Reimagining your space (part II)

I am pleased to report that the small space that started as a closet and storage area has been transformed into an office. And the bedroom that was once part office is now bedroom through and through.

The really good news is that both spaces are working out better than I could have imagined. The office is a much more functional work area because everything I need is within arm’s reach -- the unintended benefit of a petite space! -- and better organized because things have real homes rather than “make do” homes. Because I can’t see the lights of the wireless network and hear the hum of the printer, the bedroom no longer reverberates with the energy of my work day. Without a doubt, the clear separation of office and bedroom has made for more restful nights and productive days.

A clockwise tour of the office:





Eventually I'll do something decorative with this big blank wall but right now I just like to marvel that there used to be a free-standing clothing rack right in that very spot:



What's behind the curtain you saw in the edge of the last photo, you ask? Why, it's massive amounts of storage! All hidden by a just-perfect curtain constructed by my very handy mother.



Last but not least, the desk-less bedroom:

Reimagining your space

Do you ever have that lightning bolt moment when suddenly you see how things can be different? Now remember, I’m an organized sort so we’re talking more physical than existential here. But big sweeping physical change can be exciting too. It allows you to see your world in a different way, which then opens up the possibility for all kinds of things to happen. Maybe even existential things.

But rather than sitting around waiting for lightning to strike, look for opportunities to change the way you look at your space or relate to your environment:

Have your kids outgrown toys or play equipment and you just haven’t thought about storing everything in the basement or giving it away? Think about all of the floor and storage space you could reclaim!

Have a child who is going off to college next year? Start thinking about all of the fantastic ways to use this newly acquired square footage. Maybe it’s a painting studio, or a quiet space for meditation, or temperature controlled wine storage. Whatever you never thought you would have room for.

Think big: Instead of using that shed in the back yard to store the garden tools you don’t actually use or all of the boxes of stuff you really should just give away, consider getting rid of the structure itself and putting in the patio you always wanted.

The key is to take a critical look at the space you inhabit and turn your knee-jerk reaction of “but it has always been that way” on its head.

Recently, my lightning bolt moment occurred when I started really thinking about where I spend my working hours. As a consultant who works with clients either in their offices or homes, I don’t need a big formal space. I’m lucky enough to be able to work from my home office, but it was the “office” part that was giving me trouble. Before I spent my professional life in close proximity to my life life, the desk and laptop lived in an area carved out of the bedroom. As I transitioned from employee working in a cubicle to this consultant role, I found that I needed a separate space in order to be efficient when working as well as a way to turn off work that was more than simply closing the laptop. My solution was to make the large pass-through area I had used as a closet and storage space for six years into a home office with storage that’s a bit more hidden.

Since having this brilliant idea I have slowly but surely implemented my transition plan. Being a professional organizer my natural inclination is to get it all done right away to the exclusion of all else, but I’m learning to appreciate that sometimes big change takes time. I've included below a few of the “before” photos to give you an idea of the scale of the shift in my thinking.


Sometimes a project on a physically small scale can be the most challenging because it requires some real creativity. My new office is 6’ x 8’ with built-in shelves as well as an extra 2’ x 3’ bit of space tacked on to one end. Here it is in its previous incarnation as a closet:



A second view:




While perfectly functional as a work space, it was clear that this original configuration of desk and laptop wasn’t going to fit into the new office. My work area when it was still a part of the bedroom:




It’s easy for us to get stuck in a rut where we only see our surroundings in one certain way and have a hard time picturing them as something else. I encourage you to take a look around and see where a small shift in your physical space might make for a big shift in perspective.

Stay tuned for the transformation…

Getting organized without alienating your loved ones in the process

Organizing your space can be a daunting task when you’re tackling it on your own, and sometimes it feels as though the process can be made that much more challenging when your loved one gets involved. The loved one might be the spouse with whom you live so you’re required to figure out a way to share the space, or the loved one might be a friend or family member who has generously offered to lend a hand. In any of these situations, it’s important to take a deep breath and remember that you want to preserve these relationships long after the last bit of organizing is done.

