What is the Cost of Clutter?

Clutter can be expensive and the cost of clutter can be divided into 3 categories: financial, physical and emotional.

• The financial cost of clutter can result in lost or displaced money in the form of checks or fees. When unopened mail accumulates, it’s often followed by late fees that have accrued and missing tax records can lead to financial penalties.
• The physical cost of clutter includes stress and anxiety experienced by the inability to locate items when they are needed. Time wasted searching for items is frustrating and physically exhausting.
• The emotional cost of clutter frequently comes in the form of confusion and a sense that we have lost control of our circumstances.

How do we regain that sense of control?

Getting organized is one way we can take control of our daily lives and navigate through challenging transitions.  We often feel that if we achieve a certain goal or arrive at a particular milestone, life will suddenly be better. There may be some truth to this, however, it’s frequently the journey itself that transforms us. The journey involves change which can be difficult and frightening.  Even though we know that change is the only constant in life, we still resist it. We resist letting go of things, places and even people who are no longer a positive fit in our lives. Sometimes the act of “letting go” is the path to control.

De-clutter Your Mind, Body and Space

Let’s look at three organizing concepts to de-clutter your mind, body and space:

1. Create a schedule: Make sure the entire family is informed and involved. The most imperative tasks should be scheduled first and the remaining tasks in order of importance.
2. Make a list: This is the fastest way to physically reduce stress. This list can be created on paper, computer or dry erase board. The objective is to get the tasks out of your head, then use the list!
3. Sort, categorize and purge! For small jobs like a junk drawer, sort all the items into categories that are similar in order to determine how much of each category you own. Then purge what you don’t want or need. The left-over items will determine the type of storage container needed for proper organization. For larger piles or stacks, like clothes, it’s best to simply sort items into “keep” and “let go”. The goal is to quickly reduce the size of the “keep pile” and then categorize and organize the remaining items.

Embrace the Journey

We can choose to embrace the journey or we can avoid it as the world moves forward. Change can be difficult and we all occasionally need a little help and guidance to arrive at our destination.

If you are struggling and need a little assistance, we would love to help you embrace the journey. Give us a call at 610.847.5422 or schedule a free consultation.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

The post Is Clutter Robbing You of the Life You Deserve? appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

The good news is that many organizing projects can be tackled using the same method.  We use the STACK method for our clients because it’s simple, easy to follow and it works on almost any organizing project.

S – Sort: The first step is to sort your items into categories.  You’ll want to put like items with like items, (e.g. paints with paints, pencils with pencils).  This will tell you how much stuff you actually have in any one category.

T – Toss: Once you know how much stuff you have it’s time to take stock and toss any items that you don’t use, are outdated or unusable. I suggest that you keep only what you love or need. Tossing can be anything from throwing in the garbage to donating or selling an item.

A – Assign a Home: This part of the process can be accomplished by asking yourself a few questions.

How you use your items?

Where do you use your items?

How often you use your items?

C – Contain: Containerize any item/s that are possible and feasible to contain. It will help make items easier to find and store.

K – Keep It Up: This may involve building new habits if necessary and practicing putting items away after they’re used.

When the burden 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.

Darla Pompilio

Professional Organizer

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

The post How to Declutter and Organize Any Space appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Make sure your organizing systems fit the life that you are living now; not the life you used to live and not the life you plan on living in the future. Using the same organizing systems you had in college to manage your home is most likely not going to work. The rule of thumb is that you always want to focus on function first followed by aesthetics.

Sort by Categories or How You Use an Item

The truth is that organizing is basically a sorting process. Sort items by categories (like with like) and/or by how you use them.  Items that are used together should be stored together.  For example, if you are wrapping a present, you don’t want to have to go to one room for scissors, another for tape and yet another for wrapping paper.

Use the Right Tools

Containerize, containerize, containerize where possible and feasible.  A Proper container allows you to keep track of items, store them easier and makes things easier to use.

Purge Regularly

We are constantly bombarded with items coming into our homes and paper is the worst.  There’s mail, the kids school papers, work papers and the list never ends.  Consistent purging is one of the keys to staying organized.

Ask for Help

You don’t have to do everything yourself. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it.  Delegate tasks or hire people to do the work your not good at or don’t want to do.

Evaluate Frequently and Honestly

The one constant in life is change.  Be flexible, life is always evolving and your systems will need to evolve as your life changes.

