You might ask, what is vertical organizing? It’s an organizing method that stands everything up so it’s easy to access and put away. Marie Kondo made this technique very popular; however, the method pre-dates Marie and can be used far beyond clothing. The trick is often in containerizing the items you want to stand vertically and working within the shape of the space you have for storage.

There are many ways to fold clothing and towels so they stand, but matching the fold to the space you actually have and therefore maximizing your space is the key to vertical organizing. For the purpose of this blog, we are going to focus on 3 different spaces that you may not have considered for vertical organizing.

As I have said many times over the years, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to organizing, so be creative and don’t forget that function comes first. All the items in a space should be easy to take out and put away. If the system falls apart the minute something is removed or it’s difficult to put an item away, then you may want to reconsider the system. Containers are often the key to vertical organizing, so picking the correct container is an important part of the process.

Office Drawers:

There are many items in office drawers that can easily stand and allow for much easier assess. My favorite is using colored file folders to file (stand up) colored tissue paper.

Post-it notes

Note pads & note books

Envelopes

Note cards

Wrapping/tissue paper in a file drawer

Comforters & Blankets:

There are many ways to fold blankets so they stand in your closet. Check out this video to get you started with lots of folding techniques. The beauty of standing them is that you can see what you have and don’t have to dig them out from under a pile of blankets.

Jeans:

If you have lots of jeans, you might consider standing them on a shelf. Using shelf dividers, about every 12 inches will help ensure they stay standing.

Vertical organizing is a functional way to organize your space for easy access.  If you would like to learn more or need help getting started, don’t hesitate to call or email to schedule your appointment today.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

The post The Benefits of Vertical Organizing appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

How many times has spring rolled around and you had every intention of de-cluttering and organizing your garage, basement or storage unit, only to find its fall again and it never got done? Organizing and de-cluttering is an arduous task and most of us have no idea how to even begin; however, there is a better way, just follow the simple steps below or schedule your consultation today!

Plan ahead.  Be sure to set enough time aside to allow you to get the job done correctly.

1) Sort & purge – create 2 separate piles (keep it simple). One for items you will keep and the other for items that need to go.

2) Decide the best way to store or contain the remaining items.  This may be bins, shelving, cabinets or peg boards.

•  Clear bins or containers work best because you can see what you’re storing
• Garbage cans work well for storing hockey and lacrosse sticks, oars or ski poles.  Be careful not to store any items that are twice the height of the container you’re using or they may tip over
•  Shelving units with wheels are great because you can move them where needed and they are easy to pull out for cleaning
• You may want to consider wall mounted specialty racks if you have significant amounts of sporting equipment, such as, skis, snow boards, fishing rods, bikes or golf bags
•  Be sure to select shelving units with wide adjustable shelves.  This way you will have enough room to store large bins and items of varying sizes
•  Be sure to label all bins, so all family members know where to store items

3) Sort the items you are keeping into different categories.  See example categories below.

•  Sports equipment
•  Seasonal clothes
•  Surplus beverages or dry goods
•  Tools
•  Household equipment
•  Lawn or garden tools
•  Chemicals

4) Once you have all of your items sorted into categories, you can store them in various zones based on your categories.

•  Use the clear bins to store loose items like sports equipment such as balls, mitts, etc.
•  Use peg boards to store hand tools, power tools, brooms, and garden tools.
•  Be sure to keep toxins locked away where children can’t gain access to them.
•  Be sure to keep dry goods and toxic chemicals in completely separate zones.
•  Do not store propane tanks inside of your garage.  If the tank leaks it only takes a spark of static electricity to create an explosion.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time

The post Quick and Easy Garage Organization appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Layering
The layering or bundling method, layers the clothes in alternating directions in the suitcase and then has you fold each article of clothing onto the last piece to create one intertwined bundle of clothing. This is a great method to reduce wrinkles and we were easily able to pack as many as 25 items of medium-sized women’s clothing in one 22” carry-on. The downside is that the entire bundle would have to be removed and unwrapped to retrieve your clothing. Therefore, this method is best if you plan to hang your clothing once you get to your destination.

Rolling
Rolling the clothing is another popular method. You can roll each item individually or group like items together and roll as a bundle. For example, with shirts, you want to fold the sleeves in and then roll from the bottom of the shirt up to the neck. For pants, you want to roll from the waist down to the ankle. If you have wrinkle-prone clothing, we suggest using plastic (e.g., dry cleaning bag). Lay the clothing on the plastic bag and then roll the item up with the plastic as you go. We found that grouping like items together did save some extra space and reduced some of the wrinkling that can occur with various fabrics when rolled.

