by C. Lee Cawley

C. Lee Cawley

We've all been there: staring into a cluttered room, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of "stuff."  Maybe it's a messy desk, a chaotic kitchen, or even a closet overflowing with unworn clothes. The solution seems simple – “clean” it up! But before you grab your cleaning supplies and go to town, it's important to understand the distinct roles of four key concepts in conquering clutter: declutter, clean, organize, and tidy.

Let's break them down:

1 - DECLUTTER

Imagine your wardrobe.  Editing the excess is always the first step.  What needs to be banished?  Be honest –will you wear that too-tight skirt or ever replace a random button from the big bag you’ve collected over the years?  Don't be afraid to donate, sell, or recycle what no longer serves you.  Remember, less is often more when it comes to creating a functional and inspiring wardrobe or workspace.

2 - CLEAN

Once the decluttering step is complete, it's time to brandish disinfectant wipes, vacuums, and dust cloths. When you have a clear surface, nothing on the floor,   and empty drawers after your decluttering edit, it’s an ideal time to clean before you put things back. However, cleaning isn't magic – it can't make clutter disappear.  A clean space overflowing with stuff is still a cluttered space, so that is why decluttering first is key.

3 – ORGANIZE

Think of organizing as creating a designated home for everything you've thoughtfully kept during the decluttering phase. This is where systems and strategies come in.  Invest in shelves, bins, and drawer dividers to categorize and store your belongings efficiently. The goal is to create a user-friendly system that minimizes clutter build-up in the future.  Think of it as creating a flow in your space, where everything has a designated spot and is easily accessible. Being “organized” means you can find what you need when you need it!

4 - TIDY

Tidying is the final piece of the puzzle – the daily or weekly habit that ensures your organized space stays that way.  It's putting things back in their designated spot after use.  Did you try a dress on but choose a skirt? Hang the dress up, don’t leave it on a chair. This simple act of daily tidying prevents clutter from accumulating and maintains the clear order you established during the organizing stage.

Why the Order Matters

Treating these activities as separate steps ensures a more efficient and effective final outcome. Imagine cleaning a cluttered room – you might move things around to vacuum, but the clutter is still there.  By decluttering first, you eliminate extra work, making cleaning, organizing, and tidying a much smoother and more satisfying process.

So, the next time you face a cluttered space, don't feel overwhelmed. Embrace the power of decluttering, cleaning, organizing, and tidying.  By tackling them in this specific order, you'll transform chaos into a haven of functionality, one room, closet, or pantry at a time!

For more information, contact C. Lee Cawley.

by Diane Greenhalgh

Tiny to the Max

Fed up with feeling overwhelmed and just want to make your space work for you? With “a place for everything and everything in its place”, organizing can give you a calm space where you can chillax and connect with the people you love. But it also gives you so much more…

Room to live

When you organize, you create space to live the life you want for you and your family. The spaces in your home become more functional, and you’re able to find things when you need them.

Imagine having uncluttered counters to make dinner or not having to constantly search for the TV remote. And if you’re like a quarter of Americans who can’t fit your car in your garage, imagine being able to pull that baby in to where it belongs!

Time saver

With everything in its place, no more daily hunts for your wallet and keys before you head out the door. That saves you time and energy for more worthwhile pursuits. How much time? According to the 2017 Lost & Found Survey by Pixie, Americans spend 2.5 days a year looking for misplaced items. That’s greater than 190 days over the course of the average lifespan!

What’s more, the National Soap and Detergent Association says that decluttering and organizing cuts 40% of housework in the average home. Less cleaning?! Sign me up!

Show me the money!

(Famous line in Jerry McGuire)

Getting organized can save you a buck or two. American women have an average of $550 worth of unworn clothes in their closets, according to a 10 Yetis study. So much buried treasure in our closets, yet the Pixie Lost & Found Survey revealed we collectively spend $2.7 billion replacing items each year. No more buying stuff you already own when you know what you have and where it is.

