CREATIVE ORDER

Guidance for Decluttering

2024-08-04T16:03:00.006-04:00

As you declutter, mind this advice.

Watch the voices in your head. Whose are they? A parent, a sibling, a critical person, your own high expectations that need adjusting?

Do what you need to do at your pace and do it with peace. Check your expectations and enjoy the process of decluttering in ways that align with your 'gut'.

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House Cleaning Tips Using the Task-Driven Method

2024-07-18T17:03:00.000-04:00

A bedroom I staged in my business.

Don't be fooled into thinking there is one down-pat way of cleaning your home as far as accomplishing the task is concerned. Most of us use a variety of methods to get the job done.

I might tell you about the timer method one day, the list method another, but today I'll tell you about a goal method that is focused on achieving tasks.

SETTING GOALS

My overarching goal is to clean the entire house. That won't happen today, though, because a) I tire easily b) I'll run out of motivation c) I have other things to do.

So here's the approach I am taking:

I'm setting small goals, bookended with breaks.

Yes, it is okay to rest, eat, and deviate a little here and there. Watch out for triggers that might get you totally off-task, though. For instance, don't turn on a long movie during your short breaktime.

Set Goals

A first goal might include a series of tasks: putting away shoes to their 'homes' and putting away clothes that have been sitting in a laundry basket; removing the master bedroom sheets and putting them into the laundry machine, followed with a short break.

On your break drink water, check email, sit and meditate. Do what it takes to restore your energy.

Next goal: Your next goal may include removing items from dressers and side tables in the master bedroom; dusting all surfaces; vacuuming the master bedroom floor (I like to let my Roomba run while I dust and clean); putting mats or other bedding outside to refreshen (or to kill dust mites in 0 degree weather). Then take another break.

Next: If you still have time and energy, you may damp mop or damp Swiffer your hard floor bedroom surfaces including under and behind the bed or use a robot mop. Then re-lay mats and reset your dresser items.
Take a break.

Next: Remake bed (if you need 2 people as I often do, leave the fresh bedding out until help arrives).

Bedroom of my previous house all staged to sell.

This method of cleaning is task-driven. There is no time limit set for accomplishing the tasks unless you want to.

Enjoy the refresh and tell yourself you've don a great job!

Millie's Decluttering Story Could be Yours

2024-06-13T15:21:00.001-04:00

Millie’s Decluttering Story

Some families have a second dilemma related to household possessions. Not only do they want or need to downsize their own possessions, but like many baby-boomers, they also have items from their parents’ homes to part with.

Millie is a sixty-something married woman who’s lived in her home for fifteen years. It was a low-clutter environment, but Millie decided since they’d reached the empty nest it would be an appropriate time to sort through possessions that no longer suited them.

Milly and her spouse had also recently emptied her late-mother-in-law’s home after she passed away. They chose to keep a few sentimental and usable items but had hundreds more to disperse. With winter approaching, Millie was motivated to clear out her mother-in-law’s items that had been stored in bins in the garage for two years. She set a start date and a rough deadline and began the decluttering process.

To Sell or Not to Sell

Like many who embark on a decluttering journey, Millie assumed collectible items might be saleable. She and her spouse agreed it would be nice to earn a bit of money from them but had heard from others that garage sales were hardly worth the effort. She decided to try to sell items online instead.

One-by-one Milly pulled items from the bin and researched comparable items online to find suitable prices. Then she cleaned each item and took photos. After a full week of research and uploading photos, she was ready to list the pricier items online for sale.

Milly had the time to do this and was proud of her work and shared the links with relatives. In the meantime, though, she had to store the items again until she found a buyer. And, aside from the upscale items, she still had multiple other items to make decisions on and part with.

Give Away Table

Drastic measures had to be taken to meet her deadline of having the project completed before winter.

Millie decided to donate what was left. She looked for boxes to pack the non-posted items in so she could bring them to the nearby thrift shop, but she had none.

