Organize Archives

7 Top Excuses for Storing Extra Stuff

October 27, 2025 by Heather Filed Under: Move Management, Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

“Out of Sight Storage”, nothing quite lives up to this description like a Storage unit, but there are other places you might be storing extra stuff. You might have asked yourself, Is there ever a good excuse for storing extra stuff? How can you prevent your out-of-sight storage from becoming a large junk pile? Below, I share some of the “good excuses” for storing extra stuff.

An estimated one in three Americans rents a storage unit. Of these renters, the majority are currently Baby Boomers, with a projected 50% of Gen Z planning to use them in the future.

So WHY are we storing so much stuff?

More and more storage facilities are popping up. With the popularity of shows like “Storage Wars“, our culture seems to have accepted that using storage units is “normal”.

Do we really need all this stuff or has our level of consumption outpaced our housing?

There are new trends in storing extra stuff, including shared spaces in people’s homes and a “on demand” storage companies that will drop off and retrieve storage, and even barcode items so you can get back only what you need, when you need them. Of course, these premium services come with premium prices!

I love the flexibility of both of these options, especially for short-term storage, or when downsizing to retirement communities (many of which have very little storage). There are definitely times that having some out-of-sight storage has been valuable and other times when it seems like a big $ pit.

When faced with inherited items or an eminent downsize, Americans are highly reluctant to part with their things. There is a lot of FOMO going on here, but not much evidence that people actually need or use the stuff they pay to store. There are instances when storage make a lot of sense and I will review those “good excuses” in this post.

In all circumstances, please review your insurance policies to be sure your contents of storage are covered adequately.

Here are the 7 top ‘Good Excuses’ for Storing Extra Stuff

Storing valuable personal property that might not be protected at home. Examples include extensive collections of climate-sensitive items. This may be expensive jewelry, vehicles, or other collectibles, that might be safer in climate-controlled off-site storage. This type of storage could range from a safe deposit box to an off-site garage.
Home remodeling. It’s often necessary to store items when remodeling or building. In this case, make items you might need easy to access. Building and remodeling can take longer than expected, so plan (seasonal wardrobe switch, paperwork, etc.).
Collections or work-related archives that you need to hold onto but do not have space for at your home or small business. Examples include artwork, medical or legal files/records, or other paperwork that is taking up valuable space elsewhere.
Temporary storage of items when relocating. This can be especially helpful if items are being moved to multiple locations. It also makes moving day easier when you specify what comes from storage vs. other locations. This may be necessary if you or someone in your family lives in college housing and goes “home” for the summer, but needs to store stuff near school.
Downsizing and times of indecision or stress. I share this option with extreme caution. Often, people fall into the forever-storage situation triggered by a move or downsizing. After the move they never get to sorting through their things. If you downsize and place items to be sorted in storage, do so with the minimum space needed. Have a plan to sort through items on a specific timeline (say one year max?). I’ve seen this work very successfully and I’ve seen the ambition be greater than the motivation to eliminate the storage.
Estate sales and family redistribution. There are times when a storage unit can help sort through and liquidate an estate. Sometimes, the family doesn’t live nearby, and the main property can no longer be used for storage. It’s best to know specifically what contents are going into storage. Have the estate inventoried for distribution to specific family members, and set a particular deadline. Decide in advance whether the family estate will pay for this or whether family members will split the cost. Be clear in your communication about expectations.
Insurance claim issues. There is sometimes damage to a house, and contents must be stored and or inventoried for insurance purposes. This is uncommon, but I have seen and worked with clients in this situation.

If you’re not sure whether off-site storage is the right choice, consider the cost per square foot of storage vs. keeping things in place. You may also want to consider what you will do with the free space you gain. What is the value of that space to you, fiscally, creatively, emotionally?

Once you have identified why you will be storing extra stuff, create an inventory and system for efficient storage. This can be a spreadsheet or a simple set of photos and list! Labeling items in storage is also essential and can correspond with an inventory or you can place a simple one-page inventory within the bins. A simple inventory will help you quickly and efficiently access what you need. If you are storing items for a business, create a file-inventory index based on the type of storage you will use. If you will store files in bankers’ boxes, decide on a labeling system and label the boxes and shelves so you can identify and replace items easily. Larger items, such as artwork, collectibles, or furnishings, can be labeled similarly.

If you’re renting storage space, create an easy-to-access system by bringing in easy-to-assemble shelves. Make use of the vertical space and tall ceilings in most storage units. Store anything sensitive in a climate-controlled environment. Be certain you have sufficient insurance and make regular payments to the storage facility (so that your unit doesn’t end up on Storage Wars!:)

If you know you are using a storage unit temporarily, don’t sign a long-term contract. Be aware of and notify your storage facility of your exit date (read the contract). Will you be getting rid of things all at once (book the mover early so you don’t back out!) or a little at a time? Have a plan to work through things that need sorting with a friend, family member, or an organizer.

