GettingOrganized - Life Gets Organized

Transcription

GettingOrganized
MAGAZINE
www.gettingorganizedmagazine.com
treat yourself to some sanity
WINTER 2013 • Volume 2, Issue 1
the perfect
closet
organizing
around the
globe
the
psychology
of
clutter
hoarding
fact and
fiction
Happy First Anniversary
to Getting Organized
W
e are excited to announce
that Getting Organized
Magazine has just celebrated
its one-year anniversary and we can’t
thank you, our readers, enough. Your
positive feedback and excitement for each
upcoming issue makes it all worthwhile.
As an added bonus, Getting Organized
Magazine has been nominated for Best
Publication by the NAPO-LA Organizing
Awards. We are privileged to be nominated
Stacey Anderson is a
Professional Organizer,
with such beloved magazines as Real Simple,
speaker, author
Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes
and publisher of Getting
and Gardens. We look forward to all of the
Organized Magazine.
exciting things to come in 2013. I invite
you to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and
Twitter as we have some very exciting promotions, challenges and
information we will be sharing throughout the coming year.
The New Year is upon us, and we all start with such great
aspirations to make, work on and complete our resolutions. However,
that is often easier said than done. We have provided a great road
map for you to follow with our 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge
on page 20 that will lay out a step-by-step plan. And we have a
fascinating article about organizing around the world that you will
find not only interesting but perhaps a bit surprising. It is a great
look at the tools, websites and resources that organizers are using
with their clients.
We are constantly looking for organizing inspirations and tips,
and who better to share than you, our brilliantly creative readers? If
you have a great idea or space you would like to share, please email
it to us at info@gettingorganizedmagazine.com. We also have a panel
of organizers ready for your organizing dilemmas. If you have a
question you would like answered please send it to us as well.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!
Stacey Anderson, Publisher
2
GettingOrganized | Winter 2013
Getting Organized
Magazine
15600 NE 8th St.
Suite B1 #602
Bellevue, WA 98008
(360) 499-6260
Publisher
Stacey Anderson
Board of Advisors
Whitney Keyes
Mayna Sgaramella McVey
Editors
Lisa Quinn
Whitney Keyes
Expert Contributors
Korinne Kubena Belock
Urban Simplicity
www.urbansimplicitynyc.com
Amber Kostelny-Cussen
Amber’s Organizing
www.ChicagoProfessionalOrganizer.com
Stacy Feil
Organizing By Stacy
www.organizingbystacy.com
Toni Hammersley
A Bowl Full of Lemons
www.abowlfulloflemons.net
Dr. David Kantra
Center for Calm Living
www.centerforcalmliving.com
www.psychdigest.com
Rebecca Kuenzi
Little Lucy Lu
www.littlelucylu.com
Suzanne Kuhn
Ace Organizing
www.aceorganizing.com
Seana Turner
The Seana Method
www.theseanamethod.com
Cover photo courtesy of Toni Hammersley
Getting Organized Magazine, Winter
2013. Published four times a year, 15600
NE 8th St. Suite B1 #602, Bellevue,
WA 98008. Copyright 2012 Getting
Organized Magazine. All rights reserved.
Subscriptions are $19.50 within the US,
$29.50 outside the US, $14.00 for digital. POSTMASTER: Please send change of
address to Getting Organized Magazine,
15600 NE 8th St. Suite B1 #602,
Bellevue, WA 98008.
gettingorganizedmagazine.com
What’s Inside
The Perfect
Closet
page 8
Shedding Sentimental Things
page 5
Going Global:
Organizing Around
the World
page 15
40 Bags in 40 Days
page 20
Hoarding:
Fact and
Fiction
page 27
Winter 2013 | GettingOrganized
3
What’s Inside
The Psychology
of Clutter
page 24
Keeping Track of
Benefits Paperwork
page 30
Departments
Quick Tips:
Videos:
Trade Secrets of Professional Organizers
Ask the Experts:
Organizing Greeting Cards and Letters
Latest and Greatest:
Ingenius Purses
4
Organizing Your Refrigerator
page 32
page 38
Comic
page 34
page 36
Challenge
page 39
page 39
shedding
l
a
t
n
e
m
i
t
n
e
S
possessions
By Seana Turner
www.theseanamethod.com
O
ne of the
toughest aspects
of sorting
through our possessions
is deciding which of our
most sentimental items
to keep. Clothing of a
loved one, photographs of
a special memory, knickknacks from a favorite
vacation…these items are
especially difficult to part
with because of the stories
which accompany them.
5
N
onetheless, each item we
own requires cleaning,
storage, maintenance and/
or insurance. Therefore, sorting and
culling our sentimental belongings is
worthy of the emotional roller coaster it
entails. Here are a few questions to help
ease the process:
Am I keeping this because I think I
should because I think someone
else would be upset if I let it go?
If the primary reason you are keeping an item is
guilt, then it is time to let it go. The giver of the
item most likely intended it to bring joy, so if it
isn’t bringing joy, consider giving it away.
