Move Like a Pro-Organizer with these 5 steps

June 22, 2024 by Heather 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!

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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!

The Mental Health Impact of Clutter

May 16, 2024 by Heather Filed Under: Health, Organize, Organizing Projects, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Improve Your Mental Health – The Link Between Clutter, Stress, and Anxiety

Have you ever looked around your home and felt frustrated by the impact of clutter on your life? After all, stacks of paper on the counter, never-ending piles of laundry, and stuff covering every surface can feel overwhelming!

Certainly, you’re not alone. Clutter has become a major problem in our culture, and it’s even taking a toll on our emotional and mental health. You’ve felt it before, right? What impact can clutter around you have on your mind and well-being?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so I thought this would be the perfect time to discuss clutter’s impact on our mental health — and how organization can help!

“High stress prevents us from organizing our homes, but the clutter itself can also lead to stress.”

-NATALIE CHRISTINE DATTILO, PHD

The Impact of Clutter

It’s not just your friendly neighborhood organizer (Hi!🙋‍♀️) who says clutter has an impact on your mental health — research shows it, too. Studies have found that when someone perceives their home as cluttered, their cortisol levels increase. What’s cortisol? The stress hormone.

The key word, however, is ‘perceive’. Clutter weighs on people differently. To some, a stack of paper on the kitchen counter is organized. To others, it’s a taunting pile of agitation.

Understanding how you relate to clutter is the first step in identifying its impact on your mental health.

5-Step Solution to Clutter

Once you better understand your clutter’s impact on your well-being, it’s time to decide what to do about it. This varies for everyone, but there are a few universal steps I’d suggest you take.

Find Your Biggest Stressor

As we’re talking about mental health, I suggest pinpointing the space in your home that stresses you the most. Find the low-hanging fruit that will impact your daily life, like the entryway you go in and out of each day or the dining room table that’s always covered.
Start Small

Though you might find your overflowing garage or basement your most stressful space, those are huge projects. Instead, choose a smaller space that will allow you to see results immediately. Examples include a kitchen drawer, bedroom nightstand, or single shelf.
Set a Timer

You’d be amazed by how much better you feel after 15 minutes of decluttering. If you find you have more stamina, feel free to keep going. But remember that progress is better than perfect! (Because Perfect isn’t real:()
Sort Your Stuff

Starting in your small space, go through the items and decide what can be kept, tossed, donated, or recycled. Even in a small space, you’ll be amazed by how much you can go, and you’ll quickly feel a little lighter.
System Set-up

Systems sound big and complicated, but they can be simple, too! Hanging your keys on the same hook every single day is a system. Putting your shoes in the same spot when you get home is a system. Once you’ve sorted the items in your small space, put them back in a way that works for your habits. Think about how you use the space and decide whether items belong there. If they do, contain them in a way that can help you find them when you need them next.

Support and Resources

As with anything that feels overwhelming, it can help tremendously to have someone at your side along the way. I would love to support you through your organizing journey, but I understand there’s a time and place for everything. I’m here when you’re ready to declutter and organize. I’ve got other organizing posts about clutter and decluttering, so please also check those out.

Some professional organizers specialize in chronic disorganization, frequently related to neurodivergence. If you struggle with ADHD, hoarding, or other challenges, you may find the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) a helpful resource.

If you or a loved one needs additional mental health support or services, please visit the National Institute of Mental Health website for the resources listed.

A (not so) surprising examination the origins of ‘the pantry’

September 30, 2023 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

Are some pantries rooted in racist and sexist social structures? I recently considered the origins of the pantry after stumbling across articles examining ‘Pantry Porn.’ What a loaded question. Perhaps we’re wading into unexpected territory for a professional organizer.

I like to get theoretical. To look at things from a deeper, critical place. While slowly considering the history of spaces and the roles we “play” in the theater of our lives. This is especially important, considering the role of white women, since I am one.

Kitchens, generally, are steeped in gender-prescribed roles, as are other areas of domestic spaces. The objects and actions of kitchens are marketed towards women, who historically spent the most time in them. Therefore, it makes sense to me that;

Gender and race are hugely consequential in domestic spaces, whether we are conscious of it or not.

For some of you, this topic and the articles that prompted this writing might be too pithy, critical, or theoretical. I love topics that reach the heart of the spaces we live and work in! While in grad school, I did a LOT of reading on the history of space. Especially the structure of the Euro-American home as rooted in European history. The spaces we live (and work) in are manufactured, constructed, and forced, too formal, or downright uncomfortable for many of us.

I’ve also read a lot about domestic space. I recommend the following books if you want to learn more about how the modern-day Home has evolved. Home: A Short History of an Idea by Witold Rybczynski and AT HOME: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson were both very enlightening.

A more recent Dilettant Army article, ‘Merchandising the Void,’ has me thinking about the space next to or in the kitchen, called the pantry. Social media influencers and celebrities have recently shared voyeuristic views. I find this strange. Who wants to be in competition for the best-looking pantry space? Apparently, influencers, professional organizers (their clients), and some celebrities. I might pay more attention if these spaces were more interesting, not just replicas of what we see on supermarket shelves. The SAMENESS of what is shared has grabbed my attention.