When working with your spouse or significant other in your shared living space, remember that you both have a vested interest in the end result though you may approach the process from two very different angles. Cut the other person a little slack if he gets antsy when discussing ways to pare down his themed tie collection, or when the two of you have opposite approaches to naming and ordering your shared electronic files. The key is compromise. Give a little here and there and you will both feel as though your work together was successful.
Here’s a process suggestion:

1. When sorting through a stack of items and deciding whether or not to keep them, the first person works alone sorting into piles of KEEP FOR SURE, MAYBE KEEP, AND TOSS.

2. Subsequently, the second person goes through the stack again, also alone, re-sorting into his own three piles.

3. Review this second sort together and implement what you’ve decided. This allows both of you to feel as though you had your say in the process without the kind of friction that can sometimes occur when you’re working through it live. Each of you will get to see what the other has chosen, and hopefully you will feel as though you have come to a consensus decision.Helping a friend presents its own special set of challenges. Whether you have been asked to help or you’ve offered your assistance, the key here is to remember is that you are on his turf operating under his rules. You may have your own -- and very good, you think -- ideas about how a project should be done. Perhaps you’re helping a friend pack up boxes in preparation for a move, or helping to install a closet system in the guest room. It’s great to offer a helpful suggestion or two along the way but in the end this is his deal.
Here’s a process suggestion:

1. In the case of the closet installation, understand what needs to be accomplished and what time you have to accomplish it in. If the goal is to get the closet installed and fully functional, either commit to being there until it’s done or make it clear that you have two hours to devote to the project but then need to be on your way.

2. Take direction well. If your pal asks to you go and fetch the drill: fetch.

3. Be patient. Recognize that he may not be a drill master, but unless he asks for your help let him figure it out on his own. And in the meantime, don’t drop on his head the shelf that he’s trying to screw down.Projects on which parents and children work together can be the most challenging to tackle because of the years of shared history and existing relationship dynamics. Whether you are a parent teaching your child how to keep his room reasonably tidy, or an adult child helping your parents downsize from their house into a retirement community, the key thing to remember is that this important relationship is primary, and whatever you’re trying to accomplish is secondary.Here’s a process suggestion:

1. Have a very clear understanding of what the goals of the project are. I recently worked with my mom to put on a yard sale. She determined that the primary goal was to divest herself of things she no longer needed in order to lighten the load once she decided to move from the house she is in now, without worrying about how much money was raised.

2. Talk through the process. Mom and I sketched out a timeline of when we would price and move items, how we would advertise, and what were our individual to-do’s in the weeks and days before the sale.

3. Be kind. Recognize that you’re under stress and one or the other of you (hopefully not at the same time!) may buckle. It’s just temporary, though, and remember that you’ll get through this challenge and come out on the other side.What are some general tips that are helpful in all of these situations?

Have plenty of snacks available, and drink lots of water. There is nothing worse than a food- and water-deprived cranky partner when you’re trying to get a project done.

Take regular breaks. For example, 15-minute breaks every hour and a half if you’re working on a day-long project. This will help you clear your head and stave off any snarky commentary.

Agree to the no-guilt “cry uncle” option. If you’ve done what you can do for the day, or for the project, agree that communicating this will induce no guilt on your part or hard feelings on theirs.

Celebrate your success. Recognize that you’ve just put in a whole lot of hard work -- whether it’s two hours on a closet or two days preparing for a yard sale -- and give each other a big pat on the back.

Yikes, I’m disorganized! Where do I start??

As a professional organizer, I hear this one a lot. As in, “I’m so overwhelmed by this pile of stuff in my basement I don’t even know how to begin making sense of it!” A disorganized space, as with other aspects of life, can feel so out of control that you feel like you can’t make a dent without devoting some serious time and energy. Of course, it’s my job to come into that same space and bring order to it, but I’m here to tell you that you too can tackle your own problem areas without giving your whole life over to the project.

Here are a few tips to nudge you in the right direction:

Just start somewhere. It’s easy to talk yourself out of diving into the basement project by mentally reviewing the piles of stuff and everything that has to happen to get it from its current state to what you picture as its finished state. Start with one piece of the puzzle, and you’ll be amazed how eventually, all of the pieces will fit together.

