Confessions of an Organizer - Paper Stacking

I am a Certified Professional Organizer.  When most people think of that term they  immediately think of Martha Stewart......well Martha Stewart I am not.  Don't get me wrong, I really am organized it's just that I don't live in a magazine. I don't have everything color coded and perfectly labeled.  I don't have all my papers filed immediately and I certainly have not had time to hand make all my Christmas decorations. 

I am a Certified Professional Organizer but I have a confession to make.  I am a bit of a paper stacker!  I am stating publicly that I have papers stacked around my house. 

EXHIBIT A

The above photo shows a stack of miscellaneous papers that I have not had time to take care of or attack.  I am not even sure what is in the stack, I just know that it needs my attention or it would have not made it to the stack. So, see, I am a purposeful stacker!  I don't just throw any kind of paper in the stack, I have to know it needs further attention or follow up.  

Now, many organizers will tell you to put this stack of paper in a file folder with the label TO DO.  I am here to tell you if any of my papers go in any kind of file, they will never get done!!! For me, most filing is for when things are completed or I only need to go back to the file for reference purposes.  I don't know why my brain works this way but it just does and I know many of your brains work the same way. The beautiful thing about this stack is that it is sitting where I can see it, it is all in one neat stack and I will take care of it because I can see it.  

Many of my clients feel like they are less than organized because every single thing in their house is not in place; nothing could be further from the truth.   Sometimes you have to have a little mess to be organized.  Sometimes you need things in your field of vision in order for them to not be totally forgotten.  Sometimes you need a small paper stack to remind you that you have some things that need your attention! 

I am not advocating stacks and stacks and stacks because that means you are not stacking purposefully!  I am merely saying that you can give yourself some grace and have a stack or two of papers.  The key is to not let the stacks continue to stack but schedule some time to actually "attack the stack".  

Exhibit B

So, now I have to quit blogging and go attack my paper stack......and I would suggest you do the same!  

Confessions of an Organizer - Emergency Preparedness

(photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/danilo rizzuti)

I live in Eastern, NC.  We have hurricanes in this area of the world.  So what does one do when one hears that a hurricane is coming?   Get prepared........the best he/she can.

I have lived in this area for 17 years.  When we first moved here, we met up with two hurricanes our first summer here.  Not my idea of a warm welcome.  Several years later, Hurricane Floyd hit our area and brought with it damaging flood waters.  This hurricane scared me enough to plead with my husband, prior to Floyd's arrival, to run and get away from our home and not deal with such fury.  After many years and numerous hurricanes and tropical storms,  I have become somewhat complacent.  

Complacency can be a dangerous thing in all areas of life........especially in preparing for an emergency.  Around here when you hear there is going to be a hurricane you gather up flashlights, batteries, water and bread.  You fire up the generator to ensure it is working.  You begin to cook what you have in the freezer and get your weather radio all ready to go.  Those things are great and helpful but I am talking about real emergency preparedness.......having things in a bag ready to go at a moment's notice.

Having my things ready for an emergency is actually on MY TO DO LIST!  Yes, I am confessing, once again, that this organizer is not as prepared as she needs to be.  Yes, I have water and an emergency medical kit and some trash bags and duct tape and a few canned goods and some peanut butter!  However, I don't have my "to go" bag.  What should be in the "to go" bag?  Copies of insurance papers, information about banking accounts, copies of medical history (although thankfully we don't really have any), copies of birth certificates, identification and cash or traveler's checks. 

So take a little time this week to make a few copies of some papers, put them in a plastic (waterproof) file and put it with your other emergency kit supplies.  Don't have any emergency kit supplies together? That's okay....start today.  Here is a link to the government's suggestions about what you should gather together.  http://www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit.  It really is easy when, just like any other organizational project, you do a little at a time. 

