The Posh Blog

I recently met with a client and he kept saying “I’ve tried everything before, but it never works out because nobody else knows where to put anything except for me.  I need everyone to participate”.   

What my client was talking about is getting buy-in from the entire family in order to create and maintain an organized home.  Before I start working with clients I always send them a form to fill out and one of the questions on the forms is “Who will be affected by getting this space organized?” 

If the answer is everyone, then it may be time for “Family Style-Organizing”.  This means getting the entire group involved in the process or at least part of the process.   If you are organizing a space that is being used by multiple people of different ages and heights then you have a lot of things to consider.  Start with a general brain-storming session to get everyone’s ideas on what kind of changes they would like to see happen in the space.  Ask each member of the family what the most important thing is for them to be able to do in the space.  If the family member is too young to speak, but can grab things off shelves, that’s something to take into consideration when planning the space.   

When it’s time to get organized get the entire family involved even if it’s just for a few minutes and then Grandma comes by to take them to see a movie.  Kids can definitely get involved in grouping like items with like items.  It’s like the match game.  You are simply putting all the canned goods together in one box and the snacks in another box.  It’s important for children to learn the process of how to get organized.   

Don’t forget to get their participation when it’s time to reduce and de-clutter.  If you can teach your children about donating and letting items go at an early age you will benefit by having fewer items to deal with later and have a child who is accustomed to reducing their items on a regular basis.  

When you start to determine where everything goes make sure the most frequently used items are easily accessible by those who use them the most.  Also be sure to label all containers so everyone knows where things go. 

As part of the organizing process don’t forget to take time to come up with a family plan to keep the space neat and tidy and working for you.  Write out a list of guidelines that need to happen regarding the space such as:  If a person takes something out they need to put it back where it goes; Mom (or Dad, or a child) will evaluate the space once per month and remove any items that are not being uses; and we will revaluate the space every Spring as a family.  

When family members get involved with an organizing process it helps them  understand the system better so they feel more comfortable using the system and feel a sense of ownership, which helps keep the space organized and functioning longer.   

An organized space that everyone can agree on, now that’s the good life!

Enjoy!

Angela Ploetz

I had a client the other day who said “sorting through socks was almost as bad as sorting through paper”.  What she didn’t like was going through her drawer of socks and having to match up every sock to its mate.  You know the story.  You match up sock after sock and you end up with 10 extra socks that don’t have a match.  So then what do you do with all those socks that don’t have a match?  Certainly they will turn up.  So you stuff the socks in the drawer with the rest of them and then you don’t look at them again until next year when your sock drawer is overflowing.   

So what’s a sock lover to do?  First, do not put the stray socks with your matched pairs of socks.  This is huge.  If you mix the stray socks with your matched pairs it will be extremely difficult to differentiate between the pairs and the singles.  You need to have a dedicated place for the stray socks to go while you are waiting for the extra sock to show up.  This can be a separate container in your sock drawer or a container or bag in your closet.  The next time you go through the laundry and find a single sock you will know exactly where to look for a match.   

As many of you know I have two young daughters and with young children come lots of socks.  Socks that are too big, too small, in bad shape, missing a mate…ahhhh!  I was starting to feel like I was losing the battle against the socks!  As an organizer, I had a system, but it wasn’t working very well.  So it was back to the drawing board.   

For my youngest daughter (who is outgrowing socks every few months still) I set up this system:

Too Big, Too Small, Stray Socks, Trash  

Too Big:  Socks from my older daughter that are still in good shape that will move to a storage box once we collect enough.

Too Small:  Socks that are too small but still in good shape and will be donated to the children’s shelter.

Stray Socks:  Socks for my youngest daughter only, which are missing a mate.

Trash:  Socks we never found a mate for or are in bad shape. 

The system I used can be found in the kitchen section of Ikea.  The total cost for my sock sanity: $5.95 (plus tax).   My system may or may not work for you, but I wanted to give you something to think about as you are deciding what to do with your sock situation. 

Knowing I will be able to find a pair of socks when I need them, now that’s the good life! 

Enjoy!

Angela Ploetz  

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

I wouldn’t say that I am a big baseball fan, but I have been to my fair share of baseball games.  Growing up with a brother (Hey Danny) who was a baseball fan and having a husband who plays in an adult baseball league I have been to more Little League, Minor League, College, and Major League games than I can shake a stick at.  But I really didn’t pay much attention to the rules.  So recently watching a College Game, I learned that there were different types of pitchers.  There are starting pitchers and closing pitchers.   

The starting pitcher is one who can really get the game going in a positive direction with a lot of energy.  You put him in for the first several innings, but he typically can’t make it all the way to the end of the game.  He just runs out of energy and that’s when they bring in the “Closer”.  The closing pitcher is great at finishing the job and leading the team to victory!  The “Closer” is typically only good for a couple innings.   

