Done With It? Donate It!!

It's easy to identify the clothing you wear most often, or kitchen appliances that see daily use. What about the other extreme - how often do you reach to the back of the closet or cupboard? What is lurking back there that you’ve forgotten you own? If you can’t remember the last time you used that crock-pot, or you wonder why there are clothes in your closet with dust on them, consider letting go. 

Thrift stores are always hungry for your gently used things. The mini-food processor you haven’t touched since 2012 might be just the thing for a working single parent. The skirt that never really suited you might look great on somebody else - move it along to another home. 

How to decide what could go?  

Ask yourself these three questions.
1) How much clearing out do I need to do? For example, are you wearing things from the floor of your closet because all the hanging space is filled with clothes you haven’t worn in years? Or are you simply tired of always having to move the serving dishes your mother-in-law gave you that you never use? 

2) How long has it been since I used it? More than a few months and it’s seriously a good candidate. For seasonal and sentimental items, you can relax the standard a bit. Warning - if you find yourself feeling sentimental about most things, get a second opinion from a friend. 

3) Do I have multiples of the same thing? If your closet or storage spaces are always overflowing, decide how many pairs of slacks, blouses, jeans, shoes, raincoats, etc. that you need and start weeding. You might need to take a couple passes at it, but it can be done.

Before you dive in, grab some bags or boxes to collect the things you’ll be donating. At the end of your ‘editing the closet’ session, take the boxes and put them in the car. Make a note in your calendar of when you’ll be dropping off your donations.

The North Bay has dozens of thrift shops. This link http://www.thethriftshopper.com/city/Santa_Rosa/CA will take you to a listing of most of the shops in Santa Rosa, just scroll down a bit. You can also look around the rest of Sonoma County from that same link. Some stores are part of national organizations; others support homegrown non-profit causes. You’ll be sure to find one near you that you want to support.

Do -

• Check with the store you plan to donate to. Many thrift stores won’t take pillows or mattress covers because of bed bugs, some don’t take electronic or digital devices. Know before you go!
• Find out what hours they accept donations. Some don’t have the resources to staff a donation drop off every hour they’re open. This is more common with smaller stores that are grass roots in origin.
• Ask for a receipt if you plan to claim the donation as a tax deduction. Check with your tax advisor about amounts to claim.

Don’t -

• Donate unusable items - The stores pay to have garbage hauled away, and if your donations are broken, dirty, or unidentifiable, it costs the organization money.
• Donate anything with identifying information on it. Wipe computer hard drives and cell phones, for example. Check purses and briefcases for name/address tags or credit cards. Remove address tags from luggage. 
• Leave things at the store when they are closed or simply not receiving donations. This takes staff away from other work, and is considered littering. It can also cause problems with the store’s business neighbors. 
  
  
  Letting go of things you don’t use helps you by making it easier to access the things you use frequently. It helps others with less money to spend on necessities, such as decent clothing or dishes for their family. It’s a win-win all the way around.

This post was created by the following NBOC members:

Ruth Hansell of Clutter Demolition

CLUTTER and HOARDING... What’s The Difference?

Hoarder, pack-rat, collector; these are the words often used to describe people who have an excess of material things, whether joking or seriously.

Many of us have a relative, friend, neighbor or acquaintance who is challenged with maintaining clean and clear living spaces. Is it just clutter or is it hoarding? How can you tell the difference?

The authors have close to a total of 40 years of organizing, de-cluttering and de-hoarding experience between them. Because of these years of experience we see and recognize the differences between clutter and hoarding situations.

 

 

TOO MUCH STUFF

People with serious clutter problems DON’T discard things. Perhaps they grew up in a hoarding household, an untidy one or where saving was encouraged. Perhaps they are over-scheduled, get distracted or are impulsive shoppers.

People who have hoarding issues CAN’T discard things. There are proven differences in brain activity. Hoarders assign too much value to an item, become overwhelmed and are unable to make decisions. In their brain, conflicting information and uncertainty make it impossible to decide to discard something. Hoarders may become frustrated, angry, resentful and defensive when they are pushed to make decisions about letting go of their possessions. Because Hoarding Disorder is not generally understood, people call hoarders lazy and sloppy and want to “take a match” to the home.

 

ORGANIZING CLUTTER
 

People who clutter often dispose of things relatively easily. With emotional support, insight and coaching they are readily able to form new habits that eliminate clutter. These new habits include things like structured, regular clean up, use of specific organizing tools or coaching to build new habits. There is often back-sliding but rarely does the clutter become as bad as it originally was and there is an openness to try again.

Too much stuff can cause: depression, anxiety, stress, stigma, health and safety problems, eviction, isolation and damage to relationships. People who clutter and people who hoard often report feeling overwhelmed and a loss of control.

