Getting organized and conquering clutter can be a daunting task, especially if you're trying to do it alone.  If you're looking for a supportive environment that will keep you motivated in your quest to be better organized, I have just the thing for you.  Order and Balance, LLC is forming a FREE clutter management/support group for individuals who struggle with chronic disorganization and clutter.

The group will be facilitated by professional organizer, Tiffany deSilva, MSW, LSW, (that's me). Anyone interested in learning more about how to tackle their clutter is welcome to attend.  The meetings are typically held on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.  If you're interested in attending a meeting or would like more information simply click here.  You can also check out the Order and Balance, LLC website at www.orderandbalance.com.

The next meeting is December 6, 2008 at Northside Public Library, from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm.  We hope to see you there!

Yesterday was the last day of "National Food bank Week" (October 19-25) but you can still do your part.  Use this as an opportunity to organize your pantry and do a good deed. 

A disorganized pantry or food cabinet can be a very frustrating space because you have to access it several times a day in order to eat.  It can be a maddening experience when you're trying to prepare a meal or a snack and can't find what you're looking for.  In addition to frustration and wasted time, a disorganized pantry or cabinet often costs you money.  How many times have you bought food and ingredients that you didn't know you already had?  How many times have you thrown out moldy bread, stale chips, or expired items because they got lost in a jumbled mess?  Follow these 10 steps to get your food in order.

1. Remove all of the food from the pantry or cabinet.  Yes, all of it.
2. Sort each item into categories similar to what you would see in a grocery store (e.g. canned goods together, baking supplies together, grains together, etc.)
3. Get rid of anything that is expired, moldy, or stale. Be sure check canned goods for bulging or rust--toss them if you notice either.  Also check grains for infestation-bugs love grains.
4. Make a list of things that you need to replace as you go along.
5. Pass it on if you made a mistake and purchased some food you know you won't eat. Donate food that is unopened and still edible to your local food pantry, shelter, or church. If you're really feeling charitable, you can organize a food drive and encourage others to organize their pantries.
6. Find a specific home for each category of food you have identified.
7. Open foods and things you use most often should be towards the front and easily accessible.  Unopened packages and less frequently used items can go towards the back or higher up on the shelf.
8. Accessorize as needed.  If necessary, purchase a lazy susan, expandable shelf extenders, and/or pull-out baskets to make your food more accessible.
9. Label the locations.  Labels eliminate any guess work when it comes to retrieving or putting away an item.
10. Drop the food off at your designated donation site.

Sites of interest:
www.feedingamerica.org
www.midohiofoodbank.org

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month so I thought I'd give you some tips on how to create an effective filing system that works with dyslexia, not against it.  Dyslexia is a neurologically-based learning disorder.  People with dyslexia tend to have difficulties with reading and written expression.  They may often confuse letters (e.g. b and d, m and w, etc.) or words.  Individuals with dyslexia tend to think in pictures or images, rather than words. They may also have a tendency to be pilers rather than filers.  With that being said, it may difficult for someone with dyslexia to maintain a traditional filing system.  Don't despair though. If you have dyslexia, I have some tips to help you create a custom filing system that will meet your needs.

1. Experiment with creating pictures and/or symbols (along with the actual word) to represent your file categories.  Use these pictures as labels.
2. Forgo the file drawer or cabinet.  Use clear-view binders and create custom covers, spines, and dividers for different categories (again, include pictures).  Another alternative to a traditional file cabinet or drawer is to use creatively-labeled stackable letter trays or bins.  This will allow you to still pile things, but in an organized manner.
3. Create a master list or index.  Many people who have dyslexia also have difficulty with rote memorization, so this will help if you have trouble remembering the categories.
4. Use color coding.  Use different colored binders, dividers, trays, bins, file folders, or hanging files for different broad categories. This will add a visual reminder to where a particular document might be located.  Use corresponding colored tabs, as well.  This will help cut down on light sensitivity.  Some people with dyslexia have trouble reading black letters on a white background, so reading the category title through the filter of color may actually be beneficial.
5. Work with your symptoms not against them.  Everyone is different. People with dyslexia are still individuals with individual differences, so figure out what your own particular symptoms are and work with those.  Also, figure out what your strengths are and work with those, as well. We all have our own set of strengths and weaknesses, the key is to figure out what they are and use them to the best of our abilities. If you don't do something well, find out what you do do well and cultivate it.

Additional On-Line Resources

International Dyslexia Association
Central Ohio Branch of the International Dyslexia Association
National Center for Learning Disabilities
Learning Disabilities Association of America

August is "What will be Your Legacy Month." I've been thinking about this a lot lately.  Partly because, my uncle passed away at the end of July.  He was known for being fun-loving and having a knack for fashion and decorating. I remember him always being dressed up and often wearing matching hats.  Even when he was wearing a sweat suit, he still looked pulled together.  He will be greatly missed.