Move methodically around the room. Once you have decided to begin the project, pick one corner of the room and go from there. In our imaginary basement, tackle the shelves of paint, household cleaning products, and automotive supplies. Take a careful look at what is still usable and donate or toss the rest. Once that section has been thinned out and only that which you’re actually using remains, continue moving clockwise around the room doing the same sort of thing.

Don’t bite off too much at a time. Start with an hour, and reward yourself once that hour is done. I find that a time increment like this is easier than saying “Today I’ll organize every photo I’ve ever taken” because the latter can more easily get overwhelming. When you organize with a time goal in mind you are more likely to feel successful, and thus more likely to continue working on the project.

Maintain the order you’ve created by taking the time to put things away rather than just dumping them in the middle of the basement. Also, continue to evaluate why you’re keeping what you’re keeping. If you’ve decided that you’re done with tennis and want to spend all of your time playing golf, now is the time to sell or give away your rackets rather than have them take up valuable storage space. Another “spend time now to save time later” practice with big benefits is to spend 15 minutes when you get home putting away the cleaning you picked up on your way home, hanging up the suit you just changed out of, and recycling the junk from the mail you just brought into the house. By doing this you will more easily maintain an organized space and won’t have to spend double the time down the road.

My version of spring cleaning: Spring Organizing

It happens to me every year. Just as the weather begins to turn and we’re surprised with a long stretch of warm, sunny weather –- the kind that pops up in the spring in Seattle before summer officially starts on July 5 –- that I start to feel the organizing itch. Maybe it’s the desire to lighten up my space, make it more streamlined and ready for the long summer days ahead. I mean, who wants to think hard about where to file your July paperwork when the sun and barbecue beckon?

Here are some of my favorite things to do to clear out the cobwebs from a winter of being inside. Try a few of these, and I guarantee that you will feel lighter. And as a reward for all of your hard work, perhaps a mojito on the back deck?

Take a serious look at your closet. Now is the time to look critically at what you’ve just been wearing (or not wearing) all winter, and what you anticipate wearing for summer. Make some space in your closet for tank tops and capris, and move the big sweaters to the back corner. After you’ve done that, consider one of these ways to unburden yourself of unwanted clothes.

Sort through your stack of manuals and warranties for electronics, household appliances, etc. See the manual for the toaster oven you sold at a garage sale ten years ago? Pitch it and all others for products you no longer own.

Take a walk through your files and recycle or shred paperwork you no longer need to keep. Make space in your filing cabinet and you’ll find it’s easier to put new documents in on a regular basis, thus staying more organized.

Go through that unruly pile of photos and organize it into labeled photo boxes, arrange in albums, or categorize your electronic photos if the unruly pile is a virtual one. One tip: If you are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number, try to pick out a few representative photos from a particular trip or occasion and don’t feel guilty about disposing of the rest. Consider sending the extras out to family or friends you know would enjoy the photos –- what a fun surprise for them to receive!

Give your stack of magazines a critical once-over. Sure, there are some magazines -– perhaps relevant to your profession –- that you want to hang on to for years to come. Most of us, though, turn down a page thinking that we’ll come back to reference a particular something but then don’t ever return. The solution is to go through your magazines and tear out anything interesting and toss the rest. Make some files into which you can drop the things you’ve torn out. A few to start with might be design ideas, recipes, product suggestions, how to’s, and gift ideas. For those of you who really get into this idea, sub-categorize further: gift ideas for kids, parents, sister, brother, hostess gifts.

As you dive into the summer gardening season, look at which tools you’re actually using. Maybe you don’t really need five rakes that all perform exactly the same task? Now is the time to give those extra tools to your daughter who has just bought her first house (and acquired her first garden!) or donate to something like the P-Patch Community Gardening Program that could put your unneeded tools to especially good use. They can be reached at 206.684.0264 and are pleased as punch to receive gardening tools in good working condition.

