May 2000
Dear B. Organized! Members:
This time of year it never fails that people ask me for "tips" on how to organize their clothes closets. Even after I taught a class about paper-handling basics, I had ten minutes left and the closet question came up! Just a few "quick" ideas they pleaded. Well, a few ideas and forty minutes later I sent everyone on their way, but I wonder if they truly understood not the "how" but the benefit of the "why".
Why is having an organized clothing closet high on everyone's "Wish List", but not high on their "To Do" list? Is it because we "wish" we could buy more clothes? Or we "wish" we could still fit into those jeans from college? And is the reason we don't do it because we refuse to buy more clothes until we lose 5, 10….pounds? Or as long as the jeans hang in our closet, there's a chance we might fit into them one day (who cares that they might be out of style-they're jeans-they're always in style!)
I've been organizing professionally since 1996 and personally for as long as I can remember; I'm aware of the many psychological reasons/justifications for "wishing" a closet to be "organized". However, the true benefit (and underlying or subconscious) reason for organizing a closet is the direct reduction of stress involved with "dealing with" your closet everyday. Every time you look at or push past those jeans from college, it's not only an annoyance to get to the clothes you want to wear, but a constant reminder of the stress and guilt associated with them; stress over the weight you think you should lose and guilt over spending money on new clothes it "appears" you don't need.
Many are unaware of how "wearing" this becomes; they are only aware of being unable to find what they're looking for when they need it. It's true that organizing your closet will enable you to have accessible those things you want and need; now picture if you were to see only those clothes that fit you and those that you enjoy wearing--what a positive and uplifting experience getting dressed in the morning can be!
For some pointers on how to begin "purging" your wardrobe, log on to the monthly tip section of www.B-Organized.com. So what are you waiting for? Schedule a day to devote to your closet--just planning to do it will make you feel terrific!
I'd love to hear your "closet stories"-send me an e-mail with your experience and I'll provide you with some free advice if needed.
Until next month….
Jody
April 2000
Dear B. Organized! subscribers:
Yes, for those veteran members, it's been awhile since my last mailing and for those new members, welcome.
We have a winner for the April drawing and with their permission I'll post their name or e-mail name either on our homepage (www.B-Organized.com) or in next month's mailing. Thank you all for your insightful feedback on what you'd like to see from both the website and from the mailings. Most of your ideas seem more suited for this format, rather than the site itself and so I'll try to address each of your ideas in upcoming mailings.
The reason for the time lapse between mailings is that I went on much needed vacation; a cruise, actually, which made online communication both challenging and expensive. So for the first time in a long time, with no work and no children, I relaxed. I will admit that I did think about work and even about writing this piece, but I resisted acting on these thoughts and it turned out to be quite liberating! There's a lot to be said for being out-of-touch with the real world-at least for a week….
Of course, the preparation itself for such a trip when you're leaving
the kids behind is enough to justify the trip itself! Here are some of
the things that went into the preparation: The Kids:
· Full kids' school/activity schedule with pertinent phone numbers
for carpools, schools, doctors', playdates, etc. (Of course prior to this
favors for rides and playdates were solicited or begged when necessary!)
· All food requirements were accounted for and pre-purchased
· All clothing including uniforms and accessories were laid-out
accordingly
· All school materials were prepared or readied for use, i.e.:
musical instrument, library books, special class folders/books, etc.
· Notarized medical note giving the kids' caretaker (in this case
their grandparents) permission to make any necessary medical decisions
in case of an emergency. Without this, valuable time can be lost while
trying to contact a traveling parent.
The Adult
I've experimented with last minute packing and with prepared packing and
I've concluded that I'm most efficient when clothes are pulled and piled
at least a few days in advance. Here are some other helpful hints:
· For day, figure to wear a pair of shorts at least twice, with
a fresh shirt. For a resort-type of trip, chances are you'll be in a bathing
suit all day and won't even wear all the shorts and shirts.
· For night, also figure to wear your pants at least twice with
fresh shirts.
