These could be expired medications or ones you no longer use.  Now is a great time to go through your cabinets and know you are disposing of the medications in the right way.  Flushing them down the toilet is no longer the right way.

To protect your family, community and environment, make this a priority this weekend!

Thank you!

Nikki Kinzer

This week, we are going to explore the Top Three Excuses, of why you are not letting something go!

#1 Excuse:  ”I might need it someday”

Oh I have heard this so many times, and honestly I have said it myself for my own stuff… If you are a planner, like me, you want to be prepared for what the future may bring.  With in reason, this theory makes sense.

However, if you are really trying to make a decision on how much “stuff” you have, you have to be realistic.  What do you really need?  What do you need right now?  Being prepared is not a bad thing, but having too many things you might need or projects you may finish someday can be a bad thing.  It can slow you down from your present life.  It can actually bring more stress and chaos just by sitting in a closet.

When I start to feel like I have too much, I start to feel suffocated.  If this is how you feel, you need to make some hard decisions.  What brings you joy?  Don’t keep something because you feel you have too.  Don’t keep something if your heart does not desire to finish it.

All we know for sure is where we are today.  Live in the present.  Many items can be borrowed, many items can be replaced if need be.  Create the space you want to live in.

This is a difficult process, no doubt, but remember what your goals are, remember where you want to go, and the life you want to live.

“Happiness is not an accident.  Nor is it something you wish for.  Happiness is something you design.” -Jim Rohn

Happy Organizing!

Change is hard. There is nothing about change that is easy.  Even if you know it’s in your best interest, it’s still very difficult to get in the habit of doing something you have done forever in a new way!  

I read this article and couldn’t help but think about organizing.  Organizing is something we all are looking to get better at.  Even some of the most organized people I know, still have to work at keeping the organization a reality.

They have to do it.

Zen Habits explains this is the one deadly sin in changing your habits… you don’t do it. If you don’t do it, the bad habit never goes away and the new habit is never formed.

How many of you have started an organizing project and then never finished?  What was the reason?  No accountability?  No timeline? No motivation?  Life just happened.

The article goes on to give you different tips on how to avoid this deadly sin and avoid the trap of never getting started.  Many of the tips I have personally shared with my clients.

To add, I would suggest:

1) Schedule your organizing sessions on your calendar- make it a priority by writing it down.  Make the commitment to be there just like any other appointment you would make.

2) Start Small and Easy- Pick the tasks that are easy to do and can be finished quickly.  You will see the results and often times, this is the motivator you need to keep going.

3)  If you get stuck - review your motivation of why you wanted to change this habit.  Make yourself accountable – hire a professional, work together with your family, make it happen.

4)  Don’t give up – like we learned in the Olympics in the last 2 weeks, obstacles happen, life happens, it’s how you deal with those obstacles which will be the key to your success.

5)  Just do it!

Click her to read the full article, “The One Deadly Sin of Changing Habits”, By Zen Habits.

Happy Organizing!

Many of you reading this blog may be on a journey to become more organized.  Wanting to live a life of less stress with more order and control.  Maybe there is something else in your life you are trying to do or be better at.

But you do not have to win a gold medal in the Olympics or in our case, organize your whole home in a day.  No.  What I think you should do is celebrate!  Celebrate every success.  Large or small.

Taking the first steps, the small steps to better ourselves.  Sometimes just making the phone call to a Professional Organizer is the hardest step.  You did it. Celebrate!  You are reading this blog to get tips and ideas on how to better your home.  Celebrate!  You spent 15 minutes going through a cluttered closet. Celebrate!

Whatever your goal may be whether it’s to become more organized, stop smoking, whatever, it doesn’t matter.. Just don’t forget to celebrate the small successes!

“You have achieved success if you have lived well, laughed often and loved much.” - Anonymous

Happy Organizing!

The article, Get Your Home Office Organized, is about giving your desk a makeover.  Something we all should do from time to time!  Just this past weekend, my husband and I cleared our office and recycled 2 bags of paper! No matter how organized you are, you always need to do a purging session every now and then!

