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Clutter Clear Your Paper

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Here are 3 simple ways to start that can be done in under an hour!

Are the paper piles taking over your space and your life?

Getting in control of your paper begins with clearing the clutter.

Start with your purse or wallet, the kitchen counter, or your desktop.

Marla Dee

If you were looking at your desk right now, would you be ready to work or overwhelmed by the chaos? What if you were looking at your kitchen counter? Are the paper piles taking over? For some mysterious reason, paper lands in every nook and cranny of our homes and offices.  You will find it on the kitchen table, the bedroom dresser, top of the washer, in the bathroom, piled high on desktops and all horizontal surfaces across the nation. Never before in mankind’s history have we had this much information coming at us. 

I want to offer some simple places to start since this project can feel huge. This starts you clearing without getting lost in the details. Keep in mind we will take you through SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT. PAPER next. Choose one of the following ideas, schedule the time, turn on music and dive in. Have boxes and bags on hand for goes elsewhere, shred, trash, and goes to someone else.

HOUR OF POWER:

Set your timer for one hour and journey around your home or office gathering all the garbage paper such as old receipts, junk mail, out-dated papers, etc. Keep in mind that you are only going after the obvious and easy stuff. If you have to stop and think about it, then wait. You can also clear your purse or wallet. You are only doing one hour but you might be surprised and amused by how much goes away.

CLEAR THE COUNTER:

Gather all the paper on your kitchen counter and sort into 4 smaller piles labeled Read, Action, File or Toss (you will learn more about this later). Do I want to read it, take action on it, need to file it or just toss it? Move the read and actions piles to their own container and location, the filing to your file drawers and toss into shred  or trash. Lastly, find a beautiful container to live on the kitchen counter for the future incoming.

DO THE DESKTOP:

Follow the guidance given above for sorting into R.A.F.T. Keep in mind that you are only sorting and don’t get sidetracked by trying to take the actions involved with the paper. Also, you will most likely find many papers and items that don’t even belong on your desk. Take the time now to remove them. It is ok to have open space left as you do need an area to work off of.

When you are done, take some deep breaths and notice how different the area you worked with feels. It can be fun to take pictures of all the stuff leaving. Let yourself take in the change and celebrate what you have done. 

Now enjoy fixing food at your kitchen counter and actually working at your desk!

Get Your FREE Paper Guide

Your Guide Marla Dee. 

I love teaching the Clear & Simple Way to live free of clutter and get organized at last.

iRAFT Your Paper

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Are you drowning in a sea of paper pain?

Did you know you can handle all of your incoming paper in less than an hour a week?! We know paper comes at you from all directions and you think it’s impossible to ever manage it all. Behold… iRAFT©! We have created a system that simplifies all your interactions with the paper & information.

Marla Dee & Kate Fehr

EVERY piece of paper and information that comes into your life can be handled using the iRAFT© steps beginning with Incoming, where it lands into your life and space.

  • Incoming – every paper item that comes into your life
  • Read – magazines, articles, letters, cards
  • Act – requires you do something (make a call, pay a bill…)
  • File – file it quickly and be able to retrieve it easily
  • Toss – shred or recycle

*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 connect with us.

Get iRAFT© For Your Paper in our free Paper Guide

INCOMING: In the same way that incoming emails land in the inbox, it is vital to create a container and spot for mail, thoughts, and information. The key elements when establishing a place for incoming communications are:

  • The location of the container needs to be close to the place of entry.
  • The container size needs to take into account the volume of information coming in.
  • The container should ideally be vertical with a large, open entry. If you use a horizontal container, select one that is open and comes with a lid.
  • The design of the container is important. Match the environment & personality of the user.
  • Process weekly into R.A.F.T.© – READ | ACTION | FILE | TOSS

READ: Choose a container for fast reading on the go, like a mesh folder in your briefcase, and a larger container/location for reading while you are sitting, both for personal and work. Keep the following in mind:

  • The right size of container is critical.
  • Location of the container is key. Put it where you will do the reading.
  • There is a difference between “quiet” and “active” reading.
  • There needs to be a system for when the reading happens.

