“Spring into Action” – How to Organize Your Checklist!
March 15, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
Motivation – Check
TCO Spring Cleaning and Organizing Checklist - Check
It’s Spring – Check
Overwhelmed - Check
You have the list, and yes it can seem a bit overwhelming. How do you get all of it done, and get it done within Spring! They do call it Spring Cleaning not Summer Cleaning right! The best advice I can give you is- set up a plan! Knowing when and how you are going to do something helps you achieve your wanted results in more efficient way!
Here are some simple steps in organizing your checklist:
1) Set your priorities- Using the TCO checklist as a guideline, go from room to room and decide on your priorities. What needs to be done first? What can be done quickly? Every home is different and some of the items on the TCO checklist may not apply to you. As well as you may need to add items for your own home. The object here is to write down on your list what is going to happen first, second, and so on.
2) Schedule and set deadlines- In order to get your projects done, you have to schedule the time to do them. Look at your schedule and plan ahead. For example; Saturday, March 20th from 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., working in garage, sorting, categorizing and making one trip to Goodwill. You are being clear of when you are working and what you will be doing during that time.
3) Delegate- You do not have to do everything! Have a family meeting and delegate cleaning and organizing tasks that are age appropriate to your family members. When there are more hands involved, the work will get done faster. If you can, consider hiring outside help. There are lots of handyman and other services that can help clean out gutters, landscaping etc.
4) Do a little each day- We’re on a timeline and not every weekend is going to be free for household projects. So take a few minutes everyday, to do something! The minutes will accumulate and eventually everything will be completed… and hopefully before summer starts!
5) Make It Fun- I realize organizing is probably not on your top 10 things to don on a sunny spring day! However, you can make it fun! Open your windows and put on your favorite music! Make a game out of it. Limit your distractions and make the most out of the time you have set aside. When you have completed a project, celebrate and treat the family to something special like an ice cream date!
Happy Spring Organizing!
TCO – Spring Cleaning and Organizing Checklist!
March 15, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
I love the change of seasons. It has always been an inspiration for me on getting my home in order. Many of us use spring as the time to do those “chores” that only need to be done once or twice a year. We are so excited to see the blue sky that working out in the garage doesn’t seem to be such a daunting task after all!
To make these tasks more manageable and organized, TCO has come up with a “Spring Cleaning and Organizing Checklist” just for you! We realize that every home has different needs, and not everything may be on this list. However, there also may be things on this list you may have never thought about…
So download this list and use it as a guideline to get all of those projects done! Every organizing project needs to have a plan in order to achieve great results- and this checklist is your roadmap!
Open your windows, play your favorite music and get started!
Happy Organizing!
Guest Post For “The Confident Mom”
March 15, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
This month for The Confident Mom, it’s all about “Spring Organizing”!
I love the change of seasons, it gives us just the motivation we are looking for. And no better time than Spring to get your home in order! The days are longer and hopefully depending on where you are located, the weather will be a little warmer!
In this post, you will find my 5 top tips in getting organized this Spring!
Enjoy! Happy Spring! Happy Organizing!
“I don’t have the time”
March 12, 2010 by Nikki · 2 Comments
Excuse #3 – “I don’t have the time to sort, so I just don’t do it” 
We are busy people, we lead busy lives. Organizing your home is not always on the top of your priority list on the weekends. I get that. What starts out to be a small pile of papers can become an overwhelming stack in very little time. Because we lack the time, it often doesn’t ever get sorted through. And the stack just continues to grow.
We then feel frustration because you can’t find what you need when you need it. You waste time everyday searching for things. You waste time in the mornings because you are not prepared. You feel anxiety when coming home from a long day and your house is a mess. You are overwhelmed and tired!
The time you lose by being disorganized is much larger than the time it will take you to build efficient organizing systems in your home. If you need help… Ask for it. Call a Professional Organizing Coach for guidance and a plan to get started, call a friend or family member who is organized to give you tips on how to get started.
I know you don’t have the time, but somehow you must make the time. It means trading disorder for order and chaos for freedom. It means taking the time to make the life you want and desire.
It does take time and it takes dedication. However, the payoff is much greater than not doing anything at all!
Happy Organizing!
It Was a Gift!
March 10, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
Here we are on excuse #2 – “It was a Gift” 
This is a common dilemma we all have when we are sorting through our things. There is this guilt we feel when someone gives us a gift. We feel we need to keep it forever. Even if it’s something we don’t really like or would use. It’s worse when it comes from a dear friend or family member. There is no doubt this can be a sticky situation.
This is my theory….If the gift is being stored in a box, not being displayed, and not being used… Then give yourself permission to give it to someone who may actually really enjoy it or use it. Just because it was given to you does not mean you have to keep it forever. This is your home and your space, and it should only represent who you are, what you love and what brings joy into your life.
I’m curious… Have you ever had a family member or friend notice a gift was not being displayed or being used? How did you handle the situation? Share your stories.. How do you relieve yourself of the guilt you may feel?
Oregon- Prescription Drug Turn In Event!