More ways you save money:

• Eliminate late fees by keeping up with deadlines

• Locate receipts for returns and warranties

• Deposit checks before they expire

• Use gift cards and coupons that were buried in the junk drawer

• Eat out less because meal planning and prep is easier

• Get rid of storage unit fees

• Prevent the need to upsize to a bigger, more expensive home

• Pay less medical bills with less stress (see below)

Happier + healthier

Clutter has been shown to cause people stress, but when you don’t have to remember where things are, you eliminate an element of chaos and uncertainty in your life, relieving stress and anxiety. This is because there is comfort in predictability and your newfound sense of control. What’s more, clearing your mind creates space for other things, like curiosity and creativity.

Less stress leads to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your body, which means better health. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 80% of medical expenses are related to stress.

Getting organized also helps you eat healthier and get active. A top strategy for building healthy habits is to make doing them as easy as possible. Along with creating extra time, organization helps you create a space that supports the goals in your life, including eating healthy and staying active. Easily accessible equipment, uncluttered workspaces, and systems for planning ahead all help keep you on track.

Stronger relationships

Organization creates the space, and the time, to do fun things together with your family or roommates. And once you don’t have that mess to be irritated and stressed about, you’ll be nicer to each other, especially if you’re the one upset by the mess. If your clutter is causing the friction, getting organized can be an act of love or respect towards the people you live with.

Once you have a home you’re proud of, you can also invite your friends and family over for regular get-togethers. Or have a party to make new friends. Added bonus… a kick in the butt to tidy up.

Become a rock star

Being organized seeps into all aspects of your life and makes you more productive and better at getting things done. Gone are the days of missed events and late arrivals (or at least a lot less). For instance, an IKEA study found that women with shoe racks are 7 times more likely to be on time for work. And that’s just a shoe rack. Imagine what a fully organized home can do!

Seeing how organization and productivity improves your life teaches your kids valuable skills and encourages your partner or roommates to jump on board the organizing train. Destination? A boost of self-confidence!

Caution for people with addictive tendencies

I am not a medical expert. Consult your psychiatrist or therapist for advice specific to your situation.

If you have the tendency to go down a spiral by things like “don’t break the chain” or get overly invested when trying new habits, exercise caution when organizing. It can become obsessive if you’re not careful. Don’t aim for perfection, focus on what’s realistic (this goes for everyone actually).

If you fall into this category, including if you have been diagnosed with OCD/OCPD or hoarding disorder, consult your therapist before starting your organizing project and consider hiring a professional organizer trained in obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Organizing can exacerbate your symptoms.

Whether you’re jumping in feet first or taking it each small project at a time, there’s no time like the present to get started on your organizing transformation. So, check out my free step-by-step organizing how-to page and know that I’m here to help you every step of the way.

Consider me your organizing coach.

For more information, contact Diane Greenhalgh.

by Heather Nickerson

Artifcts

Swedish Death Cleaning provides a conceptual framework to encourage us each to organize and declutter our homes to reduce the burden on loved ones who would otherwise need to sift through 1000s of objects one day when we’re no longer here. We might be some of the biggest fans of Margareta Magnusson, who introduced the concept in her book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, that she’s never met. We all can understand and maybe even relate to the concept but having a term for it gives us a starting point to act on it! 

Artifcts is your best-in-class Swedish Death Cleaning app. It’s a big reason why we write on and provide workshops related to this topic. Today we’re considering Swedish Death Cleaning from yet another angle: Your digital legacy.

Defining “Digital Legacy” 

What ARE we talking about, “digital legacy?” 

Good question! Because, no, in this context, it is not about the entirety of your online life or digital assets, e.g. banking, mortgages, insurance policies, investments, or similar. All critical! All should be a part of your estate plan and/or will. You should also invest in an online digital vault to corral it together, benefit from automated and smart reminders, and enjoy the ease of sharing securely or accessing it yourself in an emergency.

What we are talking about with "digital legacy" are the digital items that reflect our lives and personal histories as well as who we are as members of families and communities. 