In the past she’d put items out on the curb for trash pickup and found passersby would take them before the garbage truck arrived. She wondered how successful a free table of items would be. As she pondered the idea, she realized a free table would save her from looking for boxes and save her a trip to the thrift store.

So she created a makeshift table, and put the items on it with a free sign.

In no time, cars stopped and those in them scooped up the free items taking them away. Millie said it happened so fast she didn’t even see the people do it. Seeing this idea was a success, she added some of her own clutter to the table.

Sunday night she gathered what was left. There were about fifteen items that nicely fit into a small box which she later took to the donation centre.

As for the items she had posted online for sale, six weeks later she still had no bites.

Millie shared, “The free table was a great idea. It really excited me to learn people actually wanted my mother-in-law’s knickknacks. I was surprised that even souvenir items with city or country names printed on them went.”

What surprised Millie even more was the joy she found in the process. She felt right about it.

Perspective

The way Millie approached her first round of decluttering was helpful to her in giving her perspective on the value of possessions. It had been important to her to honour her mother-in-law by doing the online research and making the wisest decisions possible. She concluded, though, that while it may sound great to earn money on old items, finding a buyer is another time-consuming matter.

In the end, apart from the lessons learned, trying to sell items online was more or less a waste of her time.

If you’re going to declutter your home, it will help if you have a realistic view on the current value of your items. Holding on hoping to earn money may delay your decluttering process. Instead, when you give items away, consider you are blessing someone else with them.

Only you can decide if the stress of keeping clutter is worth the money you may one day make.

Habits

After several weeks of decluttering, Millie paused the project. The Christmas season was approaching. Now, Millie felt more aware of how clutter accumulates. She became methodical about gift shopping vowing not to buy anyone something that would clutter their home. Instead, she purchased consumable items like soaps, clothing, snacks and treats, and items a person would put to good use like the mobile phone charger she bought her son, or the pain-relieving elbow sleeves she bought her husband. There would be no knick-knacks, appliances, or trendy décor items purchased for anyone on her list.

Millie also realized she needed to tame her online shopping habit. The decluttering process put her on high alert to the tempting ads that faced her daily. Mailbox flyers were quickly put into recycling. Sales emails were deleted. Online ads were ignored.

Something else that surprised Millie was her ability to throw things away more easily. Formerly, she would think of a number of uses for items like buttons she’d cut off shirts she was donating, or saving plastic tubs food came in. In the past, she had feared throwing out miscellaneous items she might later need. She realized that someday rarely came. Now she didn't want to spend any mental or physical energy on saving such. Peace of mind and energy were more valuable than this kind of stuff.

In the end, Millie completed as much decluttering as she could before Christmas arrived and kept the new commitment to live with less as a personal challenge for the New Year.

Unclutter your Life while you Unclutter your Home

2019-10-27T00:19:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine once told me doing housework is therapeutic. I don't know what it meant to her, but I know doing so becomes an activity that makes me look inward. I do tend to deal with a lot of stuff while cleaning my home.

When equipped with the "just do it" attitude and not a "begrudging" attitude, the thoughts can flow. I can challenge my thinking. I get ideas. I feel useful.

I knew with fall's arrival I'd need a new project. Cleaning the garage hadn't made it onto my list of chores over the summer, so the idea of getting to the excess clutter in the garage is what compelled me to sign up for Joshua Becker's Uncluttered course.

I had a need to go through some of my Mother-in-law's items stored there, I had a need for a set of new goals for fall, but also I wanted my thinking challenged regarding my home's possessions as my husband and I are in the empty nest again.

Going through the process of uncluttering is challenging. My thinking has been challenged on many fronts. I know what I want to accomplish during this course practically, but for the rest of my life, that's still a bit of an unknown.

Letting Go

The entire idea of letting go, though, is timely as I am letting go of my adult children more and more. And with no inlaws left on my husband's side, my own mom being elderly, my and my spouse's siblings having their own families to look after, and my own children developing their own lives, I've been put in a position to let go of traditions and other expectations.

