I’ve Organized Others, Now It’s My Turn

My brain is busy this week.  I have spent time these last few weeks getting everyone else squared away and prepared for their next steps.  And now… I think it’s my turn!

August / Back-To-School time is my personal New Year celebration, instead of January.  So, what am I doing this week to celebrate my New Year?

(And, What Can YOU Do for YOU this week?!!)

Clearing Out:

  • The daily in-box is getting a little unruly again, so I will Unsubscribe daily from 5 retailers or mailing lists until I see some improvement.
  • Last weekend, I reviewed my kitchen and medicine cabinet contents and purged a few things.  I also committed to using up (really, using DOWN) our stock of food, toiletries and paper goods over the next few weeks without purchasing more.  This activity saves money and frees up space by clearing out extra inventory.
  • I also have a couple of bags of donations to drop off later in the week when I drive near my favorite charitable organization.

Personal Development and Self-Care:

  • 5 weeks ago, I set a handful of 6-week goals, so I will see some of those goals completed next week, just in time to set more! I use this form from Spark People for setting SMART goals.
  • I made appointments!  We parents always take care of our students, and now its my turn. I made an appointment for my annual physical.  The date isn’t for a month, but I feel relieved having made the call!
  • I tweaked my closet.  I know, it’s still August, but there were a few items to purge or put away, and a few others to pull forward for usage in the next few weeks!!

Take Care of Maintenance:

  • After I cleaned out the kitchen cabinets, I made my grocery list and stocked up on essentials.  I know, the goal stated above is to clear out some inventory, but we still needed a few things!
  • I made the Project list for Fall, and I’ll work those small projects into my weekly tasks for the next month or so.
  • I made even more appointments:  My minivan goes in for scheduled maintenance on Saturday, the carpet cleaners and HVAC fella come next Monday, and our EWaste Home Collection is scheduled for September.

WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK to get organized, pare down, clear clutter and build yourself up?!

Yesterday Was a 5 Bag Day (Whew!)

Yesterday was complicated.   I left home knowing full well that I would probably be gone over 12 hours.  That is not noteworthy, lots of folks are gone for that long.
However, I had 2 presentations scheduled at a learning center in Indiana from 10-noon and 3-5 with a short break between, and then a school board meeting from 4 to 8:30 (yes, I know, those times overlap).  I needed different supplies, paperwork and outfits for these different responsibilities with no opportunity to stop at home between.  I recognized that I needed to prep really well for my day.
And that meant BAGS.
Lots of bags.
As I gathered my thoughts for the day, I also gathered my belongings.  I packed:
  • A professional looking bag for my presentation materials like my notes for the presentation, my handout copies, promotional pens to share, water bottle and a few visuals.  That was easy to put together and then set by the door.
  • Another professional looking bag for the school board meeting, with my notes and materials for that meeting.  Also then set by the door.
  • A third bag for a back up shirt and light sweater, because I knew with 12 hours gone and the need for options.  I would only grab this out of the car if I needed it.
  • The 4th and 5th bags, my daily go bag (discussed below) and my handbag backpack.
What do I want you to know about bags and how to make them work for you?
  • Mentally Walk Through Your Day. We’ve got a lot coming at us most days.  Take a few moments in the morning (or the night before!) to mentally walk through your day so you’re sure to bring along what you need!
  • Bigger is not always better.  Some days I wonder if I just need one REALLY BIG bag, perhaps with wheels or its own filing system. But that would be super heavy and probably not a good choice logistically!  Stick with a manageable size, even if you need to sub- sort.
  • Keep Essentials Always Packed.  One bag is always packed.  A friend / client observed that I carry a go-bag with me every day.  (OK, she called it a diaper bag though I don’t have a small child).  But I do always care it with me and it is indeed always packed.  It contains my small charger bag with all my cords plus a power bank and a multi port charging station.  I also carry a back up shirt in there in case I get grubby at a client appt, a small bag of snacks for just in case, a small bag of toiletries like a toothbrush and toothpaste, and the keyboard for my IPad.  These is plenty of room left over, too, in case I want to toss in my Ipad, bullet journal, book, etc.
At my classes, I mention our family’s Swim Bag.  We have a bag packed all the time with anything you would need to go to the beach or the pool:  beach sheet, frisbee, swim goggles, sunscreen and bug spray, diving toys, etc.  That bag is always packed and ready to go.
What are your essentials (just a few, not a million)?  Keep those items in your bag every day to save time and trouble later!
  • Review the Essentials Once in A While:  Clean out and review the contents of your go-bag / briefcase / handbag regularly.  Don’t let rubbish or reading materials or heavy pocket change pile up, or your shoulders will start to protest with the extra weight!  And be ready to re-stock things like snacks or tissue packs.
  • Unpack the rest of the bags EVERY DAY.  When that many bags leave the house with me in the mornings, the same or more return with me.  And the optional bags need to be unpacked EVERY DAY.   The first chance I had, I unpacked all of the bags but my go bag, and put all the stuff away.  I DO NOT have room in my office / family room for days and weeks-old partially packed bags of random belongings.
    I also don’t have the mental energy to remember if a personal item like my dressy black sandals are in a bag or actually in my closet where they belong when I’m not wearing them.  Seriously, my items have homes already!  Who has the time to look everywhere?  No thanks!

