Archive for Clearing Clutter

tablet showing an empty email inbox

How to Organize Your Out of Control Email Inbox

Posted by Carolyn on
 January 31, 2025
  ·  2 Comments

tablet showing an empty email inbox

Is your email inbox out of control? Are you trying to stay organized and feeling overwhelmed when the next batch of email arrives? There is no doubt that staying on top of inbox digital clutter is a challenge with the ease that email can be sent and received.  As Brendon Burchard reminds us in The Charge your email inbox is NOT your To Do list. In fact, your email inbox is usually someone else’s to do list and if you have receive their email their to do is done and they think your’s is just begun.

Here is a strategy to organize your email inbox on an ongoing basis as well as getting on top of the out of control inbox.

Control the Email When it Arrives 

As a professional organizer I am frequently asked how I recommend people stay on top of their email.  There are a variety of strategies to organize and email inbox, and manage the email when you first open it. 

  1. Use folders to file by topic or person – there is no right answer it depends on how you think. I think by time frame so I use sender and time for my folders
  2. Flag action items right away. If you can accomplish the action in under 15 minutes then take the time to do it. If it needs to be scheduled into your calendar, right it down and flag the emailing action items for example. 

desk owner is trying to get things done, pink notebook, pink flowers on white desk,When the Email Inbox is Out of Control

When it comes to the emails that have been left in your Inbox too long here is a process I call the 10 percent solution.

  1. Pick a time of day to commit 10 minutes to email management.  Stick to this commitment until that Inbox is under control.
  2. Change the sorting order of the Inbox.  If you normally sort by date, try sorting by sender or subject.  This has the impact of immediately changing the context of the emails.  With a different context sorting is easier.
  3. Check the total number of emails and then identify what 10% would be.  This is your target; the number of emails you are going to file or delete in your designated 10 minutes.  For example, if you have 1000 emails sitting in your Inbox, try and remove 100 at the first sitting.
  4. Quickly scroll through the list and try and delete as many as possible i.e. the easy ones you know are no longer needed.  If you get stuck or bogged down, switch the sort again and keep going.  Try sorting by email topic.  This will sometimes allow you to delete the backlog of emails on one particularly topic and then the last one, with all the accompanying conversation, will be the email to file.You will be surprised how easy it is to remove 100 emails when you have changed the context.

Practice these strategies regularly to organize your email inbox and keep it organized.

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woman with grey hair at head of dinner table with family

Siblings Help a Parent Downsize

Posted by Carolyn on
 August 21, 2024
  ·  No Comments

When siblings help a parent downsize, all kinds of interesting things happen. Mostly often, family dynamics come to play and life can get complicated. However, its doesn’t need to be difficult.

The Parent Downsize Backstorywoman with grey hair drinking tea and taking to younger woman as if talking about downsizing

Both my significant other (SO) and I have had parents downsize in the past 10-12 years. My own father passed away four years ago and my siblings and I resolved that estate together. My mother-in-law (MIL) has recently given up housekeeping and moved into an assisted living, retirement environment. While she left the family home over 11 years ago, there was much to pare down from her apartment. Since my SO is one of 6 siblings, there was lots of discussion over the paring down.

How do Siblings Help a Parent Downsize?

Is there a perfect or best way for sibling to help a parent downsize? The simple answer to this is “no, there isn’t”.

There are, however, several good ways. Typically the challenges arise around location of the siblings relative to the downsize location, the number of siblings and decision-making strategies and the fairness of dispersing objects. Where there are many siblings, inevitably at least two want the same picture over the mantel. Another scenario is that one or more siblings want nothing – along with nothing to do with the project. Then others – or usually one other – is left carrying the full load of supporting the parent(s).

Professional organizers see these issues so often is it commonplace. While each family feels like its issues are unique, most of the projects have some very common themes. Here are some ideas to help you through the process.

Who Runs the Show?woman in blue shirt making a phone call as if talking to parent about downsizing

Ideally, one sibling will take lead. This may be the first point of conflict; which sibling will that be? The one that’s closest or has the time tend to be the winners.

Alternative, if several sibling want leadership roles, divide up the downsize into sections. Siblings take responsibility for the section about which they are most passionate. One might be concerned about family photos. Another might be concerned about jewelry and a third about books or dishes. Still another might have strong feelings about the movers, packers or using a professional organizer to assist.