I use a jacket, dress and pants combo which can be mixed and matched with
switching tops; with just these pieces I can make a few outfits. For men,
a different shirt and tie can make the same suit look entirely different.
· If you can, choose one pair of shoes for night and one handbag
and belt. If you exercise, try to make that pair of sneakers your only
pair. Keep in mind that you're traveling and usually the "lighter"
you travel the less stressful the trip.
· Think about layering. One or two sweaters/sweatshirts are plenty
when you can change what you have on underneath.
· Pack toiletries, cosmetics, medicines and make-up in clear plastic
baggies. I've found it easier to have my husband put his "everyday"
toiletries in one baggy and I use another one for myself; Then we each
pull out our baggy and we each have our own things. I try to keep a generic
bag of travel sizes for items we both use such as toothpaste and shampoo.
Also, I carry my
toiletries, make-up and medicine on the plane; if my luggage were missing
it would be easier to replace the clothing rather than these items.
· And my Number One tip for packing your suitcase was taught to
me by a colleague; she taught me a method for stacking shirts in a drawer
which I now use to pack a suitcase. I find I can pack at least a third
more into any suitcase than I did previously. Shirts folded on a shelf
are either folded in half or in thirds (many adult shirts are folded in
on the bottom and then folded over). Now fold one of these shirts again
so it forms a small rectangle. Then tip the shirt to stand vertically
and fold and line all the other shirts to line up vertically next to it.
Try to fold and vertically stand your shorts and other clothing items
as well; you'll be amazed at how
much room you'll have when you think vertical! Even better, when you unpack,
just lift the stack from the suitcase and place it vertically in the drawer-you'll
be unpacked in no time!
Preparing for a trip can definitely be stressful; if you can't physically prepare yourself until the last minute then make written lists; just transferring the information from your head and onto paper can decrease your stress level. Remember less is best for less stress. To help you improve your packing skills, try making a list after your trip of all those things you actually used and wore; include reminders of what not to bring. Keep this list in a travel folder and refer to it the next time you prepare for a trip. You're packing skills will improve with each trip and you may even begin to enjoy the pre-trip preparations rather than dread them.
Happy traveling! Until next month…
Jody
Ahh…Spring is in the air! It's amazing how just a few warm days (for those of us in the northeast) can encourage you to clean house and to clear out the cobwebs. Log on to the monthly tips section of www.B-Organized.com for some ideas on a successful spring clean-up!
And of course, tax-time is near. A helpful tip is to have a general "tax file" beginning in January (it's not too late to start now for year 2000) and as the year goes on any tax-related information (ie: stock papers, donations) can be placed in this file to collect until the following March; this saves the last minute "pulling together" of papers and makes it easier to go through before your accountant.
Spring is also a difficult time to stay focused. A helpful anagram devised by Dorothy Lehmkul and Dolores Cotter Lamping, C.S.W. in their book "Organizing for the Creative Person" is: Follow One Course Until Successful-FOCUS. We all feel distracted when spring arrives and taking a break from the grind is definitely needed. Just remember to pick up where you left off instead of trying to start something new; too often "spring fever" can dull the senses and distract you from staying focused.
Staying focused very often requires help from those around us. Sometimes
we become so fixated on the process of what we're doing that we lose sight
of the importance of the product. If you're in a position to delegate,
keep in mind that not everyone arrives at the same answer in the same
manner. If the product is more important than the process and the result
is the same, than
allow those you've delegated to some freedom in the process. If the process
is equally important to the product than give tools to those you've delegated
the project. If you're the one being delegated to than find out if just"
getting it done" (the product) is important or "how it gets
done" (the process) is more important. If the latter is a high priority
than you may want to ask for some tools (ie: forms, guidelines) to assist
you in the process.
Drawing for a FREE Organizing product:
Instead of a questionnaire or survey to assess your needs, I'd enjoy hearing from you and what you want to see and receive from an organizing site. For every response received, your name, or e-mail address will be entered into an April drawing for a FREE organizing product (based on stock availability), valued no less than $14.99.
Thanks for the feedback!!!
Jody