In the previous post we saw that depression and anxiety can contribute to clutter in the home. Further, clutter can make depression and anxiety feel much worse. Here, we describe how you can begin to take action to reduce clutter. As the clutter decreases you will feel better – less stress, more confidence to handle things, happier with your  environment and more calm.
 
What’s the first step? ​The first step is to become aware that there is a problem. The next step is to reach out for help. Neither is easy but both are necessary. If you feel comfortable, talk to a therapist, friend or relative about your desire to declutter. If this is not possible or if you have already tried without success, you should contact a professional organizer. 

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Yes! In my experience it does.
 
In light of Mental Health Awareness Month, I am sharing some thoughts on the connection between mental health and disorganization. My hope is that readers find this post hopeful in their efforts to organize themselves or to help a loved one get organized. I speak primarily of anxiety and depression here but other mental health issues are linked to disorganization as well. It is probably no surprise to readers that mental illness affects most areas of a person’s life and organization is no exception.

Are you still with me? If you have accomplished parts 1 & 2 - great. So far, the stuff that doesn't belong is gone (or marked to go). All bins and boxes are sorted and labeled. Categories are identified. Don't give up - you're almost done. In Part 3 we continue to sort the remainder of things into defined categories and then actually do the organizing. 

This step is really easy. Continue to pick up individual things and place them with similar items (in their categories). Label them in your mind if not out loud to reinforce your grasp of the emerging organizational system. Or, write category names on paper and hang on walls/shelves. Or, use chalk to identify categories on the floor or driveway.

​   Okay, you may be thinking that cleaning out the garage is not that easy or quick. Hang in there. If you followed Part 1, I bet some of the unwanted things are already gone. Continue with the previous task of looking up ways to get rid of the unwanted things from Part 1. Yes – you can do it, just keep at it. And keep your goal in mind– why you want to declutter the garage. In this second part we tackle bins and boxes of assorted stuff. 

​     Most people have bins and boxes of assorted items stashed in the garage. If you don’t have any, consider yourself fortunate and skip this step! Otherwise, examine your bins and boxes to recall why they got here. Making space for a remodel? Clearing spare bedroom for holiday 

​     Now that spring is here, the temperatures have warmed (a bit) and many of us are thinking about clearing the garage. If a garage cleanout is on your project list this spring take heart. The benefits of a decluttered and organized garage are guaranteed to outweigh the time and effort expended. Finding things will be a breeze. Seasonal tools will be readied. The car will fit in the garage. Life will be good! Sounds overwhelming? Not at all! Break the project down into small chunks, put them on your calendar, be determined – you can do it. Envision the look and feel of the decluttered garage in your mind. Invoke that image as often as necessary to stay motivated.

     Over the years we have found that a common cause of clutter is that things don’t have proper homes. What does that mean? Customarily, pots and pans are stored in a kitchen cabinet. Coats are stored in the coat closet. Sheets are stored in the linen closet, and so on. However, some types of things seem to defy our natural organizing abilities. Perhaps we start out with only a one or two of the things but soon have a whole homeless collection. If you have clutter due to homeless photos, memorabilia, or other belongings here are some tips to classify, organize and contain them.

​When the signs of spring begin to pop up I, for one, feel motivated to open the windows and do a little spring cleaning. Spring is a time for new beginnings, so why not honor the season by lightening up your home?  Bring in some fresh air, declutter and clean. Couldn’t be bothered, you say? Spring cleaning also supercharges you. By investing the initial energy you will get more back in satisfaction, motivation, gratitude for you space and your life, and a greater sense of calm. Let’s focus on clothes closets.
 
Clothes closets hold all sorts of things from current clothing and footwear to memorabilia, suitcases, unused gifts, framed art, miscellany, linens, and things whose fates are as yet undecided. If you have a closet that is too jam packed to function properly, then declutter. If you struggle to find what you’re looking for, then declutter. Or if you are just ready to spiffy up a closet, then declutter. How to begin? Here are seven easy steps. Let us know how you do!
 
First, choose a closet to declutter. Select the one that is most annoying or one where you know many things can easily be weeded out.  Often the closet itself will help you decide. Which closet is talking to you?
 
Second, have a goal for the end result. Will the closet be functional, orderly, pretty, spacious, or neat? Envision or verbalize the goal before beginning the decluttering project. If you don’t know what the finished product is supposed to look like how will you know when you’ve achieved it?
 