We may make new traditions, but I doubt it. I think my mindset is to live in the now--making the most of every opportunity, being present, enjoying the beauty in daily activities.

My dog of 14 years also passed away. I've been freed of her loving and loyal attachment that was far beyond necessary. She wore herself out following me around. I was her joy and she mine. She can rest now and play in heaven, and I now feel peace and freedom to start fresh in new areas.

What do I want to become? Healthy, happy, loving, inspiring, available.

How will I do that? Well, that's for my personal journal.

Thank Your Clutter Before You Say Goodbye To It

2019-10-21T19:05:00.003-04:00

I'm enrolled in an "Uncluttered Course" and am learning as much from other members as the instructor. Made up a few helpful memes I thought you would enjoy

Re-Organizing a Space

2018-08-31T11:06:00.000-04:00

I'm busy organizing a storage space for a home owner just now. Sometimes it seems like we are making more of a mess as "stuff" gets hauled out.

As each item is hauled, the homeowner has to decide to keep it, give it away, sell it, or throw it out. She has enough work deciding on her own items, but there are other family member's belongings there too and they aren't present.

There are many things they aren't ready to part with, like her husband's 30-year-old shoe forms that he never uses.

The work is tedious and not only physically challenging but emotionally and mentally taxing.

Each item gets put into a space in another room, the floors are swept. Then the system is chosen based on what is left. Shelving or cupboards are rearranged or new ones added and items are re-stored in eye-pleasing and practical containers.

This is my day today and tomorrow. How about you?

Top Tips for Organizing/Cleaning Your Home

2017-01-03T20:28:00.000-05:00

Organizing your Space and Keeping it Organized:

Identify the most bothersome areas: Does a scuzzy bathroom drive you nuts? How about a kitchen counter cluttered with dishes (even if they're clean). Is it the idea there is enough pet fur under your bed to clothe another cat? Maybe it's newspapers that pile up.

List what areas bother you on a repeated basis. Call these your "Hot Spots":

_________________
_________________
_________________
...

2. Rate your hot spots as to their condition right now. Maybe your kitchen has been neglected over the weekend. Maybe you cleaned under the bed a week ago, but it's time to address it again. Perhaps your desk has piled up with wrappers, books, coffee cups, etc. because you've been on the go lately.
3. Prioritize the hot spots as to which you feel you should tackle first this week. Remember, getting it done will result in you feeling calmer and more organized. Choose the areas that, when cleaned, will result in the best feeling.

4. Schedule in cleaning time. Of course you'll have to work around other responsibilities. If you haven't got a good solid hour to clean, then be creative. For instance, after your morning shower, take a bit of extra time to wipe down the counters, tub, toilet, and bathroom baseboards. Or, each time you get up from your desk, remove some of the clutter, and put it where it needs to go.

Do you Follow FlyLady Rules?

2015-08-30T13:03:00.002-04:00

Years ago I looked up FlyLady to garner some help with home cleaning. I needed to hear I wasn't the only one with so much housework all the time. I needed to know how others manage it. I gained insight there and learned her systems. I tried a few for myself.

But then I realized it was too regimented. And, though I may swish my bathroom in the morning, what about the kids' bathroom?

Recently, I returned to the FlyLady group. Though I have some good systems in place, I want a refresher course. I also admire her business model. She's really got a lot going on.

So the first thing is make the bed in the morning. There are theories on that. One is that you should let the bed air. I guess if sheets are changed weekly, it's not as big a deal. Being a midlife woman with night sweats, though, I feel that bed often needs to air. So I will be flexible.

She also talks about showering and doing makeup right away. I can shower right away but putting contacts in is a problem. My eyes have to de-gunk. So I'll have to think about the timing of that.

She says dress to lace-up shoes. I'm thinking, "Who wears lace-up shoes?" I wear them to clean, garden, or to the gym. Otherwise they aren't my go-to shoe. I am a freelance writer. I don't want to wear lace-ups all day. But then again, maybe if I do lace-up in my outdoor shoes I'll actually walk the dog or get to the gym more. Something to think about for fall.

