Creatively Organized Spaces for Thriving Artist & Entrepreneurs

Your clutter action plan

January 17, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Paper management, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources

What areas of Clutter overwhelm you? It’s important to identify where you get stuck and understand why. This clutter action plan will help you establish order and bring clutter under control. If you’re not clear on this, check out my post on the muddy water metaphor to help you identify with the feelings behind your clutter…then hop back over here or jump in now!

Start with the least cluttered category. Whatever category on your list above feels easiest – small stuff or big stuff (clear a big space)-start easy! By starting with easier items we gain compelling momentum! You will move on to bigger challenges once you’ve made progress in easier areas.

Decide before you begin. Start with a category of items (my preference), ex. all books, all kids clothes, all papers, all kitchen stuff or work by location (one closet at a time etc). There are advantages to each. When working by category you need to gather everything in one place and when working by location you may have to go back to locate things that belong in other categories. Decide before you begin.

Schedule it. Block out distractions and give yourself a deadline (a day a week etc). Set aside the time you think this will take. Estimate it and give yourself a bit of extra but set a limit. If appropriate, schedule a donation pick up, this will motivate you to get it done by the time they come for the pick up!
Gather supplies. Such as bags, boxes, sorters, a label maker/labels, rubber bands, paperclips, a shredder etc and make sure these items are handy if not right by your side).
Create a work zone. This will serve for the duration of your clutter clearing project. Ideally you can leave things (supplies, unsorted stuff, donation stuff) in this location till you are done! Even better if you can close the door on them between sessions if you can’t complete everything at once (a day, a weekend etc).
Make it fun! Put on some great music, light a candle, some incense…whatever will put you in a happy place.
Sort it. Start with trash, toss items if they are broken, don’t bring joy or are otherwise not functional. Make a maybe pile if you aren’t sure. Start with what’s easiest, if you think it’s useful but don’t need it, donate it to your charity of choice! It helps to know your things will be loved and used by others-share your abundance!
Categorize it. (seasonal, where you use it, how often etc). This is where you begin to see your organizing systems emerge. What do you need based on what you have?
Contain it. If you can’t do this all at once the create an area to work through un-categorized items until you’ve finished every last item. It can help to work through one category at a time. Don’t stop till you’ve returned things to their homes (old or new), tossed the trash and donations are out the door.
Reward yourself and Repeat. For each category or location take the steps above to complete the action plan and reward yourself with something small (flowers, a meal out etc).

When you have cleared all of your clutter, you can be of greater service to those around you.

-Michael B. Kitson

Intuitive Planning

January 13, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Planning & Goals, Productivity, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Welcome to 2019! I’m excited about what this year is inviting us to discover! I’d like to share a bit more about my Intuitive Planning process and Word for the year!

There’s always in exciting sense of possibility at the beginning of a new year. I think a lot of it has to do with our collective conscience. So many people with big ideas, plans, resolutions and goals to do new things, accomplish BIG dreams and it all seems do-able with so many days ahead, Right? I also know there can be a bit of a mind trap here because we often bite off more than we can chew. I’ve learned to dial it back over the years and break my goals down further before I decide WHEN I think they need to happen. My planning process now allows me to meander a bit more along the way, leaving room for surprises, changes in direction, spontaneity and failures. None of us want to fail but if we are going to fail, do it quickly my friend and move forward.

What good is a destination without the Journey?
We never begin something with the INTENTION of failure, but if we don’t plan for our journey, then failure might be inevitable…or maybe we will discover something entirely different on the path and that is certainly a different way of living than many of us are taught. We are taught that we need to control, set goals, budgets, plan our days, years, months and before we know it our lifetime is spent in the GRIP of what we think we need to do to be happy!

What if there was another way we could trust and let go just a little bit? For those of us who have a deep need to maintain control (raises hand:), color inside the lines and do the “Right Thing” it can be terrifying to begin to let go. Having a word of the year is a practice I started about 6 years ago and I alway discover that you can’t PLAN for what that word will teach you on the journey.

Last year my word was Fearless and I learned a lot about what it really means to live fearlessly…I embarked on the year thinking it would lead me to grand adventurous gestures. That was not the case. I discovered that being fearless means getting out of my head, into my heart, trusting myself, trusting my body, trusting my Intuition! Which is exactly what I PLAN to do for 2019. I arrived at the word Intuition for this year because of my journey last year and my the discoveries along the way.