ACTION: Everyone needs an action system for the communications that require action. Please keep the following guidelines in mind:

  • It is imperative to have a container for papers that need immediate attention, action, and decision.
  • The container for your action file should be visual, vertical, and easy to sort into and work out of.
  • Coupled with the container needs to be a system to address how often you will take action weekly.
  • Refer to the action system section below for details on these areas.

FILE: In this container place items that are ready to be filed as reference, storage or archive.

TOSS: It is so helpful to have recycle, shred and trash bins close to your processing area.

Download your FREE Paper Guide

Clear & Simple, Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., iRAFT, Organize Your Paper
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Clear & Simple, Organizing, Systems, See It Map It Do It, STACKS, iRAFT Marla Dee, Kate Fehr

Check out the entire iRAFT© System here.

Your Guides, Marla Dee and Kate Fehr

We love teaching The Clear & Simple Way© to live free of clutter and get organized at last.

Organize Your Clothes Closet

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Is your closet happy or heavy?

Start your day out right with an organized and beautiful closet. Let your closet support you rather than stress you. Fill your closet with the items you wear and love.

Marla Dee

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© is the 3-step organizing formula that works for all the areas of your space and life. Let’s use it to transform your clothes closet.

Get Your FREE Bedroom Guide

SEE IT – Take a look at where you’re at. Does your closet make it easy to get dressed or stressful? Take some time to explore:

  • What’s working? What clothes do you love?
  • Is it easy to find what you want and need?
  • What do you like about the look and function?
  • What’s not working? What drives you crazy?
  • Is the floor covered? If so, what kind of stuff is there?
  • Are there things you never wear? How many sizes?
  • Are the clothes smashed tight or is there breathing space?

MAP IT – Make a plan for what you want each morning when it’s time to get dressed. Be honest and also let yourself dream. You deserve a closet you love.

  • How do you want your closet to look, feel and function?
  • Create an online board of images that inspire you.
  • Would it help to get a color/style consultation?
  • On a scale from 1-100, what % of clothes do you want to release?
  • Do you need a closet remodel to make it work?
  • Transformation Tip-Choose one color for all hangers. What is your color choice?

DO IT – Take the steps to make it happen. Look at your calendar and et up time for the transformation! We suggest claiming a full weekend.

  • Get help from a trusted, safe friend or a professional organizer.
  • Make sure you do each type of item separately. For example, do the clothing, then the accessories, followed by jewelry.
  • Now haul everything out of the closet and go through each step of S.T.A.C.K.S.© for each category. By taking one step at a time the project will be easier and you will save money.
  • If you are really brave, try on everything you have been holding onto.
  • Celebrate your transformation by dressing up and going out on the town.
  • Lastly, make sure to notice how much easier each morning has become.

Get Your FREE Bedroom Guide

Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Bedroom

Your Guide, Marla Dee.

I love teaching the Clear & Simple Way to live free of clutter and get organized at last.

Organize Your Bedroom

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Is your bedroom a peaceful sanctuary or a cluttered disaster?

A client story…

 We stand side by side in the doorway to her bedroom, looking at the clutter that has taken over the bed, floor, and all horizontal surfaces. She can’t even sleep in this room anymore. As she starts to tell her story, I feel her sadness and shame.

Using the See it. step, I ask my client how things got like this? What happened? Well, her life is a busy one. Between raising 4 girls, work that she loves, and many interests, there isn’t time for her own stuff.  Her bedroom, like so many of my clients, became a dumping ground for homeless and undone items. It’s the one room in her home where she doesn’t have to hold it all together. It’s only now that her girls are grown and gone that she can take time for herself.

As we move into the Map it. step, she gets to share about her vision for this bedroom.  She’s been dreaming about it for years and has gathered lots of pictures. She wants a sanctuary. What a joy to witness her and put the plan on paper.

Now she is excited and ready to dive into the stuff and make choices that support her vision. Following STACKS (Do It.) one step at a time makes going through all her things possible. We start with the floor, move onto the bed and side tables, and end with her dresser and closet, completely transforming the space into her dream room.

