Where should I start if I want to get my home office more organized? Start with purging the paperwork pile-up on the desktop. Even though papers from every direction and multiple aspects of your life (work, personal, kids, pets, family, home info, etc.), there are only three categories of information: action, reference, and archive. Action This group includes paperwork and requires you to do something with it, then it passes to someplace else (a file, back to the sender, et

How can you tame those piles of papers on the dining room table or kitchen counter? Dining room tables can be a clutter trap. In my home, my dining room table isn’t just used for eating picturesque family meals: it’s a workhorse. It’s a mail collector, homework station, coloring station, an alternate work station, a place to sit and read, or wrap birthday presents. Keeping clutter off the table so it’s ready for eating can be a challenge for anyone, so here are a few tips for

There's a difference between being messy and being disorganized. In today's blog post, I answer a common question about what separates messiness from general disorganization. Can you guess the answer? What's considered messy: a few papers on the kitchen counter, a closet full of coats, boots, and hats ready to explode, toys all over your kid's room? There is a difference between being messy and being disorganized. For example, I am an organized person, but my house can get qu

Why The Client Called Me I’ve been working with this specific fabulous woman for a few years, each session tackling an organizing project that seemed large and daunting: think garage, closets, storage units, moves. This time, though, she wanted freedom from something that stared her in the face daily: to clean up her desk drawers. Solution There are three ways to deal with drawers - let’s call them, ah-hem, junk drawers. Try any one of these methods if it sounds appealing, an

Many a client has called me after their own attempt(s) to declutter and organize their home or office has failed. Why does this happen? Why do our efforts seem to only last for a day, a week or maybe a month, if we're lucky? Do you feel like you're constantly making mistakes, but you don't realize it until later? Here are a few of the most common mistakes we make when trying to get organized. (Don’t worry…over the course of the month, we’ll address ways to remediate these iss

It’s easy to let paper pile up on your desk. Trust me - I couldn’t take a photo and use it in this blog post today. I’ve got some work to do myself! But I do have a system that works…so I know it won’t take too long to get control of my piles. So let’s get started - together. Declutter Your Desktop: Step #1. Start with purging the paperwork pile-up on the desktop. Even though papers from from every direction and multiple aspects of your life (Work, Personal, Kids, Pets, Famil

Why the Client Called: Usually clients call me when a major life event has happened. A marriage, a birth, a death - or a divorce. This life event creates a temporary sense of chaos, of disorder, or of pain, and the client needs assistance climbing back into a new reality. People contemplating, in the midst of, or recovering from divorce often are preoccupied with thoughts of uncertainty. Staying organized during this transition period can be hard but it saves time, money and

I'm no real estate agent, but I do know this: if you want to sell your home, it can't be cluttered. Any potential buyer will be turned off by a crowded, dark or overly personalized house. Declutter the closet. Remove about 50% of your belongings from the closet to make it appear larger. Store your items in well-labeled bins so that you can find the things you need and/or donate what you don't need anymore. The kitchen is key. Remove everything from the counter tops except f

It’s a new year. Go ahead - make your resolution list and see what finds its way to the top. I’ll estimate 90% of us have decluttering and organizing somewhere on the short list of our goals for the year. Looking for a place to start? Try the items below. Trust me, you won’t miss a thing. If you enjoy checking off this list and want more, visit our website for January’s 31-Day GO Month Challenge! Travel size toiletries. Are you one of those people who grabs shampoo and condi