Folding
And finally, the folding method.  This method does take up more space than layering or rolling. However, for some fabrics, it’s a better way to reduce wrinkling. Folding the clothing with a piece of tissue paper or plastic in the middle will reduce friction and, therefore, the wrinkles.

In the end, we found that a combination of methods often works best. Rolling items that don’t wrinkle easily and folding others with tissue paper were the easiest techniques to combine. Once the larger, bulkier items were placed in the suitcase, we filled in all the gaps (including the shoes) with smaller items like underwear, tank tops, bathing suits and belts, so that every nook and cranny was filled.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time

The post How to Pack for Traveling During the Holidays appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Take a guess at the approximate weight of the items below:

1) 12” Stack of Paper: 1 ) 15 pounds 2) 20 pounds 3) 30 pounds

2) 13 Gallon Garbage of Clothing : 1 ) 8 pounds 2 ) 15 pounds 3 ) 20 pounds

3) 12” Stack of Books: 1 ) 10 pounds 2 ) 17 pounds 3 ) 30 pounds

(See answers at the end of the blog.)

Below are a few suggestions of where you can start to lose those pounds quickly.

Clothing

One of the easiest places to start are your closets. Spring is the time to switch out your wardrobe and downsize all those items you never wore over the winter. Now to be fair, this past year was a very unique year, and you may not have worn many items while you were stuck at home. However, there are always pieces in the closets that don’t fit, you don’t love or are just old.

Paper

Spring is also a great time to get rid of all that excess paper lying around the house. There are often local shredding events in the spring and fall, so gather up and remove all those bags and boxes that have been stacking up around the house and you will be amazed at how much lighter you will feel.

Electronic Waste

As organizers, we remove an incredible amount of electronic waste from our client homes and a lot of it is in the form of electric cords and old computers. Many cords are kept “just in case” and that is where the pile up begins. And let’s not forget about all those old remotes as well! Of course, we don’t want you to throw out anything that you are using; which begs the question…which ones are you really using?

By taking time to shed clothing, paper and electronic waste in your home you will lighten your household load by several hundred pounds and enjoy the following benefits.

Physical

·        Easier to find and maintain what you have

·        Easier to clean your home

·        Increased productivity

·        Increased energy

·        Feel physically lighter

Mental & Emotional

·        Less stress

·        Increased enthusiasm

·        Enhanced mood

·        Increased momentum and direction in pursuit of goals

·        Improved personal relationships

Financial

·        Save money by being able to find what you have

·        Reduced financial loss from overspending

·        Decrease late fee payments

·        More time – time is money

Shed some weight in your home this summer and you might find that the space you create promotes healthy changes in other areas of your life. And remember, we are always a click or a phone call away, if the load is too heavy!

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time, Organizing Service

www.yourtasksourtime.com

610.847.5422

Answers to quiz above: 1) 30 pounds   2) 15 pounds   3) 17 pounds

The post Reduce Clutter Weight for the Summer appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

The costs of clutter are both tangible and intangible.  The tangible costs include financial loss from over spending, late fees on bills and diminished work productivity that can lead to depression and illness.  The intangible costs of clutter may include social embarrassment resulting from a cluttered home, distressed personal relationships and even loss of momentum and direction in pursuit of our goals. Detaching from clutter may be difficult, but it’s worth the time and effort if you truly wish to live a simplified and more fulfilling life.

Let’s begin this journey by asking some questions about the items you own:

• Do you need the items?  If not, let them go.
• Do you love the item? If not, let them go.
• Do you use the items on a regular basis or recently? If so, maintain those items but keep them at a minimum.
• How do you use these items? How you use an item can shed light on whether the item should be kept.
• Are the items in good working order? Items that work improperly or are difficult to use can cause frustration and should not be kept.
• What is your relationship to the item? If you feel emotionally attached to an item, ask yourself the following questions.
  • Does the item bring value to your current life style? If not, let them go.
  • Is the item contributing to the life you wish to lead? If not, let them go.
• Are you keeping the item because you think you should or because you want to? It’s okay to let go of those items that you have kept out of obligation and it’s fine to keep family items that you treasure.

Learning to detach is often a journey that includes creating new habits.  One of the best ways to avoid having to purge, is to ask yourself if it will fit in the space and if you really need or love the item before purchasing it?

Begin by consciously using this method for a month or so, and you will be surprised at how easily you can reduce the clutter in your home and simplify your surroundings.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

The post The Clutter Free Life – How to Detach appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to Rightsize. You can Rightsize to move or Rightsize to stay in place. Either way, the goal is to create a space that lets you live your best life. It’s about determining how your space and belongings are going to serve you in the future and making a mindful decision about how you want to live going forward.

