Orderly Manor's Blog: Organizing, Redesign & Staging

Tips for Fighting Technology Overload

2008-07-21T15:57:00.005-04:00

In past posts, I've talked about ways to handle the organization of technology and information you deal with on a daily basis. A NAPO [National Orgtn of Prof. Organizers] editor, Jeannette Driscoll, included some tips of her own in an article in NAPO news' June-July 2008 issue. Here is an excerpted list I narrowed down to ideas I thought were especially helpful:

Have a response policy. Return messages on an as-needed basis instead of handling them as they come in. Try an email signature such as “I answer e-mail at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. If you need a quicker response, please call.” Just as long as people know when they can expect an answer, or where to reach you in an emergency, you can answer most types of e-mail only a few times a day.

Manage your usage by type of device. Use your personal cell phone only for personal
calls. Use your BlackBerry for work related issues during the day. Use your iPod only while alone or while exercising.

Remember you have a choice. Saying “my clients want me to be reachable at all times” to yourself is detrimental to your mental and physical health.

Make a to-do list. If you’re interrupted, you’ll get back to work faster.

Be deliberate. A skillful time-manager responds to things more slowly, because s/he has time-blocked her day and isn’t answering e-mail as it comes in.

Make task lists for different situations. Calls, computer, errands, home etc.

Forward all e-mail to one inbox. Gather all incoming messages in one place, with folders for work and personal items.

Don’t just leave e-mail sitting in your inbox. Take action on an email as soon as you read it. Organize messages in file folders. If an e-mail needs more thought, move it to your to-do list. If it’s for reference, print it out. If it’s a meeting, move it to your calendar.

Process e-mail at pre-determined intervals. Between your time blocks, process your e-mail and add tasks to your to-do lists, reconfiguring your schedule as necessary.

Don’t succumb. If you feel the urge to check your e-mail or surf the ‘Net, stop yourself and focus on the task at hand.

Have a capture tool. Use a notebook (electronic or physical) to capture all those little notes you would normally put on a Post-it. If things come in while you are working during your time block, log it in and keep on working on the task at hand in order.

Keep websites in order. Use bookmarking to keep track of websites, such as ones you use for reference. Save time by saving them all in one place.

Sharing Some Savings -- see jane work

2008-07-19T20:33:00.001-04:00

Check out this website for cool office and home organizing products...see jane work

Simple Home Office Organizing Tips

2008-07-17T07:14:00.004-04:00

I came across these simple tips for organizing your home office or work area, and thought I'd share:

1. Separate business from personal
If you use your home office for business purposes and for personal purposes, try to separate the two as much as possible. Definitely make sure that you separate business receipts from personal receipts. If you don't, be prepared for an accounting nightmare at the end of the year when you try to get your taxes in order. When organizing a home office, try to keep all of your business items in one area and all of your personal items in another area.

2. Create a home office file organization system
As with just about anything related to home organization, you will need to create a plan for organizing your home office files. A good way to start is by making a list of all of the files that you currently have. Then take a look at that list and see what are natural groupings. A little home office file organization tip: Do not have a miscellaneous file. Too many things end up in there simply because you don't want to have to think about where they really belong.

3. Use some sort of scheduler
Whether you prefer your computer or paper to keep your schedule, make sure that you have one to keep your home office organized. All important dates should go on this schedule. For home office organization purposes, this means things like when certain bills need to be paid and when you will balance the checkbook (this should be at least weekly).

4. Schedule a time for home office organizing
At least once every week you should clean out and organize computer files (including email) and paper files. Schedule this into your week just like you would a regular appointment. Part of home office organization is making sure that you keep on top of all of your filing. And the computer files should be part of this too. Don't forget to delete those files on your computer that you no longer use or need access to.

5. Easy access to things you use most frequently
Make a list of everything in your home office that you use on a daily basis. All of those items should be organized in the same area. You want to make sure that how you organize your home office works for how you are going to use it. If you're getting up from your chair in order to constantly go get a certain item, move that item to within easy reach of your chair.

Getting your home office organized just takes a little time and planning. Take small steps and before you know it, you will know how to organize your home office with ease.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jill_Borash

Be Realistic in the Kitchen

2008-07-15T12:00:00.002-04:00

It never ceases to amaze me how much stuff people hold on to, whether it is useful or needed. Despite its small size, the kitchen is a place where lots of stuff hides. When you take everything out and really sort through your kitchen inventory, I bet a lot could get purged.