6
Do I have a place to display and
enjoy this?
We collect items because we like them (beautiful
dishes, coins, linens, etc.), but then we often put
them in a box for safe keeping and never look at
them. If you have a collection, honor it by finding a
way to display it. If you have no place to display or
use it, ask yourself if you will in the future. If not,
then consider passing it on.
Is this item so out of date that my
children or grandchildren won’t
want it?
Often we hold on to objects with good intentions
of passing them on to the next generation, but
sometimes we are keeping things which family
members don’t want. Storing, moving and carting
objects which won’t be appreciated is a waste of
effort, especially since there may be someone else
who has great need for the object today.
Stylish File Totes
Fun File Folders
Organized Travel
Overall Organization
Can I capture the memory of this item in an
alternate way that better fits my lifestyle?
With high-quality photography and scanning widely available,
many items may be better preserved through alternate media than
in a box. Consider photographing the items (e.g. children’s artwork,
favorite vintage clothing items, etc.) and making a photo book at a
site such as Shutterfly (www.shutterfly.com).
Ultimately, sentimental items are only worth keeping if they
regularly and consistently add value to our lives. So grab a friend for
emotional support and tackle those keepsakes—and make sure to keep
only the ones that really count!
OfficeCandy.com
7
Follow our tips to
avoid big, beautiful
closet envy.
8
The
PERFECT
Closet
W
By Toni Hammersley
www.abowlfulloflemons.net
hen looking at a new home, most women run to the master closet to see
if it will fit their shoe collection and jokingly ask where in the world
their spouse will keep their clothes. Closets come in all shapes and sizes
yet never seem to really fit what we need.
It is rare to have the space to
really explore organizing techniques
such as sorting by color, clothing
type and fully displaying what you
have. When Toni Hammersley of
A Bowl Full of Lemons (www.
abowlfulloflemons.net) shared her
closet with us, we had to share it
with you. Beware: closet envy may
ensue.
I
n our new home, we are
blessed to have a huge master
walk-in closet. It’s about 25 feet by
9 feet in size and fits a lot of stuff.
I knew that I had to find a good
system to organize everything or it
would end up out of control. Also,
I chose to hang all of our jeans/
bottoms as well as all shirts. I kept
my T-shirts in my dresser. I love
how it turned out!
My husband hung a large peg board
on one wall in the closet for my
“accessories and purses.” The hooks
came from Home Depot. I love this
system so much!
9
An over-the-door organizer is the
perfect place for my flip-flops.
These decorative boxes from the
Container Store house beach towels,
camera equipment, keepsakes, sports
stuff and travel items.
10
These shoe boxes are from the Container Store.
These wire drawers from Ikea store my husband’s things
(socks, pjs, swim trunks, white T-shirts, underwear, etc.) To
make a countertop, he simply screwed a piece of wood onto
the drawer tops.
Small Closet?
Problem Solved!
O
P
AT
LINE
ON
PURSENALB
UTL
E
R.C
O
M
SH
Pursenal Butler, the perfect
accessory for every room!
Also available in black, brown, silver and antique white
Pursenal Butler is a
chic, adjustable purse
stand that organizes
and holds up to 12
purses and 100 lbs.
hang 10
Hangers that are perfect for every closet need
I
n her closet, featured on pages 8-11,
Toni Hammersley has followed one of
the cardinal rules of organizing a closet:
to use matching hangers. She happened
to prefer wood hangers, but we thought
we would show you the wide, wide variety
of choices you have when updating your
closets.
Bumps Be Gone Hangers | $17.99 (Set of 6)
These padded clothing hangers are made from a unique foam
material that will not absorb water and prevents garments from
slipping. The adjustable arms of these clothes hangers can be shaped
to fit small and large shirts alike, while the soft, rounded design
prevents those unsightly “shoulder bumps.”
www.stacksandstacks.com
Hosiery Hanger | $14.99 (2 pack)
The Hosiery Hanger has elastic loops to hold items
in place that won’t snag or wrinkle your hosiery,
scarves, lingerie and more. Each hanger holds
eight items.
www.hosieryhanger.com
12
Personalized Hangers |$21.00 - $40.00
Display that cute outfit or christening dress on a personalized hanger
made to match the nursery. An adorable room decor that any parent
will surely cherish! A personalized hanger makes a great bridal gift,
with her soon to be new last name as a perfect picture prop to display
her beautiful wedding gown.
www.gethungupshop.com
Joy Mangano Huggable
Hangers | Price varies
depending on package
The velvet-flocked material of
these hangers prevents clothes
from slipping off the hanger.
Holding heavy winter coats as
easily as spaghetti-strap gowns.
Hang wet garments with no
concerns of colors running.
Huggable hangers preserve the
shape of the clothing with no
shoulder bumps.
www.hsn.com
Tie Hanger | $9.95
Belt Hanger | $9.95
These classy wooden swivel hangers are made to last for years.
