it’s true. Your dishes, appliances, foods and containers should contribute to the peace and happiness you feel when in your kitchen. As you go through items from your kitchen category by category, feel free to let go of items that do not make you feel that way. In some cases, you might have to keep items that are important and functional but do not spark joy. Keep those only until you can afford to replace them with items that serve the same function but spark joy.

12. Don’t be a Monica. You may remember Monica from friends keeping separate special dishes for guests. If your special dishes bring you joy, consider using them everyday. We are looking to spark joy in our home, in our kitchen and at mealtimes. If the special dishes do that, why wait for a special occasion to use them? Life is short, every day is a special occasion, so use the dishes you love and ditch the ones you don’t! Consider downsizing any dishes that don’t spark joy.

13. Consider clear storage containers. Clear storage containers for your spices, bulk items and any other applicable food item are a great way to organize your kitchen. The matching clear containers reduce visual clutter and “word pollution” from labels and logos. They also allow you to see clearly what’s in the container and how much remains which will help when grocery shopping. Consider adding small, neat and matching labels with the names of items inside.

 14. Help the kids help you. If there are kids that are consuming food from the kitchen and contributing to the mess and they’re able, we want to enlist their help. That means storing their items like snacks, dishes and lunchboxes in places that are easy for them to get out and easy for them to put away. Consider that concept when assigning homes to your items in cabinets, drawers, pantries and fridges.

Related: Managing Your Kids’ Distance Learning Worksheets

15. Remember, space is okay. As you minimize then organize your kitchen, feel free to leave margin and space in the drawers, cabinets, pantry and fridge. In your cabinets, it’ll mean it’s easy to put things away and get things out. In your pantry, it’ll mean you can see what you have when you get ready to go grocery shopping. In your fridge, it will mean you have room for leftovers and meal prep. Overall, it’ll mean your kitchen is spacious, enjoyable to be in, easy to use, and easy to maintain

Most of us have fond memories in the kitchen and all of us have reasons to be in the kitchen. If that’s true, why not strive to make the kitchen a joyful and functional place to be? These 15 organizing ideas can help you do just that. By being mindful about what we keep, how we keep it and where we keep it, we can all make our kitchens places we want to be.

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

KonMari organizing interview with German organizer Anna Lechmann from Lean Space

Last month I did an Instagram LIVE with Anna Lechmann from Lean Space. Anna Lechmann is a German KonMari Consultant and we discussed differences between Germany and the USA. Watch the German-language interview here:

Five Decluttering Lessons from Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo had already taken the world by storm with her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up when her Netflix series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo hit screens in 2019. The reason for her success, and mine as a consultant who uses her methods, is right in the name of that book title.

It’s life-changing.

That sounds dramatic, but the difference between your home, your mood and your habits before and after you’ve applied the Konmari Method™ will, in fact, change your life. Let’s take a look at some of the decluttering lessons you might learn if you were to embark on your own Konmari Method™.

1. Your stuff makes you feel a certain kind of way. Some folks are skeptical about the touchy-feely talk that comes up when embarking on a Konmari journey. Marie Kondo teaches that your items either spark joy--or they don’t. For most of us, that’s the first time we’ve ever considered that our stuff can make us feel a certain kind of way. Certainly, we know buying stuff can be fun and spark joy. But, that old sweatshirt from college? That makes me feel? Is this the definition of being materialistic?

No! Actually, it’s the definition of being human. You’re a feeling being, and your stuff is part of that equation. Imagine the difference you might feel when you grab your favorite novel of all time versus how you might feel grabbing an algebra book from the class you barely made it through. Can you imagine the difference in how you would feel? Now, imagine your shelves full of only college algebra-feeling books. On the contrary, imagine your shelves lined with your very favorite books that spark the feelings you felt the first time you read them every time you see them?

Another feeling that is very present in the Konmari journey is gratitude. Whether you’re deciding what to keep or what to discard, you’re practicing gratitude. It’s obvious that you’ll feel gratitude for items that spark joy. Your favorite coffee cup? You’ll be thinking of how grateful you are for that cherished cup on cozy Saturday mornings. That perfect purple handbag? You’ll feel gratitude that it is the perfect complement to your favorite fancy outfit. Likewise, when you’re deciding that something no longer fits in your life, you’re going to practice gratitude for all that thing has done for you in the past. For example, you might thank that old toaster you never use for getting you through your first young, broke years as an adult while simultaneously understanding that you don’t have a use for it anymore in your life since you’ve upgraded to a toaster oven. In this way, you’ll be practicing gratitude as you go through your items. You may thank those pre-pregnancy jeans for making you feel like a million bucks years ago while simultaneously understanding that it’s okay that your post-pregnancy body deserves some fantastic new jeans. As you go work through the Konmari Method™, you’ll again and again, be confronted by the way your stuff makes you feel. That’s a good thing! The end result is to be surrounded by things that spark joy.

