Tidy as You Go

It’s the only way to keep on top of things.

I once went to a local restaurant and bar to have dinner with my husband. That night the place was very crowded and we opted to sit at the bar to have our dinner. