What does organization have to do with relationships you might ask?
Why is it that âMr. Organizedâ partners with âMs. Chaosâ? Think about how often you are at odds with someone in your life because of organization issues:
Not being able to find what your boss is looking for.
Arguing with your child about the way their room looks.
Being accused of throwing important things away.
Always being asked where something is.
As professional organizers we constantly witness the stress in our clients relationships over organization styles and decisions. Â Too often those with the ability to organize do not understand when others cannot maintain their environment. Those that are organized need to keep in mind that our research shows only 10 â 15% of the population is naturally organized. Hence, the need to be able to communicate and get help when lack of organization gets in the way.
This barrier between those who naturally know how to organize and the other 90% who donât is why our main focus is teaching people how. Â The foundation for any organizing project or communication is three simple steps outlined below.
SEE IT â take a look at where youâve been
Begin by taking a realistic look at where a lack of organization is impacting your life and relationships. Choose just one area or issue. Whatâs working, Â whatâs not and why? Â Keep it simple. Then look at it from both sides and try to see what is at the heart of the conflict. Often our relationships serve as mirrors to look at ourselves. Once you have clarity, why not share your truth with this person or persons and then ask for them to share.
MAP IT â make a plan for where you want to go
Now that you have each shared your truth, each person can create a simple vision for what needs to change.  Try asking â what is the single most important change that needs to happen?  What is one action you can take? Let this be enough. It is imperative to the relationship that each person has a chance to share their vision and what is important to them.
DO IT â take the actions to make it happen
How you choose to implement your changes or DO IT will be very specific to the relationship. Some may come up with a way to do it together, while others might call in outside help, and still others will compromise on different levels.
Some examples of this are:
A family sets up a system for incoming mail and an active paper system together.
A mother and child call it fun time, put on music, and make a game of putting everything back in itsâ home.
A couple decides to hire a professional organizer because they would rather enjoy their time together hiking or taking dance lessons.
A boss and assistant set up a weekly 1 hour focused time to go through all the lists and questions.
Two friends or buddies get excited about helping each other one weekend a month with the clutter areas â We all have them you know.
Letting go is never easy, but it can be easier.  Read our 3 simple steps belowâŠ
As professional organizers we regularly witness the immense pain, struggle and hopelessness that comes from having too much stuff and not knowing what to do with it. As human beings weâve also experienced these emotions ourselves. As a society weâve learned to value things âbecause they belonged to grandmaâ, âtheyâll be worth something one dayâ, âbecause we might need them in the futureâ, and so on.
Our beliefs are now shifting because we are overwhelmed with too much stuff. We no longer believe that anything is worth keeping if it causes us stress, depletes our energy or keeps us from living a good life. We deserve to wake up each day free of stress, smile with a grateful heart for the day ahead, a day filled with what matters most.
To get to this point takes practice and shedding layers upon layers; choosing into gratitude; releasing possessions, commitments and energy that no longer serve us; deciding that we really are the masters of our lives and our destinies.
If you are ready to begin this process, we invite you to read The ART of Letting Go by our own Marla Dee.
âThis treasure of an ebook will give you inspiration and steps to clear the clutter that is dragging you down and keeping you stuck.â â Marla Dee
Excerpt:
Letâs explore the ART of Letting Go
Because the nature of clutter is heavy and dense, I wanted to simplify the process into three meaningful steps. I want you to hear that there are three stages we go through over and over again. Acknowledging that these three steps are the natural way will make the letting go easier. We will use the word ART to guide you through:
~ Acceptance ~ Release ~ Trust
ACCEPTANCE
All of our clutter tells a story and everyone has their own form of it in some area of their life. Accepting this fact is the beginning. Accepting that your environment is simply a reflection of your life up until now, a reflection of what has happened to you and what is going on inside you is vital. There does not need to be shame or blame in looking at this picture. That would only keep you in the role of a victim. In order to step into the power of change and growth you must be willing to open your eyes and look at it.
There is no purpose or healthy payoff in focusing on the clutter itself, on staying locked up in guilt â not for you or for others. However, there is great power in becoming accountable for the fact that you are the creator of your life and of your environment. Your old things, your old patterns, your old relationships reflect who you have been and what you have built or what you have avoided â it is YOUR PAST!
âI honor your willingness to reach out and seek help so you can let go of the clutter at last. As a Professional Organizer for many years, I have witnessed tremendous courage from my clients in their willingness to get real with the story their clutter tells; to let go of the past and welcome a new change. Letting go is never easy, but it can be made easier.â â Marla Dee
Do you have clutter and chaos in your life? Download our TOP TEN Tips for the Year. Marla will be taking a deeper look at them at the home show and will be speaking each day, so mark your calendars and come! If you canât join us stay tuned throughout the month as we share the tips with you.  We want to support you in reclaiming your space, your day and your life.
Extra TIP& GIFT: Have a one-page master map for your year that inspires, empowers and supports you. Here is the form that we use with our clients. Itâs our gift to you! If you would like a personal session with Marla to expand on this, click here.
Marla Dee is speaking again at the Salt Lake Home Show.
Friday January 8th @ 4 p.m.
Saturday January 9th @ 11 a.m.
Sunday January 10th @ 12 p.m.
Visit our table next to the Design Stage to enter our drawing and receive special offers!
Below is a outline of our systems. We invite you to read through them, really take them in and then give them a go in your space(s). Click here for a beautiful, downloadable and printable copyâŠand feel free to share with everyone! If you would like additional support take a look through Our Shop or Connect With Us to get help from an organizer.
SORTÂ ||Â What is it? â Sort into piles of like with like.
TOSSÂ || Do I need it or want it? â Put in the keep of discard pile.
ASSIGN A HOMEÂ ||Â Where does it go? â Identify how/where you use it and create zones accordingly.
CONTAIN || What does it go in? â Measure the âstuffâ and the storage area BEFORE buying containers.
KEEP IT UPÂ ||Â How do I maintain it? â Create a simple plan for how you will maintain the area.
SIMPLIFYÂ ||Â Decide whether any new items pass the test.
⹠The ART of Letting Go || Acceptance, Release and Trust. Are you ready to let go?
âThis treasure of a book will give you inspiration and steps to clear the clutter that is dragging you down and keeping you stuck.â â Marla Dee
Download a FREE copy and feel free to share with anyone you think would benefit!
Our passion is supporting people on clearing out all of that âstuffâ that keeps them stuck in order to live the life they most desire. It takes time, energy and the tools to accomplish. We get that. Thatâs why we do what we do and practice it in our own lives.
New life and fresh ideas abound. The urge to create has been building all winter long. Sadly, it can also be overwhelming because of all the fun choices. Just imagine taking a trip down to the local gardens and gazing at the abundance of flowers. Where do you start?
To help you really enjoy this Spring, we are sharing our top ten organizing tips throughout the month. Get a printable version of all of our TOP TEN TIPS for Spring.
This week is about the Practical & Pretty:
3. Keep it simple by choosing one project for the season.
It can be overwhelming to think about all the clutter clearing and organizing projects in your home, which can block you from ever starting. So begin with choosing just ONE project for each season and over time your space will be transformed. Also, each season has itâs own feel.
Spring is the perfect time to transform your closet, garage or craft area.
Remember to write a vision of what you want to create before you dive in (the MAP IT Step).
6. Get inspired and bring in new life with bright colors.
How often have you caught your breath at the sight of a flowerbed in full bloom? Just like the blossoming flowers, bright containers make us happy. Our brain and bodies react to color first. So make your space or project one you will love to spend time in with bright, fun colors!
To find containers for all areas of your home in gorgeous colors, we love & recommend The Container Store!!
Share your stories and photos on social media, #TheCSWay. We LOVE hearing from you!
The key is ONE question at a time and one decision at a time!
The TOSS (the letting go) is the most loaded step of clutter clearing and organizing. If we could do it easily then the piles of stuff wouldnât be filling up our space. It is often the emotional attachment with the stuff, the story it tells, and the overwhelm of just too much everywhere that keeps us procrastinating going through it.
Here are some of the struggles we hear all the time. I can go through other peopleâs stuff but not my own. Why is it so hard? I get stuck as soon as I start going through it, especially if Iâm touching it. It is overwhelming â I donât know where to start. My basement is full of my motherâs things. HELP!!
Question:Â Do I need it or want it? It is amazing how often we keep things we donât even want or need.
Power Question:Â Does this item support my vision for this space and this time in my life? Honor the chapter you are in!
Action:Â Put it in the keep or discard pile. If using bankers boxes then leave the item in the box and have bags/boxes ready for the give-away, shred, garbage, elsewhere toss categories so it goes quickly.
Tip: Remember you used bankers boxes in the sort so just take ONE box at a time when going through the toss. This will save you from distractions and confusion.
