HKpowerStudio

Creatively Organized Spaces

What to do Post-Disaster

by Filed Under: Emergency Preparedness, Organize, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

No matter where you live, natural disasters are practically impossible to ignore! With the change in our climate, especially if you live along the coastlines, it pays to know what to do post-disaster. I’ve written on this subject for several years, given talks, and worked with many clients in preparation; yet, I’ve not previously written about what to do after a disaster.

Post-disaster recovery can be painfully slow.

Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint… sorry for the clichéd metaphor. As often as I’ve helped and had to bear witness to the recovery process, I’ve learned it can take months, if not longer, to get through the first and second phases, outlined below.

Even if you didn’t experience personal property damage, you’ve likely been affected by the impact on the whole community, infrastructure, friends, family, and neighbors. For many in Asheville (2024), the struggle isn’t just with property damage, insurance, and FEMA claims. Disasters impact people’s livelihoods and mental health. If you want to offer support, look for local resources (in NC, Beloved Asheville, and CA, LA Strong). It takes YEARS for people, businesses, and communities to rebuild. Keep this in mind as you consider ongoing support for communities affected by disasters.

What to do Post-Disaster

How to navigate the aftermath of damage

Working with clients who had to navigate the aftermath of damage to their homes and properties, I’ve seen how people were hard on themselves for not having prepared better. We are dealing with storms and disasters for which no amount of preparation can steady us. Shame and/or shock tend to lessen over time as we come to realize that we may have been in this position or may be in a similar one in the future. Increasingly, insurance companies and FEMA are denying claims due to flooding or other disasters.

So, what should we do now? This post offers both practical advice and resources. More than anything, I hope it comes across not as an ‘I told you so’ but as a compassionate hand on your shoulder, offering my support. For many people, there was no way to know what was to come, no way to prepare for losing everything so quickly.

Phase One: Safety First and Documentation.

Storms and disasters displace many people. Accessing your situation might not be viable initially. You may not have enough information for months to determine the next steps. Exhaustion, decision fatigue, shock, and being overwhelmed are all too common during this phase.

  • Take a mental inventory of places, people, and systems in place to support you.
  • Find safe short-term housing, clothing, and food. Shelters (such as the Red Cross), local non-profit organizations, churches (even if you are not affiliated), friends, and family are all valuable resources to consider.
  • Don’t rely on technology or essential resources (such as safe drinking water and electricity). Be prepared to boil water, go without power, use a generator, and other similar contingencies.
  • Talk to your neighbors and know who else is staying or leaving.
  • Start a written list of resources and their contact information (get it out of your head!). Can you stay with friends or family, even temporarily, to rest and let your system reset before diving back into rebuilding?
  • From this list, begin to assess which resources you need immediately versus those that are mid- or long-term in nature. See the FEMA Emergency Preparation list at the bottom of this post to help you determine what you might have or need.
  • Evaluate the condition of your documents. Did you lose insurance policy information, personal identification, or other important documents? Create a list of what you currently have and what you may need to move forward.
  • Document damage (only when it’s safe to do so!). Consider damage to both the structure (the building) and its contents (what’s inside, or your belongings). If you don’t have good documentation before the disaster, don’t worry. There are ways to reestablish those. Thankfully, most of us take plenty of photos to recreate our content and structure.

Mental Health & Emotional Support

Post-disaster is probably the most emotionally and physically vulnerable time to ask for help.

  • Working through overwhelming tasks is much easier when you’re not alone. Offer your help in return. Community is vital at this time. Coming together will foster a sense of support and closure for your emotionally taxing tasks.
  • Reward yourself in some small way. Take a nap, rest, stay hydrated, warm up, or cool down.
  • Care for and pace yourself. Scream into a pillow, throw something (not at someone), and allow yourself to vent your emotions. Just don’t keep them bottled up.
  • If you cannot manage your emotions and need professional support, this FREE hotline is available to natural disaster survivors.