The transferable skill of fitted sheet folding

A funny thing happened to me this weekend. I was working an event in Federal Way for Friends of the Hylebos and we were using three of those pop-up canopies with detachable covers. (You know, like the kind used by all of your favorite vendors at the farmers market.) After two days and a couple of set-ups and tear-downs of the canopies I came to an interesting realization about folding the covers, once detached. I picked one up and realized that it had shaped corners, exactly like a fitted sheet. With the help of another pair of hands -– it’s bigger than your average sheet, after all –- we were able to fold the cover lickety split. The peaked shape of the canopy makes for a funny pokey-out bit when you’re trying to wrangle it, so the sail folding skills learned in childhood came in handy with evening out the uneven shape.

All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that the skills used in folding a fitted sheet can be applied to other aspects of one’s life. If you too would like to become a folding wizard, check out my previous post and how-to video.

We could all use a little Organizing 101

Ever thought that if you could just make sense of all the clutter in the garage, your life would improve ten-fold? Or that if you could just put some order to your kitchen you could turn out gourmet meals that would make Julia Child proud? I’m not here to tell you that organized spaces equal a perfect life, but I do firmly believe that they make for a better quality of life. Less searching around for the things you need, and more time spent doing the things you want.

I’ll tell you a little story: There is a cupboard above my refrigerator, awkwardly placed and awkwardly sized. I’m reasonably tall so I’ve been able to get at the few things I had stashed in there, but I’ve never liked how I used the space. In particular, it seemed to be a great place for baking sheets, large pans, and cooling racks, but every time I tried to extract one of those things I ended up taking everything else out just to get at what I wanted. I will even admit that although I love to bake, sometimes having offered to bring dessert to a dinner party I would avoid anything that required extensive cooling rack usage (thus the disappearance of the three-layer cake) in favor of other, non-rack options.

Last week I finally said enough. Enough! I wrote down the measurements of the cupboard and the kinds of items I wanted to store there. I came home from the Container Store with several plastic-coated wire shelves, perfect for separating the space and making it much more user-friendly. And baking-friendly.

If you’re interested in learning how to make small but significant changes like this, or need a step-by-step process that you can use to organize a garage or other big space of your own, I’ll be teaching an “Organizing 101” seminar on Tuesday, May 19, 7-9pm at the Bellevue Club. If you’re a member and want to attend, you can call 425.688.3384, email, or visit the club’s website to register. Or if you’re not a member but would like to talk about putting together a seminar for your own group, feel free to get in touch with me at 206.841.2804 or alix@organizeability.com.

Take a look at the before after photos from a home office re-do that will hopefully inspire you to give the same kind of makeover to your own space. Happy organizing!

To hang, or not to hang: that is the question

Dear Alix,

I want to reorganize my closet. I have more space for hanging clothes than for folded clothes. Can I hang my t-shirts or will I just end up with puckered shoulders? Is there a "what to hang and what to fold" rule?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Potentially Puckered,

Actually, you’ve hit dead center on the rule for what to hang and what to fold: Do more of whatever you have space for. It sounds simple, but because things like jeans, pants, and shirts can go either way you have some flexibility in how you allocate your space. Even men’s shirts can come back from the dry cleaners freshly laundered in either hanging or folded form.

As for the question of which hangers to use, I’m a big fan of wooden hangers. They look great, and they leave your t-shirts and other lightweight shirts pucker-free. You can get them in all sorts of finishes, generally available in a standard version as in this photo, or in a deluxe version that's a bit wider. I say no need for the wider deluxe, but if you’re really, really fussy about rounded corners, go for it.

Another option is this felt-covered number, called the friction soft grip. Word on the street is that they are also great for hanging t-shirts, and take up less room in your closet. They have little more than the width of wire hangers, but are a whole lot easier on your clothes.

Whichever hanger you choose, opt to use all of that single kind of hanger if possible. Doing this will make your closet visually more uniform, and thus appear more organized – even if you haven’t ordered your clothes in color groupings, lightest to darkest (as, ahem, some might). Everything I’ve mentioned above can be purchased from one of my favorite organizing resources, Organize.com. Though, between you and me, I bought all of my wooden hangers for cheap at IKEA and they work beautifully.

And, bravo to you for tackling closet reorganization. Write in and let us know if you come across any other stumpers!

