1. Clearly communicate to everyone your newly organized space

Share with them what was involved in the process of getting organized and what it means to you.  Case Study:  I worked together with a busy mom of three to get her pantry organized with a new system in place for snacks, treats, lunch items, etc.  When she asked me, “How do I get my family to keep it this way?” I suggested a family meeting.  We all sat down together and I explained what we did with their pantry, why we put things where we did, why we put some items out of reach (of the kids), etc.  We treated it like a field trip of the pantry.  I then got the mom to explain to her family what it meant to her to have a pantry that didn’t bring her shoulders up every time she opened the door.  The kids could see how important this was for their mom.  The significant other had no idea how much stress the pantry added to his loved one. Now that the rest of the family knew how much the pantry bothered their mom, they made a family decision to help keep the pantry looking in top shape!

2. Teach an old dog a new trick

Repetition, repetition, repetition!  That is the key for this strategy!  Although this one takes a bit of work, I love incorporating this one! I especially love this one when the above does not work.  Case Study: A new back entry way that was created for a busy family of four.  The washer and dryer were removed from the back entry way to the basement.  This freed up space in the entry way.  A shoe organizer was purchased (IKEA) and attached to the wall.  The top drawer of the shoe organizer had a pull-out drawer that we designated for keys.  ANY keys!  Hooks were placed on the wall so that there was space to hang up coats.  So, how did this mom get the family to put their things away?  We used the “Teach an old dog new tricks” strategy.  Any time she found keys she would just put them in the drawer.  She would not say one word to the owner of the keys, she would just put them away.  The same went with coats and jackets.  Any time she found one on the floor, the couch, etc. she would put it on a hook.  Why this strategy?  Where do you think the rest of the family went when it was time to grab a jacket or a set of keys?  You got it!  They were ‘trained’ to go to the correct spot.  Not only were they ‘trained’ where to find the keys and jackets, they were also trained to put them away in the proper place.  Now, that didn’t happen over night, but it also didn’t take long for the rest of the family to see how easy it was to put things away AND how easy it was to find things.  Although this strategy does take work, time and effort, it is so worth it!

Happy talking and training!

For many people, spring is the time when there is renewed energy as we come out of hibernation. So, how does one see or feel ‘change’ in their home?  Here are a few tips:

1. Move your furniture around.  It’s amazing how a room can look when furniture has been moved (and yes, that might mean taking some furniture out).

2. Get the windows washed!  I know that sounds funny, but over the winter we have had some pretty strange (and COLD) weather.  With it so dusty here there is bound to be a layer on your windows.  Get them washed (inside and out).

3. Add some simple colour changes – new toss cushions, maybe some new lampshades, perhaps a new piece of art on the wall, or…  The possibilities are endless!

4. A new coat of paint can sometimes have your home go from drab to fab! Keep the same colour or spice things up by changing.

5. My personal favorite:  de-clutter!  Take one room in your home and be ruthless as you go through it.  It is amazing how much stuff can accumulate over the winter months. I truly believe in, ‘less is more!’

The feeling of change (trees are starting to bud, the days are getting longer, etc.) is all around us. Take some time to make some simple changes in your home!

If this sounds like you, you are not alone!  What happens when we fall into a cycle like the one above is that we get a feeling of being overwhelmed.  What you may even find is that what started out as one space has grown to more spaces or areas.  So how do you get out of this never-ending cycle?   You break each area down as far as you can.  Here’s an example:

Scenario: Home Office

Observation:

1. Unable to see the desk (flat surface)
2. Papers on the desk, on the floor, on the filing cabinet
3. Book shelf filled with ‘stuff’ (not necessarily books)
4. Electronic cords in some drawers, some on the floor, some on the book shelf
5. No garbage can, no recycling, no shredder
6. Similar items scattered around the room
7. Filing cabinet half empty

Getting a picture of this home office?

To rid yourself of that ‘overwhelmed’ feeling, take one area and focus on that.  Each area may take one day (or part of a day) but that’s o.k.  My little rule of thumb is: Do the job right the first time.  Take your time on each job and just get it done.  THEN, move on to the next.