Fast and Slow Organizing

September 18, 2025 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

What does fast and slow organizing mean, and how can our approach improve our outcome?

This post has its roots in the systems thinking I became curious about when I read the book Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. It’s a great book, but somewhat technical. There are numerous excellent summaries available, a TED talk, and interviews with the author, Daniel, a Psychologist and Nobel Prize winner in economics.

First, I’ll provide a summary to serve as a starting point for exploring Fast and Slow Organizing. To preface this summary, I will share in the author’s own words that the origin of this book “…presents my current understanding of judgement and decision making…” (Kahneman, pg. 8). This is important to keep in mind because a lot of organizing involves decision-making. Understanding how we make decisions will give us greater insight into how successfully we get and stay organized.

System 1 Thinking=Fast Thinking

The premise behind this kind of thinking is that it’s automatic, intuitive, and effortless. It relies on skills or knowledge built over long periods of time. This allows us to make quick judgments based on skills, instincts, or easy-to-recognize patterns.

System 2 Thinking=Slow Thinking

The premise behind this kind of thinking is that it is deliberate, analytical, and requires effort. It kicks in when problems are complex, require logic, reasoning, or close calculations.

Many decision-making processes and everyday tasks are governed by fast thinking. If we had to slow way down to think about how to make a cup of coffee, tie our shoes, or think about changing car lanes, we would not be very productive; it could even be dangerous. If we know (or think we know) something about a subject, chances are that System 1 thinking will kick in quickly and give us an answer.

System 2 thinking is what we rely on when we are learning new skills, making significant and complex decisions, or are faced with anything that makes us vulnerable. It can be delightful to revel in this kind of ‘beginner’s mindset,’ where being curious and exploring topics from a range of perspectives is welcome.

From Thinking to Organizing-Fast and Slow

Since we use both systems of thinking for our day-to-day activities, it’s clear that we probably default to one system or the other based on our understanding of how to organize. Have you ever just gone about doing a task on autopilot, not really thinking about it, and doing it the way you have always done it? We all have.

When it comes to organizing, we all fall into these thinking habits. We continue to do the same thing, even though it no longer works for us. This is when fast thinking can become a hindrance or trap. We become so reliant on it that we don’t stop to question the impulsive but perhaps not efficient method behind our process.

Until we slow down and allow our slow-thinking system to kick in, we can become stuck in the system one rut.

Curiosity or frustration might be equal motivators that lead us to slow down and look at things more deliberately. This is one of the leading factors I see when I begin to work with someone who has become stuck with organizing. The process I employ involves helping people become more curious by asking questions and slowing down the ‘automatic’ processes so we can find the best solution, which might not be the quick solution.

Slow organizing might feel like a massive waste of time, a big headache, and a never-ending task, but I promise that is not the case. Slowing down and being deliberate allows us to identify what aspects of our organizing systems are already working effectively. With these, we can continue to employ our quick thinking responses. But it’s the things that are not working that involve more cognitive awareness so that we can navigate our path to a better solution.

The great news is that over time, and with practice, even solutions that are new to us will become routine, and eventually our fast thinking system one mind can take them over too.

It can be helpful for all of us to step back and pay attention to where we are relying on each system in our day-to-day lives. Sometimes, specific systems and solutions may require a bit of evaluation and tuning to run more efficiently.

From Back to School to Burning Man

August 29, 2025 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Organizing Projects, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

This August, I shifted modes from Back to School to Burning Man! What do these two things have in common?

Preparation, preparation, preparation!

If you are gearing up for back to school, you’re preparing with your kids. From kindergarten to college, heading back to school always requires something. If you want tips and resources to help you prepare, look no further than the following posts.

[Read more…]

A Household Binder can be a portable command center

August 8, 2025 by Heather Filed Under: Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Organizing Projects, Paper management, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

Using a household binder is a great way to keep lots of miscellaneous and commonly referenced loose papers in one place. It can be used anywhere you need, taken with you from room to room (or when you leave home), and is an easy way to share information with babysitters, family members, etc. It can be digital or physical, and can include as much or as little information as you find helpful.

What to Include in Your Household Binder

Emergency contacts such as doctors, family members, and neighbors.
Vital household information- Wi-Fi code, alarm, and utility company info, etc.
Important personal and medical information, such as allergies and medications
Schedules including school year, holidays, sports, and after-school activities, etc.
Invitations
Takeout food menus
Meal Planning
Grocery lists
To Do list
Action items-bills to be paid
Chore charts/Goal Charts, etc.
Pet Info
House Rules (for guests, etc.)

