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March Madness and Your Next Best Play for Decluttering

Everywhere you look at this time of year, there are brackets — for everything — all modeled on the NCAA’s annual March Madness competition. There were even brackets popping up online for picking the next Pope! (We’re pretty sure the Vatican wasn’t consulting those, but who knows?) This yearly tradition of “bracketology” — an actual term invented by ESPN — can be a terrific template for starting your own round of organizational madness.

Accept this March Challenge: mimick the tournament’s single-elimination process to decide what deserves a place in your life.

NCAA Tournament Trophy

As you cull your collection, think “what’s worthy of living on my trophy shelf?”

Take three weeks to cut any bench-warmers — objects that hog space, collect dust, and detract from the rest of the team. Just as athletes work toward goals and milestones like personal bests, you can use “bracketology” to make your decluttering goals concrete.
• Trim Sweet Sixteen items from your closet so clothes don’t spill over.
• Contain your collection to an Elite Eight items that fit neatly in a cabinet.
• Find the Final Four essential cookbooks for your kitchen shelf.

The hardest lesson March Madness teaches is one-and-done. The Final Four teams play two games over three days to determine the one national champion. Culling collections down to a single winner is unrealistic but selecting winners based on proven criteria is a good play. Choose from a laundry list of categories: books, clothes, vases, kids’ artwork, pantry items, electronics — just to name a few.

Let these Elite 8 questions be the driving force behind refining your best team.
1. Do you use it?
2. Do you love it?
A “yes” to either of these earns a guaranteed spot on the team.
3. Has it expired?
Cut expired food, medicines, fashions, make-up, or electronics from your roster.
4. Does it fit?
5. Is it flattering?
These two questions — though obviously referring to clothing — need not be exclusive to your wardrobe. Really, you’re asking if things fit your lifestyle. Sometimes entire collections represent an old hobby that’s irrelevant to your current interests. Consider how much of what you own is an honest reflection of you and the life you want to live. If something doesn’t fit — for any reason — let it go.
6. Could you easily replace it?
7. Is it still valuable to you?
8. Is it easy to maintain?

Surplus supplies can rob us of space, energy and disposable income. Don’t stockpile if you are maxing-out on space. Simplify; fewer working parts, lower maintenance costs, and a smaller footprint can be a savings on several levels.

Take your time. Give yourself an entire month to accomplish your goal. Each week, as new tournaments are played make your ‘team cuts.’ Try out the feeling of having less on your shelf, less in your collection, and less on your mind.

In the end YOU will be the winner. March Madness ends on Monday, April 8. Don’t throw in the towel if the tournament ends while you’re still deciding what to keep. Decisions take time. If you don’t declutter on a regular basis your organizing muscles aren’t at peak performance. Practice will perfect your skills.

March Madness and Your Next Best Play for Decluttering is our 4th post of 2013.

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Secrets to Our Fabulous Working Relationship

Kelly and Joy's FUN studio shot

Love and respect is at the heart of our working relationship.

Our Working Relationship ‘works’ because we:

  • Respect each other — We both have ideas and expertise to offer, and value each other’s contributions.
    • Honor honesty — We try to be quick with compliments and slow with criticisms.
  • Know our strengths — We let each other do what we do best, and speak up when we need each other to pitch in.
  • Love each other unconditionally— Note that this doesn’t mean we LIKE everything about each other!
  • Love to laugh — Working together can create conflicts, but a sense of humor transforms any contentious moment into a  warm one in which be both accomplish more.

Because Joy was a single parent and I am her only child we have always been very close. Let’s be clear, though — Joy’s was the solitary parenting voice: what she said WENT, so there was little opportunity, nor room, for conflict.

Joy is a wise, confident, unwavering parent who created a warm, loving environment that welcomed creativity, individuality, and humor. Without siblings to divert or demand Joy’s attention we spent lots of time together — by choice. Our house was always full of friends of all ages and lots of strong women. We don’t really spend a lot of time together doing our business, instead we focus our meeting time on running the business; administrative details, preparing for workshops, and attending conferences together!

Since we both like to meet clients for an initial walk-through, whenever possible we attend the first consultation together. We find that’s the best way to establish a comfortable, trusting working relationship from the start. With the client, we identify needs and goals, and each of us works within our specialty area to serve them best. Working within our areas of expertise — at separate appointments — allows clients to easily ‘switch gears’ on their organizing tasks. Since Joy is our fashion diva, she is better at wardrobe assessments and helping prune clothing collections. Kelly is more savvy with technology, and storage, and paperwork systems. Both of us are great at general decluttering. Joy has a better eye for furniture arrangement, Kelly is our company ‘colorist’; between the two of us, your rooms will be stunning and comfortable.

Kelly calls her mom by her first name in professional settings… but outside of work, we go back to our mother/daughter roles, where Joy is always the boss!

Our Secret

“We’ve always had a good relationship — even when Kelly was a teen! We each have our strong points and respect that in each other. While maintaining our professionalism, we inject some humor into our work which our clients seem to love.” Joy — mother

“We are good sharers! Rarely do we work hands-on together. More often, we share clients like we share clothes — we focus on finding the right fit.  Kelly — daughter 
Secrets to Our Fabulous Working Relationship is our 3rd organizing post of 2013.
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Kelly’s Home Show Success

Home Show Button for ticketsThursday, February 7 was my spotlight day at the Philadelphia Home Show.