2. It’s about what you’re keeping, not what you’re getting rid of. Often organization gurus focus on what to get rid of. Perhaps you’ve seen the challenges like 100 Items in 100 Days or 20 Bags in 20 Days. While those challenges have certainly been helpful to people, the Marie Kondo method is very different. With Konmari, we focus on what you want to keep, not what you want to get rid of. Your mission is to go through all of your items and find what sparks joy so you can keep it, display it, use it and continue loving it. In this way, you’ll end up full of happy decisions that end in joy-sparking results.

Related: The Biggest Misconceptions regarding the Konmari Method™

3. Category is key. When left to our own devices, we might choose to organize our homes one room at a time. That seems like a safe bet, doesn’t it? One problem with that method is that you miss out on a serious secret weapon: the power of the pile. When we work through the Konmari Method™, we will go through all of your items by individual category. In this way, you’ll go through all of your bags at once, not just the ones that happen to be in your closet, but also the ones lingering in your entry closet and laundry room. Likewise, we will pull out all of your clothes at once. We will gather them from the hamper, the closet, under the bed, the dresser, your car and wherever else they may be hiding. The impact of using this method is that you get to see the full amount of each item you have. That’s what we call the power of the pile. When you see just how much you have, you will be shocked! That emotion will allow you to go through your items and pick what sparks joy and discard what doesn’t, guilt-free. Another bonus is you’ll be able to see similar/like items when deciding what to keep. Going through things by category, rather than by room, also helps you when designing your newly organized and joy-sparking space. That’s because you will also store things by category which will, in turn, save you many brain-calories when searching for things. When you consider that the average American wastes 2.5 days of their lives looking for misplaced items, this method gives you an awesome advantage. In fact, the category secret weapon is one that will ultimately help you get rid of clutter.

4. Understanding clutter better will help you get rid of it. A study done in 2016 at Cornell University told us what we all might’ve guessed: clutter stresses us out. Another study from UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives and Families told us that the more stuff women feel they have at home, the higher their cortisol (stress hormone) levels are.

It’s clear clutter is a problem, but have you ever really thought about what the meaning of clutter is? We hear about it, we certainly recognize it with our own eyes. But, how do you define clutter? We cannot solve a clutter problem or a clutter habit without truly understanding it’s meaning, and Marie Kondo does that best. Clutter is simply stuff that has not been put away. Furthermore, clutter is created when we fail to return things to where they belong. When you work through the Konmari Method™, you will create a home for every item you own. That home will also ensure each item is easy for you to put away. When you put those two methods into action together, you will once and for all conquer the clutter monster.

5. Folding is better vertically. One of the biggest takeaways most folks have after completing the Konmari Method™ is that they just didn’t know what they didn’t know. One of the more mind-blowing lessons from Marie Kondo is the vertical fold. Kondo recommends the vertical fold for many reasons: to save space, to reduce wear and tear on your clothing and to require the handling of your items often so you can keep an eye out for stains, fraying or other culprits. The vertical fold also helps your clothes stay less wrinkled and allows you to see everything you have at once. That is in contrast to the horizontal fold in which you can only see the top items. When working through the Konmari Method™, you will discover a love for the vertical fold as each piece of clothing finds its own simple, smooth, perfectly-balanced rectangle shape. It’s a fun and functional skill to master.

Related: How to organize your clothes

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

Organize your books by creating your personal Hall of Fame

Organizing your book collection can be an overwhelming thought. You might conjure images of stacks of books, dust, and gut-wrenching decisions. Many readers feel that their book collections represent who they are as a person. They represent their thoughts, feelings, ideas and can even serve as icons for the timeline of your life. Add to that the sheer volume and weight our book collections add up to and it’s easy to see why so many people shy away from refining their book collections to just the very best.

The solution might just be to create your own personal Hall of Fame. Imagine such a hall were to be built in your honor. If you were to choose the books that made the biggest impact in your life, that tell the story of who you are, which books would those be? Just thinking about the books that might make such a collection probably sparks joy.

That is exactly the feeling we want to apply to your personal library and the process of curating it. We want to minimize your collection to books that, when you peer into your shelves, you feel instant joy and even a sense of kinship.

So how do we do that?

The first step is to warm your refining skills up by tackling your wardrobe. This is a crucial first step because your clothes help you practice the process which includes understanding which items bring you joy.

When you’re done there, you start with your books using a familiar process that you’ve built some experience with. You’ll gather all books, then you’ll touch each and every book in order to decide which to keep. Finally, you’ll discard or donate the items that have fulfilled their purpose. Last, but not least, design and create your own Hall of Fame! Here are a few do’s and dont’s that will help you as you create your Hall of Fame.

Related: ​How to organize your clothes

Do: Gather ​all​ books.​ Although books can be concentrated on bookshelves, it’s normal to find them in mini collections throughout the home. In order to do this correctly, we are going to gather every book from every place in the home. Doing this allows us to harness the “Power of the Pile.” The “KonMari Mountain” is a term KonMari consultants use that explains how eye-opening gathering every single like-item into one pile can be. It allows you to see just how much of an abundance you have of a single type of item. That abundance will enable you to be more discerning when deciding what to keep. Additionally, it will make it easier to let things go when you see just how much you have.