ENOUGH about me…Do you choose a word for the year or have any resolutions? How do you Plan for the year? Do you start with a vision, an Intention or resolutions? I also use the process of creating a Vision Board and am offering a workshop to Envision Your Year on January 28th, click here to learn more and register!

Do you break your planning down into bite size pieces by area of your life? Do you plan your year out on your calendar? I’d love to hear more about your planning process…leave a comment below and tell me more!

What are Clutter Magnets?

January 8, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Systems & Techniques

What are clutter magnets? They are those spots that tend to accumulate clutter no matter what you seem to do to change them! Maybe they look something like this?

WHERE::Let’s identify some possible areas that might be clutter magnets in your home.

By the front door, on a table or bench, anywhere in the “Drop zone”.
Kitchen or Dining Room tables, any vertical surface is in danger of becoming a clutter magnet and tables, no matter how we try to keep them cleaned off always attract stuff.
Kitchen counters, especially if you have an entrance near by.
Bags! Sweep it into the bag, never to be seen again!
Your Car? The kids extra toys, clothes, trash and more…
Desktops, some stuff should land here just make sure you are constantly addressing it.

WHAT::This is the stuff that tends to accumulate in the Clutter Magnet zones. Could be just about anything but here are some commonly “magnetic” items.

Keys/keychains
Mail
Wallets
Backpacks
Purses
Umbrellas
Clothes/accessories
Sports equipment/toys
Books
Lunch bags, water bottles and other snack/food items
Projects (paperwork, hobbies, homework etc)

WHY::Can we be honest about why these zones are like this?

Laziness, put stuff back where it belongs! (I’m not judging…I’m just saying!)
Homeless stuff, if you don’t know where to put it then it will land just about anywhere.
Bad habits, these can be changed.
Too busy-this really isn’t an excuse if you have created solutions for your stuff-take the right action (see Laziness:).

HOW::Can we change this behavior?

Turn these clutter magnets into clutter free zones!
Identify what lands in your clutter magnet and decide where everything belongs.
Create homes for the homeless stuff.
Use hooks for keys, bags (purses, backpacks etc)
Shelves for electronics, wallets and other “pocket contents”.
Baskets or boxes for mail… better yet drop what you don’t need right into recycling and take the rest to your desk “action” file or inbox.

I”m not going to lie, this may not be easy but you can change this habit by paying attention to where, what and why. Then implement a plan and practice, practice, practice until it becomes a new habit.

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Is your clutter overwhelming you?

January 1, 2019 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Paper management, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources

As much as we all might like to live a totally clutter free life it may not be entirely possible. If your is Clutter Overwhelming you, taking a look at what clutter categories are in our lives can help us understand what triggers our overwhelm.

**clut·ter verb ˈklə-tər**

intransitive verb

: to run in disorder

transitive verb

: to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness

There are many kinds of clutter in our lives. Take a moment to evaluate each category and decide where you can reduce clutter. Know that it might get worse before it gets better...all that dirt that may emerge by way of emotions and literal mess might not be pretty! Hang in there and you will be rewarded if you are can be open to the process. As your thinking about each of these categories, imagine them as you want them to be-intentions are powerful!

Mail-incoming and outgoing (try reducing it by removing subscriptions to magazines, junk mail and catalogs).
Kids-school bags, sports equipment, books, toys, clothes etc…get your kids involved and create a place for easy pick up and storage of transient items.
Office-paperwork, files, receipts, mail etc. Create one designated area and consider using a type of action or tickler filing system to corral it all.
Digital-photos (delete the impulse pictures that don’t turn out well and you would never print!), email (removed yourself from subscriptions and consider creating multiple email addresses for different purposes), digital computer files (create a file hierarchy similar to your paper file system).
Household-things that you have sitting around but don’t love (rotate displays or give items away to friends and charity with no strings attached).
Mental-those endless thoughts that run in circles in your mind, find a way to tame them by taking notes, writing in a journal and releasing them if the are out of your control!

As much as we all might like to live a totally clutter free that’s probably not realistic. Understanding our limitations and having realistic expectations can help us decide where to start. Once you’ve evaluated the clutter areas in your life, prioritize them from worst to best and get ready for action.