When one or more siblings are geographically located away from the downsize.

The challenge here is to keep everyone informed. Regular checkins using FaceTime, Zoom, WhatApp chat, audio or video all help. if you are sending pictures, do them by category and in small groups. Use the edit function in your photo app on your phone to have the distant sibling identify those items they are interested in or have questions about. The great thing about photos is they can also be grouped by Albums so each siblings interest can be slotted into a separate album.

Who Get’s What?family members gather around laptop for meeting to discuss helping parent downsize

Whether resolving an estate resolution or a helping a parent downsize, how do families decide who get’s to keep what? There are inevitably items that are being shed by the parents or in the estate. That is the definition of downsize. Finding a reasonable way to distribute is challenging at best. Here are a few strategies to try:

  1. The parent has previously decided and the decision is imbedded in a will or list or items have already, previously been marked. This is the easiest. Tip: remember that once an item has been “gifted” it is there to do with as they wish, included shedding themselves. The general rule of thumb is “if you don’t want what Mom has given you, please let the siblings know so that if someone else wants it they can have it.” This sometimes lead to “swapping” which often works well.
  2. The items to be shed are given an overall financial value (fictitious or real. This strategy works best when it is close to the real value). Each sibling is given fictitious funds, a percentage of the total based on the number of siblings. If the items being reallocated equal $1,000 and there are four siblings, each sibling is allocated $2500. Finally each person identifies the items they would like to have equalling their $2500. Where there is competition, try swapping. Last resort there is always a game of “rock, paper scissors”.
  3. None of the items are valued. Instead, distribution is done on the basis of emotional attachment. Each sibling identifies those items in which they are interested ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. Swapping and trading is done only where there is competition for the same item at the same rank.

Last Items

After siblings have been allocated their pieces, offer the rest to friends or family. These individuals are far more likely to be emotionally related to the items than anyone on the open market. What is left can be sold at auction (live or online), sold in the open market (Craigslist, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace) donated to charity, offered to the up-cycle market or – last resort – discarded to recycle or landfill.

I have seen all strategies 1 – 3 used in several families over the years. In my experience, the most successful are 1 and 3. The second strategy works, but is problematic as siblings compete for dollars.

Siblings who want to help a parent downsize are often met with frustration and lots of work. In my experience, however, they are also met with tremendous gratitude on the part of their parent(s).

If this is your next project, good luck and let me know how it goes.

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Toddler with headphones smiling at camera.

Organize to Music

Posted by Carolyn on
 August 1, 2024
  ·  No Comments

Woman with headphones looking at phone while sitting and patting dog.I frequently encourage clients to organize to music. Put together your favourite playlist. Now see what can be accomplished before the 15 minutes playlist is done.

Bring in a Mel Robins podcast and  boom! My theory has been pushed to the level of science based tools for not only organizing but focus, performance and healing. I highly recommend you listen to the entire show but for now, here is the summary.

Organize to Music for the Tough Stuff

When you listen to music that you associate with great times as a child or young adult, Your brain naturally relates to the mood and feeling of the time and place where you were regularly listening to that music. Favourite high school song? Special song when you and your life partner first met? THAT summer camp song? You know the ones…this the music that you know by heart and when it comes on the radio your mind goes immediately to that time, place and feeling.

Tip 1Toddler with headphones smiling at camera.

Use the music to get through tough organizing. Since this music is guaranteed to put you in a great mood, use this for tackling a tough organizing project. The music will put you in a good and help you get through the tough stuff. Doesn’t have to be limited to organizing to music. My family had an ABBA record that was essential for tackling the Christmas dinner dishwashing at the farm.

Tip 2

After a tough organizing project, use your favourite memory music to reset your mindset. Clearing a loved one’s estate? Left feeling blue and discouraged? Put on your favourite memory music and it will immediately help reset your mindset.

Music for Performance

Have you got a favourite pump up song? If you were being announced on stage, what “walk on” song would you use? What music hypes you up? This music is actually helps you deliver better performance. Whether you listen to it before you have to perform or while you are performing, it will have the same result.

Tip 3

If you are getting ready to tackle an organizing project that is going to require a high level of energy (packing, moving, that over the top full garage?) put on your personal hype music. This music will put you in a state of peak performance and you will get more done. Need to be on top of your game? Put on your “walk on” song and use that increase in energy to get the results you want.