The belt hanger will hold up to 12 belts and the tie hanger will
hold up to 24 ties.
www.clevercontainer.com
13
Versatile Scarf Holder | $12.95
Whether your scarves are thin and funky
or thick and chunky, this is the perfect
solution.
www.clevercontainer.com
Clamp
Hanger | $4.99
This trouser clamp
hanger is a handy closet
accessory that will help organize
everything from slacks to jeans to skirts.
The clamps have a soft felt lining to
securely grip even delicate garments and
the skirt hanger snaps closed and locks
into place for reliable hanging storage.
www.organizeit.com
Satin Padded Hangers | $11.99 (Set of 5)
Use this set of cream-tone satin padded
hangers to store your delicates and fancier
items in your closet. The gold colored
hooks and soft cream satin add elegance
to your closet while also promoting better
organization and a streamline look.
www.organizeit.com
Inflatable Hangers | $3.95
These fun and funky hangers are great
for drying sweaters or packing in your
suitcase for travel.
www.storables.com
14
Organizing
Around the
Globe
Around the world,
organizing challenges are
remarkably similar
15
L
ast year when I attended the National Association of Professional Organizers
(NAPO) conference, I was surprised to learn that there were organizers from
ten different countries in attendance. Having lived and worked in the United States
my entire life, I began to wonder how the organizing profession might be different in
other countries.
Do you work with residential,
business or virtual clients?
What is your favorite organizing
product or tool?
What is your favorite
organizing resource
or website?
Residential, virtual
Outlook calendar
www.dropbox.com
Canada
Sylvia Daoust
Niche Designs, Inc.
Residential, virtual
Anything that mounts to the wall
and provides storage
www.orgjunkie.com
Ireland
Sara Reynolds
Organised Chaos
Residential
Labelmaker
iheartorganizing.blogspot.com,
www.seejanework.com,
www.ikea.com,
www.pinterest.com
Netherlands
Angelique Bouman
OrganiSERUM
Residential, small business
Post-It notes, marker, Arc-books
www.nirvanahq.com
Puerto Rico
Indira Molina
Indira Molina CPO
Residential, business, virtual
Over-the-door organizers, underthe-bed organizers
www.organizartemagazine.com
(in Spanish)
South Africa
Tracey Foulkes
Get Organised
Business
Labelmaker
www.99u.com
www.lifehack.org
www.entrepreneurmag.co.za
United Kingdom (UK)
Rachel Papworth
Green and Tidy
Residential, business, virtual
My program: Clear your clutter, stay
clutter free and live the life you want
www.bookcrossing.com
United States (USA)
Denise Allan
Simplify with Denise
Residential, small business
File Solutions filing system
(www.filesolutions.com)
www.challengingdisorganization.org
Australia
Angela Esnouf
Creating Order from Chaos
www.creatingorder.com.au
*In many countries, “organised” is spelled
with an s instead of a z.
www.nichedesignsinc.com
www.organisedchaos.ie
www.organiserum.nl
www.organizatepr.com
www.getorganised.co
www.mygreenandtidylife.co.uk
www.simplifywithdenise.com
16
For example, professional organizing has been around
in the U.S. for over 25 years and yet was just established
in South Africa in 2008. How does culture, geography
and available space play a role in what you need to have
organized? For this edition of the magazine, we enlisted
professional organizers from eight countries to answer some
of the hottest questions about their profession. It turns out
there are a lot of similarities. No matter where you are in the
world, paper problems, time management issues and clutter
abound!
Our expert organizers from both the Netherlands and
the U.K. noted that people were expected to make do, reuse
and mend what they had, directly stemming from values
going back to World War II. This is similar to those in the
U.S. who suffered through the Great Depression and have
a hard time letting things go. Our South African organizer
mentioned that some people in that culture do not place an
emphasis on time management (arriving on time or working
to a deadline.) And here in America, our organizer says,
“consumption is so easy in the United States; we have 24hour access to almost anything.”
One of the main curiosities I had about organizing in
Does your country talk about
disorganization on TV, radio or
in magazines?
What space/area do people
most need your help with?
What charities do you donate
your clients’ items to?
Where do you purchase your
organizing products/supplies?
There are occassional talk show
segments on radio and TV about
getting organised* and time
management. We’ve had a couple
of locally-made TV shows. At the
moment there are only US shows,
the most well known is “Hoarders.”
Paperwork
I take anything suitable for pet
bedding to the RSPCA. I donate
suitable clothing to Fitted for Work
and for the rest, I call the Diabetes
Foundation.
Department and hardware stores,
IKEA (www.ikea.com),
Howard’s Storage World
(www.howardsstorageworld.com)
There is a TV show entitled
“Hoarders.”