Go nuts with the shredding

Now that you have liberated your files of all that extraneous paper, it’s time to dispose of it in a responsible manner. I recommend shredding any paper with personal information (account numbers, account balances, etc.) as it comes into your house, so ideally you would have a small shredder at home near where you open your mail. For big organizational efforts that have generated piles of paper to be shredded – or if you just like to accumulate paper and get rid of it all at once – the answer is to take everything to an industrial shredder.

Normally you would pay to shred a large amount like this, but you’re in luck because the Seattle Area Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers and ARMA International Records Management Association have put together an opportunity next weekend to bring your boxes and shred for free.

Shred up to six bankers boxes of paper per car for free, something that would normally cost $30

Enter to win a free shredder

Free organizing advice from the "Ask the Organizer" table

The when’s and where’s:

Saturday, April 18
9:00am - 12:00pm
Shoreline OfficeMax (1345 N 205th Street, Shoreline)

I'll see you there!

Financial records: keep or toss?

It’s tempting to keep every piece of paper you ever receive, every seemingly important bit of financial information. Luckily for the state of your filing cabinets, that’s simply not the case. You can – and should – regularly go through your paperwork and toss out whatever you can. (Or more accurately, shred. More on that in my next post.) Of course, it’s ideal to pay bills and receive statements electronically; I encourage you you to do as much of this as you can. For everything else, here is a list of what to keep and for how long. Now you just need to take the initiative to do this on a regular basis, right?

Toss every month

ATM and bank deposit slips, after you’ve recorded the amounts in your check register and checked them against your monthly bank statement

Credit card receipts, after you’ve checked to make sure the item appears correctly on your monthly statement

Sales receipts for minor purchases, after you’ve satisfactorily used the item and if it has no warranty

Toss after one year

Monthly bank and credit card statement (if you don’t itemize deductions)

Monthly or quarterly brokerage and mutual fund statements, after you’ve reconciled them with your year-end summary

Monthly mortgage statements, as long as your year-end statement clearly shows the total amount you’ve paid in interest and property taxes over the course of the year

Phone and utility bills (as long as you don’t have a home office, use your phone for business calls, or anticipate any need to prove long-term residency)

Paycheck stubs, after you’ve reconciled them with your annual W-2 or 1099 forms

Retain for Seven Years

W-2 and 1099 forms

Year-end statements from credit card companies

Phone and utility bills (only if you deduct any portion for business expenses, have more than one home or have moved within the past few years)

Cancelled checks and receipts/statements for annual mortgage interest and property taxes, deductible business expenses, child care bills, out-of-pocket medical costs, or any other tax-deductible expense

Records of expenses incurred in selling and buying a house, condo, etc., such as legal fees and your real estate agent's commission

Keep Indefinitely

Annual tax returns

Year-end summaries from financial services companies

Confirmation slips that show beneficiary designations and the purchase price of stocks, mutual funds, and any other investments you hold; hang onto these records indefinitely because some day you or your heirs will have to know exactly how much you paid to determine the profit on your investment for tax purposes

Home improvement records

Receipts for major purchases such as jewelry, rugs, appliances, antiques, cars, collectibles, furniture, computers, etc. – should be kept in an insurance file for proof of their value in the event of loss or damage

Records detailing medical procedures and results

College transcript

Automobile records (title, registration, repairs) – for as long as you own the vehicle

Examples of records needed for taxes (keep for seven years)

Bank statements and cancelled checks

Certificates of Deposit

Contracts

Charitable contributions

Credit statements

Income tax returns

Lease and loan agreements

Loan payment books

Pension plan records

Pay stubs

Keep receipts for as long as you own

Appliances

Art, antiques, collectibles

Clothing

Furniture

Home improvements

Home repairs

Major purchases

Keep in a fire-proof safe or safe deposit box

Birth certificate

Adoption certificate

Death certificate

Marriage license

Divorce decree, custody agreement, property agreement

Citizenship papers

Estate planning documents

Copyrights and patents

Insurance company names and policy numbers

Vaccination records

Deeds and titles to property and vehicles

Military service record

Household inventory, photos, serial numbers

Social security numbers

Passport

Bank and credit card numbers and telephone numbers of issuers

Contracts and other legal papers

Sources:
Diane Harris, Real Simple, April 2000
Marquette National Bank and Catherine Williams, President of Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Greater Chicago posted on Bankrate.com, September 2005
University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, 1999