Music for Concentrationblack and white old photos in pile on table

Ever hear of music with binaural beats? This music helps with concentration.  However, you need to be using headphones. Bi means two, right? Aural relates to hearing and ears. Therefore, two ears for two different frequencies that helps you brain into focus, calm or creative thinking. Organizing to music is not just for upbeat. In addition, it can be used for focus and concentration.

Tip 4

Put on some headphones and find a tract of binaural beats to help you when concentration or focus are key in your organizing project. An example might be sorting paper (tax files?) or books where you have to think about what you need to keep.

So, organizing to music is a real, science backed strategy. I highly recommend you listen to the entire podcast in order to hear the full science conversation. And then get your playlists ready and organizing will be easier, more fun and more productive. Have fun.

 

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jumbled collection of many dishes on table

Backlog vs Day-to-Day: What’s the declutter difference?

Posted by Carolyn on
 July 17, 2024
  ·  No Comments

Jumbled collection of dishes waiting to be decluttered.Many people don’t realize there is a declutter difference between backlog and day to day. Not all clutter is created equally. This will help.

The Declutter Dilemma

Touch it once. Deal with it now. Don’t put it down put it away.

These are all great organizing principles. EXCEPT they only apply to day-to-day decluttering.

If you are dealing with a backlog these strategies will have you frustrated, overwhelmed and a victim of decision fatigue in no time. UGH!

There is a declutter difference between the two type of organizing. One, clearing a backlog, is all about managing large amounts of material as quickly. On the other hand, managing paper, clothes, dishes or documents on a day-to-day basis is quite a separate process.

Here are some strategies that will help you manage the declutter difference and get your space organized to feel calmer and back in control.

Declutter the Backlogwhite coffee mug with "begin" sitting on wood grain table. Sometimes just beginning is hard with a backlog to declutter.

You have a large amount of material to be reviewed, sorted, purged and then organized. Welcome to the backlog. Perhaps you are preparing for a house or condo sale, or maybe a move. Or, you simply have decided you need more space and less stuff so it’s time to take action.

  1. Key Decision: The key decision for backlog is Discard or Keep. Make this decision as quickly as possible. Simply decide what is shed vs what is keep.
  2. Make it Easy: If it’s paper you are sorting, have a recycling and shredding bag or box right beside you. Anything to keep is divided into FILE or ACTION.
  3. Next Steps: Once this first sort has been done, you will likely find only 10-25% of the original pile is actually left with ACTION to be taken. Take out the recycling. Set up your shredder or find a local shredding company and pick a time to get the shredding out of the house.
  4. Last Step: Take the necessary action and then FIND A HOME for the items to be kept. If you are moving, that might mean packing. Having decluttered already, you will be packing and moving much less.

Managing  Day-to-DayDesktop with keyboard, book, magazine and a sign that says To Do. If your day-to-day decluttering has to do's of less than 15 minutes, try and do them right away.

The decluttering difference with day-to-day organizing is to make sure the backlog never happens. The trick is to avoid an accumulation of belongings or paper, so that you don’t have to take the time or energy to ever clear the backlog.

  1. Key Decision: The key decision for day-to-day organizing is “What action needs to be taken?”
  2. Make it Easy: If the action to be taken requires less than 15 minutes, try and do it right away. Although this is not always possible, getting into the “do it now” attitude for those quick tasks will keep the clutter at bay. This is where “touch it once” makes sense.
  3. Next Steps: Once the action is taken, the following question is “Where does this need to live?”. Every item needs to have a home where it can be easily stored and retrieved.  Remember, however, once the action is taken, where it needs to live might be the recycling, shredding or garbage.
  4. Last Steps: Put the item in its home. This is where “don’t put it down, put it away” comes in.  You are done.

There is a decluttering difference between clearing a backlog versus maintaining a clutter free home or office on a day-to-day basis. Not all clutter is created equal. A different strategy is needed whether you are clearing the backlog to downsize or managing today’s mail. Have fun and keep going.

 

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weathered wooden platform with colourful block spelling Thank You.

Get Organized with Gratitude

Posted by Carolyn on
 October 16, 2023
  ·  No Comments

weathered wooden platform with colourful block spelling Thank You. Use gratitude to help get organized.