Kitchen, home office
Women’s shelters, daycares,
children’s hospital
Container Store
(www.containerstore.com),
CB2 (www.cb2.com), For Space
Sake (www.forspacesake.com)
There are articles on de-cluttering
and storage solutions regularly in
the home décor magazines. We
have Irish TV programs such as
“Desperate Houses,” and we receive
British TV programming which
includes “Obsessive Compulsive
Hoarder.”
Paper and stationery
Oxfam, Vincent de Paul, St. Marie,
Keating Foundation
IKEA (www.ikea.com),
Howard’s Storage World
(www.howardsstorageworld.com)
On TV we have a program
(translated) “My Life in Ruins.”
Sometimes there are articles in
magazines.
Time management, paperwork,
living room, desk
Red Cross, recycle store and special
containers. There is a good habit in
Amsterdam when you don’t want
to throw something away, you put
it outside on display for someone
to pick up.
A local office supply store
“Organizate (Get Organized)” is
my own TV segment on the local
chanels and I have had a segement
on the local affiliate of Univision.
Home office, paperwork
Salvation Army, Fundacion a
la Mujer (Wings for Woman
Foundation)
Department stores
More so in magazines and radio
than on TV. For international
programs we have access to
satellite programs. “The Amanda’s”
seemd to generate some hype here
recently.
Time management
We share with clients a list of
charities for animals, elderly,
children and terminally ill and let
the client choose.
www.tidyfiles.co.za
www.metrofile.co.za
www.neatfreakshop.co.za
Recent TV programs have included
“The Hoarder Next Door,” “Get
Your House in Order” and “Britian’s
Biggest Hoarder.” I’ve been on BBC
Sussex and Surrey.
Home office
I focus a lot on recycling items that
are recyclable.
I rarely recommend organising
products and promote reusing
what you already have.
Organization is constant in American
media. We’ve got “Clean Freaks,”
“Clean House,” TLC’s “Buried Alive”
and A&E’s “Hoarders.”
Paperwork
I use Goodwill the most due to the
ease of drop-offs, locations and
hours they are open. I am happy
to research non-profits for special
donation needs of a particular
item.
Storables (www.storables.com),
Container Store
(www.containerstore.com),
Costco (www.costco.com),
Staples (www.staples.com),
www.filesolutions.com
17
different countries was what they actually organized. Did
people in Europe face different struggles from those in
Canada or Australia? While I was surprised by the answer, it
makes sense. Turns out that no matter where you live around
the globe, paper is the main issue we all struggle with!
Another question I posed to the organizers was how people
learn about the services they offer and the fact that there is
such a job as a professional organizer in their country. Almost
all of them mentioned their website and social media tools
such as Twitter and Facebook. This is seems to be true, since
I found most of them on Twitter! Once again the Internet
connects us in a way we could never really imagine.
Living in a cluttered environment can often feel isolating
and lonely. It is somewhat comforting to know that people
around the world are struggling with the same issues you are.
We have compiled a list of professional organizing websites
should you need to hire someone to help you tackle the mess.
You can also visit our website, www.gettingorganizedmagazine.
com, for a list of organizers around the world along with
donation resources in the U.S.
Around the world,
keeping paperwork
organized is a
common challenge.
Check out three videos on simple paper organization at
www.gettingorganizedmagazine.com/videos/
National Association of Professional Organizers
(NAPO): www.napo.net
Professional Organizers in Canada (POC):
www.organizersincanada.com
Australian Association of Professional Organisers Inc.
(AAPO): www.aapo.org.au
Dutch Professional Association of Professional
Organizers (NBPO): www.nbpo.nl
Professional Organiser Association Africa (POAA):
www.poaa.co.za
Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers
(UK) (APDO-UK): www.apdo-uk.co.uk
Australia
Angela Esnouf
Canada
Sylvia Daoust
Ireland
Sara Reynolds
Netherlands
Angelique Bouman
Puerto Rico
Indira Molina
South Africa
Tracey Foulkes
Japan Association of Life Organizers (JALO):
www.jalo.jp
Office Order Organization Network Germany
(BOOND): www.boond.de
Hawaii Association of Professional Organizers (HAPO):
www.hapoonline.org
Faithful Organizers – Christian Professional Organizers:
www.faithfulorganizers.com
Association of Personal Photo Organizers (APPO):
www.appo.org
Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD):
www.challengingdisorganization.org
National Association of Senior Move Managers
(NASMM): www.nasmm.org
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD): www.chadd.org
United Kingdom
Rachel Papworth
18
United States
Denise Allan
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19
20
40
bags
40 days
in
challenge
Reclaim your life, one sorting project at a time
21
By Rebecca Kuenzi
www.littlelucylu.com
T
he New Year brings with it a lot of great intentions. We start January off
with such New Year’s resolutions as losing weight, working out and
de-cluttering. Yet come February, we have fallen off the wagon with no
real plan how to make it through the rest of the year.
We came across Rebecca Kuenzi’s blog post about her
40-day challenge and thought it would be a great road
map to organizational success during the first 40 days
of 2013. We dare you to toss 40 bags (they can be small)
and then share your results with us.