What makes up your digital legacy depends in part on your age as well as your personality and views. Some of us have chosen not to adopt certain aspects of digital life or have intentionally created the smallest digital footprint possible. Others of us go big online for personal and professional reasons. 

Below we’ll provide a framework to help you get started as you organize and maybe declutter your own digital legacy to ensure its best chance of meaning and survival!

What: Take Inventory 

Literally pause, grab a piece of paper or digital notebook, and start jotting down your digital footprint. Yes, you might need to wander your home, pull out some bins, open some drawers, but this is the easy part. We’ll help you get started. Do you or other household members have any of these? 

• Digital music and/or movie libraries, including media that’s natively digital and any you might have digitized when you, oh, let’s say, “decluttered” that VHS, DVD, or CD collection. 
  
• Photographs, again, digital native photos from your phone, most likely, and those pics you have scanned or otherwise digitized over time. 
  
• Social media posts, and before those, your blogs 
  
• Academic and professional research, including publications, patents, and even genealogy, family history, and DNA information.  
  

NFTs and other digital works stored, for example, in your digital wallet(s).

Where: As Tech has Changed, Storage has Changed 

Before cell phones were our go-to video recorders, there were small handheld versions that were wow’ing, because they had great quality and storage for the time, and were many times smaller than those you held with a strap in one hand or the ones that were so big that they sat on your shoulder. Did you ever download all the videos on your digital handheld camera? Treasures untold may be waiting. 

Think creatively through all the digital tech you’ve used and held onto through the years when you consider where your files may be resting, and in some cases, actively degrading. 

Bulk stashes via old and new hardware.

As time has gone on, we’ve been able to more cheaply and conveniently store massive volumes of data on those things and yet you might be surprised how little you actually saved to some. One of our Arti Community members told us she has 15 thumb drives that each contain three songs her daughter recorded during her spring and fall piano recitals.

Dig out those thumb drives, memory cards that may still be in old cameras or spare cases, disks (floppy, hard, and otherwise), and flash drives. Environmental implications aside, harvesting and storing those digital files together, and backed up in a second location, is a relatively easy, cheap, and fast undertaking. Hurray! 

Desktop and laptop hard drives. 

Hopefully before you donated or recycled old computers, you saved the contents somewhere else, a flash drive, your preferred cloud environment, or your new computer, perhaps. Wherever it went, take stock. And watch out if your employer is okay with you using your work device for personal use, too, as you may have some gems on those devices. 

“The Cloud,” e.g. Google Drive, Box, Drop Box, and Permanent, among others. 

You may have gotten on a kick and started storing stuff within a particular environment because a friend or family member was sharing stuff with you there and you followed suit. But what are you using nowadays? Consider if your habits have changed and you need to rescue files from various cloud locations and move to one central archive for storage. 

Memberships, especially apps and websites you love or loved once upon a time.

If you are worried you might not remember them all, you have some options.  

Option A. Checking billing statements is the best starting point. We hope you’re not paying for something you haven’t used in years. While simpler than scrolling through your email for pages, this still gets messy if you are using many different payment methods (credit cards, PayPal, etc.) and/or other household members might be paying via a family account. So, option B ...  

Option B. Go to the apps lists on your phone, tv, and computer. What’s installed? Are you paying for it? While you’re in there, check which have location, contact, notification, and background refresh services turned on. You might want to lock down your privacy! Bonus Tip: For Apple (iOS) mobile users, you can go to your Settings -> Click on your name/circle at the top -> and click “Subscriptions.” You may find surprises there, too! 

Take a moment to consider first what content do (or did) you create or upload to these memberships that you own and can potentially download to back up elsewhere and/or to then close your account. Then, if you want to keep the account open and have backed up the content, check the account’s settings for legacy contact and/or memorialization options and set yours up so you do not lose anything you created or upload to that membership. You also will then hoepfully avoid falling into a scenario in which inactivity grants the company via its terms and conditions the right to delete your data or use your data in a way you do not support.

Now What: What Do You Value Most? What Do “They” Value Most? 