“Clutter is a physical manifestation of fear that cripples our ability to grow.” ~H.G. Chissell

There are so many kinds of clutter in our lives. Take a moment to think about each category and evaluate which areas trigger your overwhelm.

Mail-incoming and outgoing (try reducing it by removing subscriptions to magazines, junk mail and catalogs)
Kids-school bags, sports equipment, books, toys, clothes etc…get your kids involved and create a place for easy pick up and storage of transient items
Office-paperwork, files, receipts, mail etc. Create 1 designated area and consider using a type of action or tickler filing system to corral it all
Digital-photos (delete the impulse pic’s that don’t turn out well and you would never print!), email (removed yourself from subscriptions and consider creating multiple email addresses for different purposes), digital computer files (create a file hierarchy similar to your paper file system)
Household-things that you have sitting around but don’t love (rotate displays or give items away to friends and charity with no strings attached)
Mental-those endless thoughts that run in circles in your mind, find a way to tame them by taking notes, writing in a journal and releasing them if the are out of your control!

Once you’ve evaluated the cluttered areas of your life, prioritize them in order of worst to best join me this month for the Clutter Purge Challenge! On day one we will release 1 item, on day 31, we will releas 31 things! That’s almost 500 physical manifestations that are holding us back! Click here to join the challenge, you can join in at any time!

“When you have cleared all of your clutter, you can be of greater service to those around you.”~Michael B. Kitson

17 Sanity Saving Holiday Organizing Tips

December 4, 2018 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Organize, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Each of these seventeen holiday organizing tips will will help get you through the season with a bit more sanity & JOY!

After receiving new holiday gifts, donate used items you no longer need to charity (One in One out Rule).
Ditch the photo holiday cards…hate to say it but they end up in the trash (recycled hopeful) and people can see you more frequently via social media. How about a digital holiday card?
As you pull holiday items out, donate old ornaments and out of date holiday decorations.
Begin memento boxes for your kids holiday traditions, keep these separate so they can be given to your older kids when they leave home.
Clean out your attic, garage or basement space before you return your holiday decoration bins (vacuum, wipe down shelves if needed etc).
Have a Grab-A-Gift bag or bin with an assortment of “anyone” appropriate gifts (for last min hostess or holiday gift exchange items).
Clean out your spices, as your cooking and baking toss the old and make note of anything needed (put date of purchase on bottom in ink).
Spruce up your kitchen: spend 10-30 min’s a day tackling an appliance or area (fridge, stove, toaster, sink etc). You’ll feel healthier & I bet you’ll eat healthier! See my kitchen organizing post here.
Get your gift & wrap organized:use a gift tracking list & invest or DIY a great wrapping station—see Pinterest for ideas.
Don’t over book your holiday calendar. If you’ve been invited to a million parties and events, say no to a few and leave yourself some evening’s at home, either alone or with your family and just relax!
Schedule a date with your honey or yourself for a little holiday pampering. Dinner and a movie, a bubble bath and champagne, your pick but keep it easy and fun.
Plan for the next year! Get a planner or calendar to start mapping out large events such as vacation and business travel, important family occasions and setting personal and professional goals for at least the first 1-2 quarters of the year.
Create a vision board to really see what it is you want to create…it’s a beautiful thing!
Pick a Word of the Year-AKA-#WOTY
Take a thorough home inventory this year-don’t wait for a disaster! Join me for a virtual workshop in early February: “Home Inventory without Heartache”, more information coming soon. Subscribe to my mailing list or “like” my Facebook or Instagram for more frequent tips and inspiration!
Keep your body moving, do a little dance, hit the gym, take a walk…whatever your thing is, this is a great way to get out of your head and feel your way through the season.
Finally and most importantly, take time to Celebrate what is truly Sacred to you this season. Is that a tradition, time with family, a treat that you honor yourself with? Whatever it is this is the best season to celebrate the sacred!

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7 Simple Steps to your Cleanest Kitchen (Special Holiday Post!)

November 14, 2018 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques

Don’t you want to start the holiday season with your cleanest kitchen?

This time of year is a good time to deep clean the kitchen and fridge, especially after summer trips to the farmers market and before all your holiday cooking, baking and entertaining…when everyone lands in the kitchen, right?! I’m not planning to host any big holiday meals but I do have family and friends visiting and I’ll definitely be doing some baking and cooking over the coming months.