At my NAPO chapter’s Ask the Expert booth a lot of awareness was raised for our profession and the work that we do to cut stress and improve efficiency. I provided 15 minute consults with Home Show attendees.

The challenging consults were the couples who clearly labeled one spouse as the ’cause’ for the household disorganization. I worked to diffuse the accusatory tone in these relationships. We see first-hand people sabotaged in their efforts to become more organized. Some of what Joy and I do on-the-ground is to help bolster the ‘disorganized’ spouse and re-orient the ‘blaming’ partner. (Though Joy and I are not trained therapists there is an emotional component to many situations).

I was tickled to have three fruitful conversations with potential organizers. They were checking to see if our NAPO Chapter was a welcoming group. We are the MOST welcoming because we do not see each other as competition.

Our chapter motto is: “Together we are better.” There is a true spirit of camaraderie and open sharing of information. It’s also a creed that Joy and I live by in our business.

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Ask “Why?” before you buy

Before you shop follow our pre-purchase check list:

• Why do I need this?
• Can I afford it right now?
• Where will it ‘live’?
• How do I feel? (am I trying to fill an emotional void)
• What would happen if I waited?

Think before you click option

Depending on your situation you might change the order of these targeted questions — to ask yourself before making an unnecessary purchase.
It can be helpful to have a preprinted list in your wallet or taped to your computer screen to make you “Think before you Click.”

If you KNOW you need it, and you can afford it, but you haven’t a clue where to put it…or you know there must be a better place than where you assigned its home CALL US. We’re terrific at thinking outside of the box, or cabinet, or fridge, or pantry, or laundry room, or bedside table or linen closet…

Our list goes on — for fabulous solutions to your everyday challenges.

Ask “Why?” before you buy! is our 2nd organizing blog of 2013.

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Drop a Few Pounds on Jan 26

Cut dead weight from your basement, garage or mud room cabinets with tomorrow’s E-cycling event at Whole Foods (Wynnewood and Devon locations). Starting at 9am you may drop off almost anything with an electrical plug, including all small appliances from computers to televisions to heaters and copy machines. Rest assured that all computer hard drives are destroyed and no personal information will be compromised.

All electronics are collected by E-Force Compliance, a Philadelphia metro recycling company whose commitment to the highest level of environmental stewardship is unparalleled.  Most of the items are de-manufactured nearby and a majority of the materials recycled remain within the metro-Philadelphia area creating sustainable green jobs and stimulating local economy.

Direct your questions to Ruth Harp at 610-896-8134 or email ruth.harp@wholefoods.com.

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A dangerous statement: “I’ll put this here for now”

Clutter is postponed decisions. If you are working to reduce clutter in your life (at home or at work) you MUST decide what to keep, what to toss, and where to store your keepers. Saying “I’ll put this here for now” is dangerous because:
• it invites procrastination
• it allows you to avoid following through
• you waste time by doubling the effort needed to put it away
• you’re tricking yourself into thinking you ARE dealing with your stuff when you’ve only moved an item from one spot to another (think clogged hall or piled table)

When is it legal to say ‘for now’
Here’s a common scenario:
You decide to keep something; you even settle on the best place to store it BUT the ultimate permanent home for your object is already crammed full (perhaps even with ancient or obsolete items). You feel overwhelmed at making room for your object.
Now you’re out of time, you need to leave for an important event, and you are FORCED to say: “I’ll put this here for now.”
If you are legitimately pressed for time, make sure you label the item with a bright sticky note and make yourself a calendar note to deal with putting the item in its rightful spot as soon as you can (same day efforts are best!)

Stop playing with fire
Get yourself out of danger by asking yourself these questions:
When would I need it?
Where do I use/store similar items?
How often will i need access to it?
Based on your answers a rightful home should emerge.
If our questions don’t help you narrow down where to store something…it may be time for our professional assistance.
We thrive on helping people decide how and where to store their belongings.
We are queens are maximizing storage space.
We are also plenty helpful at carting off donations once you’ve made the wise decision that something has run its useful course in your possession.

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Hi there Joy and Kelly,

Thanks again for a job well-done.  We wanted to let you know and share with prospective clients how much your services have helped us.  With four young children and two working parents, things have a way of piling up in our house.  We generally are very neat and organized, but we realized recently that we had lost control.  The toy closets were overrun, the toys were missing parts, and the kids had trouble finding the toys they wanted to play with.  In a short period of time, Joy and Kelly managed to reorganize things and eliminate the clutter.  The kids are happy, we are ecstatic, and we can’t wait to use their services again for other areas of the house.  Thanks again for all your hard work, professionalism and skill.

Leslie and David Ufberg, Wynnewood

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Happy Hanukkah

We're wrapped and ready for Hanukkah.

Our family kicked off Hanukkah with a clutter-free celebration…we attended Kelly’s first college basketball game at Penn’s Palestra. Though Penn lost to Villanova’s Wildcats it was an exciting game and a fun family outing. We’ll be wrapping up the holiday with our annual gift exchange at Joy’s house on the 8th day. In true Joy fashion all of the gifts are beautifully wrapped and ready. Please share your family holiday traditions; we’re always looking for more creative (and reduced clutter) gift-giving ideas.