A person who clutters is able to face these feelings more easily than a person who has a hoarding disorder. Their stress can be relieved more quickly and their understanding of the reasons for their cluttering is greater.

 

 

UNDERSTANDING HOARDING

Hoarding is the compulsive acquisition of a great number of possessions and the inability to discard them even though they may be of no value. Even thinking about throwing away an empty box causes anxiety or distress. Hoarding is a recognized Mental Health Disorder and can be diagnosed by a Mental Health practitioner.

Friends and family may be worried about the health and safety of a hoarder. They often lose patience, get angry and even clear the home thinking they are helping. This is harmful and often sets the hoarder back emotionally and even physically. The hoarder then acquires more things and fills up the space, sometimes worse than before.

With a lack of motivation, poor insight and the distress of deciding what to keep or what to discard, a hoarder will live in piles of junk and may not seem to be aware of or bothered by the condition. Learning new organizing habits comes after the stressful work of gaining personal insight into the reasons for hoarding.

 

SIMILARITIES

Both cluttering and hoarding can have similar consequences in that social interactions can become limited due to the shame and embarrassment people feel about their homes. A hoarder or clutterer may stop inviting people to visit and then become isolated. Poor health is often an issue. Dust, mold, poor air quality and more are caused by the inability to clean thoroughly. Feelings of being overwhelmed or hopeless or inadequate are common.

 

THE SOLUTION

Our goal as Professional Organizers is to simplify, declutter and organize so that your home or office is safe and useable. How this is done depends on an individual’s situation and capabilities. Approaches for a clutterer are different than for a hoarder.

Professional Organizers are a fantastic resource! Suspending judgement, patiently listening and skilled coaching are parts of our tool kit. We have many resources to share with you. Contact a member of NBOC to ask questions and let us know how we can help!

This post was created by the following NBOC members:
Margo Hansen of HansenResource Organizing
Timothy J. Blevins of Get Organized, LLC

Ruth Hansell of Clutter Demolition

Drive Away the Car Clutter

The benefits of reducing the clutter in your car are endless. It may seem like a small thing but science says it is not. What would it mean to you to de-clutter your car and keep it that way?

 

De-clutter your car &
Your life will go far!

 
Literally, a well-organized car will help save your life. According to research by Central Contracts (a car leasing company), 20% of UK automobile crashes are a direct result of car clutter. Rubbish can block pedals and prevent braking.

Article: One fifth of UK motorists involved in crashes from car clutter.

To eliminate your stress
Be gone with the mess!

In addition to the distraction, clutter is dangerous. Fewer items in the car means you will be able to focus your attention and energy on driving, making it more enjoyable and infinitely safer.  Eliminating unnecessary items in your car reduces stress, lowers your blood pressure, and leads to better health. 

 

Keep your trunk clear,
A treasure may be near!

By clearing the trunk, you will be making room for that last minute Costco run or helping a friend who needs to get to the airport with her (wait for it) 5-piece matching luggage set. There will be room to bring your volleyball set to the beach party or your beach chair to the volley ball game. However you look at it, de-cluttering your car creates flexibility and opportunity.

 

When your car isn’t sticky,
Your friends won’t be picky.

Car seats coated with crumbs and gummy bears can ruin your passenger’s clothes. With clean upholstery and a bit of vacuuming, your friends are more likely to commute with you, and you are more likely to ask them. Carpooling saves time by taking advantage of the HOV lane, saves money on parking and tolls, and all the while benefiting from the camaraderie and networking opportunities.

The benefits don’t stop with longevity, safety, saving money, better opportunities and relationships. Without all the clutter, you have access to the glove box for stashing things you really need like make-up, sunglasses or a toothbrush. Using a trash bin instead of the floor saves things from flying around when the windows are down and fines for littering. Making room in the trunk provides a space to keep your emergency auto kit. It’s always a good idea to be prepared. 

Take away the fuss
When you organize with us! 

You don’t have to “re-invent the wheel” when it comes to organizing your car. Hire a professional organizer to make it easy and fun. NBOC professional organizers and organizing coaches serve Sonoma County and surrounding areas. For the best value tack the car onto a bigger job of home or office organizing.  We have the experience and expertise to steer you in the right direction. 

This post was created by the following NBOC members
Laurie Light of Laurie Light Professional Organizer
Kristen Noel of Organically Organized
Teri Mendelson of Full Sail Organizing

5 Work Day Secrets to a Better Tomorrow

The secret to being focused and productive at work
is to take a few minutes at the end of each day to prepare for the next. 

1. Check Your Calendar

Whether you work in a home office or outside the home, take a look at your calendar and review your appointments for the following day before you clock off. Make sure you have everything you need for your meetings, like presentation materials, documents or props at the ready. For away meetings input the address and phone number into your smart phone. It is also a good idea to clear your desktop of non-work related things like coffee cups, spare change, newspapers etc. and tidy up your project piles so you have a fresh clean surface to work on in the morning. 