Do: Be okay with having less.​ If you’re a book lover, you might feel that letting go of books is like letting go of a part of yourself. What’s fun about creating the Hall of Fame is you’re keeping the best of you, organized and on display. You’ll easily be able to see your favorites or grab a book as you head to bed or out of town. That’s opposed to being overwhelmed by too many choices or unable to find your favorites. With a Hall of Fame, you’ve gathered the very best and made it readily available. In that case, less is certainly better.

Do: Read & read often. ​Studies show that the rate in which Americans are reading for personal interest continues to decline. A ​new recent poll​ found that 27 percent of Americans had not read a book in the last year, up from 17 percent who said the same in 2011. Research supports that reading is good for your health. ​Research conducted at Northcentral University​ showed reading can improve your memory and concentration. Reading also helps you ​relieve stress​ and sleep better. Once you’re done curating your Hall of Fame, be sure to enjoy your choices and improve your health!

Do: Thank the books before sending them on a journey. ​As you place books in your donate or discount pile, you might consider thanking them. Some books you might thank for what they’ve taught you, for the memories they’ve given you or simply for decorating your bookshelf. It may seem like a silly exercise but it’s actually a practice in gratitude that will help you stay positive throughout the process.

Don’t: Read the books as you sort.​ You might be tempted to thumb through your favorites as you go through them. Don’t give in to that desire. Instead, choose to focus until you finish and resolve to pick up a favorite when you’re done.

Don’t: Make decisions for others.​ Your books are yours to sort through, but leave the books that belong to others for their own Hall of Fame creation.

Don’t: Keep books you haven’t read. ​You may be tempted to keep a book with the thought, “I’ll read it someday.” The truth is, that day will most likely never come. If you don’t read a book when you buy it, or soon after, you will most likely never read it. Make a deal with yourself, if you ​do​ decide someday to read it, pick it up at the library or borrow it.

Related: How to organize your home office for good

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMariTM Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

Get Your Fire Evacuation Quick Grab Checklist

Fire season is fully underway in California and if you live in a high fire zone like me, you have to be prepared to evacuate. Los Angeles Fire Department shared a list of items to take if you have to evacuate in a hurry. I only live a couple of miles away from the current #valleyfire and want to educate as many people as I can about this quick procedure. It’s called the 6 P’s and is a great quick grab list. The whole evacuation process should not exceed thirty minutes.

What are the six P’s?

1. Persons and Pets:

   Make sure to get every person and all your pets out from your home; children and elderly family members that can’t drive. Take your pets if they fit in the car. Have one driver per car (if possible). If you have large animals like horses or livestock call your local Humane Society to get assistance.

2. (Important) Papers and Documents:

   If you have finished the KonMari Method this should be an easy task. All your papers are best stored in a clear plastic bin or cardboard box to be able to quickly take them with you in an emergency (instead of a file cabinet).

   Related: Why the KonMari Method is right for you

3. Prescription Drugs

   If anyone in the household (including pets) are taking medications don’t forget to take those with you as well.

4. Personal Computers and Flash drives

   Take your Laptops, hard drives and flash drives with important information such as usernames and passwords for your online accounts.

5. Photographs and other sentimental items

   Have a cardboard box ready for box for photo albums and other sentimental items take those and put them in your trunk.

6. Plastics (credit/ATM cards)

   Most importantly make sure you take payment methods with you such as credit and ATM cards, so you can pay for a temporary stay at a hotel and/or food while you are not able to go to your home.

   Related: How to organize your finances

Feel free to contact me here>>> to receive a free printable version of this list and as always stay safe San Diego!

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

How much does a KonMari Consultant cost?

If you have read the book “the life-changing magic of tidying up” or watched Marie Kondo’s Netflix show “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” you have probably gotten motivated to declutter your home. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to start on your own and that’s when you enlist help. A KonMari Consultant can help figure out where to start and what organizing system best suits your family.

The KonMari Consultant program is not a franchise, which means all Consultants are independent contractors. Some do not only specialize in KonMari organizing but also give traditional organizing and/or moving services as well as offer life-coaching, speaking and workshops or presentations for groups. So, the talents are many, you just have to find the right consultant for your needs. Speaking fees range from the hundreds for small groups to thousands for large groups or Cooperations. Coaching fees are in the range of $100+/per hour depending on training and experience.

Related: Why Hire a Professional Organizer? Frequently Asked Questions.

Location is a factor as it always is in business. Rates are usually higher in high demand areas such as California and New York. In Europe people are just starting to pick up on the organization service for homes and businesses and hiring Consultants is becoming more popular. Whether you live in San Diego or Kansas City, there will be a difference in pricing.

The cost also varies depending on the size of the house, items owned and the time it takes for the tidying process. Realistically speaking, a whole home organization Marathon can last anywhere from 3 months to 1 year on average. Clients also set their own schedule, some prefer to work with a consultant once or twice per week, where others like to do homework on their own and only need the professional organizer on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. Expect to pay $75+/per hour for an in-home organizing service.

