Systems & Techniques Archives

How Pro Organizers help with Move Management

July 8, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Move Management, Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

Many people ask me how to organize move management. This is a great question. Many resources are available for moving, but an organizer can help you specifically based on your needs and schedule. Of course, there are a lot of variables like local or long distance, corporate relocation or DIY, remodel with move, downsizing, and possible storage needs. It can get complicated, but below, I share some basics of how we POs can help with various moving challenges!

Why Pro Organize Move Management?

A big part of what an Organizer does to help with moving is called “Move Management” in our industry. The steps below break down the process. Organizing move management can help at any stage, from researching moving companies, purging, and setting deadlines to helping with packing, move day coordination, unpacking, and organizing the new home.

Start with the end date!!

The most important thing to keep an eye on is the end date. Work backward from there. Get your move scheduled ASAP, or at least have an idea of when the move is happening. Six weeks or six months is going to make a big difference! If you know who you will use, book your moving date asap (you can change it later if needed).

Don’t underestimate how much work moving is! One of the biggest mistakes I see when it comes to moving is people underestimating the time it takes to prepare. It is a much more manageable process when we break it down with the deadline in mind.

Do your Research!

Research and decide on your moving company or method of transporting items. Will you be packing items yourself, having a moving company pack everything, or something in between?

Book your movers about one month ahead if you have not already! Keep in mind that summer is peak season so plan ahead.

It’s never too soon to start purging.

If you have many items go through and are downsizing a great deal, get started purging.

Purge in categories (ex., Clothing, Books, Holiday decor, memorabilia, linens, furniture, etc.). Start sorting items one category at a time. Work large to small, starting with items like furniture and ending with easy items like linens and toiletries. An organizer can help you decide whether donating, selling, or giving away items is best. Use sticky notes and a notepad to identify and tag items to get rid of. This will help you keep track of larger pieces that will not be making the move.

Set aside a short-to-long-term “staging” area (e.g., a garage or spare room) for sorting and temporarily storing items to get rid of. This is also an area to keep packing supplies like tape, bubble wrap, paper, etc. Start gathering supplies to keep in this area so you can pack as needed.

Make arrangements for weekly pick up or drop off of donations (again, something an organizer can do for you).

Create an inventory “notebook” or file.

As you pack boxes, label them with the room they will go to, box number, and general contents on your inventory sheet. Also, keep track of special items or valuables on this list. Keep this notebook in your staging area and on hand as move day approaches.

Pack up personals,

Say farewell (for awhile) to photos and memorabilia, especially if your home is being staged for sale. Work with your real estate agent, organizer or stager to determine the appropriate amount of “accessorizing” for your home’s size and market.

Plan for a soft landing!

Book your unpacking crew (either with the moving company or your professional organizer).

Did you know that unpacking services do not include putting items away? They will only place items on horizontal surfaces, which can be a big annoyance! Coordinate with your mover and organizer to get you settled in ASAP!

DIY Packing tips

Pack by category and by room. Be sure each room and category is ready to be packed in a way that will make the most sense when unpacking.

The last items to be packed should be the first items to be unpacked. Be sure you know where items like sheets, towels, and frequently used household items (e.g., coffee pot, cleaning supplies, paper plates, or a few essential dishes) are.

You should pack these items in your luggage: toiletries, clothing, small valuables, medications, food items, and important papers you want to carry to your new home on a moving day.

Need Pro Organizing move management?

If all of the above just feels overwhelming, Pro Organizers is here to help! Contact us to learn more about how we can best use our skills to make your move a breeze.

Hire an organizer for move-day coordination. They can meet your movers as they pack the contents of your old home and check to make sure items are properly labeled and identified so they can be placed in your new home.

Hire an organizer for 1-2 days of unpacking service. We will set up your essential rooms for your first night in your new home. We can meet the moving crew on either or both ends. Upon arrival, we coordinate box placement to ensure they will not impede household use. We can immediately begin unpacking essential rooms like bedrooms, closets, bathrooms, and the kitchen.

Have a restful first night in your new home!

Moving can be stressful but with planning, prioritizing and help from an organizer, it can be a breeze and a lot of fun settling into a new home!

If you’re planning a move and feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss more specifically how I can assist and organize move management!

