Building Your Organizing Skills!
August 13, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
Most likely if you are reading this blog, you are hoping to get some new idea or suggestions on becoming better organized. My business is about helping people build solid organizing systems around their home and work life. It’s about giving them direction and support on how to lead a more organized lifestyle. There are so many wonderful tips and products out there to get you where you want to be. Organization is a skill and if it doesn’t come natural to you, you have to some how learn this skill. With anything you learn, once you learn it, it can’t be taken away from you.. It’s the power of education!
I recently listened to an education podcast for Professional Organizers and the speaker said something that really stuck with me. So much so I have to write about it… She mentioned how the most important piece of what we do for our clients is teaching them new skills!
It’s not just about getting organized.
Being organized comes and goes.
We all have different events and things that happen to us unexpectedly. Even the most organized people will and can become disorganized. It’s the skills we have learned and practiced that help us get our homes and offices back into order. We have the skills to put it back together. It’s just like ridding a bike, once you learn, you never forget! The same is true for organizing.
There will be times of the month or year, where your office is going to look like a mess. If you are moving or in some kind of transition, there will be things that will slip by. If you are dealing with an unexpected life event, your organization will falter.
I think it’s easy for people to be too hard on themselves. Life happens and our priorities shift. Organization is not about perfection or how clean your home or office is. When you see the organization around you start to break, take a step back, look at the reasons, build off of your organizing skills, and make the changes you need to make at the time you need to make them!
Happy Organizing!
A New Perspective!
July 7, 2010 by Nikki · 2 Comments
When I was a teenager, I remember rearranging my bedroom furniture. I worked all day long until I found the right arrangement I was happy with. I got this great idea from my father, every once in while we would come home from school and the living room furniture would be in different places. What can I say, we liked change! It gave each of the rooms a different perspective. They were fun to be in, because they were now just a little bit different than before.
The other day, I was working with a client and we were talking about what to do with all of the decorations and little mementos around his office. The idea was to rotate them from season to season. This is not a new concept, in fact I have talked about this before. But I think it is always good to remind us of the simple changes we can make in our homes, and the big rewards that are paid off in doing so.
When we don’t make these slight changes, our surroundings can become numb to us. We become so used to seeing something, that you actually stop seeing it. It can lose it’s value to us because we are not fully paying attention, we may even stop caring about the item without even knowing it. I have heard Oprah say this before on her show, you are actually living unconsciously. You are not aware of what’s around you, it becomes blended in the walls.
Think about the last time you ran into something you haven’t seen in a long time and it brought back good memories. Did it put it a smile on your face, did you walk down memory lane or maybe tell someone what you just found. Maybe it prompted you call an old friend or a family member.
When we live unconsciously, we are not fully appreciating our surroundings or the choices we have made about our homes.
Pay particular attention to those areas in your home where you live in the most. What simple rotation or changes could you make to add just a little new perspective? It could be simply changing your photos on the wall, or taking a few of your collected items into storage and only displaying a handful, or add fresh cut flowers as a centerpiece. Whatever it looks like in your home, I challenge you to start making those changes and to start living consciously.
Be aware, enjoy, and love what you have!
Happy Organizing!
Sharing Tips From My To Do List!
June 2, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
I am here to report on my To Do list from last friday! It was a long list, probably longer than it should have been. However, I am happy to report the toys have been sorted and only a few things are left in order to prepare for the summer months!
The toys in my storage area were a little more of an undertaking than I first realized! I often tell moms to rotate their toys between seasons. Instead of having all of the toys out at once. It is less overwhelming for the kids, and less to clean up if there are fewer toys. We have a storage area / walk in attic of sorts where I put these toys. I must admit it has been awhile since I have been in the storage area to sort, which is why it became a much bigger project than I first thought…
While going through this process, I was reminded of four very key principles in organizing and I wanted to share them with you…..
Tips to Share:
1) Focus – when you have an organizing project that needs to get done, the best advice I can give, is set up the time to do it. Focus, do not let anything take you away from the project! And it will get done! I knew I had most of the weekend to get this project done, and I was not going to stop until it was finished!
2) Sorting toys is more efficient with no children around! They will want to save everything! I had constant little people coming in and out wanting to see what I was doing. It’s easier to sort and purge when they are not around. Again, it’s part of staying focused! At one point I had to set rules and let them know they were not allowed to go into the storage area until I was finished. When I was done, I let them each pick out a toy to bring back into their rooms.
