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by Angela on June 28, 2011
I am not a fan of storage units. In many cases, it seems like it is the place where people take their belongings to die. I talk to a lot of people who have storage units and who are paying lots of money to store things that they are probably going to get rid or in a few years anyway. Because a.) The items get ruined after being in the storage unit or b.) after years of storing the items they decided they don’t need them anymore. So why spend money storing these things? Here is a link I found called 7 Reasons People Use Self Storage Units.
Do you have a storage unit? How long would it take for you to empty it out? How much money would it save you if you didn’t have a storage unit?
by Angela on December 9, 2010
The holidays are here! Are you dazzled or frazzled? You know they’re out there. Those people who purchase all their Christmas gifts throughout the year, get their decorations up the day after Thanksgiving, and who’s holiday card arrives in your mail box on December 1st. You might be thinking “wow, they sure have it together”! Maybe they do and maybe they don’t. What’s important this time of the year is to go easy on yourself and think of how you can simplify your day, week, and month. Here are some tips on how you can simplify:
1. Don’t go to every event you are invited to. I know this is a tough one, and I recently had to do this with my family. Don’t put the added stress on yourself by attending 5 events in one day, cut one event and know you made the right decision.
2. Simplify your gifts. Is there one place you can go to get the majority of your gifts? Can you purchase books for everyone on your list from amazon.com? You can purchase books for adults and children and you can even shop in your pajamas. If it’s too late to order the books get ideas online and then take your list to your local book store. Another idea is to give everyone an iTunes gift card which can be purchased at many stores and will please both teens and adults.
3. Purchase readymade food. Whether you are bringing a pot-luck dish or cookies to a party or you simply need a quick meal for your family consider purchasing readymade food. Order cookies from your local bakery for the school or church party. Order side dishes from boutique grocery stores like Whole Foods or Central Market for the next pot luck you are attending or simply for your own family dinner when you don’t have time to cook.
Think about what the holiday’s mean to you. Running around like a chicken with its head cut off or having more time for fun and meaningful memories? Personally, I have taken this to heart lately. I have cut at least three tasks from my to-do list this week that I really didn’t HAVE to do and would have cost me hours of time. I have also decided against two events for the week that would have been fun, but in the end would have packed too much into my family’s schedule.
What can you do to simplify this week?
Here’s to a wonderful holiday!
by Angela on November 10, 2010
I love it when things just work out. When you don’t really have a set plan but everything just lines up like it’s supposed to. I have experienced synchronicity a lot lately and rather than dismissing it I have been embracing it. Sometimes it seems easy to just dismiss something because you don’t think you have time to deal with it or it isn’t what you had your mind set on. But other times an easy path is just laid out in front of you and it’s just as easy to go along with it.
Now I know what some of you are thinking, “you’re an organizer, aren’t you supposed to tell us we should have every minute of our day planned out?”. Well, if that’s what you think about me and POSH Space, well you don’t know us at all. Yes, generally speaking having a plan in place to use as a guide for our day, week, and month is important. But, one thing that I always tell my clients and groups I’m speaking to is that we have to maintain flexibility and be willing to change our plan. Unfortunately all the planning in the world cannot predict unexpected things that come up. So remaining flexible to shift your plan is SO important.
Synchronicity can show up in many ways from something as simple as going to the grocery store not knowing what you are going to make for dinner and then sampling some delicious dish that the cook is making and viola you have your dinner plan. Another example could be opening an e-mail from a colleague on one topic that gives you exactly what you needed for another project. I say go for it! Embrace these little things to help simplify your life. If something is presenting itself to you why fight it or delay it.
Part of what I do as an organizer is to help people simplify their processes. I have found that often time’s people try to overcomplicate what they are doing in their homes and offices and when that happens, systems often fail. That is exactly when the clutter starts to accumulate and the piles begin.
Keep an eye on the opportunities that are popping up in your life. Are they things that can help make your life easier? I’d love to hear about it.
I hope this article on synchronicity comes at the right time for you. Maybe it is coming just in time for you to make an easy decision.