Being the social worker turned professional organizer that I am, I'm concerned about the hardship that many families face when they attempt to answer the question "What do we do with our loved one's belongings?" Parting with a loved ones things, or even deciding what to do with them after they are gone is an emotionally challenging process.  The process is made even more difficult when the deceased loved one has a huge quantity of belongings and has not left any clues as to his or her wishes.  Families often feel obligated to hold on to everything.  Sometimes, one family member gets stuck with being the keeper of everything, other times family members fight over the belongings.  This is not the legacy that anyone would want to leave behind.  To make things easier for everyone, it makes sense to "get your house in order," both literally and figuratively, before you part.  Here are some things you can do to make things easier on your family:

• Have a will.
• Create a Living Will.
• Designate a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare.
• Declutter often.  Weeding out the things that you no longer need, use, or like now will lighten the already overwhelming burden on your family in the future.  They will have a better idea of what was meaningful to you and won't have to sift through the unimportant clutter.
• Donate any unused, unwanted, unloved items to charity.  Let your legacy be generosity not clutter and chaos.
• Hold on to the treasures.  When you're decluttering and weeding out, hold on to the important things.  Some things you might want to keep are:
• Family Photos
• Family Bibles
• Diaries, Journals
• Wills
• Immigration Papers
• Adoption Papers
• Address Books
• Home Movies/Videos
• Baby Books, Wedding Books, Scrapbooks, Guest Books, Year Books, etc.
• Antiques/Collectibles with attached history (see below).
• Fine Jewelry
• Family Recipes
• Family Trees, Family History
• Original Artwork, Hand-made crafts, published books or manuscripts
• Signature Possession, if any (favorite hat, scarf, tool, first hat, Christening gown, etc.)
• Vital records and important documents (Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Social Security Cards, Taxes, etc.)
• Significant correspondence/letters/newspaper clippings (no junk mail or random newspaper articles)
• Military or occupational keepsakes ( a few special pieces, not the whole shebang)
• Label photographs so that your family can identify the who, what, when, and where of each picture.
• Discuss and/or write down the histories of significant pieces, memorabilia, and keepsakes.
• In addition to having a will, place name labels on items, or write a personal letter to your family stating your wishes.
• Inform your family of the location of all of your vital records, documents, and safe deposit boxes.

Follow these steps whenever appropriate, and ease the burden on your loved ones.

August 9th was Garage Sale Day.  Who knew garage sales had their own day?  I typically would rather just donate items to charity or take them to a resale shop (it's less time consuming).  But, in celebration of Garage Sale day, here are a few tips for organizing your own humdinger of a sale: 

• Gather your merchandise by first decluttering your home.  Perfect sale items are ones that are in good condition but you don't use them, like them, or need them anymore.  If you come across things that are in poor condition, recycle them or give them the boot.
• Find out what your community rules are regarding yard/garage sales.  You don't want to be cited for any violoations.
• Give your items a good dusting or cleaning.  Most people cringe at the thought of buying someone else's dirt, so shine them up nicely.  You'll make more money that way.
• Price your items realistically.  People aren't expecting to pay top dollar at a yard sale so don't price your items too high and be open to negotiations. If you have no idea on how to price your items, visit a local garage sale and do some comparison shopping (just don't buy anything while you're there).
• Make sure you actually price your items.  People are more likely to buy something if they know how much it costs.
• Pick the date and time for your sale.  Consider the time of year.  If it's during August, you'll want to start early and end early.  No one wants to be in a sweltering garage during 90 degree weather.
• Once you know the sale date and time, write an ad to be submitted to your local newspaper(s) and online. Be specific and very descriptive about the items you have at your garage sale.
• Give yourself plenty of time to set up.  You're likely to have some early birds.
• On the day of the sale, remove anything from the area that is not for sale (especially your cars).
• Post legible signs the day of the sale and remove them when the sale is over. 
• When organizing your items for sale, place like items together, just like the retailers do.  Your customers will appreciate being able to quickly find the treasures.
• Be sure to have plenty of change on hand.  Make a trip to the bank a few days before the sale.  You'd hate to have to shut down shop or miss out on a sale because you ran out of change.
• A couple of weeks before the sale, make arrangements with a local charity to pick up any unsold items immediately after the sale is over.  If unable to do this, have plenty of boxes and bags on hand so that you can immediately drop them off at a donation center.  Do not bring the unsold items back into your home.

Follow these tips and you'll have a great garage sale.  For more information on organizing a garage sale, check out the links below:

Columbus Garage Sale- Free ad placement and tips.
GarageSaleCow.com-Free ad placement and locater.
Columbus Craig's List-Free ad placement.
Columbus Dispatch-Ad placement.
YardSaleQueen.com-Yard sale tips.

Have you given much thought about how you organize your cleaning supplies? Most people probably haven't either.  When organizing your cleaning supplies, choose their location wisely and consider frequency of use, accessibility, and, most importantly,  safety. 

What cleaning products do you use the most?  Without knowing you I would have to say that dishwashing liquid or dishwasher detergent are probably amongst the more frequently used cleaning products in your house.  Most people eat everyday, and eating generally generates dirty dishes.  Now imagine yourself running down to the basement everytime you wanted to wash the dishes.  Doesn't make sense, does it? 