Phase Two: Evaluate & Document

  • Contact your insurance company to report the damage and initiate the process of filing a claim. You might not think you are eligible for anything if your property floods and you don’t have flood insurance. Still, it’s crucial to establish grounds for any denied claims or future disputes.
  • Document don’t destroy! Anything damaged should be photographed and listed. If battery use is limited, write lists on paper and take photos of specific items as you can. Details such as make, model, and serial numbers may be necessary. Be careful when walking around while doing this work. If the area has not had utilities turned off or the structural damage is unsafe, it’s best to do what you can from a distance.
  • Contact utility companies to request that they conduct a damage assessment. Turn off breakers and ensure utility access is safe to work around; then proceed with documenting damages.
  • Begin the process of filing for FEMA claims not covered by insurance. There may be general loss and structural issues, and you can file claims for other categories (short-term housing, food/clothing, etc.).

Phase Three: Clean-Up & Mitigation

  • Once it’s safe to proceed with clean-up, determine the large and small tasks and assign them to the appropriate individuals.
  • Hire reputable professionals or enlist the help of mutual aid and community volunteers to tackle things as a team. Categories of professionals might include mold remediation specialists, electricians, plumbers, tree removal services, structural engineers, architects, public adjusters (to help with claims disputes), and other contractors.
  • Reach out to friends and family for help. Do you know someone great with administrative details or a carpenter who knows what things should cost (without being gouged!)? Now is the time to reach out and call on people, especially those outside your geographic region. They can and do want to help. Perhaps you can let them take some of the burden from you. Think about who wants to help you and how they can do so.
  • Board or tarp up damaged areas to prevent further damage in the days/weeks to come.
  • Work with volunteers and professional local, state, and federal agencies to begin filing repair claims.
  • Contact professionals to obtain repair estimates. You may or may not need detailed estimates to obtain relief funding, but if your damages are severe, you will likely need to hire professionals. Therefore, obtain estimates as soon as it’s safe.

Phase Four: Rebuilding or Relocating

  • You may have initially decided whether to stay or go. What you’ve learned may influence that choice, and it’s essential to recognize that changing your mind or reevaluating your circumstances is a significant part of moving forward.
  • If you can stay and rebuild, start with structural and mechanical repairs (engineers and architects, plumbers and electricians, roofing and carpentry, etc.).
  • Establish a realistic timeline for your living circumstances. If you are in temporary housing, is it available and affordable for the duration of your stay? Is it feasible for you to stay until you relocate or rebuild your home? Is there somewhere you can go if you’re unable to return to your home? Do you have a budget? Can you find a local spot, or do you need to go further? Is your job remote or flexible during this phase to support you?
  • Managing your claims (FEMA, Loans, Insurance) can be a nuisance and downright overwhelming for some people. Enlist help for remote tasks.
  • Pace yourself. Balance work, family, and reconstruction with breaks and rewards, however possible.
  • Break the process into manageable chunks or phases. Establish a timeline to help you set goals and anticipate upcoming tasks, making the process more manageable and less overwhelming.

FEMA Recommended Emergency Supply Kit includes:

  • 3-day Supply of Food and Water (1 Gal/person/day, nonperishable food, can opener, utensils, cooler with ice, and make a game of eating all the food in the fridge, then freezer)-rotate out perishables seasonally
  • Pet Care (food, medications, bowls, water, leash, etc.)
  • Health Supplies (medications, hearing aids, etc.)
  • Personal Care Items (soap, wipes, toothbrush, TP, etc.)
  • Safety Supplies (first aid, flashlights, lanterns/candles, whistle, multi-tool like a Swiss army knife)
  • Electronics (cell phone, charger, extra batteries)
  • Essential documents are ready to go in a water-safe/transportable container (e.g., a Ziploc bag or a small file box); for more information on what to bring, see this post.
  • Books/music and games are ready to entertain you and your family in case of power outages.”