(Do you think FlyLady means this kind of lace-up shoe?)

How about you? Do you follow FlyLady rules?

Need Help Applying Lotion to Your Back?

2015-08-30T01:03:00.000-04:00

Do you have trouble applying suntan lotion to your back?

This tool is actually a blind duster. I bought a similar model to use for applying suntan lotion to my back. Simply squeeze lotion on the wand and reach over to spread it on your back.

My mother uses a bath brush in a similar fashion.

I tried it this week, and it was pretty good, especially since no hands-on helpers were around. It would be better with a slight curve in it, but still, I'm pleased.

*Update, I did get my son to use it on me around my bathing suit at the back, and it was less awkward than him putting his hands on me.

A Few Bathtub Cleaning Tricks

2015-08-30T00:05:00.000-04:00

BATHTUB CLEANING A PAIN?

This is a little trick I've been using for a while. I have one of these scrubbies (back brush) in each of my tub areas. After a shower I spray some cleanser around the tub, and then whisk with my scrubbie.

Makes reaching easier. I then spray it out with my shower extender hose.

A really good scrubbing now and then is needed mostly due to hard water discoloration, and I use Mr. Clean magic eraser.

Often before Mr. Clean, though, I'll use dish soap because it cuts through grease. I figure it cuts through body grease and that which is in shampoo conditioners.

What are your bathtub cleaning methods?

Laundry Simplification

2015-06-30T00:03:00.000-04:00

The idea came to me as I was sorting laundry into light and dark piles to be washed, that it would be helpful to have one of those trash can/recycling bin combinations to sort light; dark or undies versus shirts into.

It seemed like a great brainwave until then I realized they are fairly small and a person could do the same with either laundry bins side-by-side or a combination laundry bin (as pictured below).

A drawer system would also work. No great brainwave afterall, just something to think about to make laundry day easier and to know when one colour is ready for the wash.

Then again, in my family we each do our own laundry and the amounts may not warrant this.

How about you? Any great sorting gizmos?

To Organize or To Discard

2015-03-14T01:20:00.000-04:00

I read a great quote today that said,

"Don't organize anything that could be discarded."

That's worth thinking about.

Discard things that either have no purpose or no longer serve you. You could organize a bunch of catalogues and magazines, but unless you've referred to any of them, will use them in your job or have any other real purpose for them, they are just space takers.

Usually right after flipping through one you'll know if there is a reason to keep it.

How about computer print outs? I know a writer who insists on printing everything she writes. Wouldn't it be more efficient for her to store items digitally on an external hard drive or even a set of flash drives?

The response to this quote won't fully be realized until you ask yourself the question as you go about organizing: Do I need this long term or can I discard it?

Cleaning Dry Clean Only Drapery

2015-01-03T12:23:00.000-05:00

Pictured is a bedroom set I love. The problem is, the bedding and drapery are dry clean only. It's trimmed with leather and buttons, so when I priced out the dry cleaning cost it was nearly $100 for the bedspread! I love it but not that much.

What I have been doing for the time being is every time I change the bed I hang the bedspread outside. In the cold months, the low temperature is sure to kill the dust mites. Next time I'll buy a duvet cover instead of a heavy bedspread, or I'll buy a washable bedspread.

The draperies pick up dust and dander too. So I put them in the dryer with a fabric sheet and air fluff them. This does a great job!

Easy Idea to Curb Your Snacking and Your Water Marks

2014-09-05T00:09:00.000-04:00

What do chipmunks and humans have in common? They both like nuts and drink water.

Nuts are healthy for you. They contain healthy fats, and they fill you up. If you're prone to snacking, you may have one of these (or something similar) in your home.

The other good news is, the lid of this can, can later be used as a coaster on your desk or other area to help prevent water stains. Now that's creative.

Alternatively, it can be used outdoors as a chipmunk feeding station.