The ins and outs of folding a fitted sheet

Dear Alix,

It’s driving me nuts, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m proceeding into a precarious world of neat-freakiness. You see, the thing is, I like ninety degree angles. All of my household linens fold up into tidy, orthogonal bundles for stacking and storage. All of them, that is, except for the fitted bed sheets. When I’m finished doing laundry I’m usually left with a pile of perfectly ordered sheets, pillow cases and towels – a straight and symmetrical tower of linen. Dolloped on top, in all its asymmetrical rebellion, is the fitted sheet. Like a pound of whip cream dumped on a perfectly executed crème brûlée, there it sits. I suspect that there is a way to fold a fitted bed sheet so that it does not involve funny curves and wrinkles the size of small mountain ranges. Does the answer exist or is this the anomaly of laundry organization? Should I just roll the fitted sheet up and conceal it out of view?

What Would Alix Do?

Sincerely,
Orthogonally Obsessed

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Orthogonal,

This sheet-folding business is a real challenge, and the more I ask around to determine who actually knows how to do this, the more furrowed brows and puzzled frowns I see. It turns out that you’re not alone in your frustration with the fitted version of the sheet species. You’re in luck, though, because I was fortunate enough to have a mother who taught me the finer points of this household chore (thanks, Mom!) and now I’ll share them with you. Check out the video below for step-by-step instructions:

What's so great about being organized, anyway?

Last weekend I went to a first time home buyer’s class at the Jefferson Community Center on Beacon Hill. Now, I’m not necessarily in the market to buy my first home, but I figured that I would check it out and see what I could learn about the process. Thach Nguyen at John L. Scott Real Estate and Michael Brogan at Bank of America, who co-presented the class, very clearly communicated that if you have the capacity and are ready, now is a great time given low interest rates and a tax credit for first time buyers. They were also very careful to say that if you don’t have the capacity to buy right now, none of those other incentives are worth a darn. As they said that day, just being at that class was the first step in determining if I'm ready. I am starting to get my ducks in a row and in short, get organized. To be successful in this whole house-buying enterprise it helps to go about it in an organized fashion and as it turns out, living our every day lives works that way as well.

It’s tax season, right? Ugh. Just think how much less painful this process would be if everything you needed was neatly filed away and you could easily lay your hands on pay stubs, investment statements, and mortgage records. Or how much faster you could get out of the house in the morning if you could quickly find the right pair of pants instead of hunting through the jumble of clothes hanging in your closet. Or networking to find a new job? That’s a hot topic right now. Good networkers know how to build a foundation of strong relationships by regular, methodical communication with those in their circle, and by being able to connect people with common interests. All of these things are about creating order and structure in our lives so that we can reap the benefits in the future.

So, you ask, if I’m not naturally a ducks-in-a-row kind of person, how can I magically transform my life into one of organization and ease?

Some of us are born with a knack for organization (me) and some of us are born with a knack for other things, like car repair (not me). If you're in the second category my advice to you is to start small. Begin by designating a home for your keys and start putting them in that basket on the counter or on that entry way table every single time you step in the door. Eventually you won't even think about it because it will have become part of your routine. Move on to a filing project next. Haul out that stack of paper you stashed in your closet and separate it into broad categories: bank, car, medical, house, and voila, this is the start of your filing system.

Start small and eventually you'll get in the habit of being an organized, or at least more organized, member of society. I think that you will find yourself better prepared to take advantage of big opportunities that come your way – like buying a house at an incredibly low interest rate or being offered a fabulous new job – because of all of the work you did on the front end. And then you can give yourself a big ol’ pat on the back.

Which pair of pants is which??

Ever had one of those mornings when you reach blindly into your closet, trying to locate a particular pair of black pants (one of four you own, of course) without pulling each off the hanger to assess its defining characteristics? If only you could tell at a single glance which is the pair that’s the perfect length to wear with your favorite tall boots, rather than the short pair that only looks good with ballet flats.