By: Darla Pompilo

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

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Shop Online

When we need to complete a project, some of us may simply run to the local craft or hardware store to buy what we need. Given our current circumstances, many stores and businesses have been closed or are running at reduced capacity. Some stores, however, have setup curbside pickup where you order online, drive to the store and they will place your order in your trunk and you never have to leave your vehicle. Another option is to order online and have it shipped to your house. Overnight and 2-day shipping has been eliminated for many sites. So, if you do order online, it may take a few extra days to receive your delivery.

Shop at Home

If there is a project you want to complete, figure out what items you need to complete it. Write out a shopping list if you need it. Then go shopping in your house to see if you already have what you need. Check the garage, the basement, the shed and that closet that has become the dumping ground for all the odd items you’re not sure where to put. You may rediscover items you have forgotten.

Be Creative

If you don’t have everything you need, you may need to be creative. You may discover a solution right in front of you. For example, you’ve been meaning to buy new flowerpots for the front porch but never got around to it. As you search through your house, you realize you have some spray paint and so you paint your old flowerpots and now they look brand new! You may also need to think outside the box. For example, you have a sewing project but no material on hand. As you go through your closets, you realize that you have an old sheet set not being used that would be perfect for your project.

Create a Plan

But what if you’ve searched your house and don’t find the items you need to complete your projects? Sure, you can shop online. But what if you have no income coming in because your employment has come to a halt in recent weeks? You can still plan and organize for your project! Think about what items you need for the project. Then think about what items you have and what items you need to buy. You can go online and do the research to find the items you still need. You can check out different retailers and see what they offer. You can comparison shop to see who has the best price and make note of it. You can also use apps like Pinterest where you can create a virtual board for each project and pin items that meet your needs for that project.

We know this won’t be the same as completing the project, but it will allow you the time to plan and organize your thoughts on the project and plan a budget. Taking the time to plan upfront will hopefully save some money in the long run. Then, when you’re back on better financial ground, you have done the leg work to identify what items you need and where you need to get them, and you can begin to knock off those projects more easily.

Being stuck in the house without the necessary supplies for our projects doesn’t mean we need to put those projects on hold indefinitely.

Karen Kabara

Your Tasks – Our Time

The post Roadblocks to Home Projects 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?

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Pick Your Battles

Look at your list and determine the cleaning and organizing tasks that make the most sense for this time of year.  For example, closets are a great place to start because this is the time of year we change from winter to spring/summer attire.  Garages are another good area of focus.  Now is the time to put away the snow blower and pull out the lawn mower.  And, let’s be honest, things tend to get piled and tossed into the garage all winter, so it’s time for a garage clean-out.  Your garden shed is another great fit for seasonal organizing.  Inspect and sharpen your garden tools, take stock of your supplies, clean your clay pots and determine your tool storage area based on how often you use the tools. With the onset of warmer weather comes the need to change to lighter blankets and comforters.  Once the bed is striped you can vacuum and turn the mattress to complete the process.

Maintenance is Key

Now that you have decided which areas make sense to organize during the spring season; let’s break the rest of that cleaning and organizing list into manageable tasks to be completed throughout the year.  Baseboards, doors and cobwebs can be dusted and cleaned during the winter when you’re stuck inside during a snowstorm.  Lampshades and ceiling fans can be dusted at regular intervals when you dust the rest of your home. Draperies, blinds and carpets can be cleaned in the fall or the end of the summer.  Many people have self cleaning ovens that can be cleaned any time of the year and grease traps and stove filters are easy to replace or clean on an as needed basis.

Consistency is the Name of the Game

Having a consistent, year around routine will help you avoid investing large chunks of time in the spring.  Instead, get out and smell the forsythia, spend time with family and friends or do whatever makes you happier at this wonderful time of year.  Organizing and cleaning are necessary for a functional life, so finding ways to spread it out and make it easier in the long run will save you endless hours each season.

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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!!

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Purchasing has a complicated physiology; why do rational people over purchase?  There are several factors at play here.  Mass media is not the only culprit; the availability of credit cards enables people to consume beyond their needs.  According to Los Angeles clinical psychologist and wealth consultant James Gottfurcht, PhD, “They’re conditioning people into building debt at a very young, vulnerable age.”

Other major factors that contribute to overspending according to research by Florida State University social psychologist, Roy Baumeister, PhD is too many demands in stressful situations and dealing with  difficult relationships.

Finally the idea that consumerism leads to happiness has proven to be an illusion; according to a study by Lan Nguyen Chaplin and Deborah Roedder John. “Researchers have found that low self-esteem and materialism are not just a correlation, but also a causal relationship where low self esteem increases materialism, and materialism can also create low self-esteem.”

In conclusion when we find ourselves losing control over our environment we have to ask ourselves why and put ourselves back in charge of our lives by making conscience decisions based on real needs.  As Thoreau so aptly stated “simplify.”

