Organize your makeup

Sometimes the organizing solutions I find are from an excited, creative client! A couple weeks ago I visited a woman to begin work on her disheveled closet. When I arrived, she was anxious to start and very excited about making her closet functional and beautiful.

Her enthusiasm about having an organized bedroom manifested itself while she went shopping for bins and baskets to use in the closet. She kept her eyes open for other items that might help her organize another part of her life and came across a small plastic tote. It was a great answer to her makeup issues! It was portable, see through, had divided sections and allowed you to expand the product if needed. I was hooked!

The product she found was the Medium 3 layer Craft Organizer by Snapware. She put all of her brushes in the top tray, large bulky cosmetics in the second tray and used the bottom divided section to house all her small lipsticks and other cosmetics. She was so excited and felt as though she had found the perfect solution to her former makeup woes.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find the exact product online. It is available in Target stores but I have not successfully located the exact tote on their website. So I am sharing a link I found on Amazon.Com for a very similar tote. The second link is for Target's generic version of the product.

Storage Tote at Amazon.Com.  

Storage Tote at Target.Com.

Try out this great product and think of other areas in your home it can be used!

You mean I can't organize just once?

It is a common assumption that once you put an organizing system in place it will always work and function exactly the way it did in the beginning indefinitely. Even more widespread is the thought that one is a failure if the system does not continue to serve the purpose for which it was intended. Both of the previous outlooks lead to a lot of frustration and and a sense of inability to rise to the task.

The reality is life varies constantly. When your schedule, routine or responsibilities change it is important to recognize that the organizing system supporting you must mold to the new development. Do not beat yourself up if your methods need to modify to fit the new dynamic you are facing.

The best approach is to take stock of what works in your current system. Then identify the changes you must make in your system to make it fit your current needs. For example, if you now take the kids out through the garage instead of the front door it is ok to move the coat and boot storage so it is convenient to your new point of exit and entry. What once worked may not be the best solution anymore.

When your system no longer feels as though it functions properly, take an honest assessment and see if there is a change that needs to be made.

Maintain your organizing system to prevent relapse

It is a common assumption that once you put an organizing system in place it will always work and function exactly the way it did in the beginning indefinitely.  Even more widespread is the thought that one is a failure if the system does not continue to serve the purpose for which it was intended.  Both of the previous outlooks lead to a lot of frustration and and a sense of inability to rise to the task.

The reality is life varies constantly.  When your schedule, routine or responsibilities change it is important to recognize that the organizing system supporting you must mold to the new development.  Do not beat yourself up if your methods need to modify to fit the new dynamic you are facing.

The best approach is to take stock of what works in your current system.  Then identify the changes you must make in your system to make it fit your current needs. For example, if you now take the kids out through the garage instead of the front door it is ok to move the coat and boot storage so it is convenient to your new point of exit and entry.  What once worked may not be the best solution anymore. 

When your system no longer feels as though it functions properly, take an honest assessment and see if there is a change that needs to be made.

Get rid of miscellaneous clutter

What can you do with items or papers in transition? For instance, a pair of pants needs to be dry cleaned so it can't go in the closet. Where does it go? A vase needs to be fixed so it can't go in the cupboard. Where does it go? There is a tool that needs to return to the shed but you don't want to walk out there at the moment. Where does it go?

Things is transition can be the hardest to organize because they do not belong where they normally are stored. They need to be separate so the tasks associated with them do not get forgotten. However, most of the time we keep them out on the counter, or on our desk, or somewhere else where they take up space and create clutter. Here are some suggestions to keep transitional items organized but on the radar:

-Have a hook and a basket by the door or on the way to the door. Any hanging items or bags you need to take out of the house can go on the hook. All other items like library books, letters etc can be in the basket until you are ready to run the errand.

-Put a basket at the top of basement stairs or on the way outside to your garage or shed. When you have a tool or item that needs to be returned you can set it in the basket until you are ready to make a trip outside or into the garage. The same method can be applied at the bottom and top of stairs to different levels of the house. By placing items in “holding areas” you can wait to transport groups of items.

-Designate an area to keep items that need to be mended. You can even attach a note and broken pieces to the item so you remember what you have to fix.

Think of other situations where you can implement similar strategies. You will begin to cut down on transitory clutter!