L
et me just start by telling you that I love
throwing things away like nobody’s business.
Although I come from a family of pack rats and
collectors, I cringe at the thought of collecting
just about anything I can’t wear. So when I read
about the “40 bags in 40 days challenge” on www.
memoriesoncloverlane.com, my first thought was,
22
“sign me up!” The idea is pretty simple: purge your
house of 40 bags of stuff in 40 days. I made my list
of spaces to clean out: closets, drawers, shelves,
pantry, fridge, garage, car, etc. If it’s cluttered, or
can use some clearing-out, it’s on my list. I cleared
at least two bags out of my clothes closet, so it
really wasn’t as hard as you might think to come up
with 40 spaces to clean, I promise!
(*Note: when I mention “throwing things away,”
I don’t necessarily literally mean throwing things
away—like in the garbage can. Most of what I take
out of my house is given to Goodwill or other
people who can use it!)
40 bags in 40 days
1. “Junk drawer” in laundry
room
2. Utensil drawer in kitchen
3. “Children’s drawer” in
kitchen
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Pantry
Pantry
Under the kitchen sink
Refrigerator
Spice cupboard
Office desk drawers
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Magazine “bucket”
Closet (my clothes)
Closet (my shoes)
Closet (spouse’s clothes)
Dresser drawers
Dresser drawers
Nightstand drawer/shelf
17. TV cabinet
18. Closet shelves (accessories)
19. Jewelry drawer
20. Makeup bag
21. My bathroom drawers/
cabinet
22. Children’s closet
26. Upstairs closet
27. Upstairs cupboards
28. Upstairs cupboards
29. Scrapbook stuff
30. Children’s bath toys
31. Children’s bathroom
drawers
32. Laundry room cupboards
33. Candy drawer
34. Garage (recycling)
35. Garage (shelves)
36. Garage (general)
37. My car
38. Car center console
39. Cookbook cupboard
40. Entryway closet
23. Children’s dresser
24. Children’s shoes
25. Playroom toys
23
The Psychology
of Clutter
D
By Dr. David Kantra
www.centerforcalmliving.com
uring the last 30 years, the size of the average American home has
grown 53 percent, from 1,500 square feet to a little over 2,300 square
feet. With 800 extra square feet of space in our homes, one would think
we would have more than enough room to spread out and be better organized. Not
so. During this same span of time, self-storage facilities were originated and have,
according to the Self Storage Association (yes, there is an association devoted to
storage units), grown to more than 35,000 facilities nationwide. Obviously, we
have begun to buy and hold on to items so much that we’re requiring more and
more space to accommodate our clutter.
24
The Psychology of Clutter
So what are the possible psychological dynamics
feeding the frenzy of clutter and disorganization
in our lives? First, I believe it involves a growing
sense of insecurity. Just like a young child feels
safer and more secure when he or she surrounds
herself with stuffed animals, adults attempt to
avoid feelings of insecurity and unhappiness by
surrounding themselves with more and more
possessions.
People buy things in order to suppress the
uncomfortable feeling they get from not having
what everyone else seems to have. Commercials and
magazines add to the problem by showing us how
we will be happier, more efficient, more productive
and more attractive if we buy their advertised
products. No sooner do we buy the thing we are
sure will make us hip and happy, than a new and
improved version of it becomes available. This
leads us to feel disillusioned with what we have,
and provokes within us a sense of dissatisfaction.
This sets us up for yet another buying spree.
Another psychological dynamic behind clutter
and disorganization involves the hectic pace at
In addition to the growth of self storage units
across America and sizeable increase in our
homes’ square footage, new business opportunities
and associations have spawned to meet the
demand for ways to cope with our accumulating
stuff. Organizing associations have developed
to set up standards in dealing with clutter and
disorganization. Among these new organizations are
the National Association of Professional Organizers
and the Institute for Challenging Disorganization.
Clutter has become a serious problem. Time and
again in therapy I hear people complaining of how
cluttered and complicated their lives are. Whether
in a mental or physical sense, clutter has robbed
them of the energy they need to function well and
maintain some semblance of happiness in their
lives.
people buy things in
order to suppress
the uncomfortable
feeling they get from
not having what
everyone else seems
to have.
which we now live our lives. A cluttered personal
environment tends to be a reflection of the personal
and professional demands of everyday living. As
things pile up, we become more disorganized and
less productive. This, in turn, sparks internal
feelings of distress and unhappiness.
In general, we are purchasing more, and
discarding less. As this happens, we’re forced to
spread out, creating clutter and disorganized piles
of accumulated mess. The mess soon overtakes our
homes, just as weeds overtake a neglected garden.
When this happens, we fill our existing storage
spaces, rent self storage units, buy larger, more
accommodating homes, and/or hire professionals to
25
help us better organize our “stuff.”
According to the principles of feng
shui, “that which is on the outside, closely
resembles that which resides on the inside.”