Austere modern whiteness is rooted in classism and racism.

During the 1930s, the era of stark architecture, a movement labeled by MOMA as “International Style,” was not meant to be lived in. Yet, we continue to conform ourselves to this uncomfortable aesthetic of clean, cold, and hard…aka “simple.”

Red Hex with text; “If creating a simple-looing lifestyle requires more labor, it’s not simple” -CreativelyOrganizedSpaces.com

I can’t deny that most of the organizers I follow are white women. Most of them are the ones repeating this stereotypical aesthetic. The performance of domestic spaces shared via social media to yield influence is twisted (and that’s the world we live in!). Check the tags and article linked here for more on this trend. Hello, #cleanToc Gen Z and Millennials using hashtags: #PantryOrganization & #FridgeRestock. What was once considered ‘minimalist’ is no longer about simplicity or living without excess. It has become its own aesthetic driven by brands and performance (ASMR/Music Mashups), with a not-so-subtle marker of status.

“I suggest the design and contents of Khloé’s pantry point to an evolution in the contemporary public role of the American kitchen and the role of the homemaker who labors and performs in this space. The ritualized stockpiling and organizing of goods, the oversized scale and format of the shelves and bins-this is a space where the performance of logistics is as important as the performance of domesticity.”1

If your home or pantry looks like a warehouse, you might want to dial it back and ask yourself why. If it feels like labor keep up with everything in your home, you might want to reconsider your priorities. Perhaps simplify? To simplify is not the same as to stage. Speaking of stages…

Pandemic hoarding had its time and place.

For now, and for most of us, that time is over. I’m not going to delve into the privilege of ‘prepping.’ Dare I say; this topic extends to our current topic, though.

“…organization is not just cleaning. It is design, a shift that allows the logistics and labor of contemporary homemaking to be revisioned as a hobby and a lifestyle.”2

Does homemaking feel like a hobby to you? Yeah, me neither. I’ll be examining this more in future posts.

I’m not attempting to perform domestic perfection for my clients or myself. I love it when I get calls to come to help someone set up their newly moved-into or remodeled kitchen/pantry. I cringe when they focus on buying new products to make everything look like a store (row-upon-row of products, decanted to perfection). This is NOT what organizing is (or should be) about. I am not in the business of creating the illusion of perfection. Nor do I want to create more work for my clients or myself via revisiting overly manicured high-maintenance spaces.

I am asking each of us to consider WHY we need to see perfectly decanted, row upon row of stockpiled household goods.

I appreciate an aesthetically pleasing environment. Yet, I do not strive for greige, gridded, decanted repetition and hoarded household goods. This is akin to filling every void like an empty spreadsheet! Is this kind of minimalism a matter of taste? Or is it more like a white cube-sterile, austere-institutional, and classist?

Can you see the irony here? Are empty spaces and white walls refilled with more consumable goods than we need? There is so much hypocrisy in the ‘staged minimalism’ of the luxuriously rich. The term minimalism has been co-opted from the art world, an aesthetic originally applied to art in institutional spaces that were never intended to be lived in.

‘minimalism presents the illusion of intellectual simplicity — morally good, anti-consumerist — while being just as complicit in the problems of capitalism as anything else. Empty interiors often end up only emphasizing what’s left over as more valuable, more desirable’.3

Ask yourself whose aesthetic you are striving for.

Here are some questions that might help you decide what your priorities are.

Does living within a sterile white space make you happy?
How does hoarding materials make your life feel more abundant or simple?
Can taking the time to remove things from one container and put them into another simplify your life or make routines easier?

Containers, grids, and sparse aesthetics are not the solutions to simplifying our lives or bringing more joy.

Here are my takeaways:

Cleaning isn’t organizing.

Organizing isn’t design.

Homemaking is labor.

Cleaning and organizing are labor.

If creating a simple-looking lifestyle requires more labor, it’s not simple.

Overly manicured spaces are high-maintenance spaces.

Don’t believe the hype.

Beware of the aesthetics you are consuming.

Clearly, I am NOT an organizing influencer!

1 Kelly Pendergrast, Merchandizing the Void. https://dilettantearmy.com/articles/merchandizing-the-void

2 Kelly Pendergrast

3 Kyle Chayka, Why Does Kim Kardashian’s House Look Like…That?https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a30797108/kim-kardashian-house-minimalism/

*This post was first published on 8-3-23 on my Substack. Please join me there if that is your preferred reading app!

Essential Moving Tools

July 17, 2023 by Heather Filed Under: Move Management, Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 2 Comments

When it comes to essential moving tools, lists and inventory are lifesaving. After over ten years of helping clients with move management and moving several times myself over the last decade, I have compiled some helpful tips to keep your move progressing while minimizing the risk of being overwhelmed.

No matter your circumstances, you are likely to pack a few things on your own, and a good moving company can help you calculate the number of boxes you will have based on your home, number of rooms, and household members. For example, when we moved locally to SC two years ago, we had approximately ninety boxes for two people.