Cheers,
Angela
by Angela on June 22, 2010
In last week’s post Are You Too Organized I discussed how sometimes we can create over complex systems or ways of doing things that actually cause us to steer clear from using them rather than encourage us to use them. I received several comments and e-mails about that article so I wanted to take that thought a little bit deeper.
Here’s something you don’t hear every day, did you know that perfectionism can actually lead to disorganization? Yes, it is commonly perceived that someone who is a perfectionist is meticulously organized, but many people don’t understand that what perfectionists want more than anything is for things to be “perfect”. If a perfectionist cannot create the “perfect” system for doing something in many cases they would rather not do it at all. This can lead to the exact opposite result of organization.
Let me give you an example. When I first start working with clients I asses their personality as it relates to organization. After seeing their space and interviewing them I am usually able to tell if they are a perfectionist. This person will often tell me that they really want to be organized but have tried and it just doesn’t work. Also at a quick glace there are usually piles and piles of paper or clothes or whatever the case may be. The perfectionist often self sabotages her or himself by coming up with multiple things that need to get done before he or she can actually do the simple task of filing a piece of paper or hanging up an article of clothing. If they can’t do those other things first, then things won’t be exactly perfect and therefore they just should not be done at all. Which makes perfect sense really, because who would want to do 11 things prior to doing a one minute task?
As mentioned in my Are You Too Organized article. The perfectionist needs to embrace simplicity. Part of staying organized has to do with how flexible you are. Your systems are going to have to change as your life changes and as your needs change. You cannot create a filing system when you are single and in your 20’s that will still be effective when you are in your 40’s married with two teenagers.
Embrace simplicity, flexibility, and the power of a deadline!
Angela
Copyright (C) 2010 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space www.theposhspace.com.
by Angela on March 25, 2010
In the last few weeks I have said this phrase over and over again to my clients “if it’s too difficult, you won’t do it”. This phrase can be true about so many things in life. But I have found that when I’m working with client’s I often ask them to tell me about what they have tried before to help them get organized. Or I will say “explain to me how you currently do things?” After they show me, often times I can tell that they are putting too many steps into their process.
For example, if you have files set up for some of your vital records (like your family’s social security cards, birth certificates, etc.) you might just have a file called “vital documents”. Easy enough, right? Okay, maybe you could take it one step further and have two internal folders, one for social security cards and one of birth certificates. But sometimes people will go even further and make a folder for each member of the family. That’s great, but sometimes adding more steps can make us less inclined to actually do something. In this case, it can make us less likely to file the birth certificate after we have used it. Typically you are not going to need to reference your vital documents frequently so if you do not have them separated into sub categories, it’s going to be okay. The main thing is that when it’s time to put the paper back and re-file it, that it is easy to do so you actually do it.
The same can be true with pots and pans, clothes, or anything for that matter. If you have too many steps and you are overcomplicating things, the chances are that you won’t have success. Keep it simple. You are more likely to do something if it is easy.
Is there something in your life that you are making too difficult? Where can you simplify?
Angela
Copyright (C) 2010 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space www.theposhspace.com.
by Angela on March 9, 2010
I don’t normally recommend for my client’s to buy more magazines, but this one I can’t resist! If you haven’t already picked up the latest copy of The Oprah Magazine, pictured left, I highly recommend it! It is the March issue, so if you want it you should act quickly before they remove them from shelves and replace them with the April edition.
This issue is packed full of great articles on decluttering your life and your mind. One article follows Oprah through a closet clearing session, who knew Oprah had clutter? If you feel like you have a difficult time letting go of clutter reading the article of Oprah getting rid of some of her closet clutter may help you to feel like you are not alone. We all hold on to things for emotional reasons, even Oprah. There are also several other articles including tips on what to keep and toss, how to recycle some unique items, letting go after the loss of a loved one and more.
If you can’t get your hands on the magazine in time you can stop by your local library and take a peek. They often hold back issues of magazines for several months.
Good luck finding the magazine and I hope it inspires you!
Angela
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