Our external surroundings act as a mirror
of our internal state of being. As our
physical environments become cluttered
and disorganized, so do we feel lost and
scattered in our thoughts and ideas. It’s as
though we have a finite number of mental
energy cells available for use. When most
of these energy cells are tied up dealing
with the clutter in our lives, there are few
left over for use in those areas needed to be
happy; enthusiasm, zest, creativity, etc.
In 1956, George Miller extended his
“Magic Seven” research which stated
that human beings have the ability to
juggle seven (plus or minus two, depending on
the individual) thoughts or ideas at a time. Once
those seven “slots” are filled, either nothing more
will fit or one of the original seven is replaced. I
believe that as clutter and disorganization abound
in our lives, we spend far too much time fretting
about what needs to be done, what hasn’t been
done, things we’re overwhelmed about, things we
want, etc. The seven slots stayed filled to capacity,
closing off other options—opportunities to feel
happy, satisfied, content, creative, etc.
I once read that a home to the family is the
equivalent of an aquarium to fish. If the water is
dirty or too alkaline, or if the pH is out of kilter,
the fish will suffer. So it is with us when our
surroundings are cluttered and dusty. You can free
up energy that is currently being wasted on stuff
that’s in the way, out of place, and not needed.
Clearing your external environment of unused
and unwanted clutter, and sorting through the
accumulated mess around you, will psychologically
help you attain a healthier lifestyle and live a
happier life.
Simple. Storage.
26
Easy-to-install shelving that maximizes
empty space between attic trusses.
AtticMaxx.com
hoarding
FACT AND FICTION
By Stacy Feil
www.organizingbystacy.com
I
’m often asked, “How do I know if I’m a hoarder?” Unless I know the
person well, I typically answer with a series of questions. However, trying
to explain the science and research behind the phenomenon leaves me
stuttering for the right words.
Until recently, little was known about hoarding,
even though most of us knew of someone who
struggled with it. Despite being reported all
over the world and throughout time, compulsive
hoarding has been under-researched. Today,
researchers and mental health professionals are
rethinking some long-held views of what is a
shockingly common problem.
Here are 10 commonly held beliefs about
hoarding and what researchers are now saying
about those beliefs.
1
People who hoard are
uneducated
2
Hoarding is a response to
deprivation
This is a myth. People who hoard are
often quite intelligent, articulate and
engaging. Some hold advanced degrees
and most are aware of, and often tormented by,
their conditions.
While it was initially believed that
living through periods of deprivation was
a reason for hoarding, researchers have
27
found that, in fact, most people who hoard grew
up in a household where there was plenty to eat
and never faced periods of material deprivation.
Researchers aren’t as certain about the role of
emotional deprivation.
3
People who hoard are poor
Studies have shown that most hoarders
have good, stable jobs and make a decent,
if not a good living. Hoarding often
causes financial hardship because of the
associated spending habits. These habits can lead to
bankruptcy and even homelessness.
28
4
I’m just a “pack-rat”
It is possible to be a pack-rat and not
be a hoarder. Excessive clutter, inability
to use rooms and furniture for their
intended function, interference with
everyday living, and/or substantial distress are all
symptoms of hoarding. Collecting and saving things
does not make one a hoarder. As long as you have
the space, it does not cause financial, emotional, or
physical distress to you or anyone else, and is not
a safety hazard, saving and storing things for later
use, “just in case,” is common and within the range
of “normal” behavior.
5
Collectors are hoarders
Having a collection does not make
you a hoarder. Most collectors take pride
in the objects they collect. About their
collection they: take care of it (dust,
polish, etc.), take steps to keep it from harm or
decay, enjoy showing it to others, maintain a system
of organization such that when a new item is added
it is not just tossed in willy-nilly. Hoarders rarely
exhibit these tendencies with their treasures.
6
You can tell a person is a
hoarder by the way they
look
7
Just haul it all off,
that’ll fix it
8
I was just born messy
9
I just need more space
This is completely false. People
burdened with hoarding are often well
dressed and put-together. Outside of their living
environment they are often fully functioning.
This may seem like the quick and easy
answer, but the reality is that this can do
more harm than good. Deep emotional
attachments exist for each item in a person’s hoard.
Even items that appear to be nothing but a piece of
trash can hold great significance in the mind of its
owner. Removing or destroying this item can stir up
reactions similar to losing a loved one. Experience
shows that this approach can leave the person
damaged, scarred, and even more resistant to
treatment. In most cases, the clutter returns quickly
and worse than before.
Researchers are not certain about
the underlying cause of hoarding. It’s
possible that something in the brain is
not operating properly in those who hoard. It’s also
possible that those who hoard have an extraordinary
ability to see things that others overlook. Traumatic
events could have caused a disruption or structural
change in brain function. Scientists are working to
uncover the mysteries of the mind of a hoarder.
While lack of space can be a
legitimate issue in some situat ions,
research has shown that those with the
propensity to hoard will fill up any
space, no matter how large.