We are in Thanksgiving season; this is a great time to get organized with gratitude. Canadian Thanksgiving has just passed. American Thanksgiving is just around the corner. But how does gratitude help someone get organized?

It all started when…

I read Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up.  One of the strategies that Kondo recommends is thanking the objects that one is purging to recognized your appreciation for the role they played in your life.  Even if their usefulness had come to an end. This seemed like an interesting strategy so I tried it out with a couple of clients. They found the idea quite humorous. But they tried it anyways. And sure enough is has proven to be a most useful strategy.

How does getting organized work with gratitude?

The process is simple. One simply says thank you to the object or objects that you are intending to declutter or shed. Thank them for their service, their usefulness and their contribution to your life. And then wish them well in their new life “beyond your front door”.

Why does this work?

Not being a psychologist, I’m not equipped to go into the science of how this might work. What I can tell you is that using this strategy definitely helps clients shed objects, especially ones they may be conflicted about. Saying thank you to the objects in question seems to break the emotional attachment the client has to the object. When clients acknowledge the usefulness of the object, they no longer seem as attached to it, or keeping it around, potentially forever.

The simple act of saying “thank you for your service”, helps the client anchor in the understanding that this item no longer serves their highest good. Clients report that once they have said thank you and spoken out loud about the service they have received from the object, they no longer feel as sad or conflicted about sending the item away. They can move on to reduce the accumulation of objects they are no longer using.

How can you use it?Puppet figure playing violin in briefcase with thank you, written in several languages, on a paper behind him. Getting organized can be easier using gratitude.

Getting organized with gratitude is easy once you get over the idea of talking to inanimate objects. Since some of us do it anyway, and you may well be alone when you declutter, no one will know the difference. Give it a try and see if it helps you with your shedding.

Get started by simply hold the object that you are perhaps struggling to part with. Think of the service the object has given you. Maybe it’s a dress that comes with great party memories but is no longer in style or reflects your current personal style. Thank the dress for the fun and memories. Perhaps even take a picture to remember. Then tell the dress it is time it found someone who will wear it and make new memories. Focus on the moving forward part of this exchange rather than the looking back part. The dress now needs a life beyond your front door in order to find that person with whom it can make new memories. Say good bye and wish it well then put it in the donation bag.

This strategy has been very helpful for many of my clients over the years. Let me know how it works for you.

And in the meantime, I am grateful you took the time to stop by and read.

 

Declutter Home Organizing Organizing Challenges Organizing Strategies
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Many pieces of paper with "Alternative" written on them in different colours and fonts.

Decision Fatigue: What it is and how to manage it

Posted by Carolyn on
 July 20, 2023
  ·  No Comments

Decision fatigue is more common than one might think. As an organizing professional I see it a lot. But what is it really, how does it show up and what can be done about it? This blog article takes a look at the idea from an organizers perspective.

Definition
many white tabs with "Option" writing on them in different styles and colours.

According to Wikipedia, decision fatigue refers to the impact of having to make too many decisions, or too difficult decisions, in a short space of time. In other words, it is the impact of that experience that is the fatigue referred to by psychologists.

Decision fatigue is “the idea that after making many decisions, your ability to make more and more decisions over the course of a day becomes worse,” said Dr. MacLean, a psychiatrist. “The more decisions you have to make, the more fatigue you develop and the more difficult it can become.”

What it looks like when organizing.

As I mentioned this is a common experience for me as an organizing professional. Because I work with individuals affected by chronic disorganization, I specifically designed the hands on portion of my business to be face to face with clients for only 3 hr sessions at a time. (Sessions for packing and unpacking associated with move management are longer). The reason is specifically due to decision fatigue.

It did not take me very long as a newcomer to the industry to recognize that clients would literally stop making decisions at about 150 minutes, or 2.5 hrs into our session. I had already been introduced to decision fatigue while taking a Masters in Health Services Administration degree. So, I knew this could be an issue.

There are six ways decision fatigue shows up. Avoiding decisions, or glazing over, is just one of them.Many pieces of paper with "Alternative" written on them in different colours and fonts.