Here’s an example of dealing with just the PAPER issue:

1. Collect all the loose paper.
2. Take the paper to another room and sort.
3. Sort into categories – the more categories the better:  filing, action items (things that need to get done or have a deadline/due date), shredding, recycling, etc.
4. Take your recycling pile and recycle it right away.  Check – this job is now done!
5. Take your shredding pile and shred it (yes – do it now).  Check – this job is now done!
6. Action items – take this pile and record any due dates/deadlines in your calendar.  Place these items (for now) in a pile once your have documented the dates.  These papers will be going back to the home office.
7. Filing – if need be, purchase file folders and use the filing cabinet for what it is meant for.  Take the time to file right now.  Check – this job is now done.
8. Back to Action Items: the dates/deadlines are recorded however you  still may need access to these papers.  There are many organizational options to choose from.  Whatever organizational system you choose, make sure it works for you!
9. When you have placed your ‘action items’ in a spot that works for you (back in the home office), the paper issue should now be completed.

When the paper issue has been fully and completely addressed, then the next area can be started on.  A common mistake for individuals is to start on one area and then get distracted and start working on another area.  Catch yourself before that happens!  It is extremely important to focus on one area, get that area addressed before you move on to the next!  Stop the cycle of “I don’t know where to start.”  It may take some discipline on your part, but it can be done.  By doing so, you will start to see results and get a handle on your space!

Happy organizing everyone!

Every year it’s the same old thing.  In the cold winter months, items just get thrown into the garage so we can rush into a warm home.   The garage ends up becoming a dumping ground for many items.  Sometimes, there are so many items in a garage that your vehicle may not even fit!  This is an on-going issue for many who would like to park their vehicle(s) in the garage, but can’t.  Just take a look down any street and see how many people are parking on the street.   It truly is amazing!

Tackling an area like a garage organization is not a one-day – 2 hour job.  It typically takes the good part of the weekend (2 days) and it to be dirty, dusty work.  If you are sensitive to dust, you may want to have a face-mask handy for some parts of this job.. So, if you’re ready to set aside the time and tackle your garage, here is our 10 Step Process to help you with your own garage organizing project:

1. Remove everything!   Yes, you heard me.  In order to do a good job, everything needs to be removed.
2. When you are removing items (perhaps putting them on the driveway or in your backyard), start grouping/sorting items into ‘like’ piles.  This will make things easier further on down the road.
3. Sweep out and hose out the garage.  If you have a large squeegee, then use it to remove excess water for quicker drying time.  If you don’t have a squeegee, then expect a longer drying time.  It is very important that the garage floor be totally dry before items start going back in (safety first).
4. While you are waiting for the garage floor to dry, look at all of the items that have been brought out.  If you haven’t already, sort into ‘like’ piles.
5. Address each pile with an open mind.  Are there items your family has outgrown and no longer uses?  Are there duplicate items?
6. As you go through each pile, you may want to start 3 new piles:  garbage, donate (or sell), recycle.
7. Once you know what you would like to keep, assess if you need any containers, shelving, etc.  Put of buying containers/shelving until this step. There are a variety of shelving/container options at various prices to suit any budget.
8. Try to resist placing items back on the garage floor.  If possible, use the wall space (a pegboard for tools, shelving to house items, hooks, etc.)
9. Be sure to leave enough room so that you don’t bump a car door into any new shelving, bins, etc.
10. Take your garbage, donate and recycle items to where they need to go.  DO NOT put those piles back in the garage for a later date.

Many people would love to have their garage organized but  most people don’t want to spend large amounts of money on a space they don’t live in.  When we organize a garage, our main goal is for it to be functional for the individual or family.  We certainly have clients who also want it to look pretty, but our main goal is for it to be organized so that it is easy to maintain the organization.  A few cost-efficient ways to organize a garage are:

• Instead of installing an entire system,  install only what you need.  Instead of having the entire wall full of shelves that may not get used, only install the size you need. We have found that Rona offers some great solutions in a variety of sizes (www.rona.ca).

