Minimizing Organizer

Minimizing Organizer Are you overwhelmed with clutter? Do you have a difficult time finding what you need in your house?

Pick an affirmation and repeat it throughout the day.-Posted by OneUp
01/31/2024

Pick an affirmation and repeat it throughout the day.

-Posted by OneUp

Let's Start! The MINIMIZING process is the same for every area/category of your home. Set a timer to keep you accountabl...
01/29/2024

Let's Start! The MINIMIZING process is the same for every area/category of your home. Set a timer to keep you accountable and...
1. Take everything out of the space you have chosen to work on. While you might feel that that's unnecessary, DO NOT skip this step. Everything has to come out. (Tip: remember to only empty as much as you can handle during the time you have set aside for decluttering. Don't empty your whole closet if you only have an hour available on that day. Instead, take out all of your pants and finish those before moving on to the next item.)
2. Sort all items into categories: t-shirts go in one pile, long-sleeved shirts in a second, pants in a third, and so on. If you happen to have a very large amount of let's say t-shirts, separate those into categories as well, i.e. separate by colors or by type. Put items that do not belong in the space you are currently working on in a pile labeled "Keep Elsewhere"
3. Now that you have a good idea of how many pieces you have in each pile, it's time to make a decision. Some decisions will be easy to make, others will take some questioning. The one question that usually works for most things is "Does this item make it easier for me to get my work done or does it CURRENTLY serve me to enjoy my life?" Based on your answer, put each belonging into its appropriate box/bag: TRASH, RECYCLE, DONATE, KEEP, and KEEP ELSEWHERE.
Remember your goal (e.g. a closet that only contains clothes that serve me NOW).

-Posted by OneUp

Great! You've written down your goal, and you've gathered all of your decluttering supplies. Now what? Where to begin? T...
01/24/2024

Great! You've written down your goal, and you've gathered all of your decluttering supplies. Now what?
Where to begin? The answers to this question vary. Some suggest starting with a small manageable area (think junk drawer or a bathroom cabinet) or category (think towels, linens, or magazines). Others maintain that tackling your closet (clothes are generally one of the easier items to declutter) is the way to start. I think the best place to start is that space in your home that bothers you the most (you know... the one you try to avoid at all costs, the one that gives you that guilty feeling when looking at it). Yes, I am talking about that "dumping ground" in the garage or spare bedroom, consisting of unopened Amazon boxes, items (from previous shopping sprees) that have never been put away, possible donations, and belongings that don't yet have a permanent home in your house. I am also talking about the dining table, which hasn't been used for its intended purpose for too long. In our house, most items (which had yet to be tended to) used to end up in our little "add-on" office in the garage (see photo). Generally, organizing that space tends to compel people to keep going.
Action Step: Take a notepad or use the Notes App on your phone. Walk around your home, jotting down all the spaces that could benefit from some decluttering and organizing, and then decide which one of those areas REALLY "gets to you". That's your starting point.

-Posted by OneUp

Ok, you have taken the time to envision your decluttered and organized space: you visualized your clear floors, clean ki...
01/22/2024

Ok, you have taken the time to envision your decluttered and organized space: you visualized your clear floors, clean kitchen countertops, uncluttered entry hall, and well-organized closet, which houses only the clothes you love. You took the time to write down your goal (WHY). Now what?
Gather the few must-haves necessary for a successful decluttering session. Most of them are already residing in your home, and the rest can be found at most stores:
1. Space to sort - on the floor, on your bed (put a sheet down to protect your sheets), on a folding table if available
2. Boxes - medium-sized are great but any box will do
3. Trash bags - I like the 13-gallon Kirkland bags since they are not transparent and still manageable once full
4. Timer - use your kitchen timer or the one on your phone
5. Painters tape and Sharpie for temporary labeling
6. A sheet to put on the floor/bed to protect clothes/sheets
7. Paper shredder or Identity Theft Protection Roller (Amazon, Walmart) to take care of unwanted papers right away
8. A few pieces of 8.5 x 11 paper to make the following signs: TRASH, DONATE, RECYCLE, GOES ELSEWHERE* (*some of the signs depend on your specific circumstances. For instance, one of my clients had items destined for her brother's and sister's homes, so one of the signs said SIBLINGS. Another client had a two-story home, so we made a sign UPSTAIRS to avoid going up and down the stairs until we had completed our session.