Rightsize to Move
If you want to Rightsize to move, the goal is to create a space that serves your current and future needs. Here are some reasons you may choose to move.

• Costs – Home maintenance, home repairs, utility bills, taxes and home insurance can all be a financial burden on a senior’s income.
• Health – Physical limitations and medical conditions can create challenges in daily home upkeep. One fall or illness can drastically impact your future living condition.
• Lifestyle – A warmer climate, being near the children, being part of an active senior community can be an enticing reason to move.

Rightsize to Stay-in-Place
Rightsizing to stay in place is all about access, safety and stuff. To create a space that allows you live your best and most comfortable life. Let’s talk about some of the reasons you would choose to Rightsize in place.

Freedom from Stuff
One of the benefits is a tremendous sense of freedom from your stuff and surrounding yourself with only those things that you love and need. It can free both your mind and your heart so you can focus on those things that you enjoy and bring you happiness.

Easier to Clean
When you have less stuff, it will be easier to perform daily activities of living and the space will be safer, easier to de-clutter and clean.

No Place Like Home
Many develop an intense connection to the home they may have lived in for 30 plus years. Some preparation to avoid emergencies will be necessary, such as:
• Clearing walkways for canes or wheelchairs
• Adding grab bars in the bathroom
• Removing throw rugs and other trip hazards
• Moving appliances and other items used daily so they can be easily accessible

Rightsizing to Move
Where do you start if you are Rightsizing to move? The most important place to start is with the dimensions of the new space. This will inform your decisions about how many belongings to take. Are you moving to smaller home or a condo? Are you going from five bedrooms to one? Will you have any storage areas available like a garage, attic, basement or storage unit?

Start Small
Our advice is to start small with things you are not attached to, such as, plastic containers or things you have kept out of obligation. Begin the process in smaller spaces and areas you can complete in 1-2 hours, like linen closets or bathroom cabinets.

Group Items
Group similar items together so you can see what you own. This really informs your decision-making process. Create a maybe pile to avoid getting stuck in the purging process.

Measure Twice
Measure the closets in your current AND new space, including linear hanging space, shelves and shoe racks to compare space and determine what to let go and keep.

Basements, Attics & Garages
Basements, garages and attics can be overwhelming and are areas where you may need help physically, mentally and emotionally.

Garage Sales and Storage Units
We do not recommend either. Garage sales are a lot of work with very little return. Storage units are often a waste of money because things go in and never come out.

Rightsizing to Stay-in-Place
For those who want to stay in your current home, Rightsizing is not all about getting rid of stuff, but often about changing and moving things around. Rearranging things you need on a daily or weekly basis so things are easier to manage and to better serve your current needs. What’s going to serve you going forward? That means taking a look at what could be access and safety issues. Is your furniture appropriate for future needs? Will you be able to maneuver a cane, walker or wheelchair between rooms smoothly? Will you be able to reach your clothes or do you need to lower the clothing bars?

Who Can Help?
Once you have made the decision to Rightsize, the next step is to determine how you will get the job done and who can help?

Family & Friends
Family and friends will often volunteer to help and that can be a positive or negative experience depending on the relationship. The main thing to bear in mind is that you should have the final say about what items stay and go. Having said that, you do need to strongly consider your space limitations when de-cluttering and Rightsizing.

Movers
Movers do not Rightsize, Downsize or Organize. They do pack everything, sometimes even the garbage. They will occasionally unpack; however, that consists of taking the items out of the box and sitting them down anywhere there’s horizontal space.

Professional Organizers
Professional Organizers will organize your move by helping you sort, categorize, purge and Rightsize. They will also unpack and put away or unpack and organize once you have moved into your new home, but most do not pack prior to a move.

Senior Move Managers®
SMM are your one stop shop for managing the entire Rightsizing process. They will help you sort, categorize, purge, pack, create a floor plan of your new home, provide resources such as movers, handymen or painters and unpack and settle you in your new home. A SMM will save you time, money and reduce your stress.

What Happens to My Stuff?

Setting Expectations
Where will everything go? It’s a tough question because the market is flooded with common household items. Don’t assume that your children will want your furniture, but be sure to ask in case there is something special they would like to keep. Many people feel that their items are worth more than they are. The market for antiques is not as robust as it was in the past, so that prized antique piece that you paid thousands for 20 or 30 years ago, may be worth much less today.