There are many people who think it is silly to get these things together in one place and be this prepared and it is.........until you need it.  An emergency kit is just like insurance of any kind.......you don't need it until you need it!!!  So start now, while there is no emergency.  It sure can't hurt to be prepared but it sure could hurt to be unprepared and this organizer does not want to be caught unprepared.........not good for business!

Confessions of an Organizer - Brilliant Clients

I have to confess, I have a client I think is brilliant!  She has such a creative mind about organization and can cut, saw, sew, tweak and measure and make something work that I would have never even thought possible.  For example, she totally transformed her pantry, using the Elfa System from the Container Store.  Now it wasn't as easy as buying some pieces from the Elfa system and just sticking it in the pantry and being done.  Nope, she had to tweak the system to fit into her space, cut some stuff down, order some extra pieces and install it herself!!!  She did a great job and I have told her I want some of her brain to magically appear in my brain.

                                                  

                                                                          Pantry Before       

                                                                           Pantry After

My job with my client, as an organizer and life coach, is to encourage her, keep her on track, hold her accountable and give direction.  She is so motivated to get her whole house organized and I know, without a doubt, that she can do it and will do some things that I would have never thought for her to do.   I love that about my job.  I am never done learning......new organizational products, new techniques, outside the box thinking.  I can learn from magazines, websites, friends and yes, even clients that appear unorganized but who truly have organized minds.    You see, I may be the expert but every client has great gifts and talents that they can share with me and together we can accomplish a lot!!!! 

Due to confidentiality, I don't normally post before and after pictures, but she sent me the pictures and allowed me to share them with everyone.  Enjoy, get motivated and realize that you too can achieve an organized life....a little step at a time!

Chapters of Life

The last couple of days my schedule has changed a lot.  I've had clients cancel at the last minute.......I've had some unpleasant details to attack..........I've had to manage my time a little differently than I normally would.  

The last couple of weeks my life has changed a lot.  My last child went to college..........I had to put my precious 13 year old dog down..........I've run into a small medical hiccup.........my first grandchild has been born. 

All this to say, I have had to close  some chapters in my life and begin new chapters.  

So, what is it I am supposed to do when things are changing so much?  I am learning.  I am learning to do some of the things that I have put off.  I am learning to have a plan "B" when life is so fluid.  I am learning to breathe.  

                                        (photo courtesy of pixbox77/freedigitalphotos.net)

The last several years have allowed little to no opportunity for me to stop and take a breath.  I have been on the treadmill of life and so now I feel like I have been given a gift to learn more about who I am and what I am about.  I have been given some white space or margin in my life. I have been given time pay attention to what God is trying to teach me and maybe be still and quiet for a minute so He can get a word in edgewise.  I still have some large hurdles to get over and some steep mountains to climb but taking the time to embrace this new chapter and not fighting it will allow me to climb away! 

So what does this have to do with de-cluttering?  More than you'd first think.  De-cluttering has as much to do with your emotional state and mind as it does the physical items surrounding you.  Physical clutter can be the manifestation of a cluttered mind and life.   So, while I've been given this "white space" I am de-cluttering some of my own stuff and de-cluttering my soul. 

So, take a moment.......look at your life.  Where can you give yourself the gift of some margin or white space?  Where can you say no instead of yes?  Where can you put yourself first instead of depleting all of you for everyone else?  Where can you steal some quite moments to sit still and really listen?  

Believe it or not, when you have a de-cluttered mind, it is easier to de-clutter your whole life. Trust me......I know! 

Follow Through

Check out my latest newsletter about Follow Through.  Follow Through is the key to completion......sounds simple but many people do not realize that is why things are not getting done! 

De-Clutter Bug Newsletter - Follow Through

Peggy Barnes, CPO®

Certified Home and Office Organizer, Certified Life Coach and SpeakerDe-Clutter Bug

Website: www.declutterbugnc.com
Cell:  252-670-2951 

Photo Organization - VHS Tapes, Slides and Photo CD's

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Photo Organization - Part 2

Check out my latest newsletter about how to organize, de-clutter and corral all those photos in your home!

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