The post Does Buying in Bulk Save Money or Just Clutter Our Lives? appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

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Well, to be honest, it depends…if he packs up all of his belongings in containers AND you have space available in your garage, basement or attic then the answer is relatively easy and you simply need to store it until it’s time to head back to school; however, if you don’t have the storage room or if he randomly tosses it all in his car in garbage bags or worse yet, no containers at all, then rest assured all that stuff will end up somewhere in your home scattered or piled about.

Pre-plan

The best way to avoid the onslaught of stuff coming into the home is to approach the problem before it happens and have a discussion with your college student before they pack up to come home. If you have re-purposed their room then make sure they know ahead of time to avoid the shock and disappointment, and then work with them to devise a plan for their belongings when they come home. When it comes to packing up any space a little pre-planning goes a long way. First decide what space your student will occupy when he returns home. Next discuss how to store any items that won’t fit in the provided space—see below for storage options. You may even want to limit your student to a certain number of suitcases or boxes that will be allowed in the space for the summer. This will help them learn to plan better in the future and help you control the clutter coming into the home. Finally, talk to them about how they plan to pack—see below for packing tips. Limiting them to 2 suitcases and 3 boxes is not the same as 8 garbage bags full of stuff, so be clear about your expectations to avoid any misunderstandings and hard feelings.

How to Pack for a Move

The most efficient way to pack for a move is to sort all items into categories. For example they would gather all their pens, pencils and markers together in one category and all their notebooks, pads and Post It Notes in a separate category. The same process would apply to all the rest of their belongings. The process allows them to quickly see if they have an over abundance in any category so they can easily decide what to keep, toss or donate. Once they have everything sorted, categorized and purged they can begin the process of packing.

I recommend packing the smaller items in banker’s boxes. They are large enough to fit a fair amount of items and small enough so they aren’t too heavy when fully packed. In addition they are reasonably priced, have handles and are easy to label. You can even go green by purchasing used banker’s boxes at Box It. If water or moisture damage is a concern then use plastic totes. I suggest using clear, medium sized totes so the items inside are easily identifiable and the container is not too large to carry when fully packed. Larger, oddly shaped items like bean bag chairs can be stored in large contractor garbage bags to protect items from dirt and water damage.

If your student is living across country and has more than a car load of items to tote home, then it might more prudent to look into renting an offsite storage unit for the summer. This way he can simply pack a couple of bags and drive or fly home for the summer. There are some great options available, such as CollegeBoxes or DoortoDoor that cater to college students and even deliver the boxes to their dorm and pick them up after they are packed.

If a storage unit is not in the budget and junior has too many items to lug home you can consider donating or using Freecycle to downsize any unnecessary or unwanted items before loading up the car for home. The best way to load a car for the greatest use of space is to load the larger inflexible items first, followed by smaller inflexible items, then items that can be squeezed in the odd sized empty spaces. Clothing can be packed into any suitcases you have or if the suitcases take up too much room you can layer the suitcases one inside the other and use garbage bags to pack your clothes. This way you can squeeze the clothes into all the unused spaces left in your car.

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If this sounds familiar then now is the time to consider how you would really like to use and enjoy that space.  First thing you’ll want to do is remove the clutter and completely clear the space.  Now you have a clean pallet and the possibilities are endless; here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Exercise Room:  If you enjoy exercise, but not necessarily going to the gym, then an exercise room may be the perfect solution.  Focus on the activities that you truly enjoy and purchase only the equipment you know you will use.  For example, do not purchase that top of the line treadmill if you hate stationary aerobic equipment.  People often purchase exercise equipment because they feel they should do a certain activity; then end up using the equipment as a clothing rack because they don’t enjoy the activity.

Media Room: Create a media room with comfy chairs, big screen TV and refreshment center.

Entertainment Room: This could be a bar with a pool table and dart board or an area for a poker table or portable card tables.

Crafter or Hobby Room: Add long tables with roll out drawers, peg boards and lots of cubbies to create a customized space for all of your crafts.

Office: If you have always wanted to start your own business this may be your golden opportunity. Add a desk, a couple of book cases, a file cabinet and you have the beginnings of a great work space.

Meditation or Reading Room: Maybe you’re looking for a place to quiet your mind and have some time to reflect and read. Find a comfy chair, good lighting, and maybe a plant or two and try to keep the number of items in the room to a minimum for the most soothing effect.

Guest Room:  Many people like to have space for family and guests to visit without sending them to a local hotel or blowing up an air mattress. Create a spa like space with reading materials, fluffy towels, baskets with personal toiletries and brochures of the local sites.