Reward: You will get through the toss quicker and with less energy. What you have left is what needs to be organized.
By asking just one question and making only one decision at a time, you WILL be able to get through all of the stuff. And you are still not asking where it will go or what it will go in. Those steps are ahead.
We want to be clear that we know with every fiber of our beings just how loaded the Toss step can be. It is SO loaded that Marla wrote a simple, yet powerhouse little guide called The ART of Letting Go. Please download this free gift and share it with anyone you feel may benefit.
Everything is more fun with a trusted friend â especially organizing!
Letâs face it â most things are more fun when done with a friend â shopping, movies, dining, hiking, travel, and hobbies. What is it about organizing that makes us think we have to suffer, have to force ourselves to get it done? It is always on the list but typically the last thing we want to do on the weekend, right? There seems to be shame around letting our friends see our chaos. And yet inviting someone to help is a powerful solution!
This is our best tip for making organizing fun & freeing! Invite a friend to do it with you. Let go of the fear and embarrassment of your friends seeing the chaos and open up to a transformative experience. We have seen hundreds of people be set free when they let themselves receive help from an organizer, a friend or family member.
From Marla â âI just experienced this in a POWERFUL WAY. I got to spend 8 days with a long time friend who had recently lost her husband. Together we got through the garage, project room, closets, finances and more. We told stories, laughed and cried, moved stuff, cleaned and cleared. In 8 days together, we freed her from the blockage and buildup so she could move forward with her life. Because we loved our time so much, we decided to do this every year for each other. Â This kind of teamwork is life changing.â
The important elements are:
Pick someone safe who wonât judge you.
Do the project in small pieces of 2-3 hours
Make it fun by playing music or having snacks
Try taking turns and helping each other
Choose someone that supports you making a change
The last few weeks we have given your our Top Tips for Spring Organizing. By combining these tips with the support of a trusted partner, you WILL experience joy and wonderful results.
Even as professional organizers we often invite other organizers to support us with our projects. Itâs very different to work with our own things (vs. someone elseâs) since we have to face our own attachments, emotions and stories. Our Utah Professional Organizers Group even chose to buddy up this year for our service project and we were all sold on the power of getting support from a trusted person.
*Please note that we recommend implementing this system and starting in present time. Once you are familiar with it and have every step in place, then go to the piles, filing drawers, etc. to clear out and clean up. Paper is its own beast and is very overwhelming. If you desire the help of an organizer, please contact us.
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iRAFT begins with INCOMING:
As we mentioned above, the information is coming from many places; the mail box is only one. Think about how much easier it is to start into your email because it is in your INBOX. So for the paper, choose a container that will hold a weekâs worth of incoming paper and put everything there!  This includes mail, flyers, notes, etc⊠You also need a place for thoughts, conversations and such to land.  You might use an app on your smart phone, Evernote or a small spiral notebook.
Then once a week (or more often if needed) you will take all the incoming and sort it into four piles. You simply ask do I need to Read, take an Action, File or Toss. Then take the paper (or move the emails) into the each container or folder.
READ:
Choose a cool container for your reading that is staying at your desk, your reading chair and for on-the-go.
ACTION:
Every home and office needs an action container for those papers that need your attention such as bills to pay, errands to run and items to discuss with someone else. We suggest making your container vertical so that it is easy to find what you need and leave the other items organized. It is also nice to have it portable so it can move around your space.
FILE:
We often ask our clients to describe how they feel about FILING. We hear words like yuck, overwhelming, impossible, always behind, drawers are full. And there is a constant theme of not know what to keep or for how long. So start with setting up a âto fileâ container and then schedule time once a week or once a month to file, depending on your volume. If you really hate filing then get someone else to do it.
TOSS:
By sorting once a week into RAFT, your tossing of the paper is now easy. Have fun noticing how much of that paper pain is really toss papers. Of course you can still throw away junk mail and such before it even lands in your space.
To summarize the SYSTEM:
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Daily â plop all the incoming paper and information into the container.
Weekly â take 5 minutes to sort into 4 piles â Read, Action, File, Toss. Â Then take each pile to itâs proper container.
Weekly â set your TimeTimer for 30 minutes and do the action papers that need to get done that week.
Monthly â take your To File pile and file into your FreedomFiler system.
Are you drowning in a sea of paper? Are the piles taking over your space and your life? Do  you remember when getting a letter in the mail was a treat? The purpose of paper and information is connection, education, growth, creativity and productivity. Sadly, we have...
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