Reader Question – How to Handle Other People’s Clutter

As difficult as it is for many people to manage their own clutter, it’s even tougher when you’re faced with someone else’s stuff. A reader asked how to get family members to commit to letting go of clutter.

When only one person in a household is committed to the process, you are going to feel offended when your efforts aren’t respected by others. You lose motivation when your work is discounted and when family members attempt to disrupt the work you’ve done, it can lead to anger all around.

It’s not easy to make changes and it’s even more difficult when you don’t have buy-in from others.

When parents complain that their kids leave stuff strewn about the house, I ask if they’ve set up systems and trained their kids so that the systems work. Even small children can be taught to place dirty clothes in hampers and put toys away before bedtime. Teenagers can be taught, too.

The most important thing to remember is that everyone wants to know What’s In It For Me? People who haven’t been expected to pick up after themselves need a reason to start now. Find some payoff: it’s easier to get ready in the morning, you won’t be fighting all the time, there’ll be more time for fun things, etc.

Sometimes, the best way to handle other people’s clutter, however, is to let it be. Allowing a cluttered space (e.g., closet, garage, basement, shed) that can be closed away from the rest of the home, in return for keeping common areas uncluttered, may be the best compromise.

Do you have challenges with other people’s clutter?

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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Reader Question – How to Handle Other People’s Clutter

As difficult as it is for many people to manage their own clutter, it’s even tougher when you’re faced with someone else’s stuff. A reader asked how to get family members to commit to letting go of clutter.

When only one person in a household is committed to the process, you are going to feel offended when your efforts aren’t respected by others. You lose motivation when your work is discounted and when family members attempt to disrupt the work you’ve done, it can lead to anger all around.

It’s not easy to make changes and it’s even more difficult when you don’t have buy-in from others.

When parents complain that their kids leave stuff strewn about the house, I ask if they’ve set up systems and trained their kids so that the systems work. Even small children can be taught to place dirty clothes in hampers and put toys away before bedtime. Teenagers can be taught, too.

The most important thing to remember is that everyone wants to know What’s In It For Me? People who haven’t been expected to pick up after themselves need a reason to start now. Find some payoff: it’s easier to get ready in the morning, you won’t be fighting all the time, there’ll be more time for fun things, etc.

Sometimes, the best way to handle other people’s clutter, however, is to let it be. Allowing a cluttered space (e.g., closet, garage, basement, shed) that can be closed away from the rest of the home, in return for keeping common areas uncluttered, may be the best compromise.

Do you have challenges with other people’s clutter?

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

 

Reader Question – How to Deal With School Papers

Once school is out for the summer, many families ignore the stack of papers that have been brought home over the course of the school year. Backpacks remain stuffed with old assignments and somewhere there’s a pile of projects that seemed important to keep.

A reader asked what to do with all the paperwork that accumulates during the school year, given that it’s going to start again in the fall.

One of the things I caution parents is that you can’t keep everything your child does. When you start to scrutinize each piece of paper that comes home, you notice that many are similar and that few truly are gems.

I suggest that each child have a box for school papers that display firsts – first spelling test, first A on a quiz, first time using multiplication, etc. Programs from performances your child participated in are fun to remember, as are exciting moments, like newspaper clippings showing a dignitary visiting the school.

In short, keep the best and toss the rest. You don’t need to keep every paper your child signed, but do keep representative samples of that signature so you can appreciate the changes over the years.

The same principles apply to artwork. I recently dedicated a blog post to that subject.

The way to keep papers from piling up is to make decisions about them immediately. You might want to post a worksheet on the refrigerator or a bulletin board for a period of time. After that, determine whether it merits a place in the keepsake box or if you can let it go.

Some people who have trouble making decisions hold on to everything and address it at the end of each term or the end of the school year. You might find it easier to pull just a few pieces when you have a large collection to choose from.

Whether you tackle the project once a year or weekly, make it a habit to go through kids’ papers. As they get older, have them participate in the process so they can learn to determine what is worth keeping.

Do you have an organizing or productivity question? Let me know and I’ll answer it in an upcoming post.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader Question – How to Deal With School Papers

Once school is out for the summer, many families ignore the stack of papers that have been brought home over the course of the school year. Backpacks remain stuffed with old assignments and somewhere there’s a pile of projects that seemed important to keep.

A reader asked what to do with all the paperwork that accumulates during the school year, given that it’s going to start again in the fall.

One of the things I caution parents is that you can’t keep everything your child does. When you start to scrutinize each piece of paper that comes home, you notice that many are similar and that few truly are gems.

I suggest that each child have a box for school papers that display firsts – first spelling test, first A on a quiz, first time using multiplication, etc. Programs from performances your child participated in are fun to remember, as are exciting moments, like newspaper clippings showing a dignitary visiting the school.

In short, keep the best and toss the rest. You don’t need to keep every paper your child signed, but do keep representative samples of that signature so you can appreciate the changes over the years.

