My family is in the midst of imperfection & incompletion right now; we’re building a new home 45 minutes away from where we currently live.  Sounds like an exciting time, and it is – with some challenges.  Some of our current challenges – making the 45-minute (each way/twice-a-day for me) commute to take our daughter to school, staying on top of all of the details & decisions that come with building a new home, continuing to service my wonderful clients in a professional way, and (probably the most challenging) living in a home that must be staged & ready-to-view at a moment’s notice.  That last part is definitely a work-in-progress.  (See – again, imperfect and incomplete.)  So, here are my five tips for organizing during a particularly stressful time:

1. Keep it Simple — Yes, it’s the KISS principle.  This is not the time to start elaborate projects or throw a multi-course dinner party.  Simplicity isn’t just bliss, it’s necessary during challenging times.
2. Cleanliness is Next to – My evening sweep of the living area has become crucial now more than ever.  Dishes done immediately, items used are put away quickly – you get the picture.  If I let things pile up, the pain is so much greater.
3. Space is my Friend – We’re taking this time to make space in our lives.  Shed all the unnecessary.  That means in our physical space, but also in our calendars.  We have to really assess our current commitments with anything else that comes into view.  Don’t bring more “stuff” into the house or the schedule.
4. The Sounds of Silence – I’m finding I need this more than ever right now.  Finding time each day to turn off the world – and my thoughts – and just be.  Five minutes of this practice has saved me many times already.
5. Embrace wabi-sabi – This time in our lives will not be perfect; things won’t always be complete.  Perfection is highly overrated.  Sometimes “good enough” is “good enough.”  I can either embrace it and smile or make a challenging time even more stressful by my attitude.  The choice is mine.

If you need help setting up systems to help you get and stay organized, contact me.  You’ll find someone who understands, cares, and has experience in embracing the wabi-sabi in your life.

Robin Blinder is the founder & owner of Consider It Organized, a Tampa, FL-based service for home & home office organization, home inventory & estate disbursement & clean-out.  Find her at http://www.ConsiderItOrganized.com or 727–264-6035.

1. Envision – What are your “garage dreams?” What activities need to happen here? What would you like to see when you open the door?
2. Plan – Taking the time to create a plan now will ensure that you reach your vision. Without a plan, you may end up with all your garage contents on your driveway or lawn while you run around getting what you need to complete your project. When you’re creating a plan, think about zones like the big box stores have. Some zones may be lawn care, car care, pool care & toys, woodworking/home repair tools, or outdoor sports (like fishing, boating, ball sports)
3. Recruit Others – Garage projects are usually big projects. Instead of going it solo, ask for help up-front from family members or friends. Maybe you can swap garage organization help with your neighbor.
4. Clear – As hard as it seems, the best way to start a garage project is to clear your garage of all its contents. The easiest way to do this is often to work around the garage in a pattern until all items are cleared.
5. Purge – As you clear the garage, start your trash pile. Throw away everything you no longer use, is broken, or is not useful to others.
6. Recycle – Part of your plan needs to include a plan for recycling. Check out your county website to find out what you’ll need to do with all the hazardous chemicals and paints that tend to hang out in the garage.
7. Donate – Another “pile” in your driveway should have items to give away or donate. Be brutal. If you haven’t used the item(s) in over a year and they still have useful life, give them to someone who will use them.
8. Return – Are you housing things for others? Still have those tools you borrowed from the neighbor? Start a pile of those – and return them today.
9. Categorize – Your plan will help you here. As you empty your garage, sort the items you’re keeping into categories.
10. Sweep/Clean – A good sweeping and cleaning of the garage floor will make all the difference. Take this time to do things like lay down mats to catch car drips. If you’re feeling ambitious, a coat of paint on the walls will make you feel like you have a new garage.
11. Pick Your Zones – Now is the time to look at your plan and look at the piles on your driveway/lawn and set up your zones. Putting some thought into your zones will make your garage functional and safe. Extra appliances or food storage should be located near the home entrance. Toys & kids’ items should be located the furthest from traffic in the garage and nearest the yard. If you store your garbage cans in the garage, as many of us do, they need to be near the garage door for ease of taking to the curb. Things like holiday decorations that aren’t often used can go into higher/longer term storage.
12. Install – Now is the time to install any racks or fixtures you have purchased for your project. The key to garage storage is getting as many things as possible off the floor so you have room for your largest item – your vehicle(s). There are a number of great storage systems at every price range out there to help you do this. Some of my favorites are Monkey Bars, Gladiator Garageworks and Rubbermaid’s FastTrack system.
13. Put everything in their new homes – This is the fun part. You’re almost there!
14. Containerize and Label – This is as important in the garage as it is in the house – maybe more important. All closed containers should be durable as well as water– and bug-resistant. In Florida, the heat & humidity can create condensation & dampness in some containers, so I would also recommend a moisture-control aid in your containers.
15. Celebrate! You’re going to love your new garage… But don’t forget to maintain it!

If you could use hands-on help organizing your garage or another area of your home, contact Consider It Organized – robin@ConsiderItOrganized.com and 727–264-6035. Check us out at http://www.ConsiderItOrganized.com and http://www.facebook.com/ConsiderItOrganized.