Essential Moving Tools & Strategy:

My move management strategy includes breaking up packing into categories.
This is excellent for DIY moves or if you are selling your home and must declutter for staging.
Pack photographs, home accessories, linens, fine china, unnecessary kitchen items, and some clothing (out of season).
Purge, donate, sell….repeat:)
Pack a little bit at a time rather than try to cram it all into the last week or so. This will vary based on your schedule and circumstances.
Create a dedicated packing area (keep supplies here). This can be a corner of a room, the garage, or a storage unit.
Pace yourself and try to pack 2-4 boxes a day (5 days a week). Doing this lets you at least partially calculate how long it will take to pack fully.
A moving company will have you packed in a day or two.

Create a comprehensive move portfolio:

Have a dedicated spot for all your moving-related paperwork (contracts, inventory, notes, etc.)
As you pack, keep track of more details, and don’t try to remember everything.
Your list can be digital or on paper.
No detail is too small. For example, if you are temporarily storing items, note the location of the key or combination code.
Note where your very important papers are. Keep track of these during your move, especially if you have any temporary housing between locations. This is often the case for remodels, new construction, or long-distance moves.

Create a moving inventory:

Number each box and add it to the list
A short description of the contents of each box, making special notes of valuable (sentimental or monetary) items or general contents by Category ex. Lampshades, pillows, linens, china, clothes etc.
Label the box with the DESTINATION room location
Work alongside packers (if you’ve hired a moving company) to be sure boxes are labeled accurately (even if they don’t have a description, you can add a number and room)

With these essential moving tools, you will know what’s in each box and where it goes when you unpack. As a bonus, this inventory can serve insurance purposes if needed.

Moving Monday::Where to Begin with Packing (hkpowerstudio.wordpress.com)

Tried & True, Travel Planning Tools

June 30, 2023 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources

Having missed traveling over the past year? This year, I’ve gotten to hone my travel organizing skills again with a lot of travel for work and pleasure.

Some things get easier when you do them more often and a little rusty when you get out of your routine. I’ve noticed a lot of people who haven’t traveled as much since the pandemic are jumping back in with both feet!

I’ve been on the road a lot with things opening back up, visiting friends and family, and traveling regularly for business (at least 1 week a month), so I’m sharing a few of my favorite, tried, true, and new products, tips, and tools for day to day travels and longer trips.

Luggage Select pieces appropriately sized to your travel time and needs and what type able to physically manage. If you don’t want to mess with checking luggage during air travel, make sure it will fit in the overhead bins (20″). If you check a (larger) bag, keep it underweight and ship stuff home (or be prepared to pay the hefty fees)! 4-way wheels make any luggage more manageable and some even come with portable batteries that can be used to recharge phones etc. Be sure your carry-on luggage is comfortable to lift and maneuver if you are traveling alone. Pack a spare shirt, undergarments, and essentials in my carry-on for any trip you check luggage! I evenly spent a night without my luggage because of a flight cancelation. Most of the time, you will not be able to get checked bags back if your flight is rerouted. A cross-body bag, like a messenger or long-handled purse, can leave your hands free and distribute weight more evenly while keeping important things more secure (there is some debate about this, use your personal discretion).

Have a variety of bags and pouches in sizes for all sorts of things from accessories, cables, cords, my camera, toiletries, etc. Consider packing all clothes in a series of Eagle Creek expandable pouches sorted by type of clothing; undergarments, tops, bottoms, etc. I also like Ikea family bags. Hanging toiletry bag with clear pockets on the interior allow you to see things easily and preventyou having to unpack everythingonto bathroom counters. I also like to use a variety of smaller zip pouches, like this zippered mesh pouch one I take everywhere for anything I want to keep dry and undamaged, including papers, magazines, files, etc! What are your favorite small bags?

To keep technology in order I use a combination of bags (above), cord wrap accessories, and a favorite, the Grid-It by Cocoon!

Wardrobe Pack captsule style in a single color theme (think Black, white and purple or brown, orange and tan, etc). Keep it simple and add a few easy accents you can layer Build your travel wardrobe around a couple of comfortable and favorite pieces and you can’t go wrong.

Layout your outfits and add accessories and undergarments before packing or hang on a hanging rack if available. Add mix and match separates if needed once your basic outfits have been planned. I usually try to bring no more than 3 shoes, 3-4 bottoms, and more tops depending on the amount of time I’ll be away and the climate I’m visiting. This combination gives me almost endless varieties of outfits without the bulk of separate pants and shoes for every outfit.

At Home Be sure you have backup documents of all necessary and important paperwork (vaccination proof, itinerary, passport, ID, financial doc’s, etc) somewhere that someone you trust can access if you need them and bring along copies (bring a photo via your smartphone if you’re comfortable) of important numbers (accounts, phone #’s for financial institutions and emergency contacts, etc) for easy access.

Some people never have to check a bag…I’m not one of these people, are you? I envy them:) I bring too much stuff wherever I go, but it’s organized and I’m prepared!

For more ideas check out my Pinterest board Ideas for [Travel] and here are a couple of my new favorite travel pins…

I’m sure you have your own favorite travel tips and tools and hopefully, I’ve shared a few new things to consider for your next trip. What are your favorite Travel Tips and Tools?