I've posted and shared lots of kitchen organizing tips in the past, and certainly there is a lot more to be found. But instead of specific how-to or implementing tips here, I want to address some of the 'mental' aspects of dealing with kitchen organizing. Food for thought (pun intended!)...

Be realistic! How many of you are at home/live there? Do you really need all of those [insert items here]? I once had a client who lived by herself but had 2 refrigerators and full-size freezer all in the dining room. (I wish I had that storage but I have a family of 4!) How about 4 mugs instead of 10?

Be realistic! Maybe you used to entertain or have large dinner parties, but do you still? Do you need to have all the specialized partyware in the kitchen or even in your house still? Keep your current lifestyle in mind, not what you used to do or might do in the future.

What percentage of your cabinet space is dedicated to foodstuffs and how much holds dishes/pots/servingware? Often I find clients with a lot more space for that which holds food, rather than the food itself. Things you use less often do not need to be within arms' reach taking up valuable storage space.

Home Organization on a Budget

2008-07-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

One of the things I hate about looking up information online is that you get distracted and annoyed by banner and pop-up ads plus other information you don't want. That's why I often include links or direct content (without the search and the ads) to share with you.

I found a clever, no-nonsense and economical list of organizing products and ideas in an iVillage article by another professional organizer. Try to ignore all of the other stuff, and you'll find the content helpful: click here

Love Rearranging?

2008-07-10T08:03:00.009-04:00

I do. I think it is fun to rearrange a furniture layout and mix things up in a new way. It allows you to look at the elements of a room differently, and, during the process of change, you may also purge, clean, and reevaluate items.

One of my organizer/redesigner pet peeves is when clients place items and furniture around the perimeter of a room with lots of floor space in the center. I joke that, unless they are having aerobics or dance classes in the room, that much empty space and air is unnecessary. Imagine walking into a dance and people are standing against all 4 walls. No one is dancing. Is it an inviting space to come in and dance? Same idea about a living room, for example. You want it to be inviting, cozy and suggest clearly where you want people to congregate or go.

HGTV's "Do's and Don't's: Arranging the Family Room" suggests:

Don't arrange furniture too far away from a focal point, particularly a video screen or fireplace. Nor should you put all the furniture against a wall or on one side of a room.
Do cluster furniture around a focal point. For a good conversation area, make sure the furniture is arranged so people won't be more than 10 feet apart. At the same time, don't put furniture pieces so close together that traffic is blocked in the room or at entrances and exits.

Place furniture so people can see the television easily, but avoid putting furniture directly in front of the television; instead consider using an ottoman, which kids can move close to the television for great viewing

Give rearranging a try -- nothing is set in stone, so you can move things around without commitment. Just see how something works in another spot or if you can shift things around to make a better design statement, allow for better traffic flow, or to accommodate changing needs of the room. It's fun!

Low-Cost Organizing Ideas

2008-07-08T07:55:00.003-04:00

Real Simple's June issue published 99 low-cost organizing ideas, and I went through and transcribed ones that piqued my interest here:

Rather than splurge on a pricey spice rack, label the tops of spice jars and place them in a drawer to easily find what you're looking for.

Add a hierarchy system to e-mail folders by using an * in front of each label for most used folders and a Z for those used least.

Stuff plastic grocery bags inside an empty tissue box for compact storage and easy retrieval.

Mark the contents of plastic food-storage containers with a dry-erase pen. The "labels" will come off when you wash the items.

Instead of filling a pretty sham with a pillow stuffer, stow linen sets or pajamas inside.

Waterproof Recycling Bags make it a cinch to divvy up recyclables. The handles let them be carted to the curb easily. see pic

Install a wire cooling rack on the garage wall, attach hooks to it, and hang tools.

Professional Organizer-isms

2008-07-07T08:09:00.004-04:00

There are a bunch of things I tend to say to clients on a regular basis, and I share them here as "Professional Organizer-isms" -- principles of decluttering, organizing and design used in my business. Maybe one or two will strike a chord with you...