• Use the vertical space in your garage.  We like to have as few items on the ground as possible.  There are many different supplies out in the market for using vertical space.  We love the track system!  You can purchase tracking for the entire wall (www.cabinetsbyhayley.com) or just what you need (www.canadiantire.ca).  You will be amazed at how much you can hang off a wall.

Once everything has found a place in your garage, drive your vehicle in, close the garage door, and take a nice long shower.  You deserve it!

I grew up in a home where being late was not an option.  If we had to be at a certain place at 3:00 p.m., then we were at that certain place at 3:00 p.m.  For a short time, I believed that everyone was like that.  I believed that no one was late, that everyone arrived on time, etc.  I’m not 100% sure when I actually started to notice people being late, but I see it all the time!  I remember one event at church that sticks in my memory.  Our minister had already started, all the families were in the pews listening attentively.  I distinctly remember a certain family coming in during the sermon.  How and why I remember them is by the way they came in.  Not only were they late (imagine – on a Sunday being late!), they did not sneak in quietly and sit at the back.  No sir – they walked right in, down the center aisle and sat very close to the front.  While our minister went on (and I’m pretty sure he was not impressed), this family got themselves settled (and they were not quiet) and carried on as if nothing happened.  To this day, it still irks me that they had the audacity to walk right in and disrupt the entire sermon.

In my past life as an elementary school teacher, it used to drive me batty when kids were consistently late.  One example would include a student named Johnny (not his real name).  Class would  be started, we had  completed our morning routine and started on the morning lesson and little Johnny would come in, stop at the door and say, “Good morning.  I know I’m late but have I missed anything?”  Really?? Seriously?? You ask this EVERY DAY!  Did this little boy actually think we did nothing and just waited for him to show up?  And if he did think that, where do you suppose he learned that from?  When the discussion of this came up at interview time, Johnny’s mom would say things like, “…mornings are really rushed for us…..I just can’t get Johnny to get his jacket on…..I’m having a hard time waking up…”   Ahh…..the excuses and excuses.  What I really wanted to do was give the mom a shake and say, “Wake up!  You’re the parent, you’re the adult, get it together!”

Fast forward to my life as a Professional Organizer.  What I’ve come to know through helping people with time management is that many adults do not have time sense.  Sure, the younger generation can multitask with the best of them, but can they get anything completely done?  Few can – many can’t.  Teaching my clients to be respectful of other people’s time is where we actually start.  For some of you, you may think this sounds a bit silly.  It’s actually surprisingly alarming!   If, as a child, you were never taught the value of time, how would you know that wasting other people’s time is considered selfish and careless?  In today’s busy work environment, no one likes to have time wasted.  Here are a few quick tips on respecting other people’s time:

1. If you are running late, communicate that to the people waiting as soon as you can.  We all know life is not perfect.  There are car accidents, there’s rush-hour, there’s life!  Have the courtesy and make the call.   Apologize for the delay and perhaps offer the option of re-scheduling.
2. Be efficient – have an agenda, a set start and finish time and use that as your guide.  Nothing worse that a meeting lasting 2 hours that could have taken 30 minutes.
3. Allow for transition time – whether you are going from one meeting to the next or meeting a couple of clients in a day, allow some time in between.   Never schedule meetings back to back.  I typically suggest at least a 15 minute break in between meetings (if no travel is required)

Time is precious and people do not like to have it wasted.  Once you have wasted time, you will never get it back.  It’s just not possible!  Choose to be respectful and courteous of other people’s time.  You’ll be happy you did!

Sheri Bruneau

This past week was a tough one for myself and my family as we lost my dear Buba (my dad’s mom).  My Buba and I had a great relationship as I am only one of a total of three grand-kids.  You see, my dad only has one brother and he and his wife do not have children.  As you might imagine my brother, sister, and I were spoiled beyond belief.  If my dad said, “No,” my Buba would say, “Yes.” My siblings and I spent many summers living with my grandparents on the acreage/farm – working and playing!