Get your thoughts and stuff and bags in order!

When Your College Student Moves Home For The Summer

May is a busy month most years.  But this year, we added an extra layer to the already busy month, when my college student son who lives on campus (the other lives at home) moved home for the summer.  With all of his stuff.

I’ve published over 430 blog articles on my web page.  That’s a lot of articles.  But moving a young adult back home was uncharted territory.   Whoooo, boy.

My sons are either the luckiest people ever or completely tortured for having a mother who is also a certified professional organizer.   I prefer to go with “lucky”, they may have a different opinion.  But here is how we handled Moving Home For Summer!

The Move Home begins long before the big day.

  • The Moving-Home process really starts when your student leaves for the school year.  DO NOT take over your student’s bedroom or storage space when they go away to school. And
  • Keep an inventory of what moved to college with your student.
  • Clear as much out of the bedroom as possible before your student moves home.  I have spent a couple of hours in my son’s room while he’s been away, clearing out clutter, containerizing keepsakes, etc.  I know, ideally your children will do this themselves.  Ideally…
  • Plan for the Big Stuff:  In April, I cleared out one side of his closet to make room for the large storage boxes we sent off to school with him.  Expect to use under-bed storage, too.
  • In March, my son brought home a large suitcase full of stuff he knew he wouldn’t need anymore, to start the process.

Day of:

  • I did not help with the actual pick up / load up  / drive home day.  Son and husband tackled that day, bless them both.  Obviously, my son’s stuff did not come home from college nearly as tidily as it moved TO college, but they loaded up and got home in good time, so props to them.  The two packing tips I would share are 1.  zip-ties to bundle hung clothing together, and 2. reusable shopping bags for the last 10 minutes to toss the last of the random stuff into.
  • Unpack the car when you get home.  All of it.  Yes, all of it.
  • Accept that the mess will grow before it shrinks.

The Week After the Move Home:

  • I have to chuckle, my son just keeps saying he didn’t realize he had so much stuff, and so much he doesn’t need.  These have been teaching moments, to help review his belongings and determine what he does and doesn’t need.  There were a few days when stuff wasn’t getting put away, until he and I realized there was older stuff in his drawers that he had to make decisions about and probably get rid of, to make room for the stuff he does want to keep.
  • Unpack everything.  If food moved home, plan to use up what is perishable.  If items are shelf stable – dried goods, unopened hand soap or shampoo, etc. – consider repacking them for the move back to school to save $$ on restocking.
  • Wash everything (or mostly everything). Dishes, bedding, yep, just wash it all.  He cleaned the toaster and the coffee maker.  Review everything, and make sure it’s all clean.  You REALLY don’t want to find a dirty dish or old towel in three months.  Ew….
  • And, once the stuff is clean, re-pack it.  Kitchen items with kitchen items, books with books, room decor / cords / lamps, etc. all together. Most of the storage cubes in his closet are already re-packed and ready to go back so school in August.