• Rule #1: Store the most frequently used products where you use them. For instance, dishwashing detergent should be stored convenienty in the kitchen. A bottle of hand soap should go near the sink with a refill bottle located nearby. Yes, paper towels,  wipes, and other cleaning supplies that are used on a daily basis should be stored in the kitchen.  Tip: Store cleaning supplies for daily cleaning and incidental cleanups in each bathroom and in the kitchen.  You're more likely to clean if the products are conveniently located.

What about cleaning supplies that you don't use very often?  Oven cleaners, Cabinet oil, and other cleaners that rarely see the light of day can afford to be pushed towards the deep, dark back of the cabinet or totally removed from the area if space is limited.

• Rule#2: Make sure your frequently used cleaning supplies are easily accessible.  Arrange your cabinets so that the everday items are towards the front and the rarely used items are toward the back.  Remove the rarely used products if your cabinets are overcrowded.

Last but not least, think about safety.  According to the Home Safety Council, poisoning is the second leading cause of unintentional home injury-related death.

• Rule #3:  Make sure all household cleaners are locked up, stored up high, and out of the reach of children.  Never store food and cleaning supplies together.  Tip: Keep your guard up when you are cleaning.  While it helps to store cleaning supplies high up and out of the reach of children when they are not in use, don't forget to safeguard cleaning products while you are cleaning.  Consider keeping your cleaning products in a portable, locked caddy.  The Clean Guard, sold by One Step Ahead and Leaps and Bounds is a cleaning caddy that can be locked.  Not only does it help to keep your cleaning supplies organized and accessible, but it also keeps them safely locked away at all times.

Follow these three rules and organize those cleaning supplies!  Who knows, it might inspire you to do a little cleaning. Or not.

Today is the last day of June but it's not too late to observe Home Safety Month.  The Home Safety Council dedicates the entire month of June-Home Safety Month-to educate and empower both families and businesses to take actions that will make homes safe.  One of the major benefits of organizing is being prepared, be sure to visit the Home Safety Resource Center at www.homesafetycouncil.org to download oodles of information on how to prepare your home for a disaster and prevent accidents from occuring.

June 5, 2008 is World Environment Day.  You can help improve the world environment, as well as your personal environment, by doing a little decluttering and organizing of your home.  Do you know that we use only 20% of the things we own 80% of the time?  Pick a room or an area of your home and search for the things that you truly love, use, or need.  Recycle, Re-purpose, or Re-give the rest.

I believe just as people have a purpose as they cycle through life, so do things. I have found that things tend to fall into 3 categories of the life cycle: "Alive", "Tired", and "Dead".  You should only keep things that are "alive".
If you truly use or love a particular item then that thing is "alive" and serving its purpose.  

"Tired"  things may need a little TLC and creativity to resucitate them. If something is totally usable but you don't care for it any more, breathe new life into it and give it a "makeover" by re-purposing it into something new. You can do this by repainting something that's the wrong color, finding a new use for an old item, or repairing something that is broken. If that is not an option, re-give the item to someone who appreciates it and  has a  use for it (ie clothes that no longer fit).   If you're having a hard time parting with something you'll never use because "it's in perfect condition", or because you paid "good money" for it, consider re-selling it so you and it can get on with life.

"Dead" things are serving no purpose in their current state.  These items tend to be things that are broken beyond repair, or quite simply, they have served their purpose.  Try to recycle as many dead items as you can.  I think of recycling as a sort of reincarnation for unwanted stuff.  You will undoubtedly come across dead items that are destined for the "cemetery" (landfill).  The key to reducing these types of items is to buy reusable products and products that don't come in excess packaging.  For example, instead of buying bottled water, buy a water filter and a reusable container to carry with you.  You will have less clutter in your home and less waste in the trash.

By decluttering and organizing your home, you are not only creating a more welcoming environment in your home, but you are improving the world environment as well.  When you declutter, recycle, repurpose, and re-give your unwanted items you are putting usable items back into circulation, thus reducing the need to produce and buy more items that will impact the environment.  It also prevents these items from sticking around in your home so long that they become dead and obsolete.  Obsolete items typically become "landfillers".  When your home is free of clutter and well-organized you can find want  you need when you need it, thereby reducing the incidence of duplicate purchases.  This also reduces consumption while saving time, money, and energy.  Do your part to improve the world and your home by making sure the items you own are fulfilling their purpose.  Prevent your items from getting stuck in thing "limbo" by allowing them to cycle through their life.

Helpful links: www.earth911.org   www.swaco.org
 

I am very excited to announce the creation of the Order and Balance, LLC Blog.  I welcome you to come and visit often. I created this site as a way to interact on a regular basis with my clients (future, past, and present) and anyone else interested in being better organized.  In the future you will find  that the site is filled with news, tips, information, and organizing inspiration.

I am also happy to announce the Order and Balance, LLC Newletter.  In the monthly newsletter you will find organizing tips, articles, and special offers.  Visit www.orderandbalance.com to subscribe.

I hope you take advantage of both of our new offerings and I look forward to hearing from you!