Anything worth doing, is worth doing badly—at least to start. As a recovering perfectionist, I have learned to get started on a project, even if I don’t have all the pieces together. Sometimes just puttering, tinkering or moving the parts around will help me sort out my brain enough to give me an idea of how to tackle a project. Read more
Dear friends, this month I just lost it: I was disorganized. Because of graduations, happy family events and the like, I was not able to devote myself to writing for you on a regular basis. Read more
Who says paperwork is not sexy?! This week, I was so impressed (and even charmed) by the paperwork and systems of a couple clients. I was even a little envious. When you keep things simple, it’s much easier to keep them organized. Envy is a signal for something that I want. I became a professional organizer because of envy, but that’s a story for another time. Read more
"The older I get, the more I become like my mother," I used to say. Now I say, "The older I get, the more I get like my clients!" I don’t know if it’s the Stockholm syndrome or the nature of the work that I do that allows me to see things from the client’s [...]
Many of the people I meet are trying to do too much. This can be in the domain of home, work, or community groups. Often, the problem is that these people volunteer to help, but do so to their own detriment, and then become overwhelmed and ineffective. I have clients who volunteer to join committees, run errands, do someone else’s job, or say they will show up for an event when they should just say no. Read more
True Confession: I LOVE Kitchens—when they’re organized. I also love them clean, but that’s a whole other can of worms. For now, I’ll stick to organizing, and leave the cleaning to someone else—preferably, that man that shows up for dinner every night! Kitchens are iconic of the American home; often cited as the heart of the home and family life. When your kitchen supports this idea, then it’s great. When clutter, disorganization, and chaos reign in the kitchen, that discordant energy also affects the family life and Read more
OK, so here we are, three months into the new year, and you know you want to get organized! Let’s talk about paper—everyone’s nemesis—and yet somehow, we can’t let it go. Even I, with all my online accounts—still want the phone and electric companies to send me a paper bill. That way, in case I disappear from the face of the earth—someone will see that I have bills to pay, and that yes, I did exist! Read more
Physical preparedness is key, and when we feel as though we have done the basics, then we can focus on our mental preparedness. Mental preparedness is a state of knowing readiness. Given, there are issues you will not be able to factor in, but you can control much of the physical preparedness, like the purchase of batteries and water. This way, your brain is able to deal with the emergencies Read more
When I do run into a hoarding situation, I always refer those folks to a specialist. Usually the people I meet are in fact, pack rats or collectors, or years-long recipients of relatives’ stuff, and now they are stuck with it all. I did actually work with one couple in Amawalk a few years ago, who may have been displaying some hoarding tendencies, but it could have also been a combination of personal and professional pressures, and they used shopping as a way to soothe their anxiety. Read more
People need support when trying to meet a goal, especially if something is not their natural skillset, or they are pressed for time/attention because of other commitments. Because of the numerous demands on your time and attention, you will have to let something go. If not, you will either blow up or melt down. Want to know how you can build in ways to reduce the pressure, take stock of your wins and renew your commitment every week? Read More