So are you a starter or a closer?  Do you come into a project full of excitement and energy and then fizzle towards the end?  Or are you reluctant to start a job but once you do you can ensure spectacular results?  Knowing this information can really be helpful as you are planning projects, organizing or otherwise.  If you are a “starter” you may need to have someone or something that motivates you to get the job done.  If you are a closer then you may need to have someone just to help you get over the hump and get started.  Knowing where your strengths and weaknesses lie can be the key to being more productive and getting the right kind of support to help you excel.     

Are you a starter or a closer?  If you tell me what you are I’ll tell you what I am.  I’d love to hear from you.

Enjoy the good life,

Angela   

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

One thing I frequently hear from people is that the amount of stuff they have is related to the amount of times they have moved.  You may have said it yourself.  People will say “I’ve haven’t moved in 20 years so I never had to get rid of anything”.   

I have also observed that people who move often tend to accumulate less stuff.  When I say people who move often I mean every 1-3 years.  It seems that when you know you are going to have to go through the process of lugging all your worldly possessions from one place to another you are more willing to make choices about what’s important and what is not.   

Think about it, college students are the perfect example.  They are at school for 9 months and then they return home for the summer.  I remember at the end of each school year you would drive around town and find all types of furniture, art, light fixtures, clothes and more on the side of the street that students were leaving behind.  If you drove back by in a few hours many pieces were gone because some other thrifty student had just scored a free sofa! 

Dictionary.com defines a nomad as:  “a member of a people or tribe that has no permanent abode but moves about from place to place, usually seasonally and often following a traditional route or circuit…”   

Does that hit the nail on the head or what?  That sounds exactly like the college student!  So how does this relate to me you ask.  We do not have to wait to move in order to give ourselves permission to release the stuff.  The nomads use the seasons to let them know when it’s time to lighten their load and you can too.  Many people pick Spring time or Fall to shed their unwanted stuff.  Choose the time that works with what’s going on in your life and your natural habits, but the key is to make it a tradition.  That’s right, make it a new tradition!  Something you carry out each year no matter what.  You could even tie it to a holiday like Labor Day (that would be funny) or St. Patrick’s Day or something that would help you remember to do it.   

If you knew you were going to be moving in a year what would you give up so you wouldn’t have to move?   

Enjoy the good life,

Angela   

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.

  Last week I had the opportunity to attend the National Association of Professional Organizers Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada.  It was a fantastic event!   The ever so dynamic Peter Walsh, seen regularly on The Oprah Show and TLC’s Clean Sweep, delivered a stellar Keynote speech that inspired and motivated the hundreds of attendees.   

So what did Peter talk about that was so earth shattering?  One thing he talked about that really struck me was about how as a Professional Organizer my job is to help my clients realize their relationship with their stuff AND that I need to help people reassess their material goods.  This being something I do already, I was thrilled that I was on the right track, but it is always reaffirming to hear this from someone with such influence and impact.   

If you have heard me speak or keep up with my newsletter or blog you know that talking about reducing clutter and letting go is one of my favorite subjects.  It is something I that I understand.  I know what it feels like to want to keep so much stuff, I understand how it feels to be suffocated by the stuff, and I also understand how it feels when the switch goes off and you realize you don’t have to keep so much stuff.  It’s an incredibly freeing and joyous feeling.   

Not only is my job to help people reduce the clutter and feel good about it but also to coach my clients on getting into the habit of only buying what they need and love.  This is such a pertinent topic right now with an uncertain economy and it being so close to Earth Day (April 22^nd).  Most people are probably really making conscious choices right now about their purchases.  They are carefully considering where they spend their money and what they buy and bring into their homes.  This is a great habit to continue even after the economy recovers.  Think of how much money you would save if you never bought anything you didn’t need or want?  Think of how much less stuff you would have to manage in your home?  Of course, if everyone did this that would put me out of a job, and that would be fine by me.    

Enjoy the good life,

Angela   

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.  

   Did you know that one file drawer holds 36.73 lbs of paper?  That means an entire 4 drawer file cabinet holds 146.92 lbs. of paper!  When I used to work in an office we had seven full four drawer file cabinets in my secretary’s office.  That’s equivalent to half a ton!  Yikes!  No wonder many people feel like paper is weighing them down!  People often tell me that they feel a weight has been lifted after they have purged large amounts of paper.   

In most cases 80% of filed documents are never referenced again.  So that means most of the paper we are holding on to we will not ever need again!  What great inspiration to start eliminating some of the paper. 

Now’s a great time to clear out those filing cabinets and get your files in order.  As most of you know, I love the FreedomFiler paper filing system and you can take a look at it on my web-site, you can even see a video of me talking about it.  It’s hands down the best paper system to use in the home.  I even use it in my home and my husband says “it’s husband friendly”.   

Getting rid of piles of paper…what a relief!   

Enjoy the good life,

Angela  

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

Last Thursday I had a recurring theme of support through out my day.  One of the situations was a meeting I attended in which we were talking about how we benefit from the support of others.  Another situation was when I was working with a client who told me that her husband was in support of her efforts to get organized.  When I later thought about these situations I started to link the importance of communicating that we need the support of our network of friends and family.  