How to Set up your household binder

Gather physical or digital supplies including binder or digital word processor, clear sheet protectors, section dividers with tabs, labels (label maker) & markers, pens or pencils
Print blank forms for any of the information above, if you don’t have a source for this, contact me and see below.
Type out or hand write contact info, personal /household info
Gather menu’s, mail, lists, invitations and schedules
Create sections for Contact &/or Emergency Information, household member, Schedules, Chore charts, pet info. meals, To-Do etc.

This image is from the Table of Contents for my “Creatively Organized Everything” binder, which is more comprehensive and in-depth than a household binder. If you are a client and need access to this file, I have created a Comprehensive 50 page template for you to use for all your household and legacy planning needs. Contact me to learn more.

A household binder is a great system for households that don’t’ have a lot of space for a command center. It can also be used along with a more “Visual” command center.

The Benefits of Personality Testing

July 23, 2025 by Heather Filed Under: Creative process, Health, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Planning & Goals, Productivity, Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset 1 Comment

We are all born unique and with different personalities. Are you curious to know more about your personality and how it can affect your day-to-day life? If so, the benefits of Personality testing include giving insight into how we think, handle stress, how we process information and make decisions.

Personality tests are very popular, with many employers requesting a candidate take a personality assessment during the job application process. If you were to Google ‘Personality Test’ you would be flooded with many claiming to be the best. I will showcase a few here that I believe are the most accurate and helpful when we want to learn more about ourselves. No personality test is the same, just as no person is the same.

Myers Briggs

The most popular and well-known Personality Test is Myers Briggs. It gives you insight into many different personality traits and identifies the 16 most distinctive personality types. It is a 15-20 minute assessment that asks you about the way that you think, how you process information, how you make decisions, how extroverted (or introverted) you are, and how you perceive information.

Once you have taken the assessment and receive your result you will also be given information on your personality type and how understandings your type can benefit you in your daily life. You can further research your personality type to help you connect you with like-minded individuals or understand those with strikingly different personalities.

Enneagram

You may have heard people toss around their enneagram ‘type’ as a number, similar to how people talk about their MB above as a series of letters. The test for your enneagram personality type is

done by a simple multiple choice quiz (which some might describe as pseudoscientific), which takes about 10 minutes.

There are nine types of enneagram personalities. Like many other personality typing systems, there are overlaps between types, and you will see/recognize characteristics of yourself in each. The premise behind the enneagram is that you are ‘born’ with a specific dominant personality type, which predisposes you to learning styles and relationship orientations. This premise helps us understand how to apply aspects of the enneagram to both learning and interpersonal skills. There is much more to say and learn about this personality type tool, and the institute (linked above), as well as many books, can help you understand how to use this as a tool to refine your understanding of your personality and how you interact with others with different personality types.

Predictive Index – PI Learning Indicator

The Predictive Index, better known as the PI Learning Indicator is the go-to personality test for employers. It gives a fairly accurate insight into your personality and working style focusing on four main elements; dominance, extraversion, patience, and formality.

The PI takes anywhere from 5-25 minutes depending on how thorough you are with the test. The results might look a bit confusing at first but there are always professionals for you to speak with and a detailed breakdown on their website.

While the PI is very accurate, it is also important to take it every 6 months to a year, depending on the personal changes you are experiencing in your life. Everyone’s personality changes throughout their lifetime and it is good to recognize these changes and adapt to them.

Kolbe

Kolbe offers a variety of different tests for their users including a youth test, finance test, and a relationship test. It is unique as they don’t measure your intelligence or your personality but how you naturally do things in your life.

Kolbe focuses on your motive, goals and what drives you to achieve your goals. It is a great test to help you recognize what motivates you, and how to achieve your goals.

This test is also very beneficial for business owner’s or managers who have lost motivation, direction or are looking for ways to keep their success going. The test dives into your creative instincts and showcases how best to utilize your personality.

This tests take 20 minutes and it gives you an in-depth look at your personality and driving factors to your success. Kolbe offers a lot of information and a clear breakdown of their methods and results on their website.

Different Personalities

There are often misconceptions among people that take personality tests. On the surface, it may seem that if we don’t have the correct personality for a job, relationship or friendship that it will never work. On the contrary, personality tests can be taken to learn more about yourself, your strengths and challenges and how to better relate to others in work and personal life. They should never be considered negative. After all, it’s better to know best to have these helpful insights into future challenges before you begin new relationships or ventures!

There are many criteria that personality tests don’t measure specifically including; work ethic, kindness, interests, and ability to learning style (more on this soon!).

I recommend that everyone take at least one personality test in their lifetime. The Benefits of Personality Testing include not only knowing more about your personality but to learning how you can use it to create success in your life. It takes so little time, less time than a favorite TV show, yet can supply both new and reinforced information about yourself. Please share what personality tests you have tried over in our Facebook group.