Just because you have it, doesn't mean you have to use it -- this applies to containers, space, closets, furniture, storage accessories. People some-times feel compelled to keep things or systems either be-cause they've bought it, used it in the past, it exists, or for emotional reasons. If some-thing does not work for you, don't use it!

When in doubt, throw it out -- while this may seem extreme, in 99.9% of cases it holds. If you don't think you'll use something or don't know where the piece goes, get rid of it. Things that offer no use to us are clutter, and can be thrown or given away to someone who will use them.

There's only 2 options: less stuff or more storage -- let's be honest, there really are only two choices. Generally, increasing the storage (i.e. building another room or closet or buying more furniture) is not always realistic or in the budget. Better to start of reducing your inventory (purging) then utilizing existing storage more effectively.

Do you know what is in there? How long has it been there? -- Think about the box that's been on the top shelf or the stuff in the attic. If you haven't accessed the container in a while, and furthermore don't know what is in the container, seems to me that the contents are not that important. Be prepared to get rid of it, and use the space more effectively.

There's only three things you can do with paper: File, Act, or Toss -- The Toss category is easy -- the harder part seems to be getting used to a system for Filing and Acting. Filing including both short-term and long-term files, and Acting is anything you need to do (i.e. invitation RSVP, catalog order, bill paying). Address mail and incoming paperwork accordingly.

If items are important to you, they should be displayed or stored with respect, not stuffed away or in a box in the attic. It is amazing what people have in storage, all dusty or wrapped in paper (sometimes not knowing what the exact contents are), but then they see the item and say how important the item(s) is/are. How important can it be if you're treating it like that? Have sentimental china? Use it or dis-play it! Want your daughter to have a set of family heirlooms? Give it to her now.

It didn't get like this over-night; it's not going to get fixed overnight -- Things don't change without effort, progress and adapting new habits and routines. Like a diet must become a lifestyle, organizing is a habit that must be learned and applied to daily life. It definitely takes work, but is SO worth the effort!

What's the worst thing that would happen if you got rid of it? Between buying a replacement, finding it online, or realizing you can live without it, you generally can function after getting rid of items. You may even find it liberating! You have the power over your things, not the other way around.

Procrastination is really just postponed decisions. I didn't come up with this saying, but I like it. Often people become stuck in indecision because they find the question of 'keep or get rid of' difficult. Hence they choose to keep clutter in order to reduce anxiety. Ultimately, once you face the decision and move on, you'll feel much better.

20 Mudroom, Laundry Room, and Garage Organizing Tricks

2008-07-05T08:29:00.003-04:00

See Real Simple's organizing article of the same name by clicking here -- enjoy!

2008-07-04T15:06:00.003-04:00

HAVE A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, EVERYONE!!

Psychology of Cluttering

2008-07-01T08:00:00.003-04:00

No, I'm not a psychologist or psychiatrist, but I have observed and worked with many, many clients on organizing their homes. With that experience I have noticed that people tend to feel powerless, as if they don't have control, over their surroundings. It may be your whole house needs decluttering, or it may be one room or one area. Doesn't matter -- the same thoughts apply. I want to remind you of a few things.

You DO have control. It is your space. Your home, your apartment. You own the items inside it, not the other way around.
Your space did not look like it did when you first bought/rented it. You added stuff. Therefore you can take away stuff. You may come up with reasons, excuses, etc.; you just don't want to rid yourself of stuff -- but you CAN rid yourself of it.
You might need help, and that's OK. It is hard to give up habits, and most people utilize the assistance of others to do it (think: smoking, dieting, exercise).
If you do nothing, nothing will change. Unless you live with someone who is motivated to do it themselves, the situation will stay the same -- for days, months, years -- unless you do something about it. Try one shelf, one surface, one room, one something to get started.
Stuff is stuff, no matter what feelings you associate with it. Even if you throw out Aunt Ginny's vase, you'll never forget Aunt Ginny. Be realistic. When you get rid of clutter, you make space for new things and give yourself simplicity and visual peacefulness.

How to Get Rid of e-Clutter

2008-06-29T08:17:00.003-04:00

Interested in decluttering your computer? Check out the article "Coping with digital debris is challenging at best, but organization is a key part of the solution" by clicking here.