She looks at me with tears in her eyes and exclaims, “I did it!”

Marla Dee & MJ

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© is the 3-step organizing formula that works for all the areas of your space and life. Let’s use it to transform your bedroom.

Get Your FREE Bedroom Guide

SEE IT – Take a look at where you’re at. Have each person answer the questions below for the whole bedroom (we will do the clothes closet later). When you are done, take time to share with each other.

  • What’s working? You can be specific or general.
  • What do you love about the look, feel and function?
  • Are there things you know you want to change?
  • What’s not working? What don’t you like?
  • Are there things in your bedroom that don’t belong there?
  • Are you doing things other than rest and intimacy in your bedroom?

MAP IT – Make a written plan for what you want. Go after what you really desire as this is the most important room in your home.

  • How do you want your bedroom to look, feel and function? Have FUN!
  • Create an online board of images that inspire you. Go for it!
  • Create a mind map showing all the elements you most want.
  • Is there a theme for your room such as beach house?
  • What colors and textures would make you happy?
  • What do you want to add to your bedroom, like a reading chair?

DO IT – Take the steps to make it happen. Look on your calendar and set up time for the transformation. Try playing music and make this joyful.

  • Choose which area you want to start with. We suggest starting small and building up from there. For example, you could do the bed and side tables, then go to the dresser and rest of the room.
  • Go through the S.T.A.C.K.S.© Steps for the project (Sort, Toss, Assign, Contain, Keep it up, Simplify). By following STACKS the process you will save time, energy and money.
  • Once you complete each area, take time to celebrate. Why not have a date night in your new bedroom! We promise you will sleep better and wake up happier.

Get Your FREE Bedroom Guide

Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Bedroom

Your Guide, Marla Dee.

I love teaching The Clear & Simple Way to live free of clutter and get organized at last.

Clutter Clear Your Bedroom

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Here are 3 simple ways to start that can be done in under an hour!

Does your bedroom refresh you or stress you?

Transforming your bedroom into a peaceful place begins with clearing the clutter.

This is the greatest gift you can give your body, your mind, and your heart.

Marla Dee

If you were standing in the doorway to your bedroom right now, would you be happy or stressed? Is your bedroom a resting zone or a check out zone? Your body is feeling everything in your bedroom, even when you are sleeping.

Because the bedroom is behind closed doors, it’s easy to ignore the clutter that builds up there. It often becomes the dumping ground for the homeless stuff. Yet continuing to ignore your bedroom means always waking up feeling tired and overwhelmed by life.

I want to offer some simple places to start since this project can feel huge. This starts you clearing without getting lost in the details. Keep in mind we will take you through SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© for the whole room next. Choose one of the following ideas, schedule the time, turn on music and dive in. Have boxes and bags on hand for goes elsewhere, donations, trash, and goes to someone else.

HOUR OF POWER:

Set your timer for one hour and journey through your bedroom gathering all the obvious stuff that doesn’t belong there, is no longer useful, or that you are ready to let go of. Keep in mind that you are only going after the obvious and easy stuff. If you have to stop and think about it, then wait. You are only doing one hour but you might be surprised how much goes away.

CLEAR THE FLOOR:

Start at door into your bedroom and work your way around the whole area staying focused on the floor. Pick up and bag all the stuff that you know needs to leave. Don’t worry about the other stuff, it comes later. Then grab the vacuum or broom and enjoy cleaning away the old dust and grime.

UNDER THE BED:

You can start the clutter clearing by pulling out all the stuff under the bed. You want to avoid using this as a storage area if at all possible. Remember, your body is feeling all the stuff under there while you are sleeping. Once you clear the space, take a few more minutes to clean it also. You will love how it feels.

When you are done, take some deep breaths and notice how different the room feels. It can be fun to take pictures of all the stuff leaving. Let yourself take in the change and celebrate what you have done.

Now enjoy a good night’s sleep!

Your Guide Marla Dee. I love teaching the Clear & Simple Way to live free of clutter and get organized at last.