Please, learn from our experiences!  And enjoy your summer with your family!

Managing Transitions: Leaving The House. What’s On Your List? 

This week, let’s look at that very busy Transition Time, Getting out the door in the morning!

What’s on your list?   Your short list of Very Important Items?

Yesterday, I received a phone call just as I was heading out to my first client appointment. Typically, I would not answer a call at that time of day, but this person only calls when there is something important to discuss.

I answered the call, and then asked her to wait a second as I continued to gather my things to head to the car.  “Phone (obviously)… lunch bag…water bottle…coffee … backpack, keys, extra shirt… um, ok, I’m good, now we can talk”.  She may have thought I was a little nutty (she’s probably right!), but that was a typical morning and my typical mental check list before I leave the house.

Earlier yesterday morning, my freshman went zipping out the back door, took about 10 steps, stopped, turned around and came back in, shaking his head.  He sheepishly grabbed the form off the table he needed to turn in at school, plus his wallet and keys that he had left behind.  In his haste, he forgot his mental check list before he went out the door, but luckily caught himself before he got too far!

What’s on your list?   You know, that short list of VERY IMPORTANT ITEMS that you ABSOLUTELY NEED to make it through your day?  The omission of which could REALLY mess up your day?  Typically…

  • Keys
  • phone
  • wallet
  • glasses
  • sunglasses
  • lip balm, handkerchief, other optional personal items for you

Maybe you have the mental check list for the family, for kids’ backpacks or diaper bags or trumpets or gym uniforms.  What’s on your list?

I had a great teenage summer job working with a nice woman on her food cart (Le Dog!) in downtown Kalamazoo where I grew up.  She was the first person I knew who had an index card posted above the door handle on the exit door to her work space.  On it was a check list of the things she needed in-hand to head out to sell her gourmet hot dogs (keys, money apron, etc.), and also the list of things to remember as she left for the day (turn off the warmers, unplug the drain overnight, keys and umbrella, etc.)  Right above the door handle, so she would see it every day.

This week, give some thought to YOUR LIST, those 4 or 5 items you really can’t do without.   Then, create a habit of checking in mentally with your self before heading out the door.  Better yet, establish a physical space near your exit, whether at home or at work, where those items live, or can be lined up as you prepare to leave.  And if it would help, consider a post-it or index card near your exit that helps you remember to bring your vitally important items!

What’s on YOUR LIST?

Managing Transitions: Get Up and Get Ready!

Teaching a time management class last week, I reminded everyone that, from an organizational stand-point, our daily times of transition can make or break our schedule, our stuff, our brain and our peace of mind.

We all meet many transitions every day: sleeping to waking; home to work or school or both; arrival at work or school; leaving work or school; arriving home; leaving again for the evening; bedtime.  And conquering these transition times will bring us ease, help us be on time, get and stay organized, and get more done with less stress.

Let’s start with the first big transition of the day: Transitioning from Sleep to Ready to Leave!

Over the last week, I’ve run into the two extremes around Morning routines.  One client had no morning routine at all, and one had a routine that was too complicated and overwhelming  to succeed.  Let’s find some middle ground, and make this happen!

Keep it simple, Sweetie.  Start with Need To / Must Do Tasks.

  • And, start with things you can only do at home!
  • Shower (though I suppose you could do this at the gym!);
  • Get dressed (unless pajama day every day is the policy at your office. For the rest of us, though, we have to get dressed);
  • Fuel yourself with breakfast;
  • Brush thy teeth / comb thy hair / shave thy cheeks, etc..
  • If your getting ready routine is still too complicated, consider what tasks you can redistribute to other times of your day, like showering or exfoliating at night, for example.