Kitchen Deep Clean in 7 easy steps

Re-arrange as needed for things that might not be working well in their current spots-I just moved appliance I don’t need further out of the way and made baking items more accessible over the weekend.
Purge– including out of date food (toss), things you don’t like (give away) things like plastic ups, containers-missing lids (recycle) and cozies that somehow made their way home from summer festivities. No thank you Freebies!
Tidy and sort food and other items by category. Add containers to corral and labels to identify items as needed. Post purge is the best time to do this!
Give everything a sanitizing wipe down including the cabinets, switch plates, counters-moving everything out from the walls and wiping the backsplash.
Clean out appliances such as the microwave, oven, toaster and make note of anything broken or missing that I might want to add to a wish list.
Take a quick look through the pantry and make a list of staple items needed for upcoming baking and cooking (sugar, flour, chocolate chips, spices, herbs etc), this way you can be spontaneous when the urge to get creative in the kitchen strikes!
Finally, the Fridge! Remove and wipe or rinse everything including contents, the shelves, and drawers. Toss expired food. If you can, remove the “parts”, clean with your favorite kitchen cleaner and scrub the crevices with an old toothbrush and baking soda. Repeat the process for the freezer, defrosting according to your manufacturer instructions if needed. If you have a water filter built in, it’s a great time to check and replace that too.

You can take each step above and break it down over a weekend or a whole week (7 steps-7 days!) depending on how much time you have. As I do this, I pull things out and try to use up leftovers (especially in the freezer) to make room for all the great new food I’ll be preparing and eating over the holiday season.

If you ever question keeping or tossing, HERE is a great list of food expiration etc. follows. Safety and common sense should prevail…BUT I will say that in the age of “toss it” mentality there are probably lots of things you-should-never-have-bought AND may not need to go but I’ll bet some are on this list. Use your judgment, and follow your intuition…and FYI-Sugar never expires!

And did you know, today, November 15th is National Clean out your Fridge day? Crazy, right? There’s a “Day” for that too…Happy pre-holiday cleaning!

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Travel Tips for a Happier Holiday

November 9, 2018 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

More Tinsel Less Bristle-Travel Tips for a Happier Holiday!

All too often we hear about the chaos and stress of the holiday season. The holidays are an opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends, but between long road trips and TSA merriment is often overlooked. This season we’ve put together a list of travel tips for a happier holiday so that the only frosty part of your holiday is the snowman outside.

Keep in mind who you are traveling with. With kids? Make sure you have extra games or activities and maybe a few healthy snacks – the more spill-proof the better. This will keep the little ones entertained and cut down on grumpy roadside snack stops.
Invest in quality luggage. Nothing is more frustrating than dragging an oversized, tearing at the seams suitcase with a couple of busted wheels. If you are traveling by plane, double-check that your carryon or checked luggage is within size and weight restrictions.
Pack light. You may be bringing things back, and you do not need 5 pairs of shoes for a 4 day stay. And don’t forget! If you are taking gifts with you by plane be sure to save the wrapping for after your arrival.
Before you leave the house – tidy up things up a bit. After long hours on the road or in the air, the last thing you want to come home to is a mess.
Before you drive – consider leaving in the early morning or late night hours when traffic is at its lowest, aim for 2-digit interstates which provide the most direct routes through cities, and make time to stop and stretch your legs which will keep your body from assuming constant chair pose and give your mind that much needed second wind.
Before you fly – check in online ahead of time to save yourself from unnecessary kiosk lines and arrive early. During the holiday’s airports are packed and subject to cancellations or delays, so a minimum of two hours before boarding time is ideal particularly if you are flying into or out of airports like JFK, LGA, or O’Hare to name a few.
Remember to breathe. While you are sitting in traffic or waiting in line at TSA take a moment to monitor your breath. Avoid getting caught up in the hectic energy that makes us feel like we are rushed. Unknit your brow, relax your shoulders, take a deep breath, and take your time.

Most importantly, remember to pack a good attitude. We all know plans don’t always go exactly as expected. Be ready to roll with the punches and if your patience begins to slip remember that in a few hours you’ll be surrounded by the ones you love so you can eat, drink, and be merry.