Research
Research is key to finding new homes for your belongings. Start by sorting and categorizing the items you want to donate. This is important, because you need to know what each organization will accept for donations. Those who live in Pennsylvania are fortunate in that there are many thrift shops, donation organizations and houses of worship that will take common household items and some furniture. New Jersey residents have fewer donation resources available, especially for furniture donations.

Selling Items
There are several ways to sell items including auctions, estate sales and online platforms. Auction items will have to be transported to the place they will be sold and most auction houses will only accept items that are hot on the market and in pristine condition. Estate sales are often held in the home. The items are often priced in advance, however, the bidders actually set the price by what they are willing to pay. EBay, Craigslist, Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace are sites where you can post your items for sale. There are fees associated with most of these methods that can substantially cut into your profits, so choose wisely!

Disposing of Items
If you are Rightsizing over time then you may be able to use your regular garbage company for most or all of your disposal needs. Check with your local garbage company to see what and how much they will take, if they have special pick-up days for large items and if they charge a fee. The fee for your local garbage company is often substantially lower than hiring a junk removal company. If you have a significant amount of garbage, then you may want to check into renting a dumpster or hiring a junk removal service.

When Should I Rightsize?
Now, the sooner the better. Again, 30 to 60 years of stuff is no joke. It took you that long to fill up your home, so you are not going to Rightsize it overnight. You can do it over time, but have a set timeline and a plan so that are prepared for the future and you are creating a space that allows you live your best life.

The post Rightsizing – A How To Guide appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

At YTOT we believe it depends on the individual. It boils down to how you want to live your life? What belongings, what information and which activities are going to serve you? There is a quote by Bill Jenson that we find true “The paradox of simplicity is that making things simple is hard work”. Choosing what to include AND exclude in our lives is a process that takes time and a great deal of effort.

How do you get started? There is a difference between organizing and simplifying and a good place to start is with the physical stuff that surrounds you.

Organizing is a tool that’s used to simplify. Organizing is about finding homes for your stuff and being able to find what you need, when you need it. Finding a home for all your items can have a huge impact on your life. This effect can transform your life.

Simplifying is more about determining what is really going to serve you. Are you going to read or re-read the 300 books you have on your bookcases? Do you value all decorative objects on the flat surfaces of your home? Do you wear the 30 pairs of jeans in your closet? In short, how do you want to live and how much time do you want to devote to your stuff?

The post Organize or Simplify appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

1) Shop your house and find all those supplies you bought last season at the end of year sale.  Here’s what you will need…

• Wrapping paper
• Tissue paper
• Gift bags
• Gift boxes
• Cellophane and packing tape
• Ribbon and embellishments
• Sharp scissors
• Writing utensils

2) Find a suitable location for your wrapping station. Preferably a room with good lighting and a door that you can lock.  You will need a table, desk or any decent size flat surface for your station.  A 4′ or 6′ folding craft table is a great option because it can be stored away when not in use for the holidays.

3) Now it’s time to set up your station! Your rolls of wrapping paper can be collected in a vertical gift wrap organizer next to your table. Ribbons and embellishments can be placed in baskets and containers on top of your table.  Scissors, pens and colorful markers can be gathered in a festive Christmas cup or jar. Tissue paper and gift boxes can be stored in a desk top file organizer for easy accessibility and color selection. Gift bags can be hung on the wall above the table using removable Command Hooks.

Helpful tip: Consider choosing 1-3 colors of wrapping and tissue paper that can be used for any occasion to avoid having to purchase and store several rolls of wrapping throughout the year.

The post Save Time and Frustration by Setting Up a Holiday Wrapping Station appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Think Small

The summer months are not amenable to tackling large jobs like basements; however, they can be used to work on smaller, organizing tasks that can be accomplished quickly and will enhance the order in our lives.

Closets are a great place to start!   When organizing a small space, I recommend completely emptying the space. This enables you to clearly see everything and makes sorting, purging and cleaning easier while also facilitating the organization of remaining items.

When organizing a closet that holds toiletries or medicines, use open containers to store items that are similar.  This makes them easier to find and prevents items from getting lost or spilling out onto shelves.  Labeling also helps family members locate items at a glance!

Consider Your Pantry

The pantry is another straightforward space to organize! You can also rotate foods that should be used in a timely manner and eliminate items that have expired.  Because the pantry has many items of varying sizes, you can use storage containers, mason jars and perhaps a Lazy Susan to effectively organize it.  Remember to group similar items together and label shelves so that others can arrange your groceries according to your system.