If that is all you have time for before you leave the house, so be it.

What can you take on the road, if need be? 

  • And, NO, you wacky people on the toll road last week, shaving and applying eye liner while driving are NOT things you should take on the road!  However:
  • drinking your second cup of coffee, in a spill and leak proof go-mug;  or
  • eating your breakfast bar; or
  • reading the newspaper on the train (on my IPad’s Tribune App) are all tasks you can take on the road! 
  • I spent many days on the road this summer.  I still have the habit of carrying a small bag of essentials like lotion, toothpaste/brush, comb, etc., and each has come in handy in the last week!  Pack your little bag of little things, and take that on the road, too.

Get really good at completing the essential tasks EVERY DAY and in a timely manner. THEN… add in the optional items, the Cans and Shoulds and Just Maybes.  These may include:

  • pack that lunch and think about dinner;
  • office tasks like checking email;
  • house tasks like laundry, washing dishes; and
  • whatever other tasks you may tackle regularly but are not truly essential.

Give some thought to your short list of MUST DO tasks this week, get really good at completing those completely and on time, and then add in some of those optional items if you have time.  Conquering this first transition of the day will start you on the right path to a great day!

To:

Receive more ideas and suggestions like these;
Book time with me in person or virtually;
Arrange a presentation for your upcoming event; or
Discover the benefits of Organizational Coaching;

Please contact me.

Call / text 708.790.1940
Online at  http://peaceofmindpo.com
www.Facebook.com/MColleenKlimczakCPO
Via Twitter, @ColleenCPO

Will You Ever?

I spend a lot of time in the decision making process.  For myself, of course.  But even more, time with my clients, guiding them through the decision process.  Sometimes, for some people, decisions are difficult to make.

It is easier for me to help guide the decision making process with other people’s stuff because I can be objective about it.  When facing a pile of clutter, there are questions we can ask ourselves to help make decisions on what will stay and what will go.

Ask yourself, “Will You Ever?”.

Will you ever… use this?

Will you ever… wear that?

Will you ever… read those?

Will you ever… complete that?

Will you ever… get those pants shortened?

Will you ever… get that broken lamp repaired?

Will you ever… display these, refer back to this, re-read that again, look at this again?

Will today be the day that you wake up and are suddenly motivated to do things, wear things, take care of things, that you never have before?

If you answer “No” to these questions, the items in question… are clutter.  And they need to go.

If we were in your closet or kitchen, office or garage today, facing a pile of clutter, we can make decisions and progress clear clutter by honestly answering “Will You Ever?”.

So, what will it be?  Yes or no?  Will You Ever?

My Message to the Graduates, As We Start a New School Year

This past  May, I had the distinct honor of giving the following commencement speech for a middle school graduation.

“My name is Colleen Klimczak, and I am a School Board member of Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124.

On behalf of our school board and superintendent, I would like to welcome you all.

More importantly, and this is more important, especially tonight, I am also a parent of one of our graduates this evening. My Son is sitting out there, robed in green and probably shaking his head at his mom right now.

Sorry, kiddo. I wish I could say that this is the last time I will embarrass you, but we both know that is probably not the case.

I want to say
Thank You
to all of you here
for coming.
And not just coming to this graduation ceremony.

You see, as a parent – my graduate this evening is my youngest of three – I know all that goes in to getting to this point.

Thank you to our teachers and staff who have instructed and guided our kids along the way. These students have benefited immeasurably from these dedicated, passionate educators.
As a board member, I thank every one of you for your service.

And as a parent, I thank each of you that has had a hand in guiding my son.
These educators arrive early, stay late, they’re in the classrooms and hallways, at extra events on evenings and weekends, they are always available via email. Trust me, I know.
And they truly have our students’ best interests in mind. We are so fortunate, and I am so grateful.

Thank you, parents. And grandparents and aunts and uncles and all those folks who also show up.
Every.
Day.