10
There’s nothing we can do
about it
If you or someone you know is
struggling with maintaining their living
space, cannot control their impulse
to acquire, or is inhibited by their conditions,
know that there is help out there. Contact a
mental health professional in your area. Choose a
professional that specializes in disorders such as
ICD and OCD and treatments such as Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy. GO
29
KEEPING TABS
By Suzanne Kuhn
www.AceOrganizing.com
A
provider.
ON YOUR
EOBs
(Explanation Of Benefits)
s an organizer of medical and financial records for seniors and others
affected by age, illness and disability, I am often asked how long to
keep the explanation of benefits (EOB) paperwork from your insurance
A person with multiple medical conditions
can quickly acquire cartons of paperwork from
Medicare, doctors’ offices and health insurance
companies.
It’s helpful to start with what medical EOBs
prove:
• The services the doctor, hospital, or other healthcare
entity has provided.
• The amount the doctor, hospital, or other healthcare
30
provider has billed for those services.
• The amount the medical insurance company and/or
Medicare have paid.
• The amount for which you, the patient or insurance
subscriber, are responsible.
So, medical EOBs can be useful for:
• Creating (or re-creating) a health history for yourself
or someone under your care.
• Documenting billing errors—or even fraud.
• Ensuring that you are receiving the full insurance
benefits to which you are entitled.
• Proving that you’ve met your annual deductible, if your
health insurance policy has one.
• Demonstrating what you have paid if you take the
medical expense deduction on your annual IRS 1040
Schedule A.
Obviously, keeping medical EOBs is worthwhile
for some period of time. What to do with it all and
how long to keep these records will vary with your
personal situation. Here are two sets of guidelines
for medical EOB retention periods and good
practices, one for people in normal health and one
for people with chronic, debilitating or terminal
health conditions:
Normal Health
1. Keep medical
EOBs in a file for one
year. As the bills and
EOBs for a medical
service come in,
match related items
together, and address
any discrepancies
you detect. Examples
might include double
billing or your health
insurance company
overlooking the fact
that you have met your
deductible.
2. If, at the end of
the year, you find you
have paid enough in
medical bills to qualify
for the medical tax
deduction, file the
medical EOBs with
your tax documentation
and keep for seven
years.
3. If you do not
qualify for the medical tax deduction and the
medical bills have been paid in full by you and all
providers, and you are no longer doctoring for the
condition, you can safely shred last year’s crop of
medical EOBs while you’re wrapping up your taxes.
4. If some bills are still outstanding or the
patient is still receiving treatment, keep the related
EOBs for another year, and repeat the process.
Serious Health Condition
1. Keep a current file close at hand for this year’s
medical EOBs. As the bills and EOBs for a medical
service come in, match related items together, and
address any discrepancies you detect.
2. At the end of the year, store all of these
records in date order, keeping items you’ve matched
up together, in a less prominent place. You could
use a file cabinet in another room or a cardboard
file box in a dry, mildew-free storage area. If you
claimed the medical tax deduction, put a note in
your tax records cross-referencing these health
files.
3. Keep these medical records according to this
timeline:
a. For five years after the serious health
condition has cleared up.
b. For seven years if you’ve claimed the medical
deduction.
c. Indefinitely, if the patient is chronically ill.
d. If the patient has passed away, until the
executor informs you that the estate is completely
wrapped up.
In both scenarios, you can keep the medical
records on paper or scan them into an electronic
file depending on your preference. If you keep
paper files, keep them out of areas where they
can get wet, e.g., a basement floor. If you go the
electronic route, be sure to back up your data
reliably.
One final note: Don’t panic if you need one or
more medical EOBs or haven’t kept them according
to the above guidelines. All health insurers,
including Medicare, can replace an EOB, because
they store them electronically. GO
31
Videos
Trade Secrets of Professional Organizers
PBS Home Video:
“Organizing from the Inside Out”
$19.98
www.amazon.com
Learn first-hand the top
secrets of a professional
organizer! Join Julie
Morgenstern, America’s No.
1 organizing expert for her
full-length television special,
“Organizing from the Inside
Out.”
With real home examples,
Julie shows you how to “analyze,
strategize and attack” any space
you want to organize—kitchen,
living room, closet, even your
file drawers. Follow Julie’s
unforgettable five-step S.P.A.C.E.
formula and dive fearlessly
into your piles to banish chaos
forever.
When you organize from
the inside out, you gain
time, energy, and money to
achieve your life goals. By
learning Julie Morgenstern’s
universal organizing skills, you
will be ready for all of life’s
opportunities, instead of always
being stuck behind looking for
your keys! Organizing from the
inside out will not only change
your living room—it will change
your life.
32
Peter Walsh
“It’s All Too Much”
$19.99
www.peterwalshdesign.com
Your personal, at-home
organizational coaching session
with Peter Walsh! With more
than an hour of Peter’s tips,
techniques and guidance, this
compelling DVD based on
his New York Times bestselling book will provide the
encouragement and direction to
the fuller, richer life that you
imagine for you and your family.