  1. Reduced ability to make a trade off: in this impact, my clients can’t decide between choice A and choice B. If we agree that they will only keep one of two items, they can’t decide which one to choose.
  2. Decision avoidance: this second impact shows up as the client not wanting to make any decisions at all. Clients will sometimes show distraction from our task, ask me to make the decision or, for those who have more self-awareness, simply throw up their hands and state “I can’t decide”. For the record, no, I don’t make those decisions for my client.
  3. Impulsive activity: this is especially true for purchases at the cash register for shoppers. In organizing however, this impact of decision fatigue often show up as “throw it all out”. Clients impulsively decide to get rid of everything because they simply don’t have the mental energy left to decide.
  4. Impaired self-regulation: this is when the client doesn’t hold themselves to their usual standard of behaviour. Clients tend to get irritable and may be short or “snippy” with me or someone else in the family.
  5. Susceptibility to decision making biases: in this impact, the client tends towards an easier decision vs a correct or wise decision. It may be easier to simply not discard anything from a “I don’t like this” clothes pile than to be able to determine if any could hold any more value in the client’s future.
  6. Decision conflict and regret: In this impact the client becomes more and more worried about making a wrong decision. Eventually they just stop making decision altogether.

What do to about Decision Fatigue?hand with pole balanced on it show signs in opposite directions each saying "I don't know"

There are several ways to manage decision fatigue. When working with clients, I use whichever one works. I recommend you use whatever works for you.

  1. Take a break from the project you are working on. If possible physically remove yourself from the location and go to somewhere else even if it is just another room in the house or another office. Spend enough time in this other location doing something else until you feel at least a little bit refreshed.
  2. Change the task. If you are organizing clothes, try switching to working on a work project or making a meal. If possible, try switching to an entirely different task, however, even making decisions about a different set of items will help. If you are sorting clothes, try moving over to books.
  3. Go for a walk in nature. Walking in the woods, in a park or even just down the street will help to refresh your mind and your decision making muscles.
  4. Ensure you are adequately hydrated and have eaten enough to that point in the day. Many times while working, clients forgot to eat and drink. Hydration is most important however, being adequately nourished is also important.

Have you ever experienced decision fatigue? What was your experience? Drop me a note in the comments.

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Spring Organizing

Posted by Carolyn on
 April 12, 2023
  ·  No Comments

Time for Spring Organizingmany colourful tulips bunched together in a bouquet

The tulips or budding, the birds are singing, the snow has melted and spring has arrived.  Here’s to warm weather and bright colourful flowers and a chance for some spring organizing.

Cleaning vs. Organizing

Many people welcome spring with a fresh and vigorous intention to spring clean their home.  How about some spring organizing instead? Cleaning is for getting rid of dirt. Organizing is about managing space, time and stuff so that you can find what you want, when you want and use it to enjoy your life.

Here are 5 tips to help you get started with a spring organizing project and guarantee success.

1. Pick one small area to tackle on at a time

Also limit the time you commit to a spring organizing project. Unless you have help and a whole weekend, start with an hour or two. Organizing requires decision making and decision fatigue can hijack a project.  Start all to avoid feelings of overwhelm.  If you end up interrupted, you won’t have a big project left unfinished. Try a drawer, closet, cupboard and maybe one or two of those boxes in the corner of your basement.

dishes

2. Focus on reducing volume

Getting rid of things that we don’t need, like, want or use is a good goal for spring organizing. Shedding doesn’t have to mean throwing into the garbage. Shedding it about giving items a life beyond your front door.  Worn towels and other linen can go to an animal shelter. Books can be donated to a Little Free Library. Clothes can be sold or donated to charity. By decreasing volume, you will have less items to manage and more free space in which to live.

3. Give items a home

Everything you own needs a home. A common complaint I hear from clients is that their belongings don’t have a home. As a result, they never put them away. Items used frequently and consistently need a home that is easy for you to both take the item out and put it back in.  We call that storage and retrieval. Items are more likely to end up back in their homes when storage and retrieval are easy. Items that are used seasonally or only occasionally can be stored in less accessible locations.

4. Take away, right away

Take shed items out of your home as quickly as possible. You will see the impact of your hard work and tough decisions. Less items means you can enjoy the clear space. A stack of donations and recycling at the front or back door can be discouraging. It can also tempt you to second guess your decisions. Take those items away, right away.

5. Have fun and reward yourself

Organizing takes emotional and physical energy. Make it fun to make it easier. Play your favourite music. Invite a friend who might like some of the clothes you are shedding. Involve the children and make a game out of sorting old toys.