I’m not even going to finish the equation, of number of mornings multiplied by number of school years so far! Lunches packed, backpacks, homework, gym uniforms, sport uniforms, band instruments, car pools, field trips, forms completed. Then there are the games and concerts and events that we are seriously SO happy to attend. A shout out to John’s grandparents who are here, and who have showed up to EVERYTHING for my three boys over the years.

Students – yes, tonight is about you, but some time this evening, please stop and look your parents and grandparents and significant adults in the eyes and thank them for helping you get to this occasion. They love you so much, trust me.

And now, Students!

All of you here may not know this, but this an amazing group of young people.
I have known some of them since kindergarten, and even before that.
I’ve been so blessed to spend time with some of them over the years, and watch them all grow. They are smart, funny, engaged and curious, civic minded and involved.

Students, I have three things to ask of you this evening.

First, Do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Don’t bother with easy, or just skating by, just because you think no one will notice.

YOU will notice.

And once you know you can count on yourself to do the right thing, your confidence and capacity for doing the right thing will grow.

Perhaps you’ll find yourself in a situation and you’re not sure what the right thing to do is?

Go with kindness. Justice. Fairness. Thinking and thoughtfulness. Those are always going to be the right thing. And the Right Thing might not be what everyone else is doing, but that’s ok, they are just waiting for you to set an example.

Second, Find your people.
Look around, and see the people that are doing what you want to do, what you aspire to do.

Surround yourself with good people who will lift you up, build you up.  Who aren’t about drama, who are also the ones doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

Find and appreciate those people, and
more importantly, strive to be that best person for others.

Finally, Start and end with gratitude.
Be grateful for your natural born talents and your diligently honed skills.
Be grateful for your family who loves you, for the education you are working for, for your friends and our community.

Imagine, remembering just one thing you’re grateful for as you start and finish your day every day.  Imagine how great that would feel, and how much that small habit would positively impact your life.

So:
Do the Right Thing; 
Find Your People; 
And Start and End with Gratitude.

I’m going to take my own advice here, and say thank you, Central Middle School class of 2018, for letting me get to know you. I can’t wait to see what each of you will continue to achieve in big and small ways, in the years to come. Congratulations and Well Done!

To:

Receive more ideas and suggestions like these;
Book time with me in person or virtually;
Arrange a presentation for your upcoming event; or
Discover the benefits of Organizational Coaching;

Please contact me.

Call / text 708.790.1940
Online at  http://peaceofmindpo.com
www.Facebook.com/MColleenKlimczakCPO
Via Twitter, @ColleenCPO

A Great Morning Starts the Night Before, 2.0 Edition (Not Just For Kids!)

Back in 2011, I wrote “A GREAT MORNING STARTS THE NIGHT BEFORE!” for a Back-to-School newsletter.   The original article, found here, is still pertinent and useful for kids and families!

I’ve learned a lot since I published that article!  And I still find myself re-considering how to tweak my routines.  Our days are complicated lately!  While I work on un-complicating them,  I still have to get to bed at a reasonable hour, get up and out of bed in the morning, and complete a handful of tasks before I leave the house every day!

I am older and wiser (as are my kids!), so today, let’s take another look at “A Great Morning Starts the Night Before”!

  • Look Ahead. 
    • In my original article, this was a solitary step for me as Mom to take. These days, the teenagers and I all need to check in with each other and with the upcoming calendar.
    • Part of parenting is to foster planning and self-management skills in our young adults (and working on that for ourselves, too!). Some days, there are scheduling challenges or car usage juggling!
    • I look at the calendar for the next few hours, days and weeks, and ask the important questions of myself and my sons to move us forward.  I may jot down those questions on a dry erase board, in case our schedules don’t synchronize.  (For example, “Where is the grade report from last Friday”, “Does your tux jacket need dry cleaned after last week’s concert?”, etc.)  They can start working on answering these questions in my absence!

