The Clutter Diet Blog

Lose Clutter, Gain Time, Reduce Stress

This blog is just a taste...if you like what you see here, check out the tons of multimedia content we have available on our flagship membership site at www.clutterdiet.com! We are the world's first team of "virtual" Professional Organizers, helping people anywhere with our affordable online consulting and our easy weekly project plans.

Here we have organizing tips and tricks for the public about 2-3x per week. We love your comments and participation, so please get our tips via our RSS feed, via e-mail (see left sidebar), or subscribe on the Amazon Kindle and check out what we have to offer!  Welcome!

- Lorie Marrero, CPO®
Creator of The Clutter Diet

3 Big Lifesaver Ideas for Getting Out of a Jam!

As our definition of what it means to be organized, we teach that you should strive to be N.E.A.T.E.R.:

Not perfect, but...
Effective- doing what works best
Always improving
True to your style
Efficient- not wasting time and energy
Ready for anything- being prepared for life

(NEATER acronym © 2006-2009, Clutter Diet, Inc.)

Yesterday I was so happy that I was "Ready for anything" and prepared. Wouldn't you know, the garage door was temporarily broken, so I was locked out, and I was so glad I had hidden a key for emergencies! They make these metal key boxes that you can stick onto something (photo from Amazon) and also these fake rock things are available (photo also from Amazon). These can be a lifesaver! When I was locked out, the dog and I had mud all over ourselves from our walk and I had a meeting in about an hour. Not sure what I would have done. (Of course, judge for yourself the security risks of hiding your key and don't put it in a super-obvious place like under your doormat.)

 

I also wrote here a while back about having an "Emergency Twenty." This is the practice of always keeping a twenty-dollar bill in a special place in your car. (read that previous post here) I also keep a change purse with a bunch of quarters for downtown parking meters. My Emergency Twenty has gotten me out of many a jam involving lunch money and parking garages.

And of course, we are getting into hurricane season, so those of you on the coastlines need to be prepared in a much bigger way. My family of in-laws is in Puerto Rico, so they are very aware of being prepared with a generator and lots of water. (I went through Hurricane Hortense in 1996 & Hurricane Marilyn in 1995 when we lived there! It was like our whole house was going through a super-scary car wash.) Here's a great site for hurricane preparedness for your convenience.

What else could YOU do today to be more prepared for what life throws at you? Are there things that recur in your life that you could solve and prevent? Our members just got finished updating their First Aid Kits for the summer bug bites and sunburns... Share your own ideas in the comments! (Happy 4th, USA readers!)

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One of These Things is Not Like the Others

Don't you feel sometimes that everything you really needed to know, you learned from Sesame Street? Being kind, sharing, having fun while you learn... You might not have thought about how you were also learning organizing skills. Let's have Cookie Monster refresh our memories in this clip:

For our Kindle readers and others who may not be able to watch the video, here is an easy-to-remember link to it for viewing on YouTube later: http://budurl.com/cookiemonstersong, and here are the transcribed lyrics to this song:

One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

(Thanks to "Tiny Dancer" who has a Sesame Street lyrics archive here.)

Learning to make sets of things and differentiate how things are alike and different-- that is some basic organizing mojo right there. When you are sorting through your things and then deciding how to store them, you generally want to PUT LIKE THINGS TOGETHER. It really helps.

In bathrooms, we often organize extra supplies by parts of the body, like teeth care, hair care, nail care, skin care, and so on. In kitchens we sort by type and function, like food preparation, lunch making supplies, or baking equipment.

Here are some great ways to think about sorting that you can choose for your projects:

• Color
• Function
• Size
• Type
• Name/Alphabetical
• Chronological
• Priority

You know this. Put it into practice. As Cookie Monster says, "You so smart."

(Thanks to my good friend KJ McCorry for reminding me of this Sesame Street concept and telling me her amazing stories about using it to teach people in Africa.)

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Get Your Ducks in a Row...and Win!

Last week our newsletter subscribers and paid members were the first to know that we're having a gigantic summer contest! Well, it's big for us, anyway.

The "Get Your Ducks in a Row" contest will have one grand prize winner and one second place winner. And everyone who enters gets a copy of our free tips report, "Managing Your Personal Finances!" Here are the specifics:

The Grand Prize is valued at over $500, which is:

• 1 hour on the phone with me, Lorie (can split into two 30-minute sessions if you like)
• $100 to spend in our online store for our books, notepads, Simple Division® Garment Organizers and other good stuff
• An autographed copy of my book
• An Internet Password Organizer® book
• An ANNUAL membership to the Clutter Diet® online coaching program (valued at $120)

A second prize winner will receive a 20-piece set of Rubbermaid's new Easy Find Lids system of food storage containers, along with the "Mate," the new paperback version of the critically acclaimed Internet Password Organizer® password management system.