3) Like Items Stay With Like Items - when sorting toys or putting toys away for rotation, make sure to keep like items with like items… I had to do a lot of sorting of little stuff because things were not together… This was a lesson I learned the hard way, and it will not happen again… It’s worth buying a few extra clear bins in order to keep the toys contained if that is what you have to do!
4) Maintenance - Do this kind of purging and sorting more often. I have the kids clean their rooms on a daily basis, however this storage area had been ignored. It had been several months since I really took a look at everything in it. Organizing on a regular basis will make the next time I go in much easier!
Organizing is a work in progress. It never ends and if we want to keep our homes organized we have to work at it! However, the end result is always well worth it!
Happy Organizing!
Spring Clean Your Car!
May 12, 2010 by Nikki · 3 Comments
A year ago I wrote a blog post on how to clean out your car… I think this is a great reminder as we go into summer. Here is a repost of the article…. Enjoy!
With children in tow or maybe you work out of your car, our cars can sometimes be and is a dumping ground for many things! If I don’t make a conscious effort to keep my car clean, then in a matter of days it can become filled with baseballs, toys, books, garbage etc! I have come up with some tips and tricks on how to Organize your car and maintain it! It’s not magic, it does take time, but I find it is well worth it!
Car Organizing Tips: 
1. Ask yourself, what needs to be in your car? This is especially important if you do a lot of work out of your car. What office supplies needs to be in there, if you have kids, what essentials need to be in your car.
2. Evaluate your current system in organizing your car. What do you struggle to find? Keep this in mind when figuring out where items are going to go.
3. Take everything out of your car and separate into piles. 1) Stuff you use all the time, 2) Things you use occasionally, 3) Things you need in an emergency. Anything left over gets placed outside of the car.
4. Clean your car inside and out. Start your organizing project with a clean slate.
5. Place like items together. Go through your piles and place them where they make the most sense in your car. For example; emergency kits can be placed in the back of the car, hand santizer and tissues should be in the front console.
6. How many CD’s do you need in your car? Start up a new rule with yourself, if you add 3 new CD’s, make sure to take 3 out.
7. Try to keep items off of the floor.
8. Look into Car Organizers- they have great solutions for over the seat and the trunk of cars. These are great storage solutions for keeping like items together and in one place.
9. Keep an extra tote bag to carry items from car to home.
10. Create a new rule – if you carry something into the car – you must carry it out.
11. Have a trash bag in the car and empty it regularly.
12. Make a monthly appointment to clean your car.
Happy Organizing!
Get Ready, Get Set, Go! (On Time!)
May 5, 2010 by Nikki · 1 Comment
Scenario: It’s Saturday morning and the baseball game is at 10:00am. It is now 9:40am and we can’t find the mitt, we can’t find the shoes, and we are not sure where the shirt is. We are all scrambling around the garage, the bedroom, the backyard, the laundry room, everywhere trying to figure out where everything was put. This is not a happy stress-free environment, anything but. The clock is ticking…
Does this sound familiar? Anyone who has children with sports activities on the weekend may have felt this kind of pressure! Oh and don’t forget the sideline chairs, the blanket, the umbrella, and do we have enough snacks and entertainment for the younger sibling?
This was my family on Saturday morning. I was frustrated and just plain mad at myself for not planning well enough ahead to make this morning go a little more smoother! I should know better!
Luckily and I mean with luck and teamwork from the whole family, we found what we needed and we were at the game on time!
Every experience we encounter can become learning experiences. We can grow from them and make ourselves better. In this situation we needed a better system in getting ready for our games. On our way home, we came up with one, that I think may just work!!
Our Plan:
- From now on, we have a small bin in the garage, right before you come into the house, this is designated for all of our son’s baseball equipment. This includes the hat, the uniform, the mitt, everything! When he gets home from the game, he is to take off his uniform before going into the house, and place everything in this bin.
- I will be sure the uniform is washed and folded and put back into the bin prior to his next game.
- If he takes out his mitt to play, he is to place it back into the bin as soon as he is done.
- The chairs, blanket, and umbrella are staying in the car.