Kitchen Organizing Ideas

2008-06-27T19:22:00.009-04:00

If you want a project to do indoors in the air-conditioning this summer, here's one for you -- tackle some kitchen organizing. Here's a list edited from HGTV of tips to try:

Get a handle on excess plastic grocery or shopping bags with an inexpensive bag holder. Available as cabinet mounted or freestanding units, these holders contain bags while making them easy to access. Place the plastic bag holder next to the garbage can for extra convenience. When the holder becomes full, recycle or use as cushioning for shipping boxes.

Get more mileage out of your kitchen cabinets with some creative dishware rearranging. For ex., stemware glasses can be stored by placing every other glass upside down. To begin, pull all your dishes out of your cabinets to see what you have to work with. The most frequently used items should be on the bottom shelves of a cabinet that's most convenient. Consider rearranging the cabinet's interior shelves to accommodate your different size dishes. Or move once-in-awhile dishes to the basement.

A crowded utensil drawer, while remaining unseen most of the time, is still a crowded drawer. If digging in an over-loaded drawer for a potato masher is more work than mashing the potatoes, it's time to invest in a compartmentalized organizer. Drawer organizers come in a variety of sizes and materials. Try expandable, fine mesh containers — easy to overrun a kitchen.
Tackle your recipes by tossing any you haven't used in ages. The size of your recipe cards can determine which system you should use. Index cards work well in a labeled recipe box or a small photo album. Full sheet recipes do well in a 3-ring binder. If you prefer room to grow, choose the binder and tape your index cards to larger sheets of paper. Create dividers and organize recipes either by dish type.

Martha's Rules for Closet Efficiency

2008-06-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

It's a bit hard for me to read anything Martha Stewart has in her magazine with a straight face. First off, it is hardly likely she wrote the article. Secondly, some it is so involved and time-consuming I wonder who is doing the projects (and they might need to get a life).

That said, here is a link to an article (which has good ideas) on "golden" rules for making your closet efficient. But don't take it too seriously...

Martha Stewart closet article

Staging: Is It Worth It?

2008-06-23T10:30:00.002-04:00

I wanted to share an excerpt from Mortgage News Daily as it relates to staging your home to sell:

The main benefit of hiring a professional to stage your home is that they will look at your surroundings with an experienced, tasteful and objective eye. They won't be attached to grandmother's antique table, nor will they have the same affinity you may have for that pink bathroom. They will be able to come in and tell you which items should be removed, what should be added and how best to feature your home.

While home staging may seem like an unnecessary expense, there probably isn't a single house that couldn't benefit from a bit of carefully manipulated staging-even if it's a simple matter of re-organizing, freshening up and removing clutter. And often, suggestions and changes from professionals can amount to significant increases in the bottom line profit when selling your home.

Home staging pricing for a simple consultation run from $200 to $400, yet for extensive staging work on larger homes, be prepared for pricing to run up to $6,000. However, according to www.StagedHomes.com, a leader in home staging services, statistics show an average of a 3% minimum increase in final sales price on homes that had been staged, versus those who had not. On a $300,000 home, that's a $9,000 increase-and well worth the home staging fees.

Those @#$%@# Gas Prices

2008-06-22T10:19:00.007-04:00

With gas prices the way they are these days, not sure if you're doing a lot of summer travel. But you still need to fill your tank, and it is worth the time to check out some gas price-watching websites to inform your purchase. I relate this topic to organizing because you may have to be more efficient with your errands or when you drive to be sure to go to a gas station that you choose rather than what's convenient.

Check out:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov
www.gasbuddy.com/
http://www.gaspricewatch.com/new/default_V3.asp
gasprices.mapquest.com
or type in your state plus "gas price" to get more local websites

From List to Making it Happen

2008-06-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

It's great to have a To-Do List or plan of what you want to do. But the critical step is the action plan of how that To-Do List or plan is going to get done. Often I see clients who make tons of lists or reminders or talk about how they've thought of all the things they would like to organize, do, make or whatever.

These lists, once written or thought of, however, do not always get accomplished. The paper is put on the refrigerator or stuffed somewhere and end up becoming a piece of clutter to be disposed of. Just looking at the list or talking about the plan becomes a reminder of all that needs to be done, and often people get frustrated or overwhelmed and end up saying 'never mind'.