Try Everything Organizing

June 4, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Creative process, Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

There are a lot of people who feel like they LIVE the try everything organizing approach and there are others who feel that the latest trends or books about organizing SHOULD work for them, but they don’t. That can be extremely frustrating and lead a lot of people to think they are doing something wrong or that they just can’t get organized! That makes me so very sad!

I like to take the ‘Try Everything Organizing approach” when working with creative clients who feel overwhelmed or like organizing is impossible for them. What do I mean by this? Well, we might mix systems for example and use the Kondo technique for books and clothing but try something very different for anything that is sentimental and harder to part with. When I say I use the Try Everything Organizing approach, I literally am going back and drawing on all the systems and techniques I’ve learned from books and classes on organizing and productivity.

I believe that when we are learning something new, we need to explore different techniques, experiment and practice. A dogmatic approach might work for some disciplined personalities but it might be more frustrating than helpful for artists, collectors, free thinkers and less conventional creative individuals. I work with a lot of clients who fall into one of the above categories…not putting anyone into a box, just sharing a description of some of my favorite client! Sometimes some of these individuals are ADD/HD and are so creative in their approach to problem solving, we come up with (invent/discover) some really amazing solutions. Mistakes lead to invention! There might be obstacles along the way…

you might be frustrated
you might be overwhelmed
you might be-feel laziness
you might be un-interest or un-motivation
there might be other people involved
you might feel shame
you might experiment
you might take an unorthodox approach
you might fail and try again!

Give yourself some “Try Everything Organizing” prompts such as, “What would happen if”? Respond by writing about it, or acting it out. What would happen if I…

I got rid of clothes that don’t fit?
I let go of books I have read and won’t re-read?
I gave someone who needed __________ more than I do?
I got rid of the magazine articles I tore out but never reference?
If I tried storing __________ here instead of there?
I let go of a few of my less favorite items in my collection?
If I tried folding my ________ instead of hanging them?
I tried living with less ________?

Your turn…what have you tried that hasn’t worked for you? What has worked? Are you already using the Try Anything Organizing approach? If not and you want to give it a try, I’d love to hear from you, Here.

My argument for keeping stuff…

May 22, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, Creative process, In the Studio, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

Lately I’ve been in the midst of decluttering my art studio and I’ve got a heap of stuff to get rid of! I’ve certainly waxed on and on here about letting stuff go but today I want to share my argument for keeping stuff. This argument is not necessarily one that can be applied to all categories of “stuff” in our homes or work life but it’s certainly relevant for “artists” who work a process.

As both an artist and an organizer, I often have partially (un) finished works in progress (WIP’s) laying around my studio. Unlike partially made food, most art projects don’t have an expiration date and reviewing older work can spark both joy and inspiration to grow and work in a new direction! Some of the artist I work with invite me to participate in the process of reviewing work they have made. Together we sort into the Keep or Toss piles just like we might do with anything else (clothes, books etc). A lot can be said for tossing some of our badly made, “UGLY” art! Seriously, sometimes I look at some things I made and it just makes me cringe. I don’t want to keep those things, in most cases, not even to re-purpose into something else or give away.

Then there’s the argument for keeping stuff that is worth exploring further. Maybe it’s a certain technique, a color combination, something striking about composition or something nostalgic that evokes a personal response. All of these are great reasons to hold onto some of our art that might not be “best work” or finished. One of the most challenging aspects of making works of any type of art is knowing when to say it’s done. If something is undercooked or we leave it on the burner too long, it’s no longer edible. Art can be like that too, if it’s under developed or overworked it might just have to go (into the trash). But we learn from our creative mistakes! Part of the process of developing our skills is to review our mistakes and our successes. Looking back at work we made that helps us to grow argues a strong case for keeping some things that might not have been finished or “successful”.

I once read an article on creative process where the artist Robbi Joy Eklow suggested a “Time Out Box” for works of this nature. We do this with kids and with kids toys, why not our art? Setting something that you are unsure of aside so that you can come back later, review it again to see if it “Sparks Joy” is a great way to learn from your creative process. I’ve gone back to sketchbooks from 20+ years ago and found ideas that I’ve revisited and been overjoyed with. I don’t think there’s any time limit on creative incubation, do you?

12 Ways to Be Well

February 13, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset 4 Comments

Wellness means more than keeping myself from getting sick or burnt out, overwhelmed or just getting by, it means feeling good about myself, finding balance, nourishing the spirit and soul and being a good steward of the earth.

12 ways to BE WELL, in body and spirit.