My parents were making their way back from Arizona (driving) when my Buba passed away so I headed up to Edmonton to help my uncle prepare.  My sister was in Denver and my brother in New York City.  My dad was able to fly in to Edmonton leaving my mom to drive up with my sister from Denver.  My uncle, dad and I began the preparation for my Buba’s funeral.  As we were working through things, it became evident the importance of being organized for death.  This is something I really have not thought of before.  When we met with the funeral home as well as my Buba’s minister, there were many questions that we did not know how to answer.  For example, her favorite hymn, her favorite scripture reading, etc.  Throughout this entire process of organizing the entire funeral I kept thinking about the many things that should be addressed before one’s death.  I know I am probably leaving some things out however, here is a list that you may find useful.

1. If you haven’t already, have a Last Will in Testament written up by a lawyer that states your wishes.

2. Make sure you have an executor for your estate and/or a Power of Attorney.

3. Write down your bank account information (name of bank, address, as well as your account information).  You can keep these in a safe place (such as a Safety Deposit Box, a safe, etc.).  Make sure someone knows where you have put this information.

4. Include any other pertinent banking information such as investment accounts, RRSP/RRIF accounts, Pensions, etc. with your banking information.

5. Write down personal information such as date of birth, place of birth, and any other personal information.

6. Make note of your Social Insurance Number and keep that in a safe place as the funeral home/Gov’t of Canada will need that.

7. Create a list of all log-ins with passwords.  Keep this list where your loved one will be able to locate it (Safety Deposit Box, safe, in a file on your computer, etc.)

Wherever you choose to put all of the above, make sure you let someone know where it is located.  I was lucky as my Buba did have all of that with my uncle so it was no stress to have to locate items.

If you are planning to have a funeral or memorial service, you may want to think of the following:

1. What are your favorite songs that you would like played?

2. Are there scripture readings that you particularly like?

3. Is there someone you would choose to present a eulogy?

In terms of the actual funeral itself:

1. Is your preference to be buried or to be cremated?

2. Is there a cemetery you would like to be buried at or have you already pre-paid for a spot (and do people know if you have)?

3. Have you thought about pre-paying for your burial site, funeral, etc.?

I know I have just touched on the many things that one must go through to prepare for a funeral.  What I do know is that the more plans that are made, the easier it is for the loved ones who are left behind.  We were very lucky as my Buba had most things arranged.

Everyday gets a bit easier and remembering the fun times is sometimes what stops the tears from flowing.   I have let my own parents know that they need to get their wishes written down as they now see how important it is to everyone who is left behind. And yes, I have given them homework and I expect it to get done!

This is not an easy thing to do – thinking of your own demise – but something that I truly believe can be organized ahead of time!

I hope you have a great day everyone!

Sheri

Many clients I work with talk about how they dread to come into work the following day (especially after a weekend) knowing they have a pile waiting for them on their desk.  My solution to this on-going situation is to do the following:

1.Block off 10 minutes at the end of the day and book an appointment with yourself!  We are able to keep a doctor or dentist appointment, therefore I stress the urgency to keep your appointment with yourself.  That means no phone calls, texts, tweets, etc.  No interruptions!

2. Start by addressing the paper on your desk.  If there are no areas set up, I suggest creating 3:

Action Items

These are jobs/tasks that need to get done and/or are time sensitive.  A tiered organizer may work where the most time sensitive items are in front.

Filing

This would include any paperwork that needs to be kept and/or filed.  This can be a tray, a bin, a box or anything else that will hold the paper temporarily.  Setting a time to file is for another time.

Recycling and/or shredding

Many of my clients use a recyclable grocery bag or a plain box to toss recycling.  Most companies have policies on shredding and thus have an area set aside for this.

3. Once the paper has been placed in the correct spot, the next job is to place all ‘tools’ back into their correct spots.  Pens, pencils, scissors, any stationary, etc.  Many of these items can really clutter up a desk!  Make sure you put them away.