You can enter this contest by answering my "Tell Me What You Really Think" survey. It's only 11 brief questions about where you need the most help with your disorganization issues. I really want to help you the best I can by offering what you truly need. So tell me all about it!

The survey will close on July 7th at midnight, and we'll draw the winners by random drawing and announce them here and in our July 9th newsletter. (If you don't already get our Thursday "Just a Bite" newsletter, you can subscribe here.) Due to the fact that there are many physical prizes to be shipped, we cannot accommodate international shipping, and the contest is open only to those who can receive packages at a United States address. One entry per person, and it's void where prohibited and all that jazz.

Muchas gracias to our friends at Innovention Lab and Rubbermaid for donating some of the prizes!

So go ahead, click here to enter... and even if you don't win you get our free tips report on Managing Your Personal Finances, with great tips on paying bills the most efficient way and a list of the best supplies for tackling your statements and receipts. Thanks, everybody!

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It's So Totally ME!

We all go through many phases in our lives-- we went through our "terrible twos" when we were little, and we may have times when we are students, newlyweds, young moms, empty nesters, or retirees. We may have career changes that also mark new phases. Hopefully we grow and learn all the time, and we can see that growth when we look back at old photos, old letters, and other souvenirs from the past.

But beyond memorabilia, how about the way our STUFF marks our phases and reflects who we are and who we've been?

My friend was telling me that when she left the corporate world to start her coaching business, it was SO EASY to pitch the books on "shop floor management" and other corporate topics. It was no longer who she wanted to be. It was a reminder of something she had wanted to grow away from. Clearing it out made her space reflect her new business and her new life.

On a personal note, and hopefully not too personal, I recently threw out all of my old pajamas and started replacing them with ones that feel more like me. I had a bunch of cottony, cartoony pajamas for a long time, and I just realized one day that they did not feel like who I am anymore. I am a mature, serious woman and I wanted some mature, serious pajamas! And I feel SO great in them! The old ones were worn out anyway, but the real point was that I wanted to have stuff around me that reflects how I see myself now. They are SO TOTALLY ME!  :)

What does your stuff say about who YOU are right now? Is it mostly reflective of your past, or your glorious present? (I just wrote more about this recently in my observations on the Pixar movie "UP!") If you are pleased with who you are being and becoming, getting rid of the old stuff should make for relatively easy decisions. If you are keeping things that don't express who you are or who you'd like to be, could it be that stuff (and the thoughts they represent) are actually holding you back? Share your thoughts in the comments...

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Are You Paying Attention? Partially?

BlackBerry prayer n. n. The head-down, slightly hunched position that is characteristic of a person using a BlackBerry or similar device. (from WordSpy site)

So, have you gotten Blackberry religion yet? I bet you know lots of people who have. According to WordSpy, Microsoft researcher Linda Stone coined the phrase "CONTINUOUS PARTIAL ATTENTION" (CPA) in 1998. Wow, she was ahead of her time... there are many people paying partial attention to loved ones, speeches, meetings, and other activities while they attend to games, text messages, Twittering, e-mail, Facebook, and any number of other applications.

This is truly the new challenge in etiquette-- how do we handle this "CPA" in everyday situations? Is it always rude? The New York Times ran a fantastic article about this on Monday (thanks, Julie M. for pointing this out!). I also noticed that movie theaters are now specifying not only that you should stop talking on cell phones and silence your ringtones, but are also saying "NO TEXTING" during the movie.

This topic really begs discussion. It's Electronic-Time-and-Attention-Clutter (what I refer to as "Allowed" clutter in my book). Here's what I think:

• I think people should openly communicate at the beginning of a meeting or speech about the expectations for that gathering. Ask for what you want, don't make assumptions.
• If you are expecting an important call, text, or e-mail, tell someone that as you sit down together so you can ask their permission and forgiveness for excusing yourself when it happens.
• If you must take a call or text message when with someone, keep it brief and return your attention to the "IRL" person you're with as soon as possible. (IRL means "In Real Life")
• I personally have enjoyed Tweeting a speech from my Blackberry while in the audience as a way of taking notes and sharing the experience with others who can't be there. I think that it does not always mean someone isn't paying attention to you-- quite the opposite in this case. Using smartphones can become a very important secondary conversation... from the NY Times article: "'You’ll have half the participants BlackBerrying each other as a submeeting, with a running commentary on the primary meeting,' Mr. Reines said. 'BlackBerrys have become like cartoon thought bubbles.'" As a speaker, I am okay with that, but not okay with someone playing a video game or doing other work.

What do you think? Do you have some outrageous stories of terrible breaches of electronic etiquette? Do you have any ideas on how to get clarity on this very pertinent time management issue? Share in the comments...