1. Get 8 hours of sound sleep (give or take what feels right to you). See last week’s sleep post here.

2. Exercise regularly (3-5 times a week for at least 30 minutes), some of my favorite forms of exercise are Yoga, walking and Dancing (Nia)

3. Eat lots of organic and local produce. Same goes for meat and dairy if you are not vegetarian (which I am not but was for quite a few years).

4. Take time to do something that gives you Joy each day. This might mean quality time with loved ones (pets, family or friends) or taking time for a personal hobby you love doing.

5. Drink water as much as possible every day.

6. Use natural and non-toxic cleaning and beauty products in your home and on your body (that are not tested on animals and that do not contain parabens and other carcinogens)..

7. Keep houseplants and get out and garden if you can.

8. Volunteer and help others out when/however you can. Online is great but in person is even better!

9. Breath. Stop, notice your breath through your day and just bring your breath back to you.

10. Have FUN and Play more!

11. Be KIND, and I mean to everyone. This certainly takes practice but it’s worthwhile and will lead you to…

12. Don’t forget to Smile! Smiling can change our attitude and thoughs, give it a try regularly.

These may all seem like really basic practices and I commend you if you already do all of these (they are all a part of my regular routine at this stage in life). If you feel like some or many of these goals are not attainable please stick with it, you can change habits but it takes time. Find the ones that seem the most EASY or the most REWARDING or the most FUN and start with them!

I will be share more ideas about wellness and self care throughout February and I’d love to open this up for discussion. If you would like to join me, please connect on my Facebook page.

How do you define Wellness?

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Toiletry Toss & Tidy Up

January 28, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

Take a little time to know what’s going on your skin and your whole body will thank you (our skin is our largest organ)! Follow these guidelines for an easy and quick bathroom tidy! By getting rid of what’s unhealthy, funky, old or expired.

Our bathrooms are essential to our wellness but we have to do a routine Toiletry Toss to be sure we are taking the best care of ourselves.

Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. -George Bernard Shaw

Estimated organizing time: 30-45 min’s.

Toss the toiletries. Open the medicine cabinets, closets or any cabinets you store your bathroom products and toss expired and funky unhealthy stuff. Follow these guidelines to know what to toss and why.
- Make-up-I really like this guide by Bobbi Brown, if your on Pinterest…Pin it and refer back as needed!
- Sunscreen and lotions with sunscreen-one -two years
- Perfume and essential oils-three years (store in cool dark places-not the bathroom!).
- Look for expiration dates (usually printed on the crimped ends of tubes). Better yet, mark it yourself with a permanent marker with the date of your purchase.
- Download the Think Dirty app to find cosmetics and toiletries that are carcinogenic. I guarantee you will be shocked!
Medication Mindfulness. Toss old medications but don’t flush them down the drain. This pollutes our waterways and bodies. Use safe disposal options such as returning to pharmacists (some will take them back) or dispose of them. Place medication in a small bag with coffee grounds, kitty litter or dirt so that critters and kids are less enticed. Remove any personal info before recycling or disposal.

Go ahead and dump it all out!

Clean off the crud. While everything is moved out and off the counters give them a sanitizing wipe down. I prefer non-toxic natural products. Move things out from the walls and wipe items down including the back splash. Finish cleaning up with walls and switch plates, cabinets, drawers and handles.

Bathroom Drawer-Before

Bathroom Drawer-After

Group like items. Corral the contents of your cabinets by person and category like skin, hair, first aid, oral hygiene, makeup etc. Then, if you have enough space, designate shelves, drawers, cabinets or containers (use color coding and labels!) to each household member. Store things standing up if your drawers are deep enough. There are so many great container options to organize drawers and medicine cabinets. There are great options on any budget from boxes you can recycle to inexpensive plastic baskets to fully customized acrylic drawer inserts.
Maintain-Put it away-Daily. Estimated Daily Maintenance time:Take 3-8- min’s to put things on your counters and floor away and give the counter a quick wipe. Do this every day (either in the am when you are done getting ready or before bed) you will always walk into your bathroom with a sense of wellness. Doesn’t your bathroom feel better now! Help your kids and your spouse do their own toiletry toss once you complete your own.

“The greatest wealth is health.” ~Virgil

Need more? Email me and I promise to help you through it. One way doesn’t work, for everyone. I offer virtual and in person organizing, more info here.