When you are trying to get organized and you are physically going through the process you may feel like the act of getting organized will keep you organized.  But if you don’t change your habits and let people know about your new desire to be free from the clutter you may be sabotaging yourself.  Time and time again, I talk to clients who are dealing with what I call clutter cast-offs.  That is; items that someone else has giving you because they do not have enough space for it in their house any more.   

You have to break the clutter cycle whether it is by not purchasing new items yourself or by telling family and friends that you absolutely do not want them to give you any items for the next year.  The point is that you have to get people on board with your efforts to get organized.  If you don’t they will continue to keep bringing you their clutter cast-offs or purchase new items for you that you simply don’t want or need.   

Are the people in your life supporting your efforts to get organized or not?  Do they realize how important organization is to you?  Let them know how having too much stuff makes you feel.  You don’t have to call them out on that garden Gnome they bought you last Christmas, but you do need to let your feelings be known.   

A Christmas without getting any items that need to be regifted; now that’s the good life!  

Enjoy the good life,

Angela     

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

I just did the home show last weekend and I met lots of great people.  One thing these types of shows or conventions remind me of is all the “Free” clutter; I mean stuff that people are giving away.  It may be a pen, a stress ball, a highlighter, or a magnet and you see it and say, “great a free pen” and you add it to your bag and bring it into your home.  The problem is that if you do this every time you see a “free” pen then you can end up with pens taking over your house.  I have worked with several clients who end up with shoe boxes or gallon size zip top bags full of pens.   

Managing these pens takes time, your time.  It also takes up space in your home.  Many times the pens are filling up drawers and spread over many surfaces.  So now you have to deal with the pens.  You have to gather them together, test them to see which ones work, toss out the ones that don’t work, donate some, and find a place to put the ones you are keeping.  This once “free” pen has now cost you hours managing it and all its multiplying friends.   

A big part of managing clutter is stopping it at the door.  The next time you see a free pen, magnet, note pad, or stress ball, get into the habit of asking yourself if you really need it before it comes into your home.  Your time is valuable and you are worth it!

Enjoy the good life,

Angela Ploetz

Happy New Year! So we just made it through a major gift giving season and everyone is now recovering their houses from the in-laws, the out-laws, the gifts, and the gift wrap.  No wonder getting organized is on most people’s list of New Year’s resolutions!   

As you put 2007 behind you I would like to ask you to take a moment to think of the things you accomplished this year.  It’s easy to forget or simply not even acknowledge what we have achieved in a years time.  Big or small take the time to celebrate, acknowledge, and pay respect to what you have achieved this year.  I did this recently and I was amazed at all the things I had done this year alone!  I made a list of my accomplishments and it was so gratifying to see how long it was.  Pictured above, you can see one of the best things that happened to me this year, the birth of my second child.  I’ll talk more about some of my other goals in a later post.   

My request to you is to make a list of your 2007 accomplishments by the end of this week.  Now, as you begin to focus on your goals for 2008 you will be able to see what you have done in 2007 and get an idea of what is possible.  Your list may also inspire you to choose new and exciting goals for 2008.  My second request to you…you guessed it, is to make a list of your 2008 goals.  These should include things you can do to live your personal style of the good life.  Don’t we all deserve the good life?  You bet!  So write it down and post your list in a place that you can see it everyday.  You won’t be sorry you did! 

I hope you enjoyed the picture of my Baby New Year.  I have had requests from several clients to see the baby. 

So here you go. 

Enjoy the good life,

Angela

  I know it’s tempting…the after Christmas sales.  I love them too, but just be sure you are buying things you really want or need and not just buying things because they’re on sale.   

Often times when I’m working with a client going through their things I ask them questions like:  “What is this?  What do you use it for?  Have you ever used it?  Why did you buy it?”  I don’t know how many times people tell me “It was on sale and such a good deal that I couldn’t pass it up!”.  You bet your boots you could have passed it up!   

Let’s go through a scenario you might be familiar with.  You purchase that item, you know the one you just couldn’t pass up, and now two years later here you are with an item you have never used.  The item is taking up valuable space that you wish you had and now when you look at it, you really don’t even like it.  You wonder “Why did I even buy this?”  Just when you’re about to toss the item you pause and think “I did pay good money for this item, maybe I should keep it and give it to someone else.”  Then you put it back on the shelf and it sits there for another two years at which time then you decide to donate the item because it’s really out of style now.  When all along you never needed the item and you could have saved yourself money and space. 

For people who do have a space that is overwhelmed by clutter, stopping the clutter cycle is a must.  I’m not saying you can’t buy things anymore, but before you do be sure you purchase with a purpose.  Be sure you are buying things for the right reasons.  Things you love, things you will use, things that are the right color, and the right size.  You are worth it!  You are worth buying what you really want and like rather than buying things that you are settling for because they are on sale.  Oprah Winfrey once said “I never buy something the first time I see it”.  That is an excellent philosophy to live by.  Thanks Oprah! 

My request to you is to ponder every purchase you make and be sure you are buying things that meet your personal standards.  You’re worth it. 

Enjoy the good life,

Angela