- Snacks and entertainment will be packed in a backpack the night before the game.
- Our son is responsible for his mitt and hat out on the field. If he takes them off, he needs to make sure they are with him when we leave.
The expectations are now set…. Our next game is on Wednesday, with this new system in place, the half hour before the game, should be a breeze!
Happy Organizing!
Taking Control – The Home Organizing Podcast
April 22, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
TCO is going to iTunes!
I am so excited to announce, Taking Control- The Home Organizing Podcast! 
We have been working on this idea for some time now and it is finally a reality! In today’s busy world we don’t always have time to read a blog post or do the research necessary to do to tackle a project. Now there’s a different way to get the same great information! Subscribe to TCO’s podcast through iTunes and all you have to do is listen to your iPod! At your convenience, put on the ear phones and take a listen while your doing the dishes, the laundry, or when your stuck in traffic!
Every week you will get a new episode tackling some kind of project or question! The best news yet…. I want to gear these podcasts to what you need! So if you have an idea for a show, or need some tips on a project, email me, and let me know… Who knows, it may just be the next topic!
What to expect from Taking Control:
- A lively conversation with Pete Wright and myself… Who is Pete Wright? Pete is the Producer of the show and more importantly the face behind my website. I consider him a partner in my business and a huge influence in developing and telling the story of Take Control Organizing!
- Tips, tricks, and solutions to your everyday organizing issues
- One new episode per week
- Each episode will range anywhere from 10 minutes to 25 minutes (I know you don’t have a lot of time and I want to use it wisely)
- You get an insider look at how I work with clients and get to know me!
- A whole lot of fun mixed in with great education!
I hope you join me in my journey into podcast land! It should be a lot of fun and I look forward to tackling your issues. If you have an idea, send me a note on my contact page, or email – nikki@takecontrolorganizing.com.
You can catch the first episode now… The Office Closet!
Happy Organizing!
Easy Tip To Keep Your Clutter at Bay!
April 14, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
I often get asked, “How can I stay organized?” You have spent the time and energy to get to this point, but how do you keep it that way. There’s more to this process than just “getting organized”, you want to stay that way! In order to keep an organized system in place, there is no getting around it, you must clean up after yourself.
Here is a very simple tip on how to keep your clutter at bay: Corral It! 
Take a basket or a bag and every day, go around from room to room, and take out anything that does not belong in the room and put it back to it’s home… If you do not have a lot of time, set a timer for 10 min or whatever you have available and work quickly. You can get other family members involved by making a game out of it. You can do this anytime during the day, however, morning or nighttime usually works best.
The point is to do it everyday! If it’s done on a daily basis, you will not have accumulated too much clutter. Once you start adding days in between your quick clean ups take longer to accomplish.
Do it everyday and make it a part of your routine, and you will keep your clutter at bay!
Happy Organizing!
Introducing e-mealz!
March 31, 2010 by Nikki · 4 Comments
Meal Planning! This is something that I worry way too much about. Even with the tips I wrote about in my recent blog (Meal Planning), I still struggle at times of what to make for dinner!
Through a friend of mine I found the website, e-mealz and decided to give it a try! I love it! 
I loved it so much, I decided to become an affiliate and put their banner on my website. There are many options you can choose from and for only $1.25 a week, you can’t go wrong! You can have menus for 1-2 people to feeding a family of 4-6! You can have low fat menus, vegetarian meals, point menus, you can even choose the store you shop in! They also have special menus you can buy for vacation trips and for the upcoming Easter holiday!
I highly recommend you check this program out…
The benefits it brought to my family were:
- Saving me time! I print out the menu, decide which meals I want to make and it comes with a grocery list – I don’t have to think about it, I just go with my list and start checking off as I put the ingredients in the basket!
- We get to try new and different recipes!
- The recipes are simple, nothing complex or confusing!
- The price is so reasonable
There are many more benefits, these are just the top ones for me! I highly recommend checking it out and seeing if this may be a good solution for you! It’s priced at a point, where even if you do not like all of the recipes, you do not feel like you are wasting money.
I have saved the menus and now have my own e-mealz binder, filled with the menu plan, recipes and grocery list! I look forward to the new week of menus… It makes meal planning actually fun and not such a dreaded chore!
Happy Organizing!
“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 · 2 Comments
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!
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