-Posted by OneUp

Decluttering Tip:Do not go on a shopping spree for organizing bins until AFTER you have decluttered and sorted your belo...
01/04/2024

Decluttering Tip:
Do not go on a shopping spree for organizing bins until AFTER you have decluttered and sorted your belongings. While purchasing (often fancy) containers is for many the most exciting part of getting organized, this should be the last step in this journey.
Before buying any container, you want to know exactly how much needs to fit in each bin and where that bin will eventually be stored. This generally means getting the measuring tape from the garage and jotting down how many inches are available on a certain shelf or in a specific cabinet. I mostly try to use what is already on hand especially when it comes to those containers which will be hidden behind closet doors and inside dressers. However, unless they are already at hand, I always try to purchase matching baskets and bins for exposed spaces where the decor truly matters.

-Posted by OneUp

-Posted by OneUp

Decluttering Tip: Try to keep clutter from entering your home in the first place. There are a few things that can easily...
01/02/2024

Decluttering Tip:
Try to keep clutter from entering your home in the first place. There are a few things that can easily be done to achieve this.
First, block the junk mail! According to the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), the average US household receives about 300 pieces of junk mail each year, and 100 million trees are cut down to generate the paper to print this, mostly unwanted, mail. A quick way to reduce this type of clutter is to sign up at DMAchoice (https://www.dmachoice.org/register.php), fill out a quick form, and pay a $4 administrative fee, which is, in my opinion, well worth it.

-Posted by OneUp

Decluttering Tip: The first, but often overlooked, step in your decluttering and organizing journey is to set a clear go...
12/28/2023

Decluttering Tip:
The first, but often overlooked, step in your decluttering and organizing journey is to set a clear goal or vision of how your place will look without the clutter and properly organized. Take a look at each space and contemplate a simple, uncluttered area in which you can see yourself working or spending time. Visualize neat surfaces, which showcase only a few cherished mementos. Write this vision down, so you can refer to it when (not if) you get overwhelmed while minimizing and organizing.

-Posted by OneUp

Decluttering Tip:Do not go on a shopping spree for organizing bins until AFTER you have decluttered and sorted your belo...
12/20/2023

Decluttering Tip:
Do not go on a shopping spree for organizing bins until AFTER you have decluttered and sorted your belongings. While purchasing (often fancy) containers is for many the most exciting part of getting organized, this should be the last step in this journey.
Before buying any container, you want to know exactly how much needs to fit in each bin and where that bin will eventually be stored. This generally means getting the measuring tape from the garage and jotting down how many inches are available on a certain shelf or in a specific cabinet. I mostly try to use what is already on hand especially when it comes to those containers which will be hidden behind closet doors and inside dressers. However, unless they are already at hand, I always try to purchase matching baskets and bins for exposed spaces where the decor truly matters.

-Posted by OneUp

Thoughts on Decanting ⁠Decanting groceries involves transferring food from its original box or bag to another (often aes...
10/19/2023

Thoughts on Decanting ⁠
Decanting groceries involves transferring food from its original box or bag to another (often aesthetically more pleasing) container.⁠
Yes, a pantry full of decanted food looks amazing (and magazine-worthy), but it's also an extra step after bringing in the groceries. If you have time for this and your heart skips a beat when opening your kitchen cabinets to a beautiful array of nicely organized canisters, by all means, go ahead and decant. For me, it boils down to practicality. We buy a lot of things in bulk, such as nuts, beans, seeds, and flour. Thus, decanting is a must for those items to ensure everything stays properly sealed, given that they'll be living in our pantry for quite some time. ⁠
On the other hand, knowing that my kids will finish a box of cereals in a few days, I don't bother moving those from their original vessel to a pretty glass jar. I'd rather spend that time... lounging outside with a good organizing book and a glass of homemade kombucha. ⁠

Quick Tip - Putting loose papers, photos, and knick-knacks in boxes or magazine holders, makes the space above your desk...
12/08/2022

Quick Tip - Putting loose papers, photos, and knick-knacks in boxes or magazine holders, makes the space above your desk look neat and organized. Just make sure to label each holder, so you know exactly where everything is.

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