Productive & Organized Home

Organizing While You Are There

  Opportunities exist each day to either clear away a small amount of clutter or maintain an existing space. Taking these small opportunities to organize a little at a time reduces the need to spend hours later “getting organized.” I call it organizing “While You Are There.”

The easiest way to see how this works is with files. No one likes to clean out an entire drawer full of files (myself included), but it doesn’t hurt much to clean out one or two. The next time you pull out a file, look through the entire file. Shred or discard any duplicate, outdated, or no longer relevant information. If you have more time, tackle a few of the surrounding files. This should only take five minutes or so.

The idea is to clear out items that are not used, liked, or needed as you naturally come in contact with them. Follow me through the office and house to see how this works:

• office desk drawers – What supplies do you regularly use? Discard or donate what you don’t. Store the rest in a separate box.

• book shelves – Do the titles on the shelf reflect your current interests and lifestyle? Donate a few books (especially those old college textbooks!).

• kitchen drawers and cabinets - Are you holding onto unused cooking and baking items or food? Donate what you can to your favorite charity.

• junk / utility drawer - Can any items be better used in another room or stored with other like items? Put them there.

• family / living room – Old magazines? Outgrown or broken toys or games? Recycle and donate. No one misses what isn’t used.

• linen closet – Mismatched or old towels? Keep the best. Toss, donate, or store a few as rags in the garage.

• bedroom – Items (like paperwork and kids’ toys) that are not conducive to sleep and relaxation should be returned to their proper homes.

• closet – There’s a reason you, your spouse, or your child hasn’t worn X, Y, or Z. Donate it to someone who will.

• bathroom – Do you really use all those toiletries?


Remember, the idea is to clear out unused or unneeded items while you are already there. Does this take a lot of extra time? No, the time is already there. You just haven’t noticed it yet.

You have a few minutes when you are:

o waiting (in the car, in a line, or for _______ to get ready)

o taking a break between tasks

o looking for something

o putting something away (especially a new item)

This week look around. Is there a small area or two that you could organize while you are there? Do you have a few extra moments to look through that drawer or cabinet? You’d be surprised what a difference small steps over time can make in your home and office.

Take some time this month to clear out a few spaces while you are there. You’ll be glad you did.

© Renee Ursem, 2010

News Headlines & Blog Posts About Organizing Your Home

Don't have time to surf the net for the latest organizing and productivity news?  No problem!  Keep reading to see some of the latest headlines and blog posts on the net.

Wannabe Clutter

I love to hear my grandchildren talk about what they want to be when they grow up. While some children stay with their chosen career path from preschool through adulthood, most children find new interests that lead to other kinds of life work.

Adults frequently identify new interest areas throughout their lives. For example, my husband started golfing in his 50's. My sister started quilting in her 60's. They were both able to identify something they wanted to do, acquired the necessary equipment and skills, and carried it through the action phase.

New interests are sometimes the source of clutter, and I call this Wannabe Clutter. My definition of Wannabe Clutter is the material that accumulates as a result of start and stop interests.

Taking care of your plants

I was out on the web today at Gardener's Supply Company and I found some pretty cool products.  I thought I would share a few with you.  Now, I'm not an avid gardener.  I will puts around my flower beds, but that is about it.  However, I love looking at this site to see different tools that inventive people come up with.

5 Tips For a Productive Sewing Area

Whether your sewing space is a corner of the dining room, a dedicated closet or a separate room just for sewing, you can make that space inviting and efficient for your sewing tasks. With some thought and organization, your sewing area can be a source of enjoyment and many accomplished projects.  Here are 5 tips to start you on your way to a great organized sewing area.

Organizing for the Creative Person

Creative people can organize too!  We all think differently and, so, our organizing systems need to be different too.  Creative people are frequently criticized for their lack of organization.  However, things that work for the analytical may not work for the creative.  Here is a great book that offers a number of ideas for the creative person!

Unusual Tools for Organizing Hobbies

I've talked before about using what you have to help you organize, but today I have a fun situation for you.  A few years ago, I had a client with an amazing collection of Barbie dolls.  She had an entire room dedicated to them.  It was truly interesting to see how much the female icon of a toy has changed over the years.  You could literally see time pass as you looked at each one.  Well, with that many dolls she had boxes and boxes of them that she could not apreciate them very much because she could not easily see them.  All of the floor in the room was covered with barbies.  Some in original boxes (collectors) and some not (the ones to play with.)  We went vertical.