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Straighten Up & Fly Right

Many of us are gearing up for vacations, and air travel in 2009 is very different from even one year ago. Airfares are cheaper, but airlines are making up the cost in other ways (even, reportedly, charging to use the restroom- I am not kidding- read here). It pays to be organized to avoid unnecessary expenses and delays! Here's how to organize yourself to save money and time when you fly:

Avoid checking baggage. Most airlines are charging you for checking bags, something that has always been free. You want to pack intelligently so that you take one carry-on suitcase plus one other bag like a tote, briefcase, or purse. Save money by not paying the baggage fees, and save time by not waiting in the sometimes intolerable lines at the airport check-in. Here are my favorite tips for packing well:

• Use a packing list. Here are a couple of great resources: Don'tForgetYourToothbrush.com and Pack This! Packing Checklist Pad.
• Have a great suitcase that meets airline requirements for carry-on bags. Be familiar with the rules so that you won't slow everyone else down. 
• Use Pack-It folders and cubes from Eagle Creek. I do not pack without them because they "modularize" your stuff to take it in and out quickly.
• Read about packing smart at www.onebag.com and www.travelite.org.

Outsmart the airlines by avoiding other charges. They are starting to charge for just about anything they can. Remember those airline meals we used to complain about? Pretty much gone. Pack your own food and entertainment.

• If you plan ahead, you can pack an absolutely stunning meal that you will LOVE vs. paying through the nose for some potato chips or a cold sandwich on a hard roll. Make the other passengers jealous! The only thing you can't pack from home is your beverages--you'll need to buy that on the other side of security or just get a drink from your flight attendant.
• Make sure you also pack plenty of extra snacks for unforeseeable delays. Larabars, nuts, fruit, and trail mix are easy healthful choices and cost so much less than buying them in the airport.
• If you pack your own headphones you can avoid the fee for a headset to listen to the movie or the onboard music selection. Even better, skip their entertainment and pack your own book, magazines, Kindle, iPod, or small DVD player (great for kids!). Remember chargers and extra batteries as needed.

Get through security more quickly by organizing yourself in the line. If you have not flown in a while, here's what you'll need to pull out and have ready when you get to the conveyor belt:

• All of your liquids and gels need to be less than 3 ounces (seriously, they do check the amount and size) and placed into one quart-size zippered plastic bag per person. (Here's a photo of mine, click to enlarge.) You need to have this quart bag packed where it's SUPER-EASY to take in and out.
• Laptops need to be removed from their cases and put into a bin. There are some cases now that they allow you to keep intact and run through, like these great sleeves that I use from Built NY.
• Wear shoes that are easy to remove, and minimize big metal jewelry or anything else that will set off the metal detector. You will have to take off your jackets and shoes and put them in a bin. Especially think about this if you are traveling with children-- Velcro shoes are a beautiful thing!
• BE READY to throw everything on the conveyor belt quickly and efficiently so you don't annoy others in line behind you.
• Check for full details and any new rules before you leave at the TSA.gov site here.

Getting organized really pays in time and money savings. What are your favorite time and money saving travel tips? Share in the comments!

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Easy Work Now, or Hard Work Later?

Which is better?

A. Brushing your teeth twice a day, or...
B. Brushing your teeth every Saturday 14 times?

A. Mowing your lawn each week, or...
B. Doing one colossal annual lawn-mowing?

If you said "A" for both questions, you've got the right idea. REGULAR MAINTENANCE is the better way to manage things that require constant attention.

Take some time today to think about the regular maintenance that could be applied to systems in your home:  Dishes, laundry, landscaping, home repairs... what could you improve upon? How could you remind yourself to do the right things at the right times?

I like using my good ol' calendar in Outlook to set up recurring events that remind me to do certain things like make medical appointments and change filters. Clutter Diet members can use our program's reminder system to set recurring e-mail reminders for a desired interval like every week, every 3 months, every other month, etc.

As Bernard Meltzer said, "Hard work is often the easy work you did not do at the proper time."

What are your favorite maintenance methods? How do you remind yourself to do recurring tasks? Share in the comments!

Related previous post: How Baking Cookies Relates to Procrastination

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Finding Balance: What is Your HOME-eostasis?

Homeostasis is a medical term that refers to the tendency of the human body to seek and maintain balance. What is your house’s “HOME-eostasis?” What is that balanced condition of your home to which you would always like to return?

Homeostasis n. [hoh-mee-oh-stay-sis] The tendency of the body to seek and maintain a condition of balance or equilibrium within its internal environment, even when faced with external changes. A simple example of homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain an internal temperature around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, whatever the temperature outside. (definition from The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.)