4. Check work email.  Flag emails (or mark them as un-read) if you need to address them tomorrow or on Monday.

5. Start a “To Do” list for the next working day.  Revisit your action items to ensure you are ranking them in order of priority.

6. Check your calendar as to the events happening the next day.

• Is there a meeting you need to remind yourself of?
• Are you meeting a client at a particular time?
• Is there a deadline that you need to be conscious of?

By looking at the next day, you are mentally preparing yourself for what lies ahead.

It may sound like a lot of things to do, but once you get in the habit of taking 10 minutes each day, you will be thanking yourself the next morning!  If a cluttered desk is really causing you to feel stressed out or anxious, I urge you to take the small amount of time to get it together!

**Moving some of our blogs over to our new site.  This post was originally posted on March 17, 2011**

Today I tweeted my ‘Tip of the Day’:  One Life = One Calendar.  I’ve had a ton of questions already about how to do that.  So, here are my steps on having one calendar for your one life.  For reference sake, I am going to use my family for the example. In my family there is myself, my husband, my 15 year old son and my 13 year old daughter.  We have a ‘traditional’ paper family calendar AND use technology (iPhones, iPods, iPads) to keep up-to-date.  Although our calendar is in two different formats, they have the exact same information on them.

1. Purchase a calendar that has plenty of room to write down appointments, events, etc.  I have been using More Time Moms calendar for years.  I typically purchase mine at Costco as they tend to have the best prices.

2. Each person has an assigned color.  I use highlighters and use yellow for me, orange for my business, green for my husband, black pen for his business items, purple for family functions, blue for my son and pink for my daughter. Below is a photo of our calendar:

3. I purchased a magnet sheet to stick on the back of the calendar so that it will hang off our refrigerator.  If your refrigerator is not magnetic, you can purchase any type of hanger (like a 3M) to help with that.  You could also choose to hang it on a wall.  Where ever you choose to put your calendar, make sure EVERYONE can see it and make sure it is at a level where EVERYONE can write on it and add things.

4. This is our ‘go-to’ place to look at each morning.  When I say “our” go-to calendar, I mean our entire family.  It is now routine for all 4 of us to look at the calendar each morning to see what lies ahead for us. We have our paper calendar because we don’t necessarily turn our computers on at 5:00 am.  This does take a bit of ‘training’, but the short-term pain is worth the long-term gain!

5. In our age of technology, we also have a digital copy of this calendar.  Although it is a digital format of our calendar, it says exactly what is on our paper calendar.  We are an Apple family so my husband and I both have iPhones, our kids have iPods, we have iPads and we use Mac computers at home.  We have a subscription to Mobile Me (we now have iCloud)  which enable us to have the same information on our mobile devices.  On my Mac computer, I use  iCalendar.  Again, when I add in an activity or appointment, I color code. Here is an example of what our digital calendar looks like:

With using something like Mobile Me (iCloud), our iPhones, iPods and iPads are automatically synced (emails, contacts, calendars, etc.).   If you are not an Apple user, there are many ways to still do the above.

6. Keeping a calendar updated does take time.  I don’t have a calendar fairy to help me.  Being a Professional Organizer, I have taken on the role for my family.  When I get a schedule (ex: for hockey), I sit down and write in all the times and color code.  Usually on Sunday evening, I take a look at our digital calendar and our paper calendar to ensure the week coming up has been updated and that they say the same thing.

There are some important things to remember when working with calendars:

• Choose a calendar that best works for everyone that needs to see it.  It can be a paper calendar, a digital calendar or both.  Just ensure that if you are using two different formats that they say the same thing!
• Ensure that everyone can see it and have the opportunity to write in it.  This teaches everyone (including your spouse) to be responsible for adding in items.
• Establish routines on when to update.  For some, that may mean daily (if you are an extremely busy person), it might be weekly.  That will depend on how often you add appointments, activities, etc.