Now you can: Buy a pack of key tags and create labels for the pants hanging in your closet. I generally use brand, color, and length as those descriptors tell me enough about the item to help me find what I’m looking for. Say, “Calvin Klein, black, medium.” (For those of you playing along at home, that means neither tall boot nor ballet flat but rather a nice little kitten heel.) Hang the metal ring from the neck of the hanger, and you can now identify in a jiffy which pair of pants you’re looking for. For the record, I don’t feel the need to label “Gap, grey corduroy, short” when they are the only pair of Gap, grey, or corduroy pants in my closet, but if you like consistency and want to do it all, knock yourself out. Heck, if you have four black t-shirts hanging in your closet and each has wear applications that aren’t immediately apparent, label those too. Go key tag crazy!

One version of the finished product:

Buried under an avalanche of paper?

Have you ever sat at the desk in your home office and thought: If those stacks of paper were to topple over right now I might be buried under them, discovered only when I failed to show up for work on Monday? Or worse yet, you couldn't possibly imagine using your dining table for actual dining because of the piles of paper to be opened/recycled/shredded/filed?

I feel your pain. Really I do. Even I who am inordinately organized, sometimes let a stack of paper get out of control. My stack might be smaller and occur less frequently, but take heart in the fact that it happens to everyone. The good news is that I have a few tips for managing the paper avalanche:

Mail management: It all starts here. Open every piece of mail shortly after it comes through your front door. Have a recycling bin nearby and toss that paper right away. Keep a small paper shredder at home, too, and shred credit card offers and anything with financial information on it. Sort the remaining items into piles. The mail piles I recommend you start with are magazines and catalogs, do now (bills to pay, invitations to accept or decline, etc.), file, review later.

Consider cutting down on the paper that comes into your home by using online bill pay for as many things as you can. Tired of junk mail? The Federal Trade Commission has great information about how to stop unsolicited mail, telemarketing, and emails.

When you create your filing system (hanging folders, binders, whatever works!), use very specific categories. Trust me, it will be less overwhelming to file papers on a regular basis and it will be easier to find things later if you start specific. Rather than just *medical, break it down into *dentist, *doctor, *optometrist, *podiatrist. Then, put those files in alphabetical order.

File new paperwork in front, so you just have to open up the folder and drop it in. Easy peasy.

Avoid using paperclips to contain papers and instead use stapes or alligator clips. It's frustrating to try to drop something in the front of the folder and have it catch on the paper already there, so you end up awkwardly jamming it in the folder. Not so easy peasy.

File paperwork on a regular basis and the stacks will stay small and never reach the daunting, avoidance-inducing stage. Do it every Sunday morning as you drink a cup of coffee, or the first day of the month when you sit down to pay your bills. I promise a tremendous feeling of satisfaction when you have put that last piece of paper in its new folder home.

When was the last time you wore that puffy shirt?

All of us have items of clothing that we don’t wear, but still hang on to with all our might. We assure ourselves that someday those items will be back in style/fit us/suddenly look appealing one morning –- when really, they just take up space in the closet and in our psyche.

The trick is to purge everything from your closet that you are not actually wearing on a regular basis. Here is an easy way to figure that out: Turn all of your hangers around so that the hook is facing you. When you wear the item, turn the hanger around so that the curved part faces you. If you have any hooks pointing toward you after six months, you’re not wearing those items and they should be removed from your closet. This works just as well with sweaters and other things that are stacked on shelves or in drawers, just turn them opposite you to start, and put them back with the fold facing you and you’ll see what you really wear. Although: If you store seasonal items with all of the rest of your clothes, they are exempt from the purge as it’s likely that these won’t make the six month cut-off.

Once you've culled out everything that doesn't make the cut, decide whether you want to sell (consignment is going great guns right now), toss, or give away the items. A few of my favorite ways to do the last:

If you are interested in donating clothing to a worthy cause, three of the organizations I recommend: Dress for Success, Casa Latina, and The Northwest Center.

Something fun to do –- and especially appropriate given our challenging financial times –- is a clothing swap with friends. You get to divest yourself of the puffy shirt you no longer wear, those things find a happy new home, and hopefully you’ll score a couple of fabulous new items as well.