  • Meal Planning:  I’m the only person who packs a lunch anymore, so lunch making isn’t as important as it used to be.
    • However, ensuring we have portable breakfast foods on hand has become more important, as has dinner meal planning to make sure I have a meal planned that works with the next day’s schedule.
    • Instead of assigning a specific meal to every day, I may list 5-7 quick and favorite meals on a note near the fridge, and make sure we have the ingredients on hand for each.
    • Then I can choose a really quick meal on days we’re strapped for time, or a more involved meal if I have a little extra time.

  • “Lay out clothes for tomorrow, for you and your children” was the statement in the original article.  However, as we and our kids grow and evolve, we know this gets a little tougher!
    • Laundry maintenance.  The success of this step relies on maintaining the laundry process (and yes, I have started a load of laundry as I’ve been writing this).  By “maintaining the process”, I mean – keep the laundry moving along and don’t let your wardrobe options pile up! For example, start a load every evening, and toss it in the dryer every morning while you get ready for your day.
    • Another key to success in this area is to have a standard ensemble to wear for your typical day.  I am NOT the person to give fashion advice, but I am the person to offer suggestions that will save you time and aggravation.  Spend an hour some evening, and put together a handful of outfits you can easily use when you’re strapped for time.

  • “Pack Your Bag the Night Before”.  This piece of advice never grows old.  I had an early morning breakfast meeting today, so last night, I made sure my notes were in my bag.  We still stumble, as the completed forms I laid on the middle-schooler’s backpack for him to take back to school today are still laying on his dresser…  but tomorrow is another opportunity to turn stuff in!

  • Go to bed.  Good sleep hygiene is vital to success, for all of us.  A reasonable and consistent bedtime and calming night-time routines, including planning and prep for the next day, help ensure good sleep and a better morning tomorrow!
To:

Receive more ideas and suggestions like these;
Book time with me in person or virtually;
Arrange a presentation for your upcoming event; or
Discover the benefits of Organizational Coaching;

Please contact me.

Call / text 708.790.1940
Online at  http://peaceofmindpo.com
www.Facebook.com/MColleenKlimczakCPO
Via Twitter, @ColleenCPO

Change The Habit or Change The House?

Working with a client this morning, I was reminded  of an article I recently read on ApartmentTherapy.com similar to this one (edited and updated, July 2020).

In the comments for an article about creating an entry way in a small space, a reader asked if the solution to the problem was to “Change the habit or the house?”.

This is a powerful and useful question as we get organized!  And… what does that mean?

Let’s say I notice that, when I walk in the door every day, I consistently put my keys on the same side table and toss my coat over the same chair or the back of the sofa.

Leaving my keys and coat exactly there makes the space look cluttered or disorganized, so I could elect to try and change my HABIT and come in a different door, or walk down the hallway and hang things up in a closet, etc.   However, since I am consistent about where these items fall, I can find them in an instant and be out the door efficiently.

So the HABIT is a good one, but the entry way of the HOUSE doesn’t support the HABIT well.   I could change the house to support the habit by adding a decorative bowl in the entry way for keys and phone, setting a chair in the entry way for our coat and bag, or perhaps adding a coat tree or some wall hooks.

Another example.  This morning’s client has 2 school aged daughters, and they both consistently drop their school backpacks and sport bags in the same places in the living room / dining room.  This can drive a parent crazy, let me tell you!

Yes, the piles in these living spaces are unsightly.  However, these students have good and consistent habits that helps them keep track of their school work and team uniforms.  So, the question we asked this morning was “Is it easier to change the habit or the house?”

My client didn’t actually mind the location of the piles, merely the appearance of them.  So, de- cluttering the pile contents and adding attractive large wicker baskets to hold the bags and gear in the habitual drop zones seems a better solution than trying to establish new habits and drop zones elsewhere.

Years ago, I organized with a real estate agent who had a lovely home office, but she didn’t really like to work in there.  She preferred to work in her kitchen – it was warm and cozy, had great light plus coffee!  So, instead of trying to change her preferred habit of working happily in the kitchen, we instead set up a work space in the kitchen and reserved the home office for meetings with clients, and file and supply storage.  We helped her home better fit her good work habit.

