Ellen Hankes

Milestones in Serving the Chronically Disorganized

2009-11-02T16:11:27-06:00

Milestones are an important way of measuring our progress on the goals we have set for ourselves. As I completed the nearly two year process for being named a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization (CPO-CD©), the journey seemed full and rich. As I reviewed everything I had learned and done in those months, it seemed as though I were putting hinges on once separate learnings. With the hinges, now the myriad of learnings came together in a very useful way.

My CPO-CD© counterparts are noted on the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization list. Our specialized training in organizing for the chronically disorganized included skill-building in areas including emotional techniques and boundary setting.

My goal is to better serve my clients. She or he may be an individual in a residential setting, a business person in a corporate environment, a child needing some help with organizing, or a participant in one of my workshops or seminars. We can help you become more productive and organized!

What milestone have you set for yourself? I would like to hear from you!

Prevent In-Home Falls with Organization

2009-10-25T12:40:58-05:00

An octogenarian family member is very good at watching where she walks. Concerned with taking a tumble, she uses handrails and a helping arm as a precautionary measure.

One of every three people 65 years old and older will fall during the next year. The fact that falls among the elderly can limit independent living is a concern to many.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives some ideas for preventing in-home falls. One of these is to reduce in-home hazards that can cause falls. Some areas that we see with our professional organizing clients that present a trip-and-fall hazard include the following:

Piles of papers or objects on the floor
Narrow passageways with clutter on both sides of the aisle
Nonworking appliances
Loose or worn rugs
Electrical cords
Inadequate lighting
Clutter
Crowded garages, basements or attics

Take a good look around your living space as well as that of someone you care about. Are there some changes that can be made to prevent a fall? If you need help or ideas from a professional organizer, consider that option as well.

Chronic Procrastinators Find Many Stop Signs

2009-09-27T13:16:38-05:00

Procrastination is a challenge for many. Psychology Today says one in five people identify themselves as Chronic Procrastinators. Procrastination can be compared to a huge red stop sign that pops up every time there is a decision to be made or a task that needs to be accomplished.

While there are many reasons for procrastinating, or putting things off until later, here are a few reasons that might resonate with you.

Lack of information. Janine delays getting a flu shot this year because she hasn't had time to research the most cost-effective place to get the immunization. Should she go to the drug store, her doctor's office or a new store that offers the flu shot? The months fly by. Janine never did get the flu shot. In this information-based world, we never will have all the information we need for every decision we need to make. There is simply not time!
Inaccurate perception of time required for tasks.It's a fact that we tend to overestimate the time it takes to do the things we enjoy doing and underestimate the time to do the things we enjoy. Doug delays taking out the garbage because it will "take too long" but can spend "just a few more minutes on Facebook."
Overwhelm. People who are chronically disorganized may find that it is difficult to find somewhere to start with big projects so they delay starting and finishing the task at hand.

If you want to make overcoming procrastination a priority, I recommend It's About Time: The 6 Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them by Dr. Linda Sapadin. Learning more about how and why you procrastinate will help you become more productive and organized.

Are You a Compulsive Shopper?

2009-09-20T16:34:44-05:00

As a professional organizer, I continue to take classes and learn how to help my clients lead more productive lives through more effective personal and workplace organization. Compulsive buying was a topic of a recent telecourse I took through the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD).

Do you think you could be a compulsive shopper? Take this brief seven-question quiz published in the Journal of Consumer Research to help to determine if you are a compulsive shopper.

According to April Lane Benson, Ph.D. the compulsive need to overshop is often triggered by emotional needs that are unmet, It may not be a new shirt that is needed, but rather a relief from boredom or loneliness. It is easy for a person to become overwhelmed with the sheer volume of the results of overshopping. A professional organizer can help address the space issues but it is vital that the cause of the overshopping be addressed as well.

We are surrounded with countless opportunities to shop--malls and shops, glossy catalogs, the internet, shopping channels on television and fund-raising efforts for many organizations. If you suspect you or someone close to you may be a compulsive shopper, take some time to learn more about overshopping and its effects.

Repetition for Success

2009-08-20T13:15:47-05:00

Repetition is a strategy that successful people use to master many challenging tasks. An artist or composer may use variations of a single theme to please the viewer of the artwork or listener of the music.

Repetition can be boring or interesting depending on the frequency of the repeated theme or statement. Visually, repetition can bring a rhythm that is pleasing to the eye and easy for the mind to process. Frequently shoppers are pulled into the artful retail display of many similar objects and make an impulse purchase. The variations of color within a single theme such as notebooks may cause displeasure with "just one" item and propel the buyer to select one in every color!

As professional organizers, we help people separate the artful repetition from the non-productive repetition in work areas and living spaces. On a personal note, I do not need three calculators, but my five-vase holder is splendid for summer blooms.

What repetition works for you and what repetition gets in the way of a better life for you? I would like to hear your thoughts!

Why Do People Consult Professional Organizers?