Life comes with inherent limits. Only so much time in a day, money in our accounts, bandwidth in our brains. We must choose carefully how we spend our resources. What matters to you will help you prioritize how you manage your digital legacy. 

Here are three steps you can take to manage your digital legacy. These are not mutually exclusive! Start at ‘good,’ add in ‘better,’ and laugh, enjoy, and gain peace of mind with ‘best.’

Good. Inventory the items and put physical storage devices, e.g. flash drives, in a fire-safe place. Get rid of what you don’t want. This might mean recycling some tech (options exist!) and cleaning out files. But before you get too aggressive with that decluttering, ASK loved ones if they are interested in the types of materials you are ready to shed. You may be surprised what matters to them versus to yourself! This will help you with the next option.

Better. Digitize items with backups and share access to those resources with loved ones. This is now moving into prime Swedish Death Cleaning territory where we have not just organized but we’ve also decluttered in a way that’s potentially meaningful. Loved ones get the option to raise their hand and say, “Yes, that I want.” And the beauty here is it is digital. It won’t take up physical space so it’s less risky for them to say yes.

Best. While we all love photos, videos, and documentary evidence of cool things, like being the mastermind behind a patent, without context, even digital items become clutter we ignore. Here’s the story of one family’s “great” discovery. Whether your format is Artifcts, scrapbooks, or photobooks, find a medium to gift your loved ones a ‘why’ and not just more digital stuff. What is the story behind this photo? In layman's speak, what was this amazing scientific breakthrough in this patent that bears your name? What did it mean to you? 

Let us know about your progress. What was the easy part? Are you stuck on any specific digital histories of yours? What was the outcome? 

For more information, contact Heather Nickerson.

by Janet Schiesl

Basic Organization

Did you know that opening envelopes is the key to mail and paper management?

It’s a mistake to leave mail unopened or to place the contents back into the envelope after reading the material. Opening each envelope and discarding the unwanted inserts will greatly reduce the volume.

Once you have eliminated the excess, unfold everything that remains, staple pages together if needed and (if nothing else) place everything in an action tray for later. You can choose to go further and process your daily mail each day or decide on a regularly scheduled time that you’ll do your mail processing each week. How about Saturday morning over your first cup of coffee or one evening a week, when you are watching your favorite TV show? The processing can be simplified by asking yourself “What’s the next action I need to take on this piece of paper?” The usual answers to this question are: file it, read it, do some action (like send an email or make a call, etc), and then there are the bills. By opening envelopes, unfolding the paperwork, and discarding said envelope you are miles ahead in your paper management.

Also, I need to mention junk mail. There are several ways to eliminate most junk mail, which will greatly reduce your paper processing time. Here’s another blog post that will help you get off those pesky mailing lists.

For more information, contact Janet Schiesl.

by Jill Katz

One to Zen Organizing

The Story

If you have ever seen the homepage on my website, the Loving Kindness Meditation is featured prominently on the page:

"May I feel safe,

May the path before me be smooth,

May my surroundings bring me calm."

-Loving Kindness Meditation

I placed this meditation front and center because it plays such an important role in my organizing practice. Here's why.

History & Meaning of the Loving Kindness Meditation

The first time I heard the Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM) was in yoga class about 7 years ago, right before I started my organizing company but during a time where I was already working with clients. I was very taken with the words and I felt transformed after saying it. I was intrigued and googled this meditation the very same day. I found the following information:

• The Loving Kindness Meditation, also known as the Metta Meditation, originated in India about 2,500 years ago and was later incorporated into the Buddhist tradition.

• Repeating this meditation every day is thought to calm the mind and create a sense of peace and love with ourselves and the world.

• There have been multiple studies like this one that showed that subjects experience more self compassion and less judgement for themselves and others after saying this meditation for an extended period of time.

• The LKM creates positive emotions that have been proven to create lasting positive change for those experiencing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia and other mental health struggles.
  