Products are most often not included such as storage boxes, hangers, or drawer dividers, but can be purchased separately. Again, it is important to know what your Consultant offers in terms of service and packages. You can find a certified KonMari Consultant here>>>

If you want to learn how to organize on a dime, virtual workshops or classes are always an option. Tickets to a workshop can be free if they are offered by a local organization that pays the Consultants speaking fee, so just be on the lookout. Another alternative is to take an online organizing course, they usually start at around $95+ per class and range in duration from 6-12 weeks, depending on who is offering which program.

As you can see it is hard to name a price, because there are so many factors involved. There is a price-range and option for everyone from individual to group, you just have to explore the possibilities.

 Related: My five favorite products for home and office organization

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

Simplifying, decluttering and organizing your printed photos

Organizing your photos can feel like an overwhelming task, like you don’t know where to begin. What you need to get your photos organized is; dedicated tidy time (2-5 hours), spark joy photo albums, photo storage boxes, frames, and a scanner. Make sure you have a vision for your photos, what do you want to do with them? Put them in an album, maybe decorate and frame them or share them online? Once you have figured out an “ideal life” for your photos it is time to get started.Here are my tips on how to get started:

Step 1: Declutter

The first step is to collect all your photos in one spot. The best place would be the dining table where you can also sit down. The goal is to minimize the stack of photos to a much more manageable amount of prints. To do so, go through them one by one. Let go of duplicates or photos that are blurry. Pick out the ones you want to give to relatives or friends right away (some of my clients have also made stacks for #Throwbackthursdays). Only keep the ones that spark joy. Be careful when handling old photos. If they are fragile or stuck in old albums, you may wish to consult a professional for the best way to handle them.

Step 2: Organize in Chronological Order first

Organize the one’s that you are planning on keeping in chronological order. I suggest either year spans or decades, depending on how many photos you have collected over a lifetime. Arrange them in boxes or stacks for now so that you can create a general order as you sort through all of them. When you are finished decluttering and sorting your photos it is time for you to organize them with intent; either in a photo album or a filing system. Put larger prints in a separate pile as these ones are most likely to be framed or stored otherwise.

 Related: How to organize your stamp collection

Step 3: Display/Storage

To make the best of your memories create fun photo album, binder, or display. Now that your photos are in chronological order go through them again and sub-categorize the ones you want to create an album with, for example, “vacations” or “family reunion 2018”. Put those photos in the album and keep the rest of the photos in chronological order and store them in a photo organizing box. That way your photos have a home and are in order, so the next time you are looking for a particular photo, you know where you can find it. Other ways of displaying photos are in a frame on the wall or shadowbox. Larger prints can be stored in manila folders or a larger photo box. For backup, I suggest you scan your most valuable photos to your computer and store them on an external hard drive for backup.

Things to keep in mind:

Exposure to temperature, humidity, and light can ruin your negatives and photos. Make sure they are stored inside the house, preferably a closet (not the attic or the basement). Adhesives might chemically interact with images and ruin the photos if you try to remove them from an album at a later date. Use only specially made glue sticks, markers, and corners on your photos. Framed photos should not be hung in direct sunlight, try to use blinds and drapes from your window to protect them from the UV rays.

 Related: How to organize your home office for good

 Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

Productivity Tips for Working from home while homeschooling

If you are in the same boat as me, you might be homeschooling your kids this semester. When I heard the news that California was not going to open schools until January, I officially acquired another (unpaid) part-time job: Teacher. Many schools are planning to go online or have a hybrid program until things with COVID19 are figured out. What does that mean for working parents? Setting up a home office and creating a schedule for everyone. As a former teacher gone Organizer, I will share five tips on how to create a productive and healthy workspace for every member of the family while homeschooling.

1. Create a separate workspace for yourself 

It is important to have a private/separate workstation if you work from home. Common spaces like the kitchen or living room are great for socializing, but when you have to hold a zoom meeting or phone a client it best be without the background noise and children running around on the screen behind you. If you have an office, use it, if you don’t, no problem, just put a desk in the corner of your bedroom or guestroom and create a work nook where you can shut the door if needed and work uninterrupted for some time.

2. Schedule work and play

Time Management It is important for you and the kids, so everyone knows when to work and when to play. Here is a sample schedule you can follow or edit to your family’s needs. Older kids can help with chores as part of their schedule and make sure to plan some family time with board games, walks, or movie nights.

Related: Managing your kids distance learning worksheets

3. Set up a designated learning space for your child

Kids need to move around throughout the day, but it is important to have one or two designated learning spaces, so materials won’t be all over the place. A desk in their room for independent work or the kitchen table for homework help are some examples. Have a basket or container for supplies such as pens and papers, so they can be moved around easily from one learning space to another. Also, take learning outside the “classroom”; Helping prepare food, find herbs in the wild, or trim the grass in the yard are all important life skills to learn.