Prepare for Handling Raw Poultry

2014-09-01T14:34:00.000-04:00

Today I'm making turkey breast in the slow cooker.

Handling poultry we need to be careful about its juices as it relates to potential salmonella.

Here are a few helpful tips to prepare turkey or chicken in an orderly way:

1. Thaw poultry in the refrigerator in a tub. Chances are high that some liquid may leak out of the packaging and you don't want that in your fridge.

Here's what I thawed mine in and sure enough there was quite a bit of liquid in the bottom today.

2. Frequent hand washing is important when working with poultry. Of course, you'll need to have hand soap nearby:

3. Lay out paper towels for hand drying. It's safer to use disposable paper towels than a towel you might touch later. If you're like me, getting paper towels off the roll is sometimes tricky. If you have your paper towel laid out, you won't need to touch the roll.

3. Also lay out a shopping bag you don't mind of disposing of. Once you remove the packaging and any excess skin, etc. from the poultry, place it all in the bag. This will help prevent drippings should you try to put these things directly in the trash.

Otherwise, you might drip on the floor (and your pet may lick it), or you may drip on the trash can. You may drip on your counter, and if your trash is under the sink, you may contaminate the door handle getting to it. You may get to the trash can and realize there's no room for what you're disposing of, leading to a new problem.

4. Here's what you'll have after loading the prepared bag:

Wash your hands before transferring the bag to the trash. If garbage pickup isn't for a week or so, you may want to place this in the freezer to avoid rot.

5. Here's my slow cooker cooking the turkey:

6. Now you've needed to handle the top of the soap bottle and the tap handle, so sanitize those when done.

(Above I've also placed a toothpick on the counter since I wanted to mention it's important to lay out any other dishes or utensils you might use. When I make chicken cordon bleu, I secure it with toothpicks. It's always problematic to try to try to retrieve a toothpick after touching poultry.)

A Wet Jet?

2014-08-18T15:48:00.000-04:00

I finally put out the money for a wet jet floor cleaner. It was on sale or I might not have. It's a steep price for something you're expected to spend money on for refills.

The cleaning fluid canister is sealed and you are supposed to replace it. The "nappies" are supposed to be bought too. They're like ladies' sanitary napkins. (Hey, maybe I can use some of those I have lying around the house now that I'm in menopause!)

I've tried attaching a paper towel or cloth, and it really doesn't work very well. I've heard some women puncture a hole in their canister and refill it with their own solution. I'm going to try that.

Alternatively, the dry Swiffer seems to be just as good. To make it wet I usually just run the cloth under the tap first, ring it out and attach it.

The wet Swiffer has a cumbersome canister area preventing it from fitting behind toilets, under counters, etc. which the dry Swiffer doesn't have. I have successfully attached paper towels when needed to, but the cloths are more trustworthy and now they have wet cloths to attach that will make your floors also smell fresh.

I don't like how it flops around. I would like it to be able to lock in place. Then when I try to do an edge or the top of baseboard, it would stay in place.

Summary:

I have put my wet swiffer away. I prefer the dry swiffer with the new cleaning cloths. Would still like it to have a lock to lock it in place.

negative*** cost of supplies

plus*** fits under furniture and along baseboards

plus*** like the new wet cloths although pricey

How can one really rate it. It is personal preference.

Happy cleaning!

Decorating for the Season

2012-12-27T01:24:00.002-05:00

Hopefully you decorated a little for the Christmas season. It can seem like a lot of work at first, but it is worthwhile. It is therapeutic.

If you stored your decorations well the year before, it should have been easy to decorate. I was going to do minimal decorating, but once the bins were opened it became easy to put up more than I'd planned.

For some, following the same routine from year to year is helpful. To remember what you've done, it is helpful to have photos to refer to. Others, like myself, prefer to change things a little from year-to-year. Never is one display better than the last because I always decorate in ways that a meet my standard in one way or another. I like fresh new looks.