March 9, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
This announcement is for anyone who lives in Oregon. There is going to be an event on Saturday, March 13th at various locations ( For full list of locations, Click Here ) where you can safely dispose your old medications.
These could be expired medications or ones you no longer use. Now is a great time to go through your cabinets and know you are disposing of the medications in the right way. Flushing them down the toilet is no longer the right way.
To protect your family, community and environment, make this a priority this weekend!
Thank you!
Nikki Kinzer
Excuses, Excuses!
March 8, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
Part of getting organized is going through your belongings and making decisions on what is staying and what is going. Some people find this process relevantly easy. They have no problems getting rid of something they have not used in the last year. Others, well not so easy. I have heard many excuses of why something is important. Sometimes those reasons are valid. Other times, well not so much! 
This week, we are going to explore the Top Three Excuses, of why you are not letting something go!
#1 Excuse: ”I might need it someday”
Oh I have heard this so many times, and honestly I have said it myself for my own stuff… If you are a planner, like me, you want to be prepared for what the future may bring. With in reason, this theory makes sense.
However, if you are really trying to make a decision on how much “stuff” you have, you have to be realistic. What do you really need? What do you need right now? Being prepared is not a bad thing, but having too many things you might need or projects you may finish someday can be a bad thing. It can slow you down from your present life. It can actually bring more stress and chaos just by sitting in a closet.
When I start to feel like I have too much, I start to feel suffocated. If this is how you feel, you need to make some hard decisions. What brings you joy? Don’t keep something because you feel you have too. Don’t keep something if your heart does not desire to finish it.
All we know for sure is where we are today. Live in the present. Many items can be borrowed, many items can be replaced if need be. Create the space you want to live in.
This is a difficult process, no doubt, but remember what your goals are, remember where you want to go, and the life you want to live.
“Happiness is not an accident. Nor is it something you wish for. Happiness is something you design.” -Jim Rohn
Happy Organizing!
The Habit of Organization!
March 5, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
I recently read an excellent article, ” The One Deadly Sin of Changing Habits” by Zen Habits. This is a great article and I highly recommend it to anyone trying to change something in their life.
Change is hard. There is nothing about change that is easy. Even if you know it’s in your best interest, it’s still very difficult to get in the habit of doing something you have done forever in a new way! 
I read this article and couldn’t help but think about organizing. Organizing is something we all are looking to get better at. Even some of the most organized people I know, still have to work at keeping the organization a reality.
They have to do it.
Zen Habits explains this is the one deadly sin in changing your habits… you don’t do it. If you don’t do it, the bad habit never goes away and the new habit is never formed.
How many of you have started an organizing project and then never finished? What was the reason? No accountability? No timeline? No motivation? Life just happened.
The article goes on to give you different tips on how to avoid this deadly sin and avoid the trap of never getting started. Many of the tips I have personally shared with my clients.
To add, I would suggest:
1) Schedule your organizing sessions on your calendar- make it a priority by writing it down. Make the commitment to be there just like any other appointment you would make.
2) Start Small and Easy- Pick the tasks that are easy to do and can be finished quickly. You will see the results and often times, this is the motivator you need to keep going.
3) If you get stuck - review your motivation of why you wanted to change this habit. Make yourself accountable – hire a professional, work together with your family, make it happen.
4) Don’t give up – like we learned in the Olympics in the last 2 weeks, obstacles happen, life happens, it’s how you deal with those obstacles which will be the key to your success.
5) Just do it!
Click her to read the full article, “The One Deadly Sin of Changing Habits”, By Zen Habits.
Celebrate the Small Successes!
March 4, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
My last post was about creating change in our lives. It was about what can we do differently to make a difference in our lives, and the lives around us.
Many of you reading this blog may be on a journey to become more organized. Wanting to live a life of less stress with more order and control. Maybe there is something else in your life you are trying to do or be better at.
But you do not have to win a gold medal in the Olympics or in our case, organize your whole home in a day. No. What I think you should do is celebrate! Celebrate every success. Large or small.
Taking the first steps, the small steps to better ourselves. Sometimes just making the phone call to a Professional Organizer is the hardest step. You did it. Celebrate! You are reading this blog to get tips and ideas on how to better your home. Celebrate! You spent 15 minutes going through a cluttered closet. Celebrate!
Whatever your goal may be whether it’s to become more organized, stop smoking, whatever, it doesn’t matter.. Just don’t forget to celebrate the small successes!
“You have achieved success if you have lived well, laughed often and loved much.” - Anonymous
Happy Organizing!
Guest Blog Post at The Work at Home Woman!
March 2, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
Recently, I had the privilege to write a guest blog post for, The Work at Home Woman. This is a great website and I highly recommend you check it out! 
The article, Get Your Home Office Organized, is about giving your desk a makeover. Something we all should do from time to time! Just this past weekend, my husband and I cleared our office and recycled 2 bags of paper! No matter how organized you are, you always need to do a purging session every now and then!
When you get busy, and in our case we both share the same space, you must maintain the organization by taking time to file, purge, and rework your system. It makes a difference. It felt so good to get the office back to working for us and not against us!
Happy Organizing!