The Connection Between Loving Kindness Meditation & Organizing

What initially drew my attention to the LKM and organizing was the line: "May my surroundings bring me calm." But as I practiced this mediation alongside my organizing practice, I noticed other connections:

Combating Anxiety

I am an organizer that brings mindfulness to my practice. I struggle with anxiety and I know that the Loving Kindness Meditation helps to calm my brain and combat overwhelm so I can approach my day with clarity and compassion. It is important to me to showcase this calm   approach as the center of my organizing practice. In fact, I begin every organizing session with an invitation to my clients to practice breathing or other mindfulness exercises because I find that it helps my clients cancel out all the "noise" that might have been going in internally before I come through their door.

Increases Self-Compassion and therefore, compassion for others

In this meditation we are saying that we all deserve goodness. Therefore, recitation of the LKM fosters self-compassion, which, in turn, expands into compassion for those around us. . Developing Self-compassion is another important component of organizing, on both the organizer and client end. If you are wasting your energy berating yourself for your clutter, then you won't have the energy and openness for self-discovery and development of new habits and routine that work for you. Likewise, my job as an organizer is to create an environment without judgement and to model compassion.

Emotional Regulation

The Loving Kindness Meditation also helps with emotional regulation. Many of the people I work with, struggle with executive functioning (including myself!) and one of the challenging pieces is to learn how to balance a barrage of emotions in order to work through them in a healthy way. The balm of wishing upon yourself a safe, smooth, and calm space creates a sense of stability the sets the stage for emotional regulation. When we are emotionally regulated we are ready and open to learn, explore, and discover.

General Positivity

Guess what? Not everyone is as psyched as I am to organize and declutter! But the loving kindness mediation is all about positivity. And having a positive approach to organizing can breed success. So say this meditation and create the positive vibes you need to get you through! It's a neat trick to say the words of the meditation to psych yourself up when you need to complete a less desired task. Trust me, it works! I consider it one of the "fake it until you make it" approaches (a subject for another blog post, perhaps?).

In Conclusion

Today, I incorporate the Loving Kindness Meditation into my organizing practice by practicing it myself and offering this practice to my clients before our session. This practice has not only transformed my approach but also enriched the experiences of my clients. Here are some guided loving kindness meditations if you are interested in exploring this practice.

Wishing you and your loved ones safety, a smooth path, and calm surroundings.

Do you have a meditation practice that you love? Have you ever tried the Loving-Kindness Meditation? Please share with me in the comments.

For more information, contact Jill Katz.

by Janet Schiesl

Basic Organization

Want to accomplish a challenging goal? Better focusing will help. Easier said than done, Right?

Being able to focus on the task at hand will be the key to conquering a challenging goal.

Not rewards, sheer willpower, self-discipline, or motivation will work. (We’ve all tried those!) Maintaining focus is the only way you will reach a challenging goal. What do you think?

Here are a couple of suggestions on ways to make focusing on the important easier for you so that you can achieve that one big goal.

Know your best time of day.

When are you most productive? Early morning or late at night? It doesn’t matter. What matters is you use that time to work on moving forward on a project that will get you to a goal. When you work during your most productive time it is easier to focus or get in your zone. Time will fly, but so will the amount that you move forward to meeting your goals.

Create a deadline for yourself.

Remember being in school, where deadlines reign? You knew exactly when that term paper needed to be turned in and you knew the consequences if you didn’t complete it on time. In your work or personal life, there aren’t always deadlines. So how do you use a deadline to create focus? Why you can make one up! It can be short-term – I need to finish this before I stop for lunch or I’m going to deliver this report before the end of the week. All of a sudden you’ll be more able to focus on the task at hand.

Prep before you start.

I’m a big fan of prepping for tomorrow. Just spending a little time clearing things up at the end of the day and planning for tomorrow can help you jump into work the next day. Always looking forward will help you get a jump-start in the morning so you don’t waste any precious time when you sit down at your desk.

Focus on your goals today!