4. Give your child tools when they must wait for your attention

Make sure to communicate with your children and let them know your “work hours”. You can put a sign on your door as well to remind them that you are working. Some children might appreciate a list of go-to activities (such as free-reading, art projects, or journaling) to do when can’t move forward without your help or when they are waiting for your attention. Let them know how much you appreciate their patience.

5. Take breaks

Make sure to take care of yourself. Working at home and homeschooling your children can be exhausting. Accept help (from family members or neighbors) if they are willing to watch the kids or swap kids once a week for homeschooling if you are comfortable to do so. That would be great for the kids' social/emotional skills as well as give you a break from childcare/teaching. Intentionally do something for yourself that you enjoy. Go for a hike or walk the dog around the neighborhood. Meet (or zoom) a friend for coffee or read a book that you have been wanting to read. Get a much-needed massage or have a date night. The possibilities are endless, you just have to make time for it.

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.

How Essentialism can improve your life

My latest read was the book “Essentialism: The disciplined pursuit of less” by Greg McKeown. I absolutely love the philosophy behind this book and I think it goes hand in hand with the principles of the KonMari Method.

Amazon describes Essentialism as “more than a time-management strategy or a productivity technique. It is a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution toward the things that really matter.
By forcing us to apply more selective criteria for what is Essential, the disciplined pursuit of less empowers us to reclaim control of our own choices about where to spend our precious time and energy—instead of giving others the implicit permission to choose for us.
Essentialism is not one more thing—it’s a whole new way of doing everything. It’s about doing less, but better, in every area of our lives. Essentialism is a movement whose time has come.”

Read related blog: Time Management Strategies from Organizing Professionals

Things that I have learned from the book:

Vision is crucial to making better decisions: This overlaps with the KonMari philosophy and learning to craft a vision for myself and my “ideal lifestyle” a couple of years ago, I completely agree with the validity of this statement. If we don’t have a goal in life we can’t make a plan. So it is important to have a vision for our lives and know our guiding values and things we want to prioritize our time for.

Less but better: Being Busy is the badge of honor for most Americans. But what price do we pay to be busy all the time? Feeling overwhelmed and overworked, but not being closer to happiness. Because by the time we have figured out that being busy all the time does not necessarily make us successful, it also makes us less happy. We can learn to take back control by choosing fewer obligations and being able to do better work. If it’s not a definite “yes” it should be a definite “no”.

Learn to set boundaries: Saying “no” does not come naturally in a world where we are taught to oblige. It could be thought that it is culturally unacceptable or even rude to decline a request. However, the book mentions that research has shown that people will actually have more respect for someone that is very selective of their time, than for someone that just says yes to everything. One great strategy to learn boundary settings is to delay the decision. One can say “let me check my calendar and get back to you”. That gives you time to think if this task aligns with your goals and values.

Read related blog: How to organize your time for happiness

Organizing your time is just as important as organizing your belongings. This book really hit the nail on the head for tips on how to live an authentic life. There are many tips and tricks on how to minimize distractions and great illustrations on the concept of focus and productivity. This is definitely a great read for anyone who feels stretched too thin between life and work and wants to become more centered and happy.

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas. Disclosure: Some of the links provided on this page are affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, I will earn commission if you click through.

Guest Blog: Managing Your Kids’ Distance Learning Worksheets

Laura Sinclair

Flourish Organizing

Laura Sinclair is a professional home organizer and certified KonMari Consultant in Houston, TX.  As the owner of Flourish Organizing, she helps people to declutter and reorganize using Marie Kondo’s method of tidying.  She especially loves helping people create simple organizing systems for their papers.  Find out more at https://flourishorganizing.com/about.html

 

As we prepare to go back to school, many students will be distance learning.  Begin by arranging desks and work spaces for each member of the family.  Then, think about how you will handle school papers.  Young students will need parents to help with things like printing worksheets and turning in assignments online.  If you’ve got multiple children, this further complicates the task.  As a parent, how will you manage all of the handouts and worksheets for your elementary-aged child?

 

Inboxes:

Photo Credit: Flourish Organizing

First, focus on one child and think about the categories of worksheets that you will have to manage. Likely, there will be papers that you give to your child for the day and then papers that they give back to you after school. Set up a physical place for this. You need an inbox and an outbox (or an inbox for you and an inbox for your child).  For example, each morning, you place printed worksheets in your child’s inbox.  At the end of the school day, your child returns all completed work into your inbox.  If you have multiple children, you will probably need an inbox and outbox for each.  This inbox should also be separate from your personal paper inbox so that you don’t mix up your child’s papers with the mail and such.

Once you get papers back from your young student, you will have to sort through them:

1. Scan and turn in any papers that the teacher has requested.

2. Store the completed worksheets - both those that were turned in online and those that were not. Hang on to them for a few weeks just in case the teacher asks for something or your child needs it again. Every once in a while, you can probably recycle the whole lot.