There are many small spaces that can be organized in less than an hour; select one or two per month and you will have accomplished much while still enjoying your summer activities.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

The post Clutter Takes a Grilling appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

When the burden of too much clutter is lifted from our shoulders, we may feel physically lighter, more energetic and less stressed. This relief can lead to increased work productivity, greater enthusiasm and better relationships.

The question we need to ponder is why do we purchase so much in the first place?  There are a number of explanations for this compulsion. Often we simply want to possess the latest and greatest stuff because we think it’s fun to own!   We live in a consumer culture and we often validate ourselves by what and how much we can accumulate.   Consumerism and materialism are promoted by advertisers in print and on TV and computers in the form of commercials.  According to Annie Leonard who wrote, “The Story of Stuff”, the two main activities Americans engage in are watching TV and shopping.  We are bombarded by advertising and are exposed to approximately 3000 ads per day. We see more ads in a day then people saw in a year 50 years ago.

Couple that with the fact that the average house size has doubled since the 1970’s and it becomes easy to see why we accumulate so much “stuff”.

Sadly in order to maintain our lifestyles of consumption, many people are working 50+ hours per week.  We work until are exhausted and depleted and then we shop to make us feel better! We return home too tired to do much else than watch TV and the cycle begins anew!!

Is this the way we really want to lead our lives?  If so, fine!  If not, then it’s time to rethink our goals and blithely step off that hamster wheel of consumption and examine saner options!!

The post Cultivate Your Space to Change Your Life appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Shedding the old is easy if we are not attached to our items, but often we are attached to family heirlooms and to those items we have lovingly purchased!  After all, we paid for them and consequently consider them to be good stuff!  These are the items that hinder our efforts as we attempt to un-clutter our lives. The more we accumulate, the more difficult it is to be clutter free.

The costs of clutter are both tangible and intangible.  The tangible costs include financial loss from over spending, late fees on bills, diminished work productivity because we have to spend time locating missing papers and also creating stress that can lead to depression and illness.  The intangible costs of clutter may include social embarrassment resulting from having a cluttered home, distressed personal relationships and even loss of momentum and direction in pursuit of our goals.

Detaching from clutter may be difficult, but it’s worth the time and effort if you truly wish to live a simplified and more fulfilling life

Let’s begin this journey by asking some questions about the items you own:

Do you need the items?  If not, let them go.

Do you love the item? If not, let them go!

Do you use these items on a regular basis or recently? If so maintain those items but keep them at a minimum.

How do you use these items and are they in good working order? How you use an item can shed light on whether the item should be kept.  Items that work improperly or are difficult to use can cause frustration and should not be kept.

What is your relationship to the item? If you feel emotionally attached to an item, ask yourself the following questions.

Does this item bring value to my current life style?

Is this item contributing to the life I wish to lead?

Are you keeping the item because you think you should or because you want to? It’s okay to let go of those items that were given to us by our family members.  It’s fine to keep family items that you treasure, but frequently family members donate items because they believe only other family members would truly enjoy them or would use them properly.

Learning to detach is often a journey that includes creating new habits.  One of the best ways to avoid having to purge, is to ask yourself if you really need or love an item before purchasing it?

Begin by consciously using the method for a month or so, and you will be surprised at how easily you can reduce the clutter in your home and simplify your surroundings.

The post The Clutter Free Life – How to Detach appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Most people don’t have time to maintain meticulous records, so one of the easiest ways to keep track of tax documents is to select a place to put all tax related papers throughout the year.  You can use a file, a box, or a bin as long as it’s big enough to easily hold all your receipts and documents without fighting to squeeze the papers into the container.  If you have to fight to store your paperwork the system will most likely fail and you will be back to square one.

If you want to make tax time even easier you can set up a simple tax filing system using a file folder with multiple dividers.  Label the dividers into individual categories such as postage, supplies and donations. Then file your receipts and documents into the appropriate categories.

Many people are so overwhelmed by paper that they simply ignore it and hope it will disappear.  Unfortunately it only accumulates until it feels completely out of control, but that doesn’t have to be the case.  It’s better to take control of paper before it takes control of you.  A good way to do this is to Decide to Decide.  Take a good hard look at the paper coming into your home by sorting it into categories.  Some of the most common categories are bills, papers to file, items to read and action items.  Most pieces of mail will fit into these 4 broad categories, so keep it as simple as possible.  Next, you will need to determine where you will sort and store your mail each day.  This should be a location near the door where the mail comes into the home, I suggest using a separate sorting container for each category of mail.  Now that you have a system, you can decide what categories you will need, decide where you will sort and store your mail each day; and finally, decide to use your system consistently.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

The post Clutter Can Be Taxing appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.