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Help, my kids don’t want my stuff! It’s time to downsize and purge…

September 30, 2018 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources, Uncategorized, Wellness & Mindset 3 Comments

HELP, I don’t want my parents stuff!

It can be an emotionally exhausting taking the time to downsize and purge a a lifetime of stuff. The process can trigger all kinds of family “issues”. How do you decide what to keep when it comes time to downsize and purge years worth of household items?

The recently published book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning is onto something when it comes to taking the time to downsize. It’s become quite a popular book, partially because it’s such a darkly humerous title but mainly because there is a large generation of people in the process of downsizing right now and mostly, their kids and grand kids don’t wan their stuff! So, whether the time to downsize comes when the family is all still alive or after a death, it’s really never too early to start talking about this subject. I hate to even bring it up but the fact is that we will all die. All of the “things” associated with YOU and what you are passionate about in your life are a part of your legacy! Lets talk a minute about our personal and family legacies.

We can’t take our stuff with us…what we leave behind is part of our legacy.

Have you ever thought about what your legacy is? What have you enjoyed or done throughout your life that others might value or remember about you?

Did you write in a journal, keep scrapbooks or take photo’s?

Do you collect something special to you (I personally collect things with a “Bee theme” but try not to over do it)?

Do you make something (quilts, knit or crochet)?

Do you Garden or Cook and keep records of these hobbies?

Were you recognized for significant accomplishments in your career?

Did you invent something?

Were you an avid reader?

You might want to ask yourself and your family members some of these questions before it comes time to decide what to keep or get rid of. It may not be an easy conversation, but not talking about it could cause more pain, try to keep it lighthearted and fun.

Talk with your parents, grandparents or other family members about what they were passionate about in their life.

Record your family stories to share with future generations and keep a handful of meaningful items that help you remember and honor their legacy.

These conversations will help with future decision making. Let your family know if you are or are or are not interested in what they leave behind (have a plan if you can!). We all want our loved ones to remember us and for some people having things around that remind us of them is a wonderful tribute. There will also be family and friends who will choose to honor and remember their loved ones without stuff! Maybe they have vivid or photographic memories of events and feel linked to that person through other means (spiritual, oral or written history). Guilt is the enemy, our stuff should by no means be a tool to make someone feel guilty…If your loved one’s don’t want your things, don’t feel hurt!

If there are things you want someone to have, tell them about it and tell them why. Just telling your story (via a letter, video, voice recording or conversation) may be enough! Be ready to release your attachment to the outcome, whether things are wanted or not. Ask them if they want things, but let them know they should not feel bad if they don’t want to keep it. You may also want to find a group or organization who you know would love a donation and leave part of your estate in your will.

When it comes time to downsize and purge your family will not want everything, it’s not a reflection how they feel about you! There are so many people who are really in need or love collecting, if your family isn’t that someone it’s okay. Here’s little advice from the Marie Kondo book, ‘Spark Joy‘ say goodbye to your things and thank them for the joy they gave you…then let go and be at peace with the decision. This can be a helpful practice for family members to be able to release things from their loved ones!

Say goodbye with gratitude on behalf the joy that “stuff” brought to your family member.

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Hoarding Habits as we age…

September 29, 2018 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques

A little more than a week ago our local chapter of NAPO had a local mental health counselor come and speak with our members about helping clients with hoarding habits. Clients with Hoarding Habits are not my typical clientele…but there are several circumstances that I knew the client was on a deadline and the family was in a tight spot. Under the right circumstances I’ve helped quite a few clients with hoarding habits.

Hoarding was first discovered and labeled as such in 1947 in NYC when two brothers were found diseased under a pile of stuff in their home. Today it is estimated that over 3 million people suffer from “hoarding” and many go without treatment or diagnosis. This is not a disorder people are born with.

This project began with an intervention…this was the first time I was asked to be a part of an intervention. I had not yet met the client and was not involved in the decision to begin this way. The family took the approach they felt was best and there was a lot at stake and not much time to act. This client was a senior living in a senior facility…they knew she was a bit of a “pack rat” but the problem had escalated to put her health and safety in jeopardy. This is not unusual for clients with hoarding habits, especially senniors and I’ve since worked with several other seniors under extreme health and safety circumstances, I felt compelled to help with the support of the family. Each circumstance is different and I believe that though family, friends and professional organizers can help to a certain extent, mental health professionals are the most important tool for helping clients with hoarding habits.