The same principles apply to artwork. I recently dedicated a blog post to that subject.

The way to keep papers from piling up is to make decisions about them immediately. You might want to post a worksheet on the refrigerator or a bulletin board for a period of time. After that, determine whether it merits a place in the keepsake box or if you can let it go.

Some people who have trouble making decisions hold on to everything and address it at the end of each term or the end of the school year. You might find it easier to pull just a few pieces when you have a large collection to choose from.

Whether you tackle the project once a year or weekly, make it a habit to go through kids’ papers. As they get older, have them participate in the process so they can learn to determine what is worth keeping.

Do you have an organizing or productivity question? Let me know and I’ll answer it in an upcoming post.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader question – How to Make Time for Yourself

It seems that everyone is trying to fit more into each day. If you’re doing multiple tasks at the same time, skipping meals, sleeping less, depending on caffeine or nicotine to get you through the day, you’re neglecting yourself.

Yes, sometimes you have to work a little harder or do a little more to meet a deadline; however, when you become accustomed to operating in URGENT mode all the time, you are put unnecessary strain on your mind and body. This is serious – heart disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety and many other conditions are aggravated by stress.

A reader asked how to find time to relax, given that May is National Mental Health Month.

The truth is that you won’t “find” time for yourself, you have to schedule it or you’ll always find something that seems more important. You need to decide whether that phone call, email or text really is urgent, or if you can stop for a few minutes each day and find some stillness.

When you’re overwhelmed by stress, you benefit from having a selection of coping tools to fall back on. Your toolbox, if you will, contains activities you can rely on to calm you. It might include music, meditation, rituals, nature, exercise, deep breathing or prayer.

 

When I work with clients who experience distractibility,  I ask “Is this the best use of your time right now?” Ask yourself the same question when you’re feeling overwhelmed and need a break.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader question – How to Make Time for Yourself

It seems that everyone is trying to fit more into each day. If you’re doing multiple tasks at the same time, skipping meals, sleeping less, depending on caffeine or nicotine to get you through the day, you’re neglecting yourself.

Yes, sometimes you have to work a little harder or do a little more to meet a deadline; however, when you become accustomed to operating in URGENT mode all the time, you are put unnecessary strain on your mind and body. This is serious – heart disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety and many other conditions are aggravated by stress.

A reader asked how to find time to relax, given that May is National Mental Health Month.

The truth is that you won’t “find” time for yourself, you have to schedule it or you’ll always find something that seems more important. You need to decide whether that phone call, email or text really is urgent, or if you can stop for a few minutes each day and find some stillness.

When you’re overwhelmed by stress, you benefit from having a selection of coping tools to fall back on. Your toolbox, if you will, contains activities you can rely on to calm you. It might include music, meditation, rituals, nature, exercise, deep breathing or prayer.

 

When I work with clients who experience distractibility,  I ask “Is this the best use of your time right now?” Ask yourself the same question when you’re feeling overwhelmed and need a break.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader question – Jumpstart Your Spring Cleaning Routine

Photo by Idea go

I can’t believe it’s mid-April already! While some people start spring cleaning in February, others are still contemplating how to get motivated to clean before next spring rolls around. A reader who dreads the process wants to know how to begin.

I suggest you think about what is really important to you. You don’t have to scour your house from top to bottom just because the calendar says it’s spring. In fact, if you spread heavy cleaning tasks throughout the year, you might not find it so burdensome.

Make a list of tasks you want to accomplish and decide who will do them. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Consider bartering if you enjoy weeding but really dislike cleaning windows, for example. Try a neighborhood online chat or a local bulletin board at your library or coffee shop. Or ask a teenage neighbor who would like to earn a little extra money.

You could hire someone to prepare your flower beds or vegetable garden so you can get right to planting. Or you might want to pay someone to wash your windows and siding or clean your gutters.

Don’t punish yourself because you just aren’t that into cleaning. Set goals, break them up into steps and schedule them on your calendar. Know your limitations, do what you can and ask for help.

Which spring cleaning job do you least look forward to?

 

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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Reader question – Jumpstart Your Spring Cleaning Routine

Photo by Idea go

I can’t believe it’s mid-April already! While some people start spring cleaning in February, others are still contemplating how to get motivated to clean before next spring rolls around. A reader who dreads the process wants to know how to begin.

I suggest you think about what is really important to you. You don’t have to scour your house from top to bottom just because the calendar says it’s spring. In fact, if you spread heavy cleaning tasks throughout the year, you might not find it so burdensome.

Make a list of tasks you want to accomplish and decide who will do them. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Consider bartering if you enjoy weeding but really dislike cleaning windows, for example. Try a neighborhood online chat or a local bulletin board at your library or coffee shop. Or ask a teenage neighbor who would like to earn a little extra money.

You could hire someone to prepare your flower beds or vegetable garden so you can get right to planting. Or you might want to pay someone to wash your windows and siding or clean your gutters.