Technology doesn't always fix the problem

I met with a prospective client a few weeks ago to discuss the possibility of organizing her business office. During our initial consultation we talked about the problems she was facing with her desk and why it was always unkempt. At one point in the conversation our attention turned to the disorganization within her computer and why her computer files and emails were not being managed properly. It highlighted an often forgotten fact…Technology does not automatically make a person organized! In fact, sometimes it can make their situation worse. My prospect’s desk and computer were remarkably similar: her papers were all mixed up on the desk and so were her computer documents. Her physical filing system was not functioning properly, and she had not yet created a system for her computer files that was efficient and effective. In the end I believe that good habits and discipline make someone organized, not necessarily the technology they use. For some people, electronics and technology are a God send and make life easier. For others, it highlights and accentuates the current lack of organization.

Organizing tips for newlyweds

Setting up your new house or apartment with your spouse is an important part of starting the next stage of your relationship together. The goal is to have living quarters that are comfortable, functional and conducive to your own living habits and preferences as well as your spouse’s. The worst mistake most new couples make is not listening to the other person. Both individuals should give and receive opinions openly and be willing to compromise on non-essential preferences. Organization is a very personal thing, often molded to our own unique habits and lifestyle choices. Working together, you can build systems that are easy for both of you to follow and maintain. Sit down together and discuss the different rooms in your home, and determine how each of you thinks they should be used. Consider the activities you do or want space for, and assign these activities to the room(s) you think will best accommodate them. Be creative; for example, a bedroom could be your craft area or second den. Then think about the furniture you want to use as storage. Ensure that it fits what you want it to hold, and that it will make sense in the room in which you would like it to reside. Storing items by how they are used, grouped or categorized into specific spaces is the easiest and most efficient way to find things. If you both lived on your own previous to living together and have two households to combine, remember that you do not need two of everything. First, decide what non-duplicate items you would like to keep. Ask yourselves if it is useful to your lifestyle and if you want it. Then tackle the duplicate items. First look at the space you have to work with. While having two sofas is nice, your living room simply may not be large enough. Ask yourselves if you really need, and will use, two sets of utensils or dishes. Don’t always expect your spouse to make the tough call all the time. Be willing to let some of your personal belongings go. If you decide to keep more duplicates, consider storing the second item in a basement, attic or closet if it is not going to be used frequently. You will leave more space for things you are going to use on a regular basis, and cut down on clutter in high traffic areas. Starting fresh with the registry gifts you receive and items you buy together can be easier. However, there will always be a few gifts that weren’t really what you were looking for. Do not be afraid to return things that you do not need, will not use, or do not want. Your guest would prefer that the gift be used and wanted rather than sit in a box because you did not want it. Replace the item with something else you need or have not yet received. Finally, create a simple filing system for bills, statements, personal information and household information. Mail and paper can become overwhelming. Catalogs, bills, invitations etc should all have a place once they cross the threshold of your home, like wall mounted mail sorters or nice baskets. Any papers that need to be kept should be in a filing cabinet with all papers in clearly labeled, hanging files. Long term or archive storage can be in bankers’ boxes or plastic file bins in the basement. Remember to always ask yourselves if you need a document you are about to save. Can you condense the information elsewhere? Are you ever going to refer to it again? Do you really need it for tax purposes? By following these suggestions, you will ensure a smooth transition into creating a manageable and organized household with your spouse!

Clutter and guilt

Sometimes clutter originates from incomplete tasks and projects. Often times we leave items or papers out as reminders, place holders for later. However, piles as reminders clog up your environment. They also can create a sense of guilt over things you “should” have done. These piles remind you of money “wasted” on interests you did not pursue and time you “should” have spent addressing an issue.

This sense of guilt prevents us from addressing clutter. In essence, our guilt can keep us in the problem. It is difficult to work through stacks of papers or items reminding us of tasks left unfinished, being forced to recall our past “failures”. In spite of the pain, clearing your environment, especially of these visual cues, will create a more peaceful space.

Before you start the sorting process, realize that you don’t have to commit to fulfilling all the unfinished things. If they have been sitting around for a couple years, weigh whether or not the issue is still relevant and if completing it will achieve the desired results. Is it still even of interest to you? If you decide to let it go, you will experience a lift and sense of freedom.

For projects you decide must be kept and completed, prioritize them from most to least important on a piece of paper. Each week schedule time on your calendar to work on the first project until it’s complete. Move on to the next one after the previous project is finished. You can move all the supporting paperwork and items to an area out of sight but keep the list visible as your reminder. With this approach in mind you can overcome guilt AND clutter.