When you get busy, and in our case we both share the same space, you must maintain the organization by taking time to file, purge, and rework your system.  It makes a difference.  It felt so good to get the office back to working for us and not against us!

Happy Organizing!

There is something magical about the Olympics.  There was not one medal ceremony where I did not shed a tear.  It didn’t matter what anthem was being played.  To see the athletes faces was priceless. They beamed with pride and accomplishment.

There was not a personal story of an Olympian that did not touch me. These athletes are amazing.  It’s impressive to see the dedication and commitment they put into their sports.  I can barely get myself to exercise 30 minutes a day, and these guys are working out 30+ hours in a week.  Amazing.  We saw perseverance at its finest.  These athletes never gave up.  Many had obstacles to beat, injuries to nurse, but they still went on to compete.  And some went on to win.  Amazing.

What struck me most about these athletes were how positive they were. They were happy people, fulfilling their lifelong dreams.  There was a sparkle in their eye, passion in their voice.  They were people living in the moment.

What can we learn from these athletes?

I may not win a gold medal anytime soon, but I wonder if I put in the time, the dedication, the commitment, the passion, the heart into my job as a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a professional organizing coach, or any other role I play… I wonder what that would look like?  I wonder how it could change my life, the lives around me?  I wonder what kind of difference it would make?

What about you?

The lessons we can learn are countless.  Persevere, don’t give up, believe in your dreams, when you fall stand up tall and with grace, stand proud.  Inspire others, work hard and achieve.  Live in the moment.  Win your gold medal!

Congratulations Team USA!  I am proud to be an American!

An entryway, can become a dumping ground very easily.  They can become piled with mail, brochures left on the door, coats, shoes, you name it and it  could be there.

This is what “Clear Your Clutter” by Karen Kingston says about  the entryway:

“In Feng Shui, the main entrance to your home represents your approach to the world as you look out, and your approach to your own life as you look in.  Just as people enter and leave through this doorway, so too does energy.  If the area is cluttered in any way it can restrict the flow of opportunities coming to you and hinder your progress in the world.  This is a very important area to keep clear. Clutter near the main entrance creates unnecessary struggle in your life.”

Now this gives your clutter at the entryway a lot of deeper meaning than just clutter.  I agree with the importance of keeping it clear.  The entryway is the first impression of your home to your visitors.  But more importantly it is how you are welcomed everyday into your home.  Coming home to a space which is not cluttered is more relaxing than not.  It can set the tone of how the rest of your evening is going to go.

Here are simple ways on keeping the area clear:

1)  Evaluate your space. What do you like about it, what troubles you?  Ask yourself what first impression are you giving off to guests?  When you enter, do you feel welcomed?  If not, then what changes can you make?  Maybe adding a table by the front door or a picture on the wall that you enjoy.

2)  If you have a table by the front door, make sure to designate it’s purpose.  Do not allow things that do not belong there.  If it’s purpose is to hold keys and wallets, then place a small decorative bowl or basket on the table.

3) Place a large vase with flowers or decorative pieces on the table to prevent piles from getting stacked.  If something is already there that is suppose to be, the likelihood of the other stuff staying is not as good.

4)  If you have a lot of coats and shoes, decide what the right amount is in the space to eliminate it from getting too crowded.  Only put in the space the items you wear on a daily basis, everything else should be put somewhere else.

Happy Organizing!

Letting go.  This is difficult for many of us.  Our belongings can take a life of their own.  How many of you have kept something just in case you may need it someday?  Or you kept something because it was a gift from your mother in law?  I bet there are some nodding heads right now.. Because it’s true.  We have many excuses of why we keep what we keep.  

In the chapter of Letting Go, there are two key points I want to share, they include Just Passing Through, and Let go of Fear.

Just Passing Through- “Just because you own something, it doesn’t mean that you have to keep it forever.” This is so true.  In our lives, I believe we go through different chapters.  Life is always changing and it does not look the same from chapter to chapter.  If something does not fit you, you no longer like it, you never did like it, then give yourself permission to let it go.