Third, develop a game plan. Write down tasks and dates or at least have the steps in your head. The purpose here is to be realistic in order to avoid giving up halfway through or getting sidetracked or running out of time. Consider whether you have all day to clean the closet or only an hour here and there? Is your energy boundless or do you work best in small bursts. If you are enlisting the help of someone else, when are they available? Plan estimated blocks of time on a calendar.
 
Fourth, gather supplies such as donation bags, trash bags, markers and labels, bins with lids, boxes, friend or other helper.
 
Fifth, now that you know what to declutter, have supplies on hand, and have a plan it’s time to begin. There are many ways to attack a closet. Some people recommend pulling everything out, sorting, reducing and replacing in an organized manner. Theoretically, the entire closet is completed in one fell swoop. However, this method can be overwhelming. It can lead to be a bigger mess or, worse, to frustration. It is definitely not recommended for people who are easily distracted. I suggest focusing and completing one section at a time. I firmly believe that success breeds success. Do one area well and then you will be energized to attack another area.
 
It doesn’t really matter where you begin. You know yourself and your closet best. Start with a shelf, hanging clothes, or stuff on the floor. If time is limited, plan to address just purses, accessories, shoes, winter jackets or slacks. Wherever you choose to begin, complete that one section before moving on. Estimate how long the task should take and set a timer to stay within your available time.
 
The decluttering task is simple. Sort things into two categories: KEEP and NOT KEEP. (The NOT KEEP pile can be further separated into trash, move, donate, sell, and give away boxes at this point or at the end, see below.) There is much popular advice about decluttering clothes: keep what you love, keep what brings you joy, choose only 33 items ... the list goes on. My advice is to be realistic and honest. Just go through and weed out anything that you don’t wear or use; damaged or stained clothing; scratchy or ill-fitting clothing; shoes that aren’t quite right; and gifts that you never liked. Recall your goal (or vision) as it should help you make difficult decisions. If you feel attached to clothing that you will never wear that’s okay, but limit these items to only a few. Store them in the back of the closet or in a memorabilia box on a high shelf out of the way of everyday access.
 
Regarding the NOT KEEP castoffs: practice efficiency over complexity. Whether you’ve chosen one destination or as many as six, the distribution of castoffs must be quick and easy. Anticipate in advance where you will bring each bag and when. Try not to be overly choosy where things will go or who will be using them. Speaking from experience, this is where many people get bogged down. Simply think that someone else will enjoy having your donations and let go.
 
Sixth, if you like – pretty it up. Wipe down surfaces or paint the walls. Purchase new hangers that are all alike. Buy decorative boxes for memorabilia. Find clear plastic bins to organize similar items. Invest in shoe racks that look nicer or work better. Install extra hooks or buy organizing products to handle specialty items.
 
Seventh, sort and label in a way that makes sense to you. Sorting options are: color, type, activity, or season. Delineate hanging sections with separators. Label shelves along their edges, hang a tag from wire shelving, or use a sticky note on the wall. Labels reinforce in our minds where to put things and where to find them again quickly.
 
Congratulate yourself on a job well done. Even if only a portion of the closet is completed consider it a success. More can be done at a later date now that you’ve taken the first step. Rejoice in knowing that it will be easier to find things and put things away. Feel proud that your spring cleaning is underway.

photo More closet. by motherAWESOME (CC BY-SA 2.0)

February is a great month to focus on paper management. Now that the New Year is underway, it’s time to purge old files. At this time of year, who isn't motivated to organize next year’s tax records more effectively. If you have been procrastinating on getting papers under control adopt some ideas from this short list of tips and tricks. Even small improvements can make a big difference in finding what you need.

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The New Year is a great time for new beginnings, setting goals and feeling hope for the future. Here are five steps to help you succeed with your resolutions this year.
 
1) Set a clear goal, one that is realistic. For your resolution, the goal must be one that YOU really want to achieve. Take time to explore why you want to make a change. (If you are okay with the status quo then don’t bother with this exercise!) Let’s take decluttering the house. Many of us have this goal but why? Do you want to know where your keys are located at all times? Do you want your house to feel more comfortable? Do you want to reduce the overwhelming visual clutter? Do you want to be able to invite guests to your house without being embarrassed? Do you want to clear the house so your mind feels less jumbled?
 
2) Confirm your goal. Write down your resolution. Create a vision board. Share your intentions with others. Get a buddy. Use a goal-tracking phone app. Make it real. This confirmation acts as your motivation so it must be inspiring. 
 