Although I did not lose a loved one in the 9/11 attacks, I remember that time as a time of complete upheaval in our lives. My husband, who travelled constantly for his business then, worked diligently to get from “gig” to “gig” and then home without the convenience of airline travel. The September 2001 launch of my (now defunct) accessory line was a disaster – one that I can now blame at least in part on the Event. At the same time, I was still reeling from a devastating miscarriage — one more loss in a string of losses on our road to becoming parents. Loss was a major theme in my life at that time.

Since then, my wonderful husband’s business still takes him travelling around the world (although, thankfully, a bit less). My failed accessory business became just one more notch on my belt and one more lesson learned. Now working with my Consider It Organized clients, I find happiness & fulfillment every day. Whether helping a busy family organize, assisting an older adult in downsizing a lifetime of possessions, helping a family move their beloved parent into a senior community, or working to liquidate and disburse the belongings of an estate for a family who is reeling from their own loss, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’m incredibly blessed to be able to do this work!

And probably the biggest difference in my life was that 18 months after September 11th, 2001, I gave birth to our daughter, who is now an 8-year-old ball of energy. Boy, have our lives changed! Our daughter brings constant activity, intermittent chaos, and never-ending joy to us, but she also brings a heightened interest in the security of our home, nation & world.

This 9/11 I pray for a nation and a world where terrorist attacks still threaten – and not as far away as before. I pray for those men & women who endeavor to keep us safe today and for their families who give up so much so that their family member can serve our country. And I pray for those who lost so much in the 9/11 attacks ten years ago. I only hope that, while they mourn their losses, they too are able to remember some never-ending joy & fulfillment entering their lives in these last 10 years.

Robin Blinder is the owner of Consider It Organized, where she finds fulfillment every day helping families and their older adult members organize, downsize, move to new homes, and liquidate and disburse estates filled with much-loved possessions.  Find out more at http://www.consideritorganized.com.

“I’m so disorganized!”

Here are a few places where the cost of clutter can hit your wallet:

• Late payment fees (interest & penalties) from misplaced bills or not managing to pay on time
• Overdraft fees resulting from enter your expenditures or reconcile your accounts
• Missed deadlines on rebates (not sending them in) or returns (not taking items back in timely manner)
• Gift cards not used by the deadlines or not having them with you when needed
• Late fees on overdue items like library cards
• Missed tax deductions due to not tracking mileage or business expenses or just generally not having paperwork organized so that you miss deductions
• Duplicate purchases because of the old “I know I have one of those, but I can’t find it” problem.
• Damaged items due to neglected maintenance or not incorrect or inappropriate storage.
• Multiple trips to the store or multiple errands because you went without a list & forgot something. Or you had to backtrack because you forgot a stop.  (This can really have impact in today’s world of nearly $4.00 per gallon gas prices.)
• Storage space rental fees rack up for those who have too much stuff for their space.  In 1995, one in 17 American households rented storage space. By 2007, that ratio had increased to one in 10, according to the Self Storage Association.
• Health care costs also increase due to disorganization.  Along with the stress of clutter to your health, too much clutter can attract allergens like dust & mold.  And an overabundance of “stuff” can potentially lead to falls.

Although you can’t track it in dollars and cents, the disorganization costs you dearly in emotional clutter:

• Irritation and frustration because you can’t find things, feel penned in,  and feel you’re not productive
• Guilt and embarrassment over missed deadlines, running late, being in “a mess”
• Anxiety over the financial problems that clutter can cause
• Exhaustion caused by all the emotions above, as well as living in a state of chaos.  It just wears you down.

It’s a normal human response to “keep on keeping on” until the pain of disorganization outweighs the fear of change.  A professional organizer can help you focus your efforts, start the process and stay on course until you’re back in control.  And the benefits you’ll gain will be more than money and sanity.  You’ll find time, energy, safety, pride and peace that come with an organization.  Check back for our “Steps on the Road to Decluttering” series of upcoming blogposts.

See you on Organization Avenue,

Consider It Organized

The reality of organization, though, is usually not made-for-TV viewing. Don’t get me wrong; I love these shows as much as the next guy. They have done a good job of educating the public about the upside of an organized life. And you can get some really good ideas from these shows. (Putting all of your belongings on the front lawn wouldn’t be one of them.)

Real (as opposed to reality) organization is about having what you need, where you need it, when you need it. Each “organized life” is going to be unique – just as each person/family/business is unique. An organization system that works for me might not make any sense to you. For organization to stick and become second nature, your space and things must be organized to your style.

A professional organizer is trained to guide you to find that organized life — to set up those systems that will serve you instead of you serving the system. A professional organizer will also help you develop the habits that will help you maintain your system and will work with you to tweak the system when things are just “not quite right.” A professional organizer isn’t about hauling all your “stuff” out for the world to see; we take confidentiality very seriously. And we’re not about making you throw away everything. A professional organizer will question you – and help you decide what items you need, love, and don’t want to let go. And then find good homes for the things you do decide aren’t part of your future.

So… Welcome to my blog. I hope you sign up with us or stop back often. I’ll be writing about organizing principles, fun products I’ve found, people I follow, events you might want to check out – whatever happens to be “front and center” at the time. If you have a question, let me know about that, too, and I’ll do my best to address it. My only promise – I won’t put your belongings on the front lawn – unless you want them there.