2. Check Your Ongoing “To Do List”

After reviewing your calendar, we recommend taking a look at your ongoing “To Do” List. Is there anything that’s been done and can be scratched off? Can you find items that should be moved up the list or scheduled onto the calendar?

Think about the work you did today and the ideas you had and decide if anything new should be added to your list. Getting items out of your head and onto paper or into the computer will free your brain up to relax. Emptying your brain of “To Do” items helps reduce stress and has been proven to aid in a better night’s sleep.

3. Create a Daily “To Do List”

Once you’ve updated your ongoing “To Do” list take a moment to make a list of the things you want to accomplish tomorrow. Group all the calls together and include the phone #s. Make a note of any specific questions you may have or points you want to make.

When writing up your list, separate items that can be accomplished at home or at work from items that need to be done on-the-go. If you have lots of places you need to go, map out a route that incorporates all your stops so you won’t find you’ve left any place out because you got side tracked as happens to all of us from time to time.

Be realistic about how much you can accomplish and if you don’t think you can actually accomplish everything you want to do, prioritize your list and put the less urgent items on the calendar for another day. Using a daily “To Do” list in conjunction with your calendar is a good way to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

4. Get Prepared

Now with your Daily “To Do” List in hand, take another look at the calendar. Often you can accomplish a couple of errands during the day, perhaps, after driving the kids to school, at lunch time, or after work; but only if you have the items that you will need with you. How many times have you driven past a store and thought, “Oh, I could have returned those clothes” or “I could have gotten that piece of equipment fixed if only I had thought to bring it with me?” So choose a couple of tote bags or shopping bags and make a note of what items you need to take with you.

Here are some ideas of the type of tote bags you may need: 

• Store Returns – Put your return items in a tote bag and remember to put in the receipts.
• Errand Tote Bag – Are you planning to have a picture framed or shoes repaired? Perhaps you are working on redecorating your home and need to have samples, photos or specifications with you. Having these items in the car will make you more efficient and help you complete the tasks on your “To Do” list. 
• Briefcase – You may want to carry a briefcase for the files and loose papers you need for meetings, your child’s school or for your mobile office. Think about tucking in a magazine to catch up on your reading while waiting for an appointment. 
• Sports Bag – Don’t forget to pack up your exercise clothes, running shoes, water bottle, sunscreen, hat; whatever you need to exercise during the day.
• Lunch/ Snack Bag – Getting your lunch or snacks packed up and ready the night before saves time in the morning and you’ll be sure to get the nutrition you need during the day.

5. Relax

Preparing at the end of the day for the following morning should only take a few minutes but the benefits of being organized and feeling prepared will last all through the following day and beyond. After taking the time to get ready for tomorrow take a few minutes for yourself to clear your mind and relax. You have cleared your desk, scheduled your appointments on your calendar, jotted down notes on your “To Do” List and packed things you will need into your tote bags and now you are free to transition into family time or whatever it is you have planned for the evening. Taking time to relax is as important a productivity tool as maintaining your calendar. 

This post was created by the following NBOC members

Jillian Stocks of  Jillian Stocks Organizing

Teri Mendelson of  Full Sail Organizing

It’s just Math!

Bam, at the New Year you hit the ground running. You stuck to your resolution to get organized. You cleared some clutter, put things away and donated multiple boxes to a local charity. Your efforts showed and it felt good but now, only a short time has passed, and already you’re wondering what in the heck happened? Well, it’s one thing to get your home organized and yet another to keep it that way.

This is where the math comes in. If you keep bringing items into your home and don’t also take things away, it is all addition and no subtraction, which equals clutter. By bringing in just one item per day, 7 days a week, it’s going to add up fast. If you take a like-kind item away when you bring in a new one then the math is simple:

1 - 1 = 0 clutter

The challenge of controlling your clutter begins before you even go to the store, stop by a yard sale or go online to see what deals are out there. You need to start by asking yourself an honest question “Is this product something that I really need or really love?” If the answer is yes, then decide where it will go and what you are willing to let go of. Be honest and resist the temptation if you can’t answer this question honestly. There are many triggers out there to encourage us to buy things we don’t have room for. A few examples are:

• It is half price or free
  
• I collect them 
• My life will be easier if I have one of these 
• I deserve it 
• My friends will think better of me

Learn to recognize these triggers, and challenge them. Buy what you really need and have room for. Create the habit of immediately donating or recycling what you are replacing. If you do this, you will keep your home clutter free. Remember, organization is not complicated; simple math creates a clutter-free lifestyle.

Practice this strategy and you will enjoy the many benefits of living in an organized environment. 

If you are not good at math but crave a calmer, less stressed home, call an organizer in your area to get the help you need. You deserve to live your best life.

This post was created by the following NBOC member
  Julie Browne of  Real Life Organizing