Coming Up at TCO!
I am trying something new. I wanted to bring a little more structure to my blog posts. So for the next few weeks I have chosen different themes to talk about for the week.
This week, I am going to be discussing The Laundry Room! When I asked mom’s to tell me their biggest challenges, this was one that came up over and over again!
Starting Monday, February 1st, read about: Laundry Systems. Coming up: Family & The Laundry, and Recommended Products.
If there is a particular topic you would like to see … Please let me know…You can comment on this post, you can send me a note on my site, you can send me a direct message at nikki@takecontrolorganizing.com, or send me a direct message on Twitter@TCOrganizing. Let me know! And I’ll keep working to make this site a destination for organizing tips and tools that help you keep your house in order!
Happy Organizing!
Great Organizing Giveaway!
Did you know January is “Get Organized Month”? To honor the Organizing Industry, Professional Organizers around the nation worked together to deliver the Great Organizing Giveaway!
What is the Great Organizing Giveaway? Organizers compiled a number of different items to be given away. This event is open to anyone who wants to be more organized! It doesn’t matter where you live, many of these gifts are downloadable from your computer. Participates are able to sign up to get FREE e-books, audio downloads, organizing tip sheets, complementary consultations, and much more!
There is great information for almost any aspect of organizing you may be looking for. Take Control Organizing has contributed an e-book, titled; ” Getting Started: 10 Key Principles You Need to Know Before Starting Your Organizing Journey!” This e-book is available on my website.
Here are just a few of the items to look for:
- Getting Things Done- How to set up chores
- 9 strategies for Simplifying your Life today!
- 112 tips to Organize Your Workday
- Mess is stress!
- Finally Filing Made Easier
- It’s Time… Stop Procrasinating Now!
- Timely Tax Tips
- 51 Creative Organizing Solutions Found in Every Day Items
- Getting Started: 10 Key Principles You Need to Know Before Starting Your Organizing Journey!
- And Much, Much More!
Happy Organizing!
No Quick Fix in Organizing!
Last weekend I was reading an article about scams in regards to losing weight. And it got me to thinking about how, sometimes we wish there was such a thing as a “quick fix”. Well anyone who has tried to loose weight in their lifetime, understands there are no quick fixes! You can loose the weight, but if you do not maintain it through good diet and exercise, you gain it back.
There is not much difference in organizing. We all set out to be more organized. To have better time management, to have more control of our homes, our work life. Organization or lack of… effects us all. We set goals for ourselves to change the bad habits weighing us down. But just as a magic pill is not going to make the weight go away, a really good clean up in the garage is not going to make the clutter stay away, if we don’t have a plan on how to maintain the organization.
There are no quick fixes in losing weight and there are none in getting organized. It’s important to understand that organization does not have to look perfect. It’s not about the pretty boxes and labeled bins. It’s about the system you put into place to keep what is inside those boxes organized.
In my home, I have set up organizing systems that have failed. One area I have now is our linen closet. I organized it and had bins to put our towels, bins to put extra bathroom necessities, etc. Well soon the towels did not make it into the bins and the bathroom stuff was spilling out! It just isn’t working. I am now in the process of re-evaluating the space. Soon, I will come up with something that works. For now, I have towels in the bin and outside of the bin. But I do have all of the towels in one place! So that’s something!
The point is, there are no quick fixes when making lifestyle changes. And from time to time, we fail, but we keep working hard, we keep striving for our goals, and in the end we maintain what it was we were looking for!
Happy Organizing!
It’s Not Going to Be Perfect!
I am working on a project for my business. It is taking a lot of time and stress to get this project right. Mainly because I am a perfectionist and I want it done correctly. I want to give the best service and options to my clients. If I am going to do something, I want to do it 125%. It’s just the way I am.
This morning, I was reading Seth Godin’s blog post, “No, everything is not going to be okay”. I read this and then read it again. What perfect timing! This is exactly what I needed to read. All of the sudden I was able to let go of the anxiety of having this be exactly right. It’s good to change, it’s good to take a chance. We learn more about our clients needs when we are willing to change and take chances ourselves in our business. And not worry so much about how it’s accepted or packaged. We are creating important change.
The last sentence says..”Once you free yourself from the need for perfect acceptance, it’s a lot easier to launch work that matters.”
Wow, isn’t that what it’s really about… Providing a service to people that matters!
Hit Your Target Goal!