Common circumstances or signs of (seniors or others) hoarding habits include:

Hazardous or risky living conditions including loss of power, running water, old/expired/moldy food, human or animal waste or bug infestations.
A tenancy to dis-associate with the problem, including assigning blame to others, making excuses for their behavior or justifying their behavior as “normal”.
“Save it” mentality (but not necessarily the critical thinking to know what’s valuable and what’s not).
Denial of any problem or in-ability identify problems.
Anger or agressiveness towards people who attempt to help them get rid of items they do not need.
Obsessive or compulsive tenancies (there are some different opinions regarding hoarding and OCD).
Depression or anxiety (this can be another sign but isn’t in and of itself a trigger)
Poor coping skills and lack of emotional regulation.
Excessive collecting of a variety of items that there is no rhyme or reason to (dolls, bottles, foil, containers, other collectibles etc)…not all collecting is hoarding!

I’m not a psychiatrist or counselor and I do not make a diagnosis of a hoarding disorder, but I can still understand behavior patterns that are warning signs that can lead to hoarding. Most importantly, I can be there to help support my clients in the process of learning to make healthy choices, recognizing their repeated behavior patterns and seeking the help of their family (if they are willing), mental health professionals and others who can support them as they try to heal and unpack their behavior.

Both this and other clients I’ve worked with had no choice once confronted with the family and director of the facility. It’s not uncommon when hoarding habits get severe that these individuals or families facing losing their home if they don’t get help. This is never an ideal situation and I wish for their sake it had not come to this.

When I work with clients with hoarding habits I am compassionate while maintaining healthy boundaries and am clear that “clutter” can not be allowed back into the home. Maintaining this is something that should be done with the help of mental health professional who will know the triggers and signs of relapse.

With this project, the client was getting a total apartment renovation with new floors, new paint, appliances and some new furniture. We (the family and I) remain positive and tried to make the experience as stress free as possible while keeping physical and mental challenges in mind. Working with seniors requires awareness of health conditions and they may tire more easily and have significant physical limitations. Below are photo’s of before, during and after of this small studio apartment.

Above is the main living area before we began. The center and perimeters of the room were stacked with furnishings and boxes (of mostly papers and junk). There were furnishings obstructing the main pathway and the closet was inaccessible. Her newly renovated apartment has open floors, much less furniture and is clean and freshly painted.

Bathroom and entry hallway. In the before photo’s you can see that the path was obstructed with furniture and clutter. This is a safety (trip) and fire hazard and one of the key things to look for in determining if someone has hoarding tenancies. The bathroom was almost completely unusable with boxes and clothing piled up in the shower and on top of the toilet. I’m not sure how this woman used her own facilities, perhaps she didn’t and used the public restroom but this is not a healthy or safe environment for anyone, much less a senior.

Finally the pictures above show the main living area looking into the kitchen. The floors had various rugs that were big trip hazards and the clutter was obstructing half of the kitchen. The bottom left photo shows a small portion of the trash that we hauled out on day two and the bottom right shows the clean and renovated kitchen with new appliances.

This project was finished in three days and I did some of the work on my own but also had the help of the family. It was important for me to establish trust with the client before the family worked with us. By them getting involved with the project hands on, they were able to better understand where they may need to monitor and help maintain hoarding habits in the future.

The follow through on their part will be critical in helping this client maintain this new, healthier environment. As is usually the case, the client was not overly thrilled with having to let go of many of her belongings but in the end we kept everything she was most attached to (of both practical and sentimental value).

If you suspect that a family member is living in unhealthy hoarding conditions consider speaking with a professional (psychiatrist, psychologist or counselor with hoarding experience) before taking steps to intervene. Much of the time can be relapse, which can be frustrating for everyone but in some cases the immediate health and safety needs have to come first.

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Don’t PANIC-PREPARE for natural disasters

September 9, 2018 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

No matter where you live, it’s practically impossible to ignore and vital to prepare for natural disasters! With the change in our climate, especially for those of us who live along the coastlines, it pays to get organized, ‘Just in Case’ there’s a natural disaster!