For more information, contact Janet Schiesl.

by C. Lee Cawley

C. Lee Cawley

My mom, Helen k. Cawley was born in 1917 and lived through a time of immense historical change.  She came of age during the Great Depression, navigated single motherhood with my older sisters in the midst of World War II, and emerged a pillar of strength and practicality.  Her life experiences instilled in me valuable lessons that continue to guide me today.  Here are four nuggets of wisdom I learned from her:

1: The Power of Lists: 

My mom was a master list-maker.  Grocery lists, to-do lists, budget lists – you name it, she had a list for it.  These weren't just random scribbles on a piece of paper; they were meticulously crafted roadmaps to efficiency.  From her, I learned the power of planning and organization.  Lists help me stay focused, prioritize tasks, and avoid the chaos of a scattered mind.  So next time you're feeling overwhelmed, grab a pen and channel your inner Mom – make a list!

2: Invest in Quality Staples: 

Helen wasn't one for fleeting trends.  She believed in buying quality pieces that would last.  Her philosophy?  Invest in well-made shoes, bags, and coats.  These essential items formed the foundation of her daily wardrobe, and she took good care of them, ensuring they served her for years.  This lesson translates beautifully to life beyond fashion.  Investing in quality tools, cookware, or even a comfortable mattress can enhance your life for years to come.

3: Waste Not, Want Not: 

Food waste was a foreign concept in our household.  Mom practiced a simple yet brilliant strategy:  the "leftover shelf."  Dedicated space in the refrigerator ensured perfectly good leftovers didn't get lost in the back and forgotten.  This system not only saved money but also encouraged creative recipe reinvention.  Leftover chicken became a delicious stir-fry, and leftover vegetables found new life in a hearty soup.  Helen's "leftover shelf" wasn't just about food; it was a reminder to appreciate and utilize what you already have.

4: Rotate Your Backstock: 

Helen lived through a time of scarcity and understood the importance of resourcefulness.  One of her clever practices was "backstock rotation."  This meant regularly revisiting the hidden corners of her pantry and cupboards. Everything was boldly marked with it’s expiration date so that it could be used in a timely fashion. Older items were brought to the front to be consumed first, ensuring nothing lingered forgotten and expired.  This system not only prevented food waste but also helped us discover forgotten treasures and avoid unnecessary duplicate purchases.

These are just a few of the countless lessons my Mom gifted me.  Her experiences during a challenging era shaped her into a resourceful, organized, and wise woman.  Her legacy lives on in the way I approach life, and I'm forever grateful for the timeless wisdom she instilled in me!

Do you have any life lessons learned from your parents or grandparents? Share them in my Free FB Group HERE.

For more information, contact C. Lee Cawley.

by Jill Katz

One to Zen Organizing

The Story

Every year during March & April, my social media feed is filled with fellow organizers talking about spring cleaning. And I ignore every post. Why? Because as an observant Jew, I deal annually with the phenomenon of Passover cleaning, a monumental undertaking that makes typical spring cleaning pale in comparison.

To give some context, Passover is a religious holiday most well known to the masses for its dinner or Seder and for special food called Matzah. But for those that observe the laws of Passover in totality, here is what Passover means:

• Ridding your home of any crumbs, even those hiding in kids backpacks, your car, under couch cushions

• Ridding your home of all regular food since they might have a tiny bit of “Chametz” or unleavened bread which isn’t allowed on Passover

• Replacing your entire pantry of food with Kosher for Passover food including spices and oils

• Scrubbing your kitchen, including stovetop, oven, and refrigerator so it looks brand new

• Moving out your old dishes, utensils and pots/pans  (and you have 2 sets for milk & meat) and moving in your Passover sets

• Cooking for an average of 12-20 people for the Seders (observant Jews have 2 nights of Seder) with special recipes that have no bread, flour, rice and beans in them.

• Cooking for the other days of Passover since your usual go-to foods are gone

• Readying your home for guests

• Switching everything back in a week when Passover is over

• Throwing in other “spring cleaning” errands if you can like carpet/rug cleaning, lawn/garden spring cleanups, window cleaning, pillow cover cleaning, etc.