Did you know 1/3 of people who made new years resolutions will give up by the end of January? According to a Time Management Survey from Franklin Covey. The reason given was because people just didn’t have the time. 
If getting your home in order was a goal for you in 2010, here are just a few simple organizing basics, to keep you on track!
1. Start small- don’t try to organize your whole home at once or think you can do it in a weekend. Multi-tasking and organizing do not get along. You’ll just get frustrated and overwhelm by trying to do it all once. Decide on what room to do first and break it into smaller pieces. For example; drawers, cupboards, shelves, closets. Do one space at a time.
2. Work when you at your best- you will get more done when you are feeling good and energized! I always achieve better results when I work in the morning. I am more effective and get so much more done!
3. Work in small time increments- Just work 15 minutes a day. Whatever fits into your schedule. But try to do something everyday, to keep up your motivation, when you see progress you want to do more.
4. Remember your goals- Review your resolutions. Why did you choose to get organized? What will it mean to you and your family to have your home in order? When you are starting to feel like giving up, remember why you started in the first place. Remember how it feels to accomplish just one space, and what a difference it made. Lifestyle changes are never easy and can be very time consuming. But in the end… they are worth it!
Happy Organizing!
the Confident Mom – Controlling Toy Chaos!
Last November, I found a tele seminar series through Twitter about Parenting. It was through the Confident Mom. Susan Heid, the owner, is a Parenting/ Family Manager Coach in the Seattle area. The tele seminar is based on the book, Screamfree Parenting, Raising your kids by Keeping your Cool, by Hal Edward Runkel. 
I highly recommend it for any parent, who is looking for tips and ideas from a real parenting coach who can specifically give you ideas on issues you are having in your home. Parenting is hard and at times can be very frustrating. I learned new techniques to use with my children that has kept the calm in our household. The best part of the series was being to able to talk to other moms. We all had stories to share and we all learned from each other. Click here for more information about upcoming tele seminars.
After the series was over, Susan asked if I would be a guest blogger for her blog. Of course I was honored and my first post came out this morning. Controlling the Toy Chaos! If you have kids, you have toys, which often means chaos. Here are some great tips on how to contain the chaos, it won’t ever go away, but we can make it easier to live with! Enjoy!
Happy Organizing!
Attitude
In the last season of the Biggest Loser, there was a contestant on the show named Abby. This woman was amazing. Every time she told her story, I cried. This is a woman who lost her husband and 2 children in a car accident. I can’t even imagine the heartbreak and loss this woman has gone through. She went on to become a motivational speaker, and one of the things she says, is “Happiness is a Choice”. I only saw a couple of clips of her speech, but I am willing to bet she has touched many people.
Last week, I met with a new client. And she was telling me her “story”. A young couple who had everything going for them to start their future together, and because of tragedies that happened in the last year in a half, they were starting over with very little. Without knowing it, she was an inspiration. She had a spirit about her. She was not negative, she was not a victim, she says; ” I had a bad year, but it’s in the past, and it’s time to move on.”
We all have our “stories”. Life is not fair and it rarely makes any sense. But with my own “stories” and people in my life that have had to climb mountains, which I wish they never had too. I have learned that attitude is a big part of what gets us through. We have very little control on what happens to us, we have no control on what others do, but we do have control on how we respond.
Here are a few quotes to think about:
“Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost.” Robert H. Schuller
“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”- Martha Washington
It’s not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life ; it is how you handle what happens to you. -Zig Ziglar
Organize and Save Money!
Organize and save money. It’s that simple!
In today’s world, we all want to save money. Putting just a few organizing systems in place in your home can achieve this goal! This will not only save you money, but you save you time.
1. Create a system for your bills- Have you ever paid a bill late, because you can not find it? I have. And it’s frustrating.. Have one place where all the bills go. For us it’s a file on our desk that says “Bills To Pay”. Go paperless- pay bills online, do automatic deposits, look at your options, ask your bank for details.
2. Stop buying repeat items- being organized means knowing what you have and where it’s located. This is especially true for the grocery store. If your refrigerator and pantry are organized, then doing a quick inventory check before heading to the store will be easy. Have an ongoing list for items you run out of it, again not forgetting anything but not buying what you don’t need. I have found planning a weekly menu for dinners is a great saver of money. I only buy what I need for those meals, no more wasted food.