Photo Credit: Flourish Organizing

Storage:

There are a variety of ways that you can store their completed worksheets.  The easiest is to just keep them in chronological order.  You can designate a specific drawer for each child’s completed papers.  At the end of the day, simply open the drawer and drop all of today’s completed papers on top of the pile.  The benefits of this method are that they are out of sight, they are all in one spot for easy access, and they are generally in order by date.  Another option is to have a paper tray, basket, or tub for this.  A third option is to use a binder to keep all of the recent papers for each child.  Make sure to have a hole-punch close by to make it easy.  If you’re using a binder, I would recommend putting all new papers at the front and keeping them in chronological order. Don’t make things unnecessarily complicated; keep it as simple as possible.

Extra Worksheets:

At this point, you have turned in work online and temporarily stored completed papers. What’s left? There may be worksheets that they didn’t get to today or that were only partially completed. Decide what you will do with those papers; give them a home.  If they are far and few between, you could simply put them back into your child’s inbox with tomorrow’s new printouts.  If they stack up quickly, you could create a paper tray, drawer, or spot at your child’s workspace for these unused worksheets.  Your child would have to go through the stack if their teacher asks for an older worksheet that they hadn’t yet completed.

Again, keep things as simple as possible; don’t complicate things unnecessarily.  However, if you have enough extra worksheets that they need to be separated by subject, then you can add another layer of organization.  Create a set of drawers or paper storage trays that are labeled with each subject, such as math, reading, and science. If your child needs an older worksheet that was not completed for art class, then they could find that paper in the “art tray.”  At the end of each day, your child would have to put away incomplete worksheets in each subject spot in addition to putting completed work in your inbox.  This is an extra step.  Model and help them do this until they can manage on their own.

 Everyone’s needs are different. This is just one model for paper flow. Take some time to think about what categories of papers you will have for your child and then give each a “home”. Remember:  No loose papers! Every paper belongs somewhere, even if it’s a pretty tray. Then train your kids to put away all of their papers each day. Having simple paper routines can go a long way to keeping your child’s workspaces decluttered and feeling a bit more in control.

If you need more support, consider hiring a professional organizer or a one-on-one virtual organizing coach.  

Guest Blog: The Ultimate Closet Design and Organizing Guide

Rocio Espinoza

Rocio is a SEO Marketing Specialist and does Content Marketing at Porch. She is passionate about wellness and fitness, and her hobbies are reading, writing, and music.

Since we’re spending more time at home, now is the perfect opportunity to gain control of your closet. No more clothes shoved in, no more unsuccessful searches for that tie or belt. An organized closet is a thing of beauty and functionality, and it’s within your reach.

It doesn’t matter if your renovation project is for a small apartment closet or a spacious walk-in closet – it’s yours, and it can become a joy-inspiring space instead of a source of can’t-find-it stress.

Designing an organized closet involves discovering what your needs are and then fitting a combination of hanging rods, dresser drawers, shelving units, and other components into the space you have available, like a puzzle, in an appealing and useful configuration. Not all floors or walls are created equal, so there will be lots of measuring and customizing to your space. Through the frustrations and triumphs, you’ll have created a customized storage space just for you, a closet that will serve you well. We have some great tips to make this project successful.

How to Get Started

One of the first things you need to consider is existing space. Is the closet already there? Are you planning on making it bigger? Are the kids gone, and you’re thinking about turning that small bedroom into the walk-in closet you’ve always longed for? Look at the big picture first and then jot down a quick sketch of what you’re envisioning. This fast drawing is a starting point as you begin assessing your needs, wants, and budget. It won’t be your final draft, and the design will evolve as you consider all the factors.

Designing your own closet organization system is the perfect opportunity to end up with exactly what you want, as long as you’re flexible when it comes to cost and other factors. If you share the closet with someone else, seek your partner’s input as well. With some persistence and a good game plan, you can design the perfect closet. Grab your measuring tape, pencil, and paper or computer design program, and let’s get the ball rolling.

Assess your Needs

Take stock of your needs, your skills, and your budget. Is this project something you can tackle yourself, or something best left to a professional? Browse design publications, home improvement websites, and Youtube videos for inspiration and advice. No closet organization design is the same. Visit your local home improvement store or a business that specializes in space organization. This will give you good ideas for potential configurations and trends. 

Take Stock of your Clothes Inventory

Take a good look at your wardrobe. Does your current space give you the room you need, or do you need to enlarge the actual space? Are all of your clothes essential, or do you have ensembles that you haven’t worn in ages that are only taking up valuable “closet real estate?” Count your shoes – how many do you have, and how will they fit into your dream closet? Don’t forget accessories, like belts, ties, scarves, hats, and jewelry.

Measure, Measure, Measure

Before you start designing, building, or ordering pre-built components for your organized closet, measure it all. Measure your emptied closet space, including the height from the floor to ceiling, and the width of each wall, taking into account molding at the bottom of walls or crown molding at the top. Make note of any features that would affect the placement of shelves or drawers, such as electrical outlets, light switches, ducts, doors, windows, or vents. As you start designing on paper, include the precise dimensions. Drawing on graph paper is very helpful for this.