The Strategy: Mastering Passover Prep & Spring Cleaning

Over the years, I have learned some tricks that help me organize my Passover Spring Cleaning. You can apply these strategies for any event in your life that needs special attention including spring cleaning, a move, a wedding, a Graduation, etc.:

Start Early

My preparations for Passover start 4 weeks before the actual holiday. Those first 2 weeks allow me to do things that aren’t as necessary such as a general spring cleaning of my home, outdoor landscaping, inviting guests, seder themes and general passover purchases. I also choose the date on which I plan to switch my kitchen from regular to Passover (a huge project in itself). The last two weeks are much more intense, focusing on setting the menu, shopping, and necessary cleaning. 

Spreadsheet the hell out of it,( yes, spreadsheet can be used as a verb)

I use spreadsheets for everything and Passover planning is no different. Every year, the first thing I do when it’s 4 weeks before Passover, is to pull up my spreadsheet and make a copy that I rename with the current year.  Then I open up my spreadsheet and change the dates and make the tweaks for this years holiday.

 I have 3 tabs for my Passover Planning:

• Tab 1: Dates & Weekly Planning

• Tab 2: Shopping

• Tab 3: Menu & Cooking Schedule

Tab 1 is the master list with all the important dates and a timeline. The top of the page has the date that Passover begins and when it ends (Passover is 8 days). I also list the all important date when I change over my kitchen from "Chametz," aka my year-round kitchen to "Passover,"when I can only eat and prepare special Passover foods. This master list also tells me when I should be shopping (Tab 2) and when I should be refering to my Cooking Tab for details (Tab 3)

Put a gate around it

I block entire days off for cleaning, shopping, cooking, hosting (if I have family/friends staying in my home), and enjoying the holiday. It seems obvious to do this and yet it took me many years of running around crazily before I gave myself this grace. Is there a week in your life where you can give yourself this gift? - Perhaps a week when your kids are out of school or there is a big holiday or even a date where you need extra time to grieve a death. When you have something that happens annually that needs your attention, it's best to cut yourself some slack that entire week.

Use your Calendar for Recurring dates

We have birthdays and holidays in our calendar, why not put use this strategy for seasonal tasks like, "Clean the Gutters" or "Start Mowing Lawn?" I put as many annual or seasonal tasks as possible on my google calendar as a recurring annual task so I don't have to rely on my own memory.

In Conclusion

As I navigate the intricacies of Passover preparation each year, I can't help but wonder: What strategies could others adapt from this intensive process to streamline their own spring cleaning? Let me know if find any of these strategies helpful for your spring cleaning or Holiday prep? I would love to hear from you in the comments!

For more information, contact Jill Katz.

by Diane Greenhalgh

Tiny to the Max

Moving into an assisted living community can be stressful. There’s so much to do, and so much is changing. On top of that, the move is probably not by choice, and the loss of some of your independence can be scary. There’s certainly many things to look forward to as well. Getting help also means you don’t have to do some of those chores you’ve always dreaded, like cleaning the bathroom. And you’ll be much more connected with the community. Live-in chess partners or craft circles are part of the perks.

But one thing I can’t sugar coat is you’ll need to downsize… a lot. You’ve got a lifetime of accumulated stuff to go through. It needs to get done at some point anyway so might as well be now. You don’t want to burden your family with it down the road, do you? But where to start? I suggest first focusing on the 9 things below that you don’t need anymore. Eliminate these items, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a curated collection of treasured belongings that make you feel at home in your new place.

Dining and entertaining

No more hosting family dinners. But you’ve served your time, so let someone else take it on. Donate your dining table, entertaining supplies, and even extra sets of silverware. It’s just you, and your partner if you have one. You only need enough for yourself/yourselves and maybe a friend or two to come over. A small dining nook would do the trick. If you don’t have room or the mobility for that, you can use tray tables or trays affixed to your furniture.

Bulky furniture

This one should be obvious. There’s no space for bulky furniture anymore. Bring or purchase smaller furniture that fits in the space.