Here's some suggestions for going that extra step:

Be realistic. Definitely put down things you want done, but keep money, time and resources in mind.
Be specific. Don't include multi-step, complicated projects on your list; break them down into specific, easier-to-do tasks.
Put accountability in place. Make specific ways to check as to how you're doing on the list. Have regular reminders or dates to keep you on task.

Here are some other tips for setting priorities*:

Use a paper-based, electronic or computerized list to keep track of your tasks, instead of relying on your memory. A list will give you a clear idea of what you need to accomplish.
Which tasks could you handle another day? If you would face no consequences by moving a task forward, move it ahead another day or another week.
Know the difference between important and urgent. Important means a task needs to be done, while urgent means it must be done immediately. Knowing the difference between the two will make prioritizing easier.
Realize that you can't do everything. This will help you to realistically prioritize your tasks.
Determine if postponing the task would affect other projects you are working on. Tasks and projects can have a domino effect. If you do one task, yet fail to do another, you may have wasted effort on the first task.
Set clear goals. There's a saying, "If you don't know where you're going, how will you know when you get there?" By not setting clear goals, you may be accomplishing tasks with short-term benefits.
Are you making a task a top priority because it's easy? Don't be fooled by easy tasks, especially when they could be done days or weeks later.
Focus on quality, not quantity of tasks. Accomplishing a few tasks that are a higher priority is better than accomplishing several lower priority tasks.
[*from home office expert Lisa Kanarek]

Space Savers online catalog

2008-06-17T16:56:00.007-04:00

Want some more kitchen organization? Sharing this product website link for SpaceSavers...

Yard Sales vs. Other Selling/Donating Options

2008-06-16T09:52:00.008-04:00

We're starting to get into the yard sale season, and it gets me a tad worried about people purchasing more clutter to add to their homes. Last summer, I published a blog post about this topic and thought it would be appropos to revisit. So what do you do with the stuff you don’t want to keep, that you don’t want to throw, but would like to try selling or donating. What are your options?

Yard Sale – Pros: set up is right at your house; you could make some cash while getting rid of items. Cons: no guarantee of selling anything; your time sitting outside with your stuff on a weekend; costs of promoting the sale (via posters or ad in paper); whatever doesn’t sell, you still have to deal with.
eBay – Pros: can do from your house; you could make some money (a lot depending on item). Cons: no guarantee of selling anything; your time to take digital photos, write listing, and monitor listing; cost of listing plus final value to eBay for whatever sells; if items don’t sell, you still have to deal with. In my opinion, the things that sell best on eBay are items of brand names and unique/antique or collectible status.
Freecycle – Pros: you don’t have to go anywhere; just list the item(s) and if someone wants, they’ll come and pick up. Cons: no guarantee that someone will want; your time to list, monitor email responses and coordinate with person you’re giving item(s) for pick-up; sometimes Freecyclers don’t show, and then you can re-post or decide what to do with item(s); not all towns have a Freecycle group; no money is exchanged.
Local Charities (i.e. Goodwill or Big Brother Big Sister) – Pros: your stuff goes to a charity; you feel good about donating; you receive a tax deduction receipt; your item(s) leave your house. Cons: you may have to bring the items to the charity; not all charities accept all kinds of things or all the time; no money is exchanged; for whatever they don’t accept, you have to deal with.
Give to Friend/Family/Other – Pros: you get rid of usable items; people that you know receive the benefit of your donation; free exchange. Cons: might be hard to find someone who wants stuff; may be time-consuming to coordinate & make exchange; you may plan to give to friend or family but never get around to it, so stuff sits around at your house; no money is exchanged and no receipt for your donation is gained.

Obviously there are advantages and disadvantages of each option, this list certainly isn't exhaustive, and you have to do what is right for you. I strongly suggest, however, that you consider each of the pros and cons before you start decluttering, and limit the number of outlets for your stuff. Don't have 5 categories -- "I'll sell this, donate that, give that to Aunt Jane, save those for my neighbor Sue, and do a yard sale for the rest". It's unrealistic and slows down your process for reducing the inventory in your house.

Need to Organize Your Shoes?