What are the measurements of your overall floor plan? Don’t forget to take into consideration any space taken up by closet doors. Measure the closet dimensions at both the front and back, top and bottom because walls, ceilings, and floors are seldom exactly level and plumb. This will affect how well your configuration fits into the space.

Zone Out

Think of your closet as having “zones” – rods to hang clothes, shelves, drawers, shoe racks, whatever your needs are in that space. It may help to use a roll of blue painter’s tape to mark the outline of those zones: a drawer system here, shelves there, a ceiling-to-floor shoe rack against that wall. The painter’s tape releases from walls and flooring easily so you can tape, remove, and re-tape as your design changes.

Will your future closet space hold lots of items that go into drawers, like socks, underwear, shorts, or lingerie? Or, do you have more hanging clothes, like shirts, skirts, suits, and slacks? Are you a “fold shirts and stack” kind of person or a “hang it all up” person? Your preferences dictate what your closet configuration will look like.

 Get Hung Up on your Hang-up Storage

One important decision you’ll make is how far up from the floor you’ll place hanging rods for clothes. Do you want storage on the floor underneath? How high is comfortable for you to reach while hanging clothes without grabbing a stool to stand on? When measuring to hang rods, add at least a few inches at the top for getting the hangers on and off the rod. Go through your wardrobe and tally up how many clothes already hang low, like dresses, suits, or winter coats. You’ll need to make room for these low-hanging ensembles. Also consider whether you prefer to hang slacks full-length, requiring a higher rod, or draped over a hanger, which can hang on a lower rod.

Open Shelving or Drawers?

Do you like open shelving, drawers, or both? Some people prefer drawers for a neat, streamlined look. Awkward stacks of sweaters or workout t-shirts can be tucked away into drawers. Or, you may prefer shelves to display shoes or handbags. Shelves also offer quick access for those late-for-work, dress-in-a-hurry mornings. This is your closet, so it’s your choice within your budget. Keep in mind that drawers are typically more expensive than shelves.

Do you want hanging storage for accessories like belts or ties, or do you roll or fold for storage in a pull-out drawer? You’ll want to keep paper nearby to jot down notes as you delve into your specific organizational needs.

Jewelry Drawers?

When designing your custom closet, consider where you’ll store your jewelry. Do you enjoy displaying your necklaces or rings, or prefer to keep them safely tucked away? You could even include space for a safe for expensive pieces or other valuables. You may already have a cherished jewelry armoire or hanging organizer that you can configure into your new closet decor, or you may opt for new jewelry drawers with custom dividers. Make this closet your own.

Illuminate Your Space

When dreaming up the perfect closet space, don’t forget about lighting. No one wants to fumble for clothes and accessories in the dark. If this is a walk-in closet or more than a small space, consider having lighting installed. This might require hiring an electrician, so include that in your budget. Browse online for on-trend lighting options. If it’s a small space, you may be able to install battery-operated lighting.

Some Important Things to Consider

Before you start shopping, ordering, or building, know how the sections fit together. Can you anchor the cabinets or rods into wall studs? How will you attach the shelves to the drawer units?

Are you building some or all of the components yourself, or buying sections from a home improvement store or a specialty store? You may find that a complete, pre-assembled system works better for your unique space and costs less than buying the materials and crafting yourself. You can also order specific components and assemble and install them yourself. Keep your budget in mind as you consider all the different types – and prices – of closet systems.

Design Trends

Peruse websites and stores to see the new trends and configurations in custom closets. There may be on-trend features, like rollout shelves or lighted closet rods, that you’ll want to incorporate into your own space.

Once you’ve settled on the components, it’s time to consider the material. Do you prefer an ultra-modern look, a traditional look, or something in between? Love the sleek look of metal? Clean, white lines? Will you choose the look of wood, such as oak, pine, or cherry, to match your existing bathroom or bedroom decor? Does your dream closet include a mirror or perhaps a chair for dressing convenience? Special touches will add to the unique charm of your haven of organization.

It’s time to start drawing designs. Do you prefer your drawers on the right side, center, or left side? You’ll want a design that satisfies all your personal closet needs, and one you’ll be happy with. Armed with exact measurements, shop around to find what meets your designed needs. If you’re on a budget, check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, second-hand stores, and other sources for used components that you can incorporate and then paint to match the other sections for a unified look.

Declutter and Donate

Once you finish installing your custom-designed system, it’s time to move your belongings back. Then, step back and admire your new space. It was worth the time and effort, wasn’t it? When you’re repopulating your closet, take advantage of the opportunity to declutter. Go through your wardrobe, including shoes, ties, suits, and handbags, and consider how often you’ve used those articles, enlist help from a professional organizer if you need to. Are there items you haven’t worn in several years or can no longer fit in? Give them new life elsewhere by donating gently used items to a thrift store or a homeless shelter.

A Place for Everything, and Everything in its Place

Now that you have the closet of your dreams, keep it that way. Make sure you keep it clean and organized. Once a day, go through the closet and pick up any stray clothes, wandering shoes, or wayward accessories. Retaining everything in its place can become a healthy habit and makes finding just what you need so much easier. Dust the surfaces and banish cobwebs and dust bunnies. Taking care of your organization components will ensure years of dependable, beautiful function.