Your house’s homeostasis results from preventing clutter, reducing the clutter you have to a manageable and acceptable level, and consistently maintaining your home with systems and routines. It's a state of balance and readiness—the kind of feeling you have when you've just straightened up the house for company to come over for dinner. It’s a state of satisfaction, pride, and comfort. Homeostasis is your definition of success!

There might be different levels of homeostasis depending upon the formality of your current needs. If you need to be ready for your boss to visit, or a local dignitary, or even a camera crew, that is certainly the highest level of readiness! Being ready for a dinner party with friends is another level and being ready for a relaxed weekend is yet another.

We are not talking about perfection, as we’ve often emphasized. Homeostasis is a flexible state that adjusts to transitional times and periods of less or more activity in your lives. The definition will change as your family and situations change.

I have my own checklist for the rooms of my house that is my homeostasis, my definition of success. It’s the level at which I feel most comfortable inviting someone over to visit. Your list will be different, because your home and your family are different. This is your ultimate organizing goal: To know what homeostasis means for your home and have the education, motivation and support to easily and confidently achieve it when things get out of balance (as they surely will).

Make your list today-- take 10-15 minutes to go by each room and note what needs to happen to make you feel balanced and ready. An example:  My guest bathroom needs to be clean enough for people to use without my being embarrassed, and have plenty of toilet paper, a fresh hand towel, and soap. Share in the comments any revelations you had while making your list, or just share your thoughts about what a balanced state of readiness means to you.

(This post is partially excerpted from my book, The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life, which contains my personal homeostasis checklist! Click here to read a sample chapter. Available on Amazon.com, at all major bookstores, on our own website, and on the Amazon Kindle.)

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The Closet Workout: Ten Essential Maintenance Habits

Last week a magazine editor asked me if there are little habits people can adopt to keep their closets under control. Here's my answer...The Ten Essential Closet Maintenance Habits:

1. Stop and hang things up regularly.
2. Put your shoes away each day.
3. Have a regular “hanger rotation process” back and forth to the utility room.
4. Fold and put away all of your clothing after washing.
5. Straighten and refold stacks as needed.
6. Straighten and arrange drawers as needed.
7. Have a designated place to collect items ready for donation.
8. Change out clothing seasonally (as needed for your climate).
9. Practice the "One-In-One-Out Rule:" For everything you buy, one old thing has to go.
10. Use our monthly project model to keep your wardrobe maintained ongoing. We suggest these monthly master closet projects to members in our Clutter Diet virtual consulting program, and the whole Closet Maintenance Calendar plan is enclosed in the packages of our Simple Division® Garment Organizers product. For example, one month we may focus on swimwear and exercise gear, and another month you would organize your jewelry. A little over time is better than a giant overhaul all at once!

Here at the Clutter Diet we talk about organizing in terms of Prevention, Reduction, and Maintenance. Think of these maintenance habits as your regular "Closet Workout" to keep the weight off!

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Get Real by Watching a Cartoon...

I don't often write about movies, but last time I did it was about Wall-E, and this time I want to talk about another Pixar movie, the latest one called UP. I have seen it twice, which I also don't often do.

You may have seen from the previews that the curmudgeonly main character, Carl, uses thousands of balloons to carry his entire home through the sky. He's an elderly man who has lost his wife, and I won't spoil the story by telling you much more... but what absolutely grabbed me by the collar was a scene in which Carl quite literally JETTISONS all of his stuff from the house. He pushes every stick of furniture out of the doors and windows, every last bit of his old life...things we have seen him meticulously caring for throughout the movie. The helium in the balloons has dissipated throughout his journey and the house can only hover low near the ground. It's only after he realizes the stuff is actually just ballast and throws it out that his house can fly again. Once the past is pushed out, the house speeds upward and rushes to meet the needs of his new friends and his new life. He becomes nimble and mobile and able to live fully in the present.

Is your stuff weighing you down? Maybe it is. It does take bravery to face it. Your memories might be really painful. You might have to admit that you never succeeded at that business, or that marriage, or that you miss a special person so much it physically hurts just to think about it.

But as much bravery as it takes to face the past, it takes just as much or more to face the future too. If you got rid of the stuff that is crammed into your closets, your garage, your spare room, your office, or your bedroom, would you LOSE YOUR EXCUSES of why you're not living the life you want to live right now? Think about it. I am being tough on you guys this week, but I'm keeping it real... Are you afraid that getting rid of the clutter in your life is the first action toward a new life that is scary and uncertain? Even if the past is painful, at least it's familiar. Your new future is the great unknown. You can look at it as a adventure like Carl, or you can let that fear keep you stagnant and never grow beyond your current state.

This is why we say our clients and members that take action and follow our program are some of the bravest people we know.

IS THIS RESONATING? Let me know in the comments. I really loved this movie on so many levels, and I would love to hear your thoughts too. (photo from Pixar's UP movie site)

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