Peter Walsh is an international
clutter expert and organizational
consultant best known for his
work with Oprah Winfrey on
her show, network, and in her
magazine; as well as through his
tough love approach on the hit
TLC series “Clean Sweep.” Peter
is currently a regular contributor
on The Rachael Ray Show. Part
therapist, part contractor, Peter
brings his clutter-busting tips and
organizational know-how into
your home with this DVD version
of his international best-seller
“It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan
for Living a Richer Life with
Less Stuff.”
33
Ask the Experts
Greeting Cards and Letters
Question: Through the years, I’ve received
many meaningful greeting cards and letters.
I’m ready to part with some, but not all of
them. What’s the best way to organize these
mementos so I can enjoy them for years to
come?
Answer:
Because there’s usually a short timeframe in this day and age of e-cards
and Facebook, we’re sending less snail mail than ever. But, you may still
have many cards and letters from years past that hold a special place in
your heart. Here is what you need to do to get them organized.
Your first step is to grab a shopping bag and go hunting for your cards
and letters around the house.
Next, define what you will keep and what you will toss. This can be
tough, so consider these suggestions;
• Keep cards in which the sender wrote a meaningful personal note.
• Only keep one type of card from each year. For example, keep your
favorite birthday card or anniversary card and toss the rest.
• Get rid of holiday cards (even if they have photos), because you’ll
receive another one next year.
• Only save wedding invitations for your best friend and siblings.
• Recycle all envelopes.
These guidelines are unique to each person, so take some time to
determine what makes sense for you.
Before you begin purging, sort the cards into categories. For example:
birthday, spouse, anniversary, holiday, wedding, wedding invitations,
sympathy, get well, thank you, and Valentines. As you sort you are likely to
create additional categories. Write each category on a Post-It so you can
quickly identify the cards as you go.
Now that you’ve gathered and sorted all the cards, it’s time to put your
keep or toss guidelines into effect.
Finally, it’s time to identify the best container to store you cards and
then file them away. The container you use should make it easy for you to
read and enjoy the cards in the future.
I recommend using a box with tabs that you can use to separate each
category of cards. Remember to label the tabs.
—Korinne Kubena Belock,
www.UrbanSimplicityNYC.com
34
35
Latest and Greatest
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A
woman’s purse can often become the black hole of anything and
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These two great bags make organizing your handbag items a snap.
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36
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37
Quick Tips
Organizing Your Refrigerator
•
Take time to read expiration dates and throw
out the old to make room for the new food.
•
First go shopping in your fridge, then go
shopping at the grocery store. See what you
have and write down the extra things you’ll
need to create a complete meal. That way,
you’re eating up what you have and not
overbuying on food.
•
Do not put opened cans of food or uncovered
plates/bowls of food in the refrigerator. To
avoid the unpleasant refrigerator stink, always
transfer leftovers to a sealed container, and
no, a pizza box doesn’t count as a container.
•
An opened box of baking soda in the fridge
can help with smells and unwanted odors.
•
Try to use clear, square containers. It’s easiest
to see what you have and they save space by
stacking easily. Labeling the leftovers with
a date is always great if you can get into the
habit of it. Masking tape and a black marker
will do, unless you’d like to buy a label
maker.
•
Have a designated shelf for leftovers and clear
it off every week if you haven’t eaten them
up. A good night to do this would be the
night before the weekly garbage pick-up.
•
Put like items together: create a drink section,
a meat/cheese drawer or container and a
fruit/veggie drawer, condiments on one shelf
and sauces/dressings/jellies on another.
•
If you’re going to keep extra ketchup or soy
sauce packets, put them in a small container
in the fridge so they don’t land all over or
break open.
•
I still think bleach and hot water does the
best job in cleaning a smelly, grimy fridge.
Just keep scrubbing, the shelves will come
clean. Don’t forget the door handles, they’re
full of germs.
•
38
Washing, cutting, and placing veggies in bags
after grocery shopping keeps the drawers
clean and gives you easy access to grabbing
healthy foods in a snap.
•
In freezers, throw out anything that’s covered
in a thick layer of frost and anything that is
more than 6 months old. If you haven’t eaten
it by now, you’re not going to.
•
Rotate food in the freezer by putting the new
stuff in the back and bringing the old stuff
forward.
When’s the last time you cleaned out your fridge?
—Amber Kostelny-Cussen,
www.ChicagoProfessionalOrganizer.com
CHALLENGE:
40 Bags in 40 Days
Take our 40 bags in 40 days challenge! Write down the list of places you want to clean out, then go for it!
Visit our Facebook page, or email us, to tell us where the first 5 bags you tossed/donated came from in your home/office.
www.Facebook.com/GettingOrganizedMagazine
39

GettingOrganized - Life Gets Organized

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