Don’t punish yourself because you just aren’t that into cleaning. Set goals, break them up into steps and schedule them on your calendar. Know your limitations, do what you can and ask for help.

Which spring cleaning job do you least look forward to?

 

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

 

Reader question – Organizing Craft Supplies

March is National Craft Month and it’s a great time to assess all your supplies. Last week I decided that it was time to downsize the yarn collection. I just don’t knit and crochet as much as I used to and I know that there are places like Project Knitwell that can make good use of my extra yarn.

 

Coincidentally, a reader recently asked how to organize all her craft supplies.

 

The first thing to consider is whether there are some projects you’d like to let go. There’s no point organizing stuff you’re not going to use.

 

Next, group supplies by type: paper crafting, needlework, sewing, etc. Don’t buy any containers until you see what you have and decide where you’re going to keep it.

 

If you already have a dedicated crafts space, look at your existing setup. If you have shelves to put things on, measure them and see if you have containers that would fit. Use larger bins for bulky items and projects in progress. Smaller supplies might fit well in shoe boxes or glass jars.

 

If you are trying to fit your crafting into a closet or corner of a room, use the same guidelines. Consider repurposing something you already have, like file cabinets or suitcases, to house your supplies. Take a look at pinterest for ideas to store craft supplies in a small space.

 

Do you enjoy crafting? What kinds of projects are you working on?

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader question – Organizing Craft Supplies

March is National Craft Month and it’s a great time to assess all your supplies. Last week I decided that it was time to downsize the yarn collection. I just don’t knit and crochet as much as I used to and I know that there are places like Project Knitwell that can make good use of my extra yarn.

 

Coincidentally, a reader recently asked how to organize all her craft supplies.

 

The first thing to consider is whether there are some projects you’d like to let go. There’s no point organizing stuff you’re not going to use.

 

Next, group supplies by type: paper crafting, needlework, sewing, etc. Don’t buy any containers until you see what you have and decide where you’re going to keep it.

 

If you already have a dedicated crafts space, look at your existing setup. If you have shelves to put things on, measure them and see if you have containers that would fit. Use larger bins for bulky items and projects in progress. Smaller supplies might fit well in shoe boxes or glass jars.

 

If you are trying to fit your crafting into a closet or corner of a room, use the same guidelines. Consider repurposing something you already have, like file cabinets or suitcases, to house your supplies. Take a look at pinterest for ideas to store craft supplies in a small space.

 

Do you enjoy crafting? What kinds of projects are you working on?

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader question – How do I go paperless?

Photo by hyena reality

 

The beginning of the year is a good time to look at how you’ve been handling paper and to think about how you can reduce the amount of paper in your environment.

 

A reader asked, in preparation for filing income taxes, how to have a paperless home office.

 

I don’t know if it’s possible to be completely paper-free, so I suggest working toward having less paper.

 

The first step is to avoid having paper come in.

·  Get your name off junk-mail lists with the Direct Marketing Association’s online tool www.dmachoice.org/register.php.  

 

·  Reduce the amount of mail you receive by signing up for email notifications that your monthly statements are ready for downloading to your computer.

 

The next step is to scan loose paper that you want to keep.

·  Set up files on your computer that mirror your paper files.

 

·  Scan documents and “file” them in the appropriate folders.

 

·  Shred any sensitive information before you toss it.

 

Finally, have a schedule for moving paper out of your home and workspace.

·  Decide how long you will keep paper, depending upon its legal and/or financial necessity.

 

·  Create a schedule for clearing out your virtual files, as well.

 

Do you prefer to keep paper around or would you rather rely on digital files?

 

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of  what you don't need and finding room for what you value

Follow me on twitter , facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader question – How do I go paperless?

Photo by hyena reality

 

The beginning of the year is a good time to look at how you’ve been handling paper and to think about how you can reduce the amount of paper in your environment.

 

A reader asked, in preparation for filing income taxes, how to have a paperless home office.

 

I don’t know if it’s possible to be completely paper-free, so I suggest working toward having less paper.

 

The first step is to avoid having paper come in.

·  Get your name off junk-mail lists with the Direct Marketing Association’s online tool www.dmachoice.org/register.php.  

 

·  Reduce the amount of mail you receive by signing up for email notifications that your monthly statements are ready for downloading to your computer.

 

The next step is to scan loose paper that you want to keep.

·  Set up files on your computer that mirror your paper files.

 

·  Scan documents and “file” them in the appropriate folders.

 

·  Shred any sensitive information before you toss it.

 

Finally, have a schedule for moving paper out of your home and workspace.

·  Decide how long you will keep paper, depending upon its legal and/or financial necessity.

 

·  Create a schedule for clearing out your virtual files, as well.

 

Do you prefer to keep paper around or would you rather rely on digital files?

 

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of  what you don't need and finding room for what you value

Follow me on twitter , facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!