3) Have a plan. Next, develop a plan that will get you to where you want to go. It can be in the form of a project management sheet, a mind map on paper, a detailed vision board or a specific plan in your mind. It must have two clearly described parts:
 
Part One: tasks and a timeline so that you know you are on track,
 
Part Two: a contingency plan (list of alternative actions) that you agree to follow when you encounter a difficult period. Say, during your project to declutter the kitchen, you experience a life crisis. You feel unmotivated to pick up, clean, or put anything away. This pre-existing contingency plan gives you a predetermined list of minimal tasks that will keep you on the right track until the crisis is over and more time can be committed again. (Like having extra healthy snacks on hand when you are dieting!)  Even small decluttering activities will make you feel successful in the moment, for that day.
 
4) Practice flexibility: Keep in mind that you should be kind to yourself. If you lose your willpower one day remember that each day is a new beginning. And you may forgive yourself for one bad day in order to move on. Also, be willing to modify as necessary. A goal is not written in stone. Try to avoid the all or nothing mindset. Compromise on the scope or speed of the project if necessary. Think about it. Achieving part of a goal (or releasing perfection) is better than nothing. There is more respect in modifying than in giving up!!
 
5) Lastly, try to create a maintenance plan. At some point, hopefully, the goal is achieved. Celebrate but don’t become lax. Because what will happen? The gains will be lost and you will feel worse about yourself than before you began. How to maintain the uncluttered space? Ideally, good habits were formed in the process of achieving the goal. Remember to revisit the original motivating ideas. Confirm how good you feel about yourself for achieving the goal. Continue to follow the new habits. Pick up one area every day. Continue to keep keys in one location. Periodically check in with your support buddy. If the goal was worth doing then it is worth maintaining.
 
In summary, the New Year is a great opportunity to plan a resolution. The increased daylight and energy will augment your efforts. You are the only one who can make a positive change for yourself. Aren’t you worthy of positive things? And, of course, if you need extra motivation to stay the course - give us a call!

 Do you want to be more efficient? Do you want to spend less time and get more done? Do you want to work with more focus? Do you want to successfully avoid distractions? Here is a technique that is sure to get you there.
 
I recently listened to a workshop recording by Alan Brown, a productivity coach who provides coping strategies (targeted toward persons with ADHD) to help people be more productive. He described methods to get “unstuck” in our work by focusing on common trouble spots - experiencing scattered thinking among them. His strategy for controlling scattered thinking was a revelation to me. Personally, I get distracted when working alone and on tasks that I don’t want to do. My mind wanders or I find alternative busywork rather than focus on the one task to completion. When this happens I feel like I have wasted my time on little things. I feel disappointed in myself. As Brown acknowledged, there are many stumbling blocks to getting the important stuff done (indeed many books have been written on the subject) but remaining focused is the worst for me and for many of my clients.
 
Here is Brown’s approach to reign in the brain each time it strays off course. He suggests labeling our thoughts (just like attaching labels to baskets) into three categories: 1) “this is what I am doing now”, 2) “this is important but not what I am doing now so I’ll put it on my calendar and go back to my now task”, or 3) “this is not what I’m doing now and it doesn’t need to be done”. We can train our minds to use this three label system to effectively manage distracting thoughts and bring us back to the focus of our time right now. Personally, I have written these three labels on index cards and posted them beside my computer. The labels feel more physical, more real, like the labels on baskets. They serve as my accountability - like a person standing beside me keeping me on task. The practice is called awareness. It is (loosely) what is known as cognitive behavioral therapy in psychology.
 
Here is how I use this system when I really must power thorough my to-dos. I create my to-do list the day before. I prioritize the top THREE items that I really must get done before the end of the day. These are deemed realistic and doable. I find a block of time during the day for each item. And then I get started. When my thoughts wander from the now task or I start killing time (in any number of ways) I try to become my own witness. I look at my cards. What is my now task? Am I still on the now task? Have I wandered onto something frivolous and need to nix it? Or have I remembered something important and need to write a reminder so that it will get done at an appropriate time later. Sometimes I truly need a little break to walk around or get a cup of tea but these interruptions are limited to ten minutes in two hours. Otherwise, it’s back to work.
 
Before you try this out be forewarned that some people fail to recognize when they are getting off course; they forget to be their own witness or don’t know how remain aware. If this is a challenge for you, set a timer to ring every ten minutes. When it rings ask yourself the on-task questions. You may think that a timer would be distracting in itself, but it is worth the interruption until you get the hang of it. Sometimes the sound of a radio or TV can keep you in the moment also. I encourage you to try this awareness strategy to see if it keeps you on task. Practice for just ten minutes at first and increase the duration with each session until you feel you have achieved mastery. You WILL become more productive if this plan is in place before starting on the now task. You will gain control over the old, unproductive scattered thoughts and feel a sense of accomplishment.