Spring organizing will also be more successful if you have decided on a reward for yourself when you are finished.  This is a great self-coaching technique for reinforcing the value of your work. It also makes the organizing work seem less onerous which means you are more likely to do it again. Maybe some fresh flowers for a table? Take yourself out to a movie? Arrange to meet a friend for an expensive and fun coffee? An ice cream for you and the kids? You get the picture.

Spring is a time of renewal and fresh starts. It is a great time for spring organizing to make space, out with the old, unused or unneeded. Good luck and remember to have fun.

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3 Steps to Mastering Clutter-Free Living

Posted by Carolyn on
 March 2, 2022
  ·  1 Comment

3 Steps to Mastering Clutter-Free Living

In my experience, there are only 3 steps to mastering clutter-free living.  With the consistent application of these three steps, applied to any decluttering project on a regular basis, clutter-free living can easily be achieved.

During March I will explore all three of these steps in more detail.  I’ll give you an understanding of how easy they can be attained and tips to apply right away.

Clutter-Free Living, A Modern Issue

books

Dear Books, What am I going to do with you…?

Mastering clutter-free living is the subject of much literature.  A quick scan at the local newspaper stand, revealed multiple publications with the words declutter, clutter free or organizer on the title page.  With the Covid 19 pandemic keeping many of us very close to home the last two years, we have become even more aware of the clutter and many have become more bothered by it.

Sure, you can spend the weekend decluttering the garage, the family room or your home office.  But then what happens the next week? Does the office become cluttered and full of papers yet again?

Step 1: Achieve ClarityLooking for focus and productivity?

If you want to know how to get somewhere, you have to know where you are going.  Get really clear on what you want to achieve with your clutter-free project.  This is probably the most important step of the three. Here are some tips to help:

  • Get clear with yourself on what you mean by declutter. What are your expectations of yourself? An empty closet or just nothing on the floor? Not everyone has the same understanding.
  • Create a picture in your mind of the decluttered space. Have a vision for what you actually want to achieve.  What does your decluttered kitchen look like?
  • Find some pictures (digital to avoid more paper clutter) of what you want your clutter-free space to look like.

Step 2. Create a Strategy

Coaching can support productivity

Coaching can support get clear on priorities, goals and increasing productivity.

With a clear vision of where you want to end up, finding a path is much easier.  Keep that vision in mind and identify the steps you need to get there. Make a plan. It does not have to be complicated.

  • Break your project into bite size pieces that you can manage in the time you have available. Is this something that you can only give a few hours? Pick a series of decluttering tasks that will fit into that time frame and end with the vision you have in mind. Here are some 10 minute ideas.
  • Think of clutter-free living as a process and include in your project daily tasks that will keep the area/room or space clutter-free moving forward.
  • Keep the plan simple. Think, one step at a time e.g one box, one drawer, one closet.

Step 3. Take Action

Figure out the first step to take that will start you toward you vision.  Is it a box to empty a table to clear or a cupboard to sort.  Do you need to start just with one drawer in the kitchen in the 30 minutes you have available.  Find the first step.

Here’s the thing about taking action, it creates energy.  Once you start on your path, you will find it easier to keep going.  Once you have achieve a little success, even one old box worth, you can celebrate the achievement and use that energy to get to the next box.  Or the next drawer.

Clarity, strategy and action, together, form a simple 3 step process for mastering clutter-free living.  It doesn’t have to be complicated.  The simpler the better.

Organizing Strategies
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organizing the living room

4 Steps to Organize the Living Room and Reclaim Some Adult Space

Posted by Carolyn on
 May 15, 2018

Wish you could organize the living room for adult space?

organize the living

Boxes and ottomans are great toy hiding spots that children can easily access.

Are you looking to organize the living room and reclaim  a little of the adult space  again?  Have you stepped on Barbie’s shoes one too many times and wish you could organize the living room into a adult rest and relax space for just one evening?

Reclaiming adult space is a common theme for many parents.  No matter how much they love their children, at there comes a time when many parents crave a lego-free zone, even for just a short period.

Organizing the living room by banning Barbie, her shoes and the lego altogether may not be possible, or even desirable, for your family and home.  The living room frequently serves as a multi-purpose space.  In the absence of a large recreation or family room, the living room is sometimes adult relax space, Barbie’s house and lego creation central all at the same time.

Here are 4 steps that you can use to organize the living room to help keep Barbie, the lego and any other toys in check so that when needed, the living room can be the rest and refresh space the adults in your household are looking for.