Anything already provided for you

Depending on the services the facility provides, there are a number of things you won’t need anymore. Certainly you won’t need household maintenance and lawn care items and most of your tools. If you have a meal plan you can do without most of your food and cooking supplies. Other services might include an exercise room, music room, crafting space, game room with puzzles, or party room for entertaining. Also, there may be items provided in the apartment, such as window treatments and certain furniture, like a hospital bed. Check out the amenities and decide what you need from there.

Rugs and other safety concerns

Anything that can be a tripping hazard should be left behind. Even if you don’t have mobility issues yet, if you’re moving into assisted living it’s a safe bet friends from the community you invite over will have some trouble getting around. Avoid rugs and anything stored on the floor and leave plenty of space to maneuver. Also, plan for the future — get rid of any flimsy stepstools (or stepstools altogether) and furniture that requires you to climb or kneel down to use.

Forbidden items

Just as dorms do, assisted living communities have rules about certain things you can’t have for either safety or aesthetic reasons. Think candles, small appliances, window signs, or draperies in vibrant colors. Read the rules and leave those things behind. You don’t want to get written up, or worse, thrown out.

Unsentimental décor

You have such a small space, choose only the things you love that give you a feeling of home. And limit what you bring. Too much will just seem cluttered, and clutter has been shown to cause anxiety. You don’t want that for your new home.

Holiday decorations

I’m not saying you need to get rid of all of it, but you’ll want to pare it down significantly. The community is bound to have decorations for every season so all you need are a few for around your little apartment and something for your door. Look on the bright side, no more detangling lights.

Other people’s things

It’s time to have a chat with your kids, or anyone else storing things with you, that it’s time for them to take responsibility for their belongings. You no longer have the space. Give them a reasonable deadline and let them know that you’ll be donating whatever is left after that date. Keep in mind, they may not want them anymore. Even those sentimental childhood mementos you’ve been holding onto for them. If you still decide to keep them, they are now yours and your responsibility to find somewhere to put them. You can always save space by taking a photo and letting the physical item go.

Important papers

If at all possible, store important papers and valuable belongings with a trusted family member or in a safety deposit box. Community staff will be in and out of your apartment, so best to secure those items. If you decide on a safety deposit box, make sure the executor of your estate or power of attorney is aware so the fee is consistently paid, so you don’t lose the contents.

Try to Avoid Storage Units

If assisted living is going to be a long-term, permanent living change, don’t just throw your excess items in a storage unit with the intention that you’ll go through it later. The truth of the matter is, you probably won’t. You’ll be wasting money and pawning the responsibility of figuring out what to do with it onto your grieving family.

There are two caveats I have for this. 1) If the turnaround to move into assisted living is really quick, you may need to use a storage unit temporarily. Set a schedule in your calendar to go through it to make sure it gets done. 2) If you have seasonal items that you regularly switch out, you can use a storage unit to expand your storage space. But if you haven’t visited your storage unit in the past year, it’s time to let go.

Letting Go Without Letting Go

There are lots of other ways you can save space but without having to let go. You can go digital with your bills, rent books from the library or purchase audio or e-books, rent special occasion wear from Rent the Runway, and stream music and movies. For the holidays, ask for consumable or experiential gifts.

Whatever you decide, remember to focus on what is important to you for helping you lead your new life and what makes you feel at home.

For more information. contact Diane Greenhalgh.

by Janet Schiesl

Basic Organization

This is a great story . . . . (about time management) . . .

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day is not enough; remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A wise professor stood before his philosophy class and had several items scattered before him. He picked up a one-gallon mayonnaise jar and filled it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf ball.  He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous  ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two cups of coffee and poured them both into the jar. The students laughed.  It’s full now!

‘Now,’ said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. ‘

The Golf Balls

The golf balls are the important things – God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The Pebbles

The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The Sand

The sand is everything else — The small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.’

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So…

• Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
• Take time with your children.
• Take time to get medical checkups.
• Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and make repairs.

One of the students raised their hand and inquired, what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.

“I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee and time with a friend.”

For more information contact Janet Schiesl.