3. Gift Cards- Have one central place for gift cards. Many people forget they have them or loose them. You could use a special box, a drawer, a file, something so every time you receive a gift card it goes in there immediately. There is never any second guessing on where it could be.
4. Create a budget- Know your money and where it’s going. Know how much it costs to run your household and how much extra you have. Knowing your money will help prevent buying unnecessary purchases. And everything you do buy, think about it where it’s going in your home. Every item in your house needs to have a place to live.
5. Sell your “Stuff” – There are many ways to sell your items. Craigslist, eBay, consignment shops, garage sales. Clean it up and present it well and you’ll make an extra buck or two.
Happy Organizing!
Organizing Children’s Clothes!
Children grow up so fast! I remember people telling me this when my first child was just born. At the time, especially during those sleepless nights, I wasn’t really sure I believed them! Here we are now, 7 years later, and boy do I believe them! I am reminded of this often, when I see my son or daughter walking down the stairs in pants that look about 2 sizes too small… ”Wait, didn’t those just fit, last week?” Crazy!
Keeping on top of the growth spurts can be challenging… Here are some tips to make it a little easier:
1. Periodically, whether it’s seasonal or every 6 months, go through the closets, dresser drawers and sort out the outgrown clothes. There is no reason to keep them in the room. Don’t forget about the PJ’s, socks and underwear!
2. It’s helpful to put clothes away as you notice they are too small. If you are doing a load of laundry and you notice these are the shrinking pants, take care of it then, don’t place them back into their room.
3. Have a place to put the clothes, a bin designated for donation.
4. Be choosy about the clothes being passed on to younger siblings or family members. Keep only the ones in good shape. Place clothes by size in a clear labeled container with a secure lid to prevent damage in storage.
5. When organizing children’s clothes, organize by type of clothing. Double rod hangers are great to utilize the space in a closet and kids love the access to their clothes. With this said, I have gone into my daughters room before, and all of the clothes are off the hangers! This is a great time, to teach them how to hang back their clothes.
6. Use the dresser for clothes like PJ’s, Pants, Shorts, Undergarments. Teach your kids where the clothes belong. At a very young age, they can help you put their clothes away.
7. Have a hamper in their room. Get them in the habit of putting their dirty clothes in there every single time.
Donation Resources: Every town has the Goodwill’s and St.Vincent De Paul, but there are other organizations who need donations, especially for children.
In the Eugene / Springfield area, here are some of my favorites: CASA of Lane County, 541-984-3132, White Bird- 541-342-8255, and Relief Nursery, 541-343-9706.
Check with your local schools and churches, often times they will take donations as well.
Happy Organizing!
Taking Control of Your Time!
There are 24 hours in a day. This just isn’t enough. 
I recently read an article about Time Management on Biznik, and they estimated during the last 25 years, our leisure time has declined by 37% while our workweek has increased by a full day! The American’s Use of Time Project at the University of Maryland revealed the average American spends more than 20 hours per week on housework. According to the National Association of Professional Organizers- housework can decrease by 40% just by being organized… I like the number decreasing rather than increasing!
In the last year, managing my time has been a struggle.. With working on my business, taking care of a family and a home, I am constantly looking for ways to manage my time more efficiently. This is a work in progress! In doing research about time management, I found some really great tips! New tips, that I am going to start today….
Here are of my 5 top favorite tips:
1. Record TV Shows- I am going to make this a habit. Choose the shows that mean most to you and watch them when it is convenient for you. Skip the commercials! Turning the TV off 1 hour per week gives you 52 extra hours in a year.
2. Do it Now- Procrastination! Easy to do, hard to overcome! If you can do it now, get it done, get it off your list.
3. Know your priorities- Regardless of how many hours are in the day, how we spend those hours, ulitmately is still up to us. We decide. Know your priorities and stick to them. With priorities come boundaries – say No when you need to…
4. Set deadlines- Put it on the calender! Hold yourself accountable for your time.
5. Don’t pick up- Just because the phone is ringing does not mean you have to pick it up! Just because you received a new email, does not mean you need to read it right now! Do it when it’s convenient for you.
( The two articles referenced in this blog post, come from: Biznik and the Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Organized Home written by Kathy Peel. )
There were several other tips referenced in these resources, some I am already doing, some that I will certainly try. What about you? I would love to hear from others about what works for them. This is an issue we all can get better at!
Happy Organizing!
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