2009-08-07T09:49:07-05:00

Too much clutter is the top reason professional organizers are hired, according to the 2009 NAPO Member Survey. Results of the national survey were just released by The Organizing Authority®--the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). The top three reasons people ask for help from an organizer are:

Clutter (75%)
General disorganization (71%)
Help in making decisions about keeping or discarding (53%)

Companies and non-home offices most often consult an organizer to implement systems to improve general employee productivity.

Reasons businesses most frequently hire organizers are:

Improve productivity (66%)
Maximize office space (58%)
Improve employee organizational skills (55%)

A professional organizer is often called in as a last approach rather than a part of a strategy for better living and higher productivity. Relationships may already be damaged, health and safety can be compromised, and a high degree of frustration could exist by the time an organizer is consulted. First-time clients are often surprised at the non-judgmental approach used by the professional organizer who adheres to a code of confidentiality and ethical, trained approaches. New clients are also amazed at the differences in their lives as they celebrate what they have learned working with a professional organizer.

Random Summer Itty-Bitty Organizing Tips

2009-07-22T16:05:00-05:00

My teacher friends often see summer as THE TIME TO GET ORGANIZED because they have a block of time to focus on tasks. Towards the end of summer, panic sets in because school starts soon and the organizing tasks are unfinished.

Here are 3 random itty-bitty organizing tips that can help you move forward and still have time for big-time summer fun!

Spend 10 minutes reviewing the manual (paper or on-line) that came with your newest electronic device. By taking the time to learn more about the multiple features of your new cell phone or mp3 player, you will save time and find new uses for that item you can’t live without.
Focus on a single square yard of clutter. It may be your desktop, kitchen counter or car trunk.Making changes in a small area is a step that will be less overwhelming than thinking about organizing large areas in a short amount of time.
Exchange fat plates for skinny plates on your kitchen shelf. Observe how your plates stack and evaluate if they can be replaced by more space-saving plates. Apply the same principle to storage containers, pots and pans and baking dishes.

What small organizing task have you accomplished lately? We would like to hear about it?

Quilter's Fabric Stash Solutions

2009-07-17T10:01:12-05:00

While I haven't earned the title of Quilter, I do admire the creative, historic and artistic value of quilts and quilt making. As we toured the International Quilt Study Museum yesterday I thought about how many active or wanna-be quilters have large quantities of fabrics. These fabric stashes are neatly arranged in closets or tote boxes, stuffed in inaccessible places, or hidden under beds.

When it is time to have some fun with that fabric, here are a couple of ideas to help others and share your love of fabric.

Project Linus. Sew a child's blanket or small quilt and donate it to ill or traumatized children through Project Linus. If there is not a chapter in your area, organize one.

Conker Cancer. Imagine walking into a hospital room with a brightly colored pillowcase. Take a few minutes to sew pillowcases out of your cotton fabrics. No time to sew? You can provide fabric for others to sew the pillowcases. Your efforts will bring smiles to hospitalized children and their families. You will find the specifications and directions at the Conker Cancer website.

How is your fabric stash serving you or others?

The 40-70 Rule

2009-07-08T22:03:09-05:00

Conversation between multiple generations can be challenging. A survey, conducted by Home Instead Senior Care, provides some insight on how Baby Boomers and their parents are communicating on issues that affect both the adult child and the older parent.

The Home Instead survey reported that 22% of the adult children found their parents are too independent. The 40-70 Rule was suggested to help address some of the age-related issues. Conversations about independence issues such as home help and driving should begin when the adult child is 40 or the parent is 70 years of age.

These discussions should also address the minimalization of clutter for health and safety reasons as well as the disposition of family heirlooms and special mementos. Decision-making can become overwhelming and is often coupled with periods of other stress. Sibliling relationships come into play as well.

A professional organizer is a neutral individual who can work with adult children and their parents to systematically review how household items and keepsakes will serve family members or others.

How might a professional organizer help resolve your inter-generational family challenges?

Hanging on to Yesterday?

2009-06-26T09:08:32-05:00

Moving forward can be exhilarating for many, but it can also be a scary time. Some people thrive on dealing with new and uncharted territory and for others it can be a painful time.

Sometimes people keep many mementos of relatives long gone, souvenirs of memorable times, and reminders of happier days. Just having these things helps individuals hang on when change surrounds them.

Each person determines what works best for them in terms of space and maintenance of the reminders of times long past. However, for some the past gets the way of the present and future. Space is devoted to things that have lost their significance. Items are kept out of guilt or misguided responsibility. Somewhere in the turning of the calendar pages yesterday becomes today.

Kara L. Swanson tells the story of change so well in Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet. Kara's life changed dramatically during her journey with a traumatic brain injury. Here is what Kara L. Swanson says about change

"If tomorrow is simply another yesterday, they wouldn’t call it tomorrow. If tomorrow were only yesterday, we’d be going backwards. But we’re not.

We’re going forwards."

Are you hanging onto yesterday in a way that keeps your todays and tomorrows from being what they could be?