As you, your loved ones, and your community navigate this process, you will find other helpful resources and support, including mutual aid, community, and loved ones. If you are frustrated with institutions that seem unhelpful, I urge you not to give up. There may be considerable hurdles and loopholes to navigate, but ultimately, there is some reward at the end of the process. For many individuals, this is the only financial support available, and it’s not easy. If you need help, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

How to Organize & Store Holiday Decor

by Filed Under: Organize, Organizing Projects Leave a Comment

Unfortunately, the holidays are over as quickly as they come, and after the excitement and cheer have passed, there’s always a big task looming—how to Organize & Store Holiday Decor.

This year, follow this 4-step guide to organize your holiday decorations and make next year much easier! With some planning, you can set yourself up for annual decorating success.

___________________________

Gather Your Supplies

When you’re armed and ready to organize, you’re more likely to finish with a job well done! Grab your supplies before you begin taking down your holiday decorations.

  • Boxes
  • Sticky Notes/Notepad & Pen
  • Permanent Marker
  • Containers (Don’t buy anything new yet!)
  • Label Maker (If you have one)

Now, let’s dive in!

___________________________

Declutter Holiday Decor as You Go

Considering all your freshly used decor, decide how much holiday decor you want to keep for next year.

Following our suggestions to organize your holiday decorations, ask yourself if you truly love an item. Does it bring enough cheer to justify storing it for a year? Or is it functional enough to store for 365 days?

If so, great! We’ll be sorting the things you’re keeping in the next stage. If not, grab one of your empty boxes and write DONATE in a big permanent marker across the side. Collect donation items as you go.

___________________________

Sorting Holiday Decor

When sorting your holiday decorations, use boxes to group them into categories like DONATE, TRASH (anything broken), and KEEP.

Here are a couple of options for organizing the KEEP category.

Organizing Based on Location

Now that you’ve decluttered your holiday decorations, it’s time to sort them into categories based on where you use them around your home. This will make things so much easier for next year because you’ll have everything grouped based on where it belongs.

Organizing Based on Category

You may prefer to organize your holiday decorations by category instead. This means putting all the lights together, all the greenery together, etc. If this feels right to you, then go for it! Remember to label things by location as you put them away so you’ll know where they go when you pull them out next year.

___________________________

Storing Holiday Decor

“Fit your container to your items rather than your items to the container!”

What do we mean? The most common mistake professional organizers see is people buying all their storage containers before assessing how much they have.

After you’ve sorted your holiday decorations into categories, it’s time to see what types of containers you need. That’s why we say to fit your container to your items — otherwise, you may be trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. And we all know how that ends!

We love to reuse containers you already have, so we suggest you shop your home first. Collect the available containers and see which ones work for your different categories.

Clear containers are our favorite because you can see what’s inside. However, cardboard boxes work as a budget-friendly option — clearly label the box on the top and at least one side.

Label the containers once you’ve contained your holiday decorations so you can easily find them next year! Choose a location in your home to keep all the containers together, and store them with the labels facing out for quick reference.

___________________________

Final Thoughts

Remember, organizing after the holidays is not only about putting things away but it’s also an opportunity to start the new year with a tidy and organized space. Take your time, involve family members if possible, and turn the process into a positive and productive experience so you can feel great in your home.

___________________________

If you’re overwhelmed just reading this post, remember that we offer post-holiday decluttering and organizing services. We can even do it all for you! Contact us to learn how it works.

Create a Productive Back-to-School Home Office or Study

by Filed Under: Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Paper management, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

Creating and keeping a productive Back-to-School home office or study area is hard when you’re tight on space. When papers are everywhere, you can never find something when needed, and the piles on your desk can be exasperating and overwhelming! Below, I’ve outlined seven steps to maximizing space in your home office or study area for a productive Back-to-School season.