I pondered not decorating because I was not planning to have guests in. Friends confirmed that they were not having guests in either and they would still be decorating. They reminded me of the joy and memories decorations stir up. This is the only time of year such bold colours and breakable items are spread about, so to miss the opportunity would be sad indeed. The cheering of my friends encouraged me to go for it yet again.

I decorated only a week before Christmas, but I'm enjoying it all. I've wound up the snow globes. I've added twinkle lights here and there. I've sprayed cinnamon room spray about. It's all good for the soul when done creatively and with a sense of order.

Do a Little Fall Kitchen Cleaning

2012-10-03T01:17:00.000-04:00

Canadian Thanksgiving is in a few days. American Thanksgiving is next month. Fall is here, signalling a time to change things around.

As you prepare for Thanksgiving guests, you may find yourself sifting through cupboards, counting out dishes and polishing silver. What a good opportunity to tidy your drawers and cupboards too. Tidy the casserole cupboard. Wipe out the pot holder drawer. Sort out your utensil drawer. Restack your glasses. You get the gist.

You may have done spring cleaning, now's the perfect time for fall cleaning!

@copyright Rosalie Garde

Tear Down and Re-Build a Room for a Fresh Seasonal Look

2012-09-29T01:27:00.003-04:00

Have a room that needs a bit of an overhaul?

A great way to sort a room and re-build its look is by removing most of the unnecessary items first. Remove flower arrangements, toss cushions, knick knacks and take down a picture or two.

Then clean the shelves floors.

Then begin adding items back in perhaps putting the furniture in a slightly different arrangement, or on a different angle. Change out your decor, not because the old no longer worked, but as a way to re-charge your mind and energy with a fresh look.

If your rooms have been full of summer-type items and florals all around, it might be a good time to tone things down or neutralize a little to prepare for all the extra colours of fall and winter.

Fall Organizing

2012-09-05T12:51:00.003-04:00

Writing this in early September, my weather is still warm. Any day, however, fall weather will arrive.

Once you know the fall weather will be sticking around, it's time to change over your clothes closet. Here are a few guidelines:

White pants and shoes should be put away September 21st and not worn again until the following June.
Any spring/summer items you didn't wear this year, pack up and send them to charity.
Any spring/summer items damaged, stained, that don't fit or that you hate, throw in the trash or cut them up and put them in the composter. (you might need to check with a composting site to find out what fabrics might not be biodegradable.)
Put swimsuits and shorts, etc. in a storage closet or box so they are out of the way.
Bring out your winter sweaters, long-sleeved items, pants, etc. Anything you don't want to wear again, get rid of. Otherwise, fold them neatly or hang them where they are easily accessible.

Once this task is done, set a date to go shopping. Each season it is a good idea to add a few new items that fit with your lifestyle.

SCHEDULE YOUR DAYS TO FEEL PRODUCTIVE

2012-08-03T01:24:00.000-04:00

We are a lot more effective and fulfilled when we know how to spend our time than living with an open schedule. Here is a tip for Scheduling your life:

Keep a notebook. I know everyone is going paper free, but I still believe in a handy dandy notebook as a "to-do" list that you can reach for when the computer is off.Look through today's list and cross off what you did. Add in things you did that weren't on the list even if it was something seemingly small.
Stroke through the things you did with a single line so they are readable.
Before you leave work or end your day, make a new list and add all the things that are still outstanding or are on the calendar to be done.
Carry forward on to your new list anything you wrote down yesterday and didn't complete. This one is important. Then there are no old lists to look back on; just a carried forward list.

If you are a homemaker, stay at home mom, do the same. Actually, everyone should keep an at home journal aside from a work journal.

Now, in the bottom "comment" section, add a comment.
Then view a few ads in the side bar that apply to your life.
Then sign up to receive updates by email.

Minimize the Need to Organize and Clean

2012-05-30T14:07:00.000-04:00

Staying clutter free, keeping the house or office clean and organized is a good goal for all to have.

Putting things away after you've used them sounds simple, but this is the culprit in so much clutter. Wiping up after yourself sounds simple, but people don't do it. Why? Habits, laziness, multi-tasking, balking against the sounds of a mother's commanding voice (either in one's head or live), basically, many reasons.

