Why?

So, why do you want to get organized? That may sound like a silly question, but it’s actually a critical part of the organizing process. The “why” is different for every person: my boss told me to, I’m sick of tripping over stacks of stuff on the floor, I’m tired of stepping over things just to get to my filing cabinet, clients comment on my disorganization and I think it’s making me look bad, I want to be more productive with my time…there are so, so many reasons to have an organized office space!

Your personal reason or reasons (there are likely more than one) are what will help drive you to succeed in becoming and remaining organized. Really ask yourself why you want to be organized and what your vision is for you office space—jot down specifics, as this helps to motivate. Do you visualize a completely cleared off desk or credenza? Would simply adding a desktop file organizer really make your space appear tidier and be more functional for you? Do you want more plants, and where could you put them? Clarity brings focus to the task, and wonderful results will follow. Start your “why” list today—it makes a huge difference.

Can This Be Recycled?

As I'm helping people organize their spaces we often come across items that the client doesn't need or want anymore. Items like metal clothes hangers, video tapes, trophies, lawn/garden equipment, pipe, propane tanks...they're not things that can be donated, and we hesitate to throw them away. Things like these are what make piles and boxes of clutter!

Check out this wonderful website: www.earth911.com. If you're wondering if some of your castoffs can be recycled, all you have to do is type in the item you have along with your zip code, and a list of recycling options/locations is revealed. It's also a wonderful site to read about recycling tips and articles. I highly recommend!

Can I Keep It?

“Are you going to make me throw away all of my stuff?” I am asked this question a lot in the assessment phase of working with my clients. I never make clients throw away anything that they don’t want to get rid of. It is true, however, that we tend to hang on to way more stuff than we actually need, “just in case”.

One of my main purposes is to assist clients with sorting through what they have, determining what can be shredded, tossed, filed, delegated, or relocated. Then I guide them in developing an organized work environment that will be simple to maintain on a daily/weekly basis. Charging in and simply throwing away things without first analyzing what the client’s needs are is NOT organizing! A good general rule of thumb when de-cluttering is: get rid of objects that you associate negative memories or feelings with, and keep the things that make you feel good. Happy organizing!