Create a productive Back-to-School season in seven easy stepsproductive Back-to-School

1. Assess Your Space

Before rearranging furniture or buying new items, take a step back and assess your current space. The most common mistake people make when they try to get organized is running to the store and buying all the cute containers and systems before sorting through things. (That’s understandable because we see it everywhere these days!)

First, identify what’s essential and what’s not. You’ll need to sort through everything that’s in the space already. This might involve going through your books, papers, and office supplies to determine what you actually use and need.

2. Declutter

Decluttering is a crucial step in maximizing space. As you sort through each pile, stack of paper, or box of clutter, use boxes or bags to create categories like trash, recycle, keep, and donate.

I recommend eliminating as much paper as you can. With more and more online information, we no longer need as much paper as we used to. Be sure to shred anything with sensitive information.

The bottom line? Remove items that no longer serve a purpose or can be stored elsewhere.

~ Expert Tip ~ Stay Focused!
It’s easy to get off track when you come across things that belong elsewhere in your home. Instead of walking around and getting distracted in other rooms, keep a box nearby labeled “Elsewhere” or “Other Rooms” and place things that don’t belong inside. This helps you remember to take care of it later but keeps you focused on the space.

3. Consider Your Preferences

Do you like everything tucked away and streamlined? Or do you need to see certain things for fear of “out of sight, out of mind” problems?

It’s important to consider how you operate before you set up any space. There’s no ONE way to organize! (Darn, right?!)

What works for one person might be the wrong approach for another, so you must consider what works best for you and your habits.

 4. Create Zones

 Whether you have an entire room or a small corner to work with, it’s important to create zones in your space.

Room Zones

If your home office or study area serves multiple purposes, such as working, studying, and relaxing, it is important to create distinct zones for each activity. This helps your brain transition between tasks and makes the space more functional. You can use rugs, furniture, or dividers to create different spaces in the room.

Category Zones

Within your workspace, you’ll need detailed categories depending on your needs. Think in categories like:

  • Office Supplies
  • Craft or Art Supplies
  • Active/To Do Papers or Activities
  • Archive Information (Documents to file or reference. Remember, only keep what you’ll use!)
  • Reference Information

Once you’ve established your zones, you can use containers to keep them within their categories.

A quick note about paper!

Paper management organization is a huge topic about which I’ve written multiple blog posts; you can find them here. After you’ve recycled or shredded what you can, set up a simple filing system—label categories based on how you would look for items when needed.

5. Use Your Space Efficiently

Sometimes, seeing what is missing in one’s home is difficult, but I often see underutilized space when working with clients.

Hanging shelves on walls, installing furniture that stores things efficiently, and hanging lights from above are just a few ways to save space if you’re working with a small area.

6. Consider Environmental Factors

It’s also important to consider environmental factors that impact your productivity.

  • How is the lighting? Does your space have any natural light? Could you move your desk closer to a window?
  • How is the airflow and air quality in your space? Do you need a fan, space heater, or air purifier?
  • Does the space represent you? Consider adding plants, candles, or decor to help you feel at ease in the space.

7. Maintain Organization, Tips for Staying Organized:

Once you’ve maximized your space, maintaining the work you’ve done is just as important. A clutter-free workspace feels great and improves productivity!

  • Daily Tidy-Up: Spend a few minutes tidying up your space at the end of each day. This prevents clutter from accumulating and prepares your space for the next day.
  • Use Containers: Drawer dividers, file organizers, and cable management solutions can help keep everything in its place. Labeling items also makes it easier to find what you need quickly.
  • Regularly Reassess: Every few months, take some time to reassess your space. As your needs change, so might your setup. Don’t be afraid to rearrange or reconfigure your space!

For more ideas and support for back-to-school organizing, you can find additional posts about tidying up for back-to-school and meal prep here.

______________

Creating a productive Back-to-School season is a all about maximizing space in your home office or study area and making intentional choices that work for YOU.