Let Go Of Fear- The book states people hold on to clutter because they are afraid to let it go.  They are afraid there may be consequences or regret later on.  It can be very emotional to let items go.  What I love most about this section is this: “Love and Fear cannot exist in the same space, so everything you are holding on to through fear is blocking you having more love in your life; clearing it allows more love to start pouring in.  Fear stops you from being who you truly are and doing what you came here to do; clutter clearing brings you greater clarity about your life purpose.” She goes on to say it gives you freedom and this is the best gift you can yourself.  I love this!  This is really something to think about. Looking at this process as a gift to yourself and to your family is truly a great way to see it.  This attitude can be the motivator that keeps you going!

Why do you keep what you do?  Have you ever gotten rid of something and then regretted it later?

Next Post:  Your Entranceway – the importance this one space has in your home!

Happy Organizing!

The book I will be talking about this week is called, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, by Karen Kingston.  For the next 3 posts, I will be discussing certain aspects of the book.  I will share what is written and then you give some of my own insight.

Clutter. It’s a very common term in the organizing world.  We talk about clearing clutter, conquering clutter, cut the clutter and so on.  If you have ever studied Feng Shui, you will see the word clutter come up many times.  What is clutter?  What does this term mean to you?

In the dictionary clutter is defined:

clutter |ˈklətər| noun a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass : the attic is full of clutter.• [in sing. ] an untidy state : the room was in a clutter of smelly untidiness. verb [ trans. ]crowd (something) untidily; fill with clutter : his apartment was cluttered with paintings and antiques | luggage cluttered up the hallway. ORIGIN late Middle English (as a verb): variant of dialect clotter [to clot,] influenced by cluster and clatter .

In Clear Your Clutter, there are four categories of clutter:

1) Things you do not use or love

2) Things that are untidy or disorganized

3) Too many things in too small a place

4) Anything unfinished

I really like how she has defined these categories.  They make sense to me.  These categories can be a great guide for you when deciding if something should stay or go.  Do your things belong in one of these categories?

I am a true believer that for everything there is a place.  I believe we should only keep what we love. You can have too many items in a small space, and your home is much easier to organize and stay organized if you have less stuff.

I have said this before and is worth repeating, organization is not about perfection.  It looks different for everyone.  What I might think is clutter is not for someone else.  They love what they have and have a place for it, then it works.

“Clutter” is not a word I use often.  I never want to give the impression the items you own are of no value and should be thrown away.  Sometimes the word can feel that way.  When we are always talking about getting rid of it, clearing it, what have you.  If the items are something you love and bring joy into your life then it’s not about getting rid of it, as much as it is finding a home for it that works.

My goal for clients is to help them make tough decisions.  To help them build systems to maintain their organization and ultimately live in a happy and peaceful space.

With using these 4 categories, what can you do to “clear your clutter”?  Do you relate to one of the 4 categories more than the others?  How do you define clutter?

Next Post:  How To Let Go!

Happy Organizing!

So is there anything we can do to change this bad habit? Sure!

We often confuse the amount of time things should take to the amount they actually take. The best thing we can do is figure out the gap.  How long do I really need to get the family ready in the morning?  How long is my commute to work?  Not what I think it should be.

For one week, make up a journal and carry it around with you. And write out your day.  Write down how long it took you get ready for the day.  Write down your commute time from home to the office.  And if you are late, write it down, how late you were, why were you late, who did it effect?  Just by seeing it on paper can really make a difference. Then you can start working on the solutions.

When planning your day or week, block out commute times, this will really help make sure you have enough time to get from A to C without overlap.  For example if you have to be at a meeting at 9AM, and it takes 30 minutes to get there, block in your calendar that you are out from 8:15AM on.  This gives you time for the unexpected.  Because as we all know the unexpected can  happen frequently.

In summary, the best prevention to being late is planning ahead and being as prepared as you can be. And expect the unexpected!  Take little steps to see if you can make a difference.  By just setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier, or laying out clothes and making lunches the night before.  Think about what small changes you can make to stop feeling so rushed and the stress that being late causes, not only to you but to the people waiting for you!

Happy Organizing!