2008-06-14T06:06:00.003-04:00

One of the organizing products websites I use often is having a sale on shoe organization that you might be interested in....Check it out here

Storing Dolls

2008-06-12T13:00:00.001-04:00

I've come across this question with clients before so wanted to share (as shown in Organize magazine online). I would add, however, it might be more valuable to allow someone to play with the dolls now either by donating, reselling, eBaying, or somehow giving to another family member, but that's just my take:

PROBLEM? I want to preserve my daughter’s American Girl dolls and accessories for my grandchildren. Is there a better option than plastic bins in the attic? If not, should the dolls be wrapped in something inside the bins?

SOLVED! To keep your treasured collection safe for future generations, do not store the dolls in the attic or in an airtight plastic bin. Fluctuating temperatures and any moisture trapped in the bin can lead to mold and/or disintegration. (If plastic bins are truly your preferred choice, at least poke air holes in them.) For the ideal storage solution, make sure that the dolls and accessories are free of dust and dirt. Then, wrap each doll and item individually in white tissue paper and place them in sturdy cardboard boxes. You can add silica packets, which are typically available at home stores, or recycle the ones that come with a new pair of shoes. Silica absorbs moisture, but be careful when it’s used around children or pets; these packets are harmful if swallowed. Put the boxes in a closet or under your bed to keep the contents in a controlled climate and out of direct light. Place a cedar hanger above the boxes to keep pests away. Years from now, your granddaughters will have hours of fun with their new, old dolls.

Using Up Gift Cards

2008-06-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a tip for organizing any gift cards you may have lying around or buried in your purse. A gift card is really money, so if you waste a gift card, you're wasting money. Would you let $5 or $10 float around your house unused?

Here are your options for any gift cards you have:

use it, and soon

give it to someone who would like it

sell it on eBay (you can do this as long as it is one card at a time, per listing)

keep it hanging around, unused (BAD idea)

Let's assume we'll all the efficient option, #1. Gather up all the gift cards you have (double check your wallet, files, junk drawer, etc.). Sort through them to see if you like the store or place the gift card is for, being realistic.

If you decide to keep the card to use it, make a plan to when/how you're going to use it. It is a specific plan; for ex., make a note on your calendar to go to that store a certain day. See if there is an upcoming event or day that it would make the most sense to be at the gift card's location, and plan on that. Making it a tangible event will more likely encourage you to redeem the card.

WOW! 2,000 Page Visitors!

2008-06-08T08:10:00.000-04:00

I was excited to see the Page Visitors # reach 2,000 -- a cool milestone, if I do say so myself. Granted, that could be my mother and husband checking out my blog 1,000 times each but I still like seeing the number!

Thanks to all you that read and continue to enjoy what I've posted. Hope you'll stay on for 2,000 more!

8 Easy Steps To Enhance Email Efficiency

2008-06-07T09:00:00.001-04:00

If you are interested in some easy things you can do to tame your attention to emails, check out Eight Easy Steps To Enhance Email Efficiency. This article is courtesy of OnlineOrganizing.com.

Organizing Tips For Downsizing Your Home

2008-06-06T12:52:00.001-04:00

An article about downsizing from Organized A to Z:

Consider these points when starting the process of downsizing and moving on.

A good way to start is to get someone to help you through the downsizing process because it can be overwhelming. You need help and support.

Think about what you are really need. Will you need place settings for 12 or will 6 maybe work? Do you really need three turkey roasters? When is the last time you made Thanksgiving dinner or do you always go to your son’s home for Thanksgiving?

Consider donations to social services agencies. You may be able to use the donation as a tax deduction and you are helping someone else in need.

Why not give pieces of furniture or other possessions to family members or friends that have admired them for years? If your granddaughter has loved your china hutch for years, why not give to her now and see the joy and happiness that it brings her today?

Adult children need to pick up their stuff out of your attic or spare bedroom! Unless you have decided to go into the rental storage business, adult children need to get their stuff out of your home.

Do not overwhelm yourself. Start with baby steps. Work a little each day on a section of your home: a drawer, or a closet shelf.

If you feel overwhelmed looking at a pile of papers that you need to sort through, start with just 15 minutes. Set an egg timer for 15 minutes, sort through the pile and then stop working when the timer goes off. You will make some progress and can start again the next day. Before you know it, you will have sorted through dresser drawers.

Remember every item you own requires your time, energy, maintenance, and money. Decide if the item is worth keeping.

While downsizing can be an emotionally and physically overwhelming process, it can be achieved through planning and organization. Taking it one step at a time with some assistance can make the downsizing process a little easier.