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas. Disclosure: Some of the links provided on this page are affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, I will earn commission if you click through.

Time Management Tips from Organizing Professionals

Time-Management is one of the most rewarding skills you can invest in, both in your personal and professional life, but what exactly is time management? Time management is the coordination of tasks and activities to maximize the effectiveness of an individual’s efforts. Essentially, time management is enabling people to get more work done in less time. Here are some useful Time-Management tips from organizing and management professionals.

Sandy Park

Tidy with Spark

Write it down.

Ever since a young age I wrote a to-do list. The act of extracting lists from my head onto a structured list on paper made perfect sense and seemed essential to getting things done. But inevitably as the lists grew more complete, my system of list making needed modification. This is when I started to group like tasks and items together. Batch processing is not a new concept, but for my note taking and list making process, it was a game changer. 

Instead of shifting from unlike tasks to another losing focus and all the economies of scale of starting over with a new task, I grouped like items together, batching them up so that I would benefit from being in the frame of mind of completing a similar task.

For example, any emails that need to be sent or read were grouped together. I would answer emails one right after the other and then move on to the next subcategory on my list of making phone calls. Grouping all calls together allowed me to knock out all the calls in one sitting. All return calls or appointments are handled together, whereas longer length calls to a friend or a family member are reserved for a later time when I could devote more time to the task at hand.

Batching up tasks on my to-do list saved a great deal of time for me and organized my day in a way that was manageable and productive.

Annmarie Gustafson

Annmarie Gustafson

Prioritize with Time Blocking.

Have you ever noticed how much harder you’ll work to fit something into your schedule if it’s something you really want to do? Chances are if you’re starting up your own business, the things you’ll tend to work on first are the fun, exciting tasks that you want to do. When it comes to the repetitive administrative tasks or projects you find boring, you’ll procrastinate doing them for as long as possible. Somehow though, it all still gets done.

The only chance we have at any semblance of work-life balance, is to decide how much time we are willing to devote to each of those things, in an ideal world, each week. Time Blocking is one of the best ways to put into perspective how much time you actually have each day to get things done. Initially, you may be surprised at how much or how little “free” time you have. You’ll begin to more closely analyze how you’re spending (or wasting) your days and figure out what should stay and what can go.

My favorite benefit of Time Blocking is that it eliminates any guilty feelings. If you tend to think, “I really should reply to that email,” or “I probably need to take a break and go play with the kids,” you’ll be freed of those pesky, interrupting thoughts. You’ll know that there is a time set aside for doing all those things, but right now, you’re working on whatever is in your current time block.

Of course there are hundreds of ways you can get started with Time Blocking. You can use an app, your digital calendar, a pencil and paper, or a simple spreadsheet.

Flavia Roman

Alter Decorum

Don’t leave  what you can do today for tomorrow.

Once I’m done utilizing an item, I put it back where it belongs. I maintain a certain organized household balance by returning all objects where they belong, and by making sure everything already has a designated place. 

I keep my bathroom vanity neat by depositing some of my skin care and dental products in the order of which will be used.  This way not only the vanity will always look organized, but also my next skin or dental routine will save me time by not having to search around for the products that I’m supposed to be using.

I prioritize based on what needs immediate attention by assessing the benefits that I might be getting from accomplishing a certain task.  Each benefit always improves a different aspect of my life.

Alexandra Kozak

Living Simply PGH

Rest.

I let myself rest. Or at least do something I want to do. Whether that’s a calling a friend or working out, it’s important to build time into your day to decompress. Most of us feel compelled to make sure our day is as productive as possible, which can lead to feelings of guilt over taking a break. But these short rest periods can help reset your focus and recharge your energy to continue to tackle your list.

Set a timer if you need to. I schedule my workouts as if they were meetings. This holds me accountable but also ensures this break is built into my day. I also use my Apple watch to remind me to stand at least once every hour. That gets me away from the computer and walking around. It helps so much to just get up and stretch.

Annie Allen

Annie The Organizer

Set a specific time for responding to emails.

 Email management. We often get side-tracked while reading and responding to emails, wasting valuable time and getting off-task.  An interesting article catches our attention, a seemingly quick response becomes a research project and before you know it, an hour or two has been lost on emails. It’s important to schedule email time each day; put it in your planner.  

When viewing email, determine what is urgent vs. important - urgent emails require immediate action whereas important emails can wait 24-48 hours or a stated deadline. If emails generate a new task or action, consult your planner and determine if/when you can complete that task; put the new task in your planner rather than dropping everything and completing it right away.  

Set an alarm five minutes before your allotted time is up, so you can begin closing down your email session and not lose track of time.  The same idea applies to managing social media accounts; schedule a specific time to connect, post, respond to all social media.

Copyright © 2020 by Janine Morales, Professional Home and Business Organizer and Certified KonMari™ Consultant in San Diego and surrounding areas.