Again, the question: Do I need to change my house or change my habit?

Is there is a space in your home or office that regularly causes you frustration?  A place that has just never seemed to “work” right for you?

If your habit is a problem – you drop stuff where it becomes unsafe, you neglect client files, you are inconsistent with your stuff and the habits around it – then consider changing your habits.

If, however, your habits are sound but the space doesn’t support the habit, consider what you can do to Support the Good Habit and Change the house around it!

Thanks for reading!

To:

Receive more ideas and suggestions like these;
Book time with me in person or virtually;
Arrange a presentation for your upcoming event; or
Discover the benefits of Organizational Coaching;

Please contact me.

Call / text 708.790.1940
Online at  http://peaceofmindpo.com
www.Facebook.com/MColleenKlimczakCPO
Via Twitter, @ColleenCPO

9 Things Every Closet Needs! Tips for National Clean Out Your Closet Month

Did you know?  January is National Clean Out Your Closet Month!

Today, I want to suggest how to celebrate Clean Out Your Closet Month with some ad-ins that will keep your closet organized every day of the year! Check them out!

EVERY CLOSET NEEDS…

  1. A basket / bag for dirty laundry. This keeps random bits from piling up, and makes that dirty  laundry more like to get washed!
  2. A basket / bag for regular trips to the dry-cleaners or tailor (optional).  Ours dry-cleaner bag lives in our laundry room, and we have a weekly errand for taking in and picking up.
  3. A basket/ bag and a path for items to leave.  Our home has a system for getting rid of no-longer-needed items.  These items go into the dirty laundry basket with everything else and get laundered, then tucked in the “Donate” or “Off-To-Our-Cousin” baskets that live in our laundry room.
  4. A wastebasket.  Rubbish needs a path and a receptacle to leave a space.  Show me a closet littered with plastic dry cleaning bags, clothing tags, dirty tissues and general trash, and I’ll show you it lacks a wastebasket.
  5. Good hangers. I’m not suggesting you spend a fortune on your hangers, but invest in plastic or felted hangers to take good care of your clothes and give your closet a tidier appearance.
  6. A few extra hangers, but only a few.  One of the first and easiest steps to making more room in a closet is to clear out all the empty hangers.  Trust me, some have dozens taking up precious rod space!  Once all your clothes are hung and the closet is organized, keep all but 3 or 4 of your empty hangers in your laundry room instead of in your closet.
  7. An Ish-Hook or 2.  I have 3 hooks in my closet for clean-ISH clothes.  Clean-ISH, that you plan to wear again soon.  You know – the pajamas you only wore once? or the track pants and sweat shirt you put on when you get home from work?  Perhaps the jeans you wore for a little while but plan to wear again tomorrow.  It’s not worth it to wash them all, or to hang them all up again, so we need a way to keep them close at hand but not strewn about your space!
  8. A clear floor.  Imagine with me:  You’re standing in your closet, trying to get dressed in the morning. Or perhaps you have clean laundry to put away.  Now imagine trying to do these regular tasks while stepping on clothes or shoes, or dodging shopping bags or neglected empty suitcases.  Having those physical obstacles in the way will likely keep you from completing the simple maintenance tasks needed to make your closet work well for you.
  9. A plan! Every month or so, I get the itch to review my closet and drawers, straightening and purging as I go.  I encourage my sons to do the same, at least a couple of times a year.  This quick but regular maintenance keeps my clothes and closet organized and relatively clutter free all year long!

Spend some time taking care of your closet this week, and it will take care of you every day!

To:

Receive more ideas and suggestions like these;
Book time with me in person or virtually;
Arrange a presentation for your upcoming event; or
Discover the benefits of Organizational Coaching;

Please contact me.

Call / text 708.790.1940
Online at  http://peaceofmindpo.com
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Via Twitter, @ColleenCPO