By decluttering, creating zones, and using your space efficiently, you can make a space that supports your work or studies and inspires and motivates you. Good luck!

If you’re short on time and need help getting organized, contact me to learn how it works.

Until next time, Happy Organizing!

 

 

Downsizing to Simplify Your Life

by Filed Under: Estate Planning, Move Management, Organize, Senior Organizing Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the work you do around your home, you are not alone. Between maintenance, cleaning, landscaping, and organizing everything (inside closets, cupboards, and cabinets), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. All the work required for larger homes can lead many people to consider how to one day Downsize or Rightsize to simplify their life—it isn’t just for seniors!

Last month, I shared helpful steps for an organized move on the Creatively Organized Spaces blog. But when you’re moving to downsize, there’s much more to consider.

Before making big changes, it’s important to consider a few things first. Below, we’ll discuss the benefits of downsizing to simplify your life, the emotional toll it can take, and tips for caring for older relatives during the downsizing process.

Why Downsize?

Simplified Lifestyle
Downsizing has many benefits, but the common thread is a simplified lifestyle. And as a professional organizer, you know I’m a big fan of that! We simplify our homes and lives and make space for what matters most.

Financial Savings
One of the most significant benefits of downsizing is cutting costs. A smaller home typically means lower mortgage payments, reduced property taxes, and decreased utility bills. For retirees living on a fixed income, these savings can provide much-needed financial relief, which leads to less stress.

Less Maintenance & Upkeep
The American dream of a large home, sprawling lawn, and white picket fence sounds nice, but it’s a lot of work!

A smaller home means less surface area to clean, repair, and organize. For seniors, community living is a great option. Many senior living communities offer maintenance services, which means tasks like lawn care, snow removal, and home repairs are taken care of for you.

Safety & Accessibility
A big benefit for downsizing seniors is increased safety and accessibility with single-story layouts, wider doorways, and other modifications. Reducing the risk of falling and other accidents gives seniors and their families peace of mind.

The Emotional Side of Downsizing

It can be especially overwhelming for seniors to downsize because they often have a lifetime of belongings and memories that need to be faced and sorted. This leads to a lot of decision-making, which can be emotionally overwhelming.

I am deeply compassionate about the sensitive nature of downsizing and have worked closely with many seniors to manage the emotional and physical aspects.

Taking frequent breaks, drinking water, eating, and pausing when emotions run high are a few things that help.

Most people need support sorting and decluttering their belongings; a compassionate partner and helpers make all the difference.

It’s important to honor the memories and nostalgia that arise when sorting through the past. For more information about coping with the emotions of downsizing, here is a wonderful article by the Elder Care Alliance.

Caring for Older Relatives During Downsizing

Adult children often help their aging parents downsize, which is bound to stir emotions for everyone. Supporting someone from a long distance can create added stress. This checklist for caregivers from the Family Caregiver Alliance is a good starting point for getting your to-do’s in order. Here are a few other recommendations.

  • Find in-person professional support. Whether traveling long distances or not, working with a senior move management professional can reduce stress for everyone. Contact me to learn more about my downsizing services.
  • Start sorting and decluttering as early as possible (if you aren’t rushed). It takes longer than you think and requires compassion and a healthy dose of patience.
  • Get organized! This is no surprise, but you’ll save time and energy if you get organized early in the downsizing process. Create a notebook or folder to keep all your checklists, contacts, and other important information. Gather supplies like boxes and packing materials. Keep an inventory of belongings as you sort through and pack them. You’ll thank your future self if you do these things beforehand!

For more tips and support in long-distance caregiving, here is a helpful article from the National Institute on Aging.

[Read more…]

Move Like a Pro-Organizer with these 5 steps

by Filed Under: Move Management, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

Whenever moving is mentioned in conversation, there are usually heavy sighs, groans, and eye rolls. No one likes moving, but below, I share 5 steps to move like a pro-organizer.