Closet Room: This is my personal favorite!  Turn that space into a room sized closet complete with dressing table, island, shoe wall and built in jewelry organizer. It just doesn’t get any better.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

The post How to Re-Purpose Your Grad’s Room appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Six Weeks Prior to Move 

• Review your relocation allowance from your employer. Verify the expenses they will cover and which are your responsibility.
• Hire a mover and get 3 quotes from licensed companies.

Five Weeks Prior to Move

• Conduct a room-by-room survey to determine what to keep, sell or donate.
• Photograph or videotape valuable items and save for insurance purposes.
• Plan a yard sale, call your local charity or make other arrangements to dispose of items you will not be shipping.
• Start a file to keep all your moving documents in one location.  Tip: An accordion file works well because it’s contained, light weight and has lots of pockets for various information.

Four Weeks Prior to Move

• Gather moving materials.  Boxes, tape, tape dispensers, box cutters, etc.
• Call your local garage to schedule an appointment for routine maintenance. Check with your mover about car moving specifics if you are planning on shipping your car.
• Take pets to the veterinarian for shots and inoculations. ID and rabies tags should be securely attached to your pet’s collar.  Make arrangements at the kennel, if necessary to board your pet.
• Make a list of everyone to notify regarding your move such as: family, friends, insurance company, utility companies, doctors, accountant, bank, lien holders, credit card accounts, service providers, etc.
• Book your flights if you are flying to your new destination.
• Make arrangements for hotel or temporary living accommodations, rental car, etc.
• Cancel magazine and newspaper subscriptions and club memberships.
• Contact the Chamber of Commerce at your destination city for a welcome package.  Get acquainted with your new city!

Three Weeks Prior to Move

• Clean out your closets, garage, tool shed, attic, etc.
• Start packing infrequently used items. You can number boxes and keep a master inventory.
• Complete change of addresses forms and return to the post office or complete forms online. Forms are available at US Post Office website.
• Obtain necessary medical and dental records, school records, legal and financial documents and backup copies of computer files.
• Notify utility services. Request that utilities, phone and Internet be shut off the day after you the move and installed in the new home the day before before arrival.
• Hire a cleaning company to clean both the old and new spaces.
• Plan meals to use up perishable and frozen items.

Two Weeks Prior to Move

• Transfer prescriptions and ask for medical referrals. Be sure to have and adequate supply of medicine on hand.
• Check with insurance company to transfer coverage to your new home.
• If driving, have your car cleaned and serviced for the trip.  Prepare to have auto registration transferred.
• Call locksmith and arrange to have locks changed in new home.

One Week Prior to Move

• Reconfirm your travel and hotel accommodations at your new destination.
• Arrange child care services and pet care for pack date/s if necessary.
• Arrange parking permits and reserve elevator if necessary.
• Dispose of house plants – give them to friends and family or donate to a hospital or nursing home.
• Arrange for trash to be picked up after you leave.
• Dispose of flammable and explosive items. Typical items classified as dangerous goods that can not be transported are: bleach products, paint, gas cylinders, cleaning fluids, aerosols, gas and kerosene.
• Drain fuel from lawn mower and other machinery.  Drain all water hoses.
• Provide information sheet to movers with old and new addresses, directions and cell phone numbers.
• Create a last out and first in box of necessities. Bedding, towels, toiletries, toilet paper, basic tools, cleaning supplies, medications, snacks and a camera to document anything that was broken during the move.

One Day Prior to Move

• Finish packing any personal items you wish to take with you and set aside suitcases and sufficient clothing for at least 1 week.
• Disconnect TV, stereo and computer components. Pack all connection cords in clearly marked carton.
• Assemble all airline tickets, currency, credit cards, jewelry, medical records, school records, personal information, documents pertaining to your new home, cell phones and laptop computers. Be sure to keep separate so the packers do not pack in your shipment.
• Defrost and clean freezer and refrigerator. Discard any remaining food items.

Moving Day

• Plan your day so that you will be at your residence while the movers are there. Be available to direct the crew and answer any questions. Point out any items that require special handling or that you will want unloaded first at destination.
• Perform a “walk through” with the crew leader to make sure all items have been packed that are intended to be moved. Check the attic, basement, shed, closets, garage, drawers and cupboards.
• Give keys to real estate agent.
• Meet movers at the new home. Check items off inventory list as they are unloaded.
• Inspect for damages. Photograph relevant items before signing the release/bill of lading.
• Test faucets, toilets, utilities, phones, smoke detectors and security systems. Turn on water heater.
• Unpack.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

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