The benefits of having one calendar:

• It allows you to easily see just how busy you (and your family) are
• It ensures there are not conflicts OR it allows you to plan for any time conflicts
• It mentally prepares you for what lies ahead
• It stops the phone calls like, “Hey honey, what do we have going next Saturday?”  They just need to look at their calendar on their own mobile device to know:)

Although I have many facets of my life:  a mother, a wife, a business owner, CEO of our family, etc. I still only have ONE calendar.  Hope this helps!

I belong to a book club and we are starting our seventh year of being together.  I can’t believe how fast the time has flown.  I also can’t believe some of the fantastic (and not so fantastic) books we have read.  We recently read a book called The Happiness Project written by Gretchen Rubin.  When I went to purchase the book, I had a hard time finding it.

Low and behold, it was in the ‘Self-Help’ section and not in the fiction section.  Hmmmm…a self-help book for book club?  I wondered how it was going to be.  I’m happy to report that I LOVED this book.  The first chapter – a whole section about ‘Toss, Restore, Organize’ – why wouldn’t I love it?  What a way to start a book!  Gretchen has done a great job in breaking down they types of clutter that one can accumulate.  Here are some categories that Gretchen has identified in her own life:

1. Nostalgic Clutter – things you hold on from your past that you don’t need or use.  Things like old text books, old love letters, etc.
2. Conservation Clutter - things you keep because they may be useful except they are useless to you. How many drinking glasses does one need in their home?  How many jeans can you wear?  Typically, you have your favorites – so keep those.
3. Bargain Clutter – things you have purchased because they were on sale BUT items you don’t need.
4. Freebie Clutter – things you are given, things that are hand-me-downs or giveaways that you take but you have no need for them.
5. Crutch Clutter – items that you own but know you shouldn’t.  Gretchen uses the example of “…her horrible green sweatshirt.”
6. Aspirational Clutter - items you have that you really want to use, but don’t.  Such as the skinny pair of jeans you don’t quite fit into, the china you got when you were married, etc.
7. Buyer’s Remorse Clutter – items you hold onto because you bought them and if you don’t keep them it would be considered a waste of money.

Do you find that you have any of the above types of clutter in your home or in your life?  If you do, know that you are not alone. The important part to understand when organizing and maintaining an organized life is acknowledging your triggers and knowing your self (inside and out).  So, next time you are shopping and there is a bargain or deal, ask yourself if you’re really going to use it.   If someone wants to give you something, ask yourself if you are going to use it. If not, then say, “No thank you.”

Take some time to go through a cupboard, a drawer, or your closet!  Any clutter in there?  If so, what kind is it? Take some time to go through your home. It’s time!  It’s time to ‘Get It Together’ (sorry – couldn’t resist)!

Maintenance could be found everywhere in your life!  I’ve come up with a list (and it’s not complete) of things in our lives that may require maintenance:

• •teeth
• •hair
• •nails
• •home
• •grass/yard
• •vehicle
• •dishes (washing)

The list can go on and on.  The point is, when you have organized something in your life – whether it is a physical space or you’ve worked on time management – it too requires maintenance.

A physical space example:  When working with a young family, together we created an organized toy room.  We had labeled bins and every toy had a proper ‘home’.  Five years later, most of the bins were no longer needed as they kids did not play with those toys anymore.  What were once bins with toys were replaced with a video game console and 1 bin for the games to go with it.

Too often people think that when an organizer comes in and organizes something, it’s going to stay that way.  Not true!  Your physical space and/or time management need to be maintained.  Things change, kids grow up, and we get more mature (see – I didn’t say older).

There are no hard, fast rules for how often you need to maintain your spaces.  For my family situation, I re-organize the garage and our basement twice a year.  I go through the entire space and recycle and give away anything that we no longer use or need.  I re-organize our closets four times a year (once after each season) and my kitchen cupboards and drawers once a year (typically during spring cleaning season).  My hard-fast rule for any space: anything that hasn’t been used in a season leaves our home!

The key to any organized space is the maintenance part.  When you maintain an organized space you stop the feeling of being overwhelmed because you deal with it before it gets out of control.

Happy maintaining!

Sheri Bruneau

Get It Together Inc.