It’s often listed as one of the most stressful life events, and it’s no wonder — we have a lot of stuff in our homes! Getting organized before your move can make things run more smoothly and eliminate stress. And because summer is peak moving season, I thought I’d share a few steps to make your next move easier.

Plan Ahead

As with anything, a little planning goes a long way. Imagine what can happen if you do a lot of planning!

A plan reduces moving stress because you know what to expect when things get busy.

  • Keep Information in One Place — Create a binder or folder to keep all information in one place. You’ll want a packing checklist [hyperlink to yours if you have one as a lead magnet], schedule, utility information, contact information, and more inside your binder.
  • Plan Your Time — Well before your moving date, use your calendar to work backward from your move day and create a general schedule. You’ll want to save packing things you use often for the days right before the move, but you can begin packing infrequently used items early. Decluttering before you start packing is essential. You’ll also want to call the utility companies before your move. Mark these timeframes on your calendar to stay on track.
  • Gather Supplies — Create a tote with labels, Sharpies, scissors, packing tape, and other supplies so you can find them easily. You’ll use these supplies when decluttering. Begin collecting boxes so you don’t scramble at the end. Here are a few ideas for creating a moving kit. I share my favorite organizing tips, tricks, and supplies in this short post.

Declutter Before You Move

No one wants to move extra stuff they no longer use, but when you’re feeling overwhelmed, the move date can come quickly, and you end up throwing everything in a box whether you need it anymore or not. That’s why the planning step helps so much.

Go room by room and declutter as quickly as you can. Open closets, look under beds — get as detailed as time allows, and be ruthless if you can! Moving is stressful because we realize how much we actually have when we begin pulling it all out. Use this time as motivation to let go of unused items by donating or selling them.

Packing

It’s time to grab your packing kit! Pack your home room by room, starting with the spaces you use least often. It’s ok to move to the next room once you’ve packed a room and only items you’re still using remain, but don’t mix items from different rooms in boxes. Keep rooms separate so the unpacking process can go much more smoothly.

  • Label everything! It may feel like overkill, but you’ll be thankful when you’re unpacking. List the room the box belongs in and a few notes on what’s inside. Label boxes on the top and side so you can see what they contain when they’re stacked.
  • Expert Tip! Use luggage to pack essential items you’ll need right away, like toiletries and clothes.

A recent moving job with Professional Movers of Charleston. What a great team!

Moving Day

The day is finally here—try to enjoy the momentous occasion if you can!

  • Ask your movers to place boxes in their corresponding rooms to make unpacking easier.
  • Keep your moving binder accessible for any phone numbers or details you might need.
  • Celebrate! After everything is unloaded, take a moment to celebrate the move. A lot of hard work has led to this moment!

 

Unpacking

After the big day, it’s time to begin setting up your new home. The task can feel overwhelming, but think of it as a way to arrange everything as you’ve always wanted.

  • Reverse Order. You’ll unpack everything in the reverse order in which you packed it. Begin by unpacking your essentials, and then move on to the next most frequently used items.
  • Organize as You Go. Group things together, create zones, and label. This will help you and your family remember where things go as you adjust to your new home.

Describing how to organize your home requires multiple blog posts (search by category or space for more posts). Use this as an encouraging nudge to organize as you settle into your new space. You’ll thank your future self later!

Remember, moving doesn’t have to be as stressful as everyone thinks. You can do this!

______________

Ready to move like a pro organizer? If all this sounds like more work than you’re willing to take on, contact us to learn about our move management and unpacking services. We can take all of this off your plate!

info@hkpowerstudio.com
[office] 240-778-2804 *area code must be dialed/no text

Legal Disclaimer

Creatively Organized Spaces by HKpowerStudio Inc. is not qualified to give legal, tax, accounting, financial, medical, or therapeutic advice, and any services, content or products are solely provided for informational purposes only.

Search Blog by Popular Catetories

Seach Blog by date