Step 1 – Identify Easily Accessible Storage Space

Look around and study where you might find storage for toys and other children’s items in the living room.  Storage space, which children can access, doesn’t have to be complicated.  Look for space under tables, a shelf on a book shelf, a shelf in an entertainment unit, storage in an ottoman.

organizing the living room

Here is an example of re-purposing a bureau in the living as a table. The drawers make for great toy storage.

Step 2 – Contain the Chaos

Gather up the toys and see what can be parked where.  Identify a new home for the items.  Larger items can go under tables.  Smaller items can be stowed in containers on shelves, under the coffee table or on a book shelf.

Step 3 – Source out Storage Containers Complimentary to your Living Room Decor

Sure, toy storage can be bright and cheerful and kid friendly.  It can also be adult and decor friendly.  While lego may need to be stored in some form of sorting container, the finished products can be displayed with pride on the bookshelves an entertainment unit.  Consider using a glass coffee table with a shelf and the finished lego items become decorations themselves.

Step 4 – Build tidy up time into play time

organize the living room.

Open containers that match the colour scheme of this living room make for perfect toy storage on the bottom of the book shel

Once each item has a home, and the home has been put into place, the next step is to teach the children to use those containers and return their toys, books and lego to their homes.  In my experience, children understand that they go home after playtime so the toys and books also need to go home after play time.  When we teach them that the toys need to go home to after playtime, clean up is done by the kids, not the adults.

Home Organizing Organizing Strategies
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Letters to Clutter

Letters to Clutter: Tell it how you Really Feel!

Posted by Carolyn on
 February 5, 2017
  ·  2 Comments

The Clutter LettersSend me your letters to clutter.  Does this sound like you?

You’re standing in front of your desk, staring at the stacks of paper, frustrated and overwhelmed.  “Why are you still here?  Why can’t you find a file to climb into and make yourself available when I need you?  Somewhere in there is the invoice I’m trying to get paid for – how will I ever get paid if I can’t even find the invoice?”

You open the closet door and glare at the contents.  “I hate you and I love you.  Ugh, how am I ever supposed to make this closet work when a bunch of you don’t fit, some of you I don’t even like and I don’t even know what’s at the back?!”

Your youngster is finally in bed and hopefully soon asleep.  You return to the family room and flop into the chair realizing you can’t even walk on the floor any longer because of the piles and piles of toys.  “Just put yourselves away, why don’t you! [bctt tweet=”Can’t you find a nice basket or box and do the Mary Poppins thing – jumping right into them?” username=”@wellrich”]  And while you are at it, sort yourselves out and take the toys that no one has played with for the past 6 months to the donation centre.  I’m going to bed.”

If you’ve ever talked to your clutter, or think you might like to say something to it, I’d like to hear from you.  Consider writing a letter or letters to clutter and tell it how you really feel.

Why Letters to Clutter?

You letter or letters to clutter will be considered for inclusion in a project being published later this year.  Your letter doesn’t need to be long, 200 – 400 words is perfect although longer or shorter is also welcome.  Start your letter off with “Dear ________ (item or items of clutter i.e. Paper, Baby Clothes, Garden Tools), What am I going to do with you?” and tell the clutter what you are really thinking.

Types of Clutter

Your clutter might include one of the following items or you might have your own version of clutter.:

  • Costume jewelry
  • Inherited jewelry
  • Inherited dishes, flatware, glass/crystal
  • Paper
  • Sports equipment
  • Particular sports equipment e.g. A bag of balls, an old croquet set, a bag of hockey equipment
  • Clothes that don’t fit
  • Clothes that aren’t liked
  • Clothes in general
  • Childhood books
  • Memorabilia
  • Photographs
  • Someone else’s items e.g. a spouse’s sports gear, clothes or other items
  • Tools
  • Leftover renovation material e.g. tiles, paint, fabric
  • Craft goods

How and Where to Send you Letters to Clutter

Identify yourself only by your initials and your town of residence.  Individuals will not be identified in their submissions and any particular identifying information will be removed.

Send letters to me, Carolyn Caldwell at [email protected].

Looking forward to receiving your letter or letters to clutter and seeing what you have to say to those trinkets collecting dust on the shelf.

Organizing Challenges Organizing Resources Organizing Strategies
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