HOW minimize the need TO ORGANIZE, DECLUTTER AND CLEAN

In order to minimize your workload there are a few things you can do:

Ensure there's a proper and easily accessible "home" for your items.
Keep reminding yourself to put things away.
After you've finished one thing ask yourself what needs to be put away. Then do it.
Wipe surfaces before you leave a space.
Have handy sanitizing cloths nearby to make it easier.

Staying organized and keeping your space clean means being observant. Watch your habits, watch your environment. Make a note of bad habits you seem to have and do what you do to need to do to rectify them. You'll be happier and have more time when you have less cleaning and decluttering to do!

Detail Your Home Clean!

2012-05-28T00:11:00.000-04:00

Clean, clean, then clean some more! The cleaning job is never fully complete. The worst part is how repetitious it is. Because the world and it's creatures were formed out of dust, dust remains quite a culprit.

There are little crevices all throughout every home that a good eye notices--usually when full of dust.

Every so often, focus your cleaning efforts on them.

Where are they?

If you have cupboard or entry doors with inset panels, dust will accumulate in the panels.

Dust will accumulate on window sills.

Dust will accumulate on the little lip edge of baseboards.

Not quite a "crevice" but dust will collect on blinds.

Dust will collect around sculpted table or chair feet.

Pet fur will gather at the foot of a moving chair or stool such as those used in a kitchen or dining room.

Dust will gather at the base of lamps and atop lamp shades.

Dust gathers at the top of door frames

Dust gathers at the top of pictures and sometimes along the bottom edge.

It may sometimes be practical to clean these while you're doing normal cleaning, but these often seem like "extras" so you might want to set aside a particular time just to address these areas.

Garage Cleaning

2012-05-26T13:08:00.001-04:00

About to clean your garage? What starts out looking like a one-afternoon job can easily turn into a monster project. Cleaning and re-organizing your garage may be done quickly, but in many cases you'll be better off to spread it over a couple of days.

If you have a lot to re-organize and clean in your garage, you'll want a method behind your madness. It may help to work on half your garage at a time.

While it is common to want to empty the garage taking items outside, if you run out of cleaning time and night falls, you'll be hauling everything back in.

Instead, start your project by moving items to the far side of the garage. Clear, sweep and hose down one side before placing items back and completing the opposite side.

Staying on Task While Organizing or Decorating

2012-04-24T02:05:00.000-04:00

Whether it's cleaning up a room that hasn't been tackled for awhile, getting your entire home ready for sale, or changing decor, it is wise to start with a strategy.

The strategy will be 3-fold:

1. Envision what you hope the results will be.

2. List mentally or on paper what is needed to get there.

3. Plan the timing.

Envision:

I want to fluff up my bedroom by painting a feature wall and purchasing new lamps. I have matched paint swatches with my bedding and am picturing the room in the new colour all blending in nicely with my bedspread. I also picture myself feeling happy in a refreshened room, afterall part of the motivation is to create a more pleasant environment to be enjoyed.

What is Needed:

I will need a) paint; b) tools; c) a block of time; d) to move the bed.

The Timing:

I look at my schedule and decide it's best to do this project while my husband is out of town so he won't be annoyed by me taking over the bedroom. I decide to do the work after dropping my kids off at school in the morning, until lunch, resuming again until 3:00. While I won't paint after the sun has gone down, I can use time in the evening for taping off or washing walls.

Plans fail, become abandoned, and people become frustrated when they jump in too quickly without a realistic plan that includes several small goals and set timeframes.

Don't expect to accomplish your plan in one day, unless it is a very basic project. Life will continue to happen, which is where most of us get setback or frustrated. For instance, you might just get your room taped off for painting and as you're about to open the can of paint you realize it's time to pick up the kids. Or, you get the kitchen tidied up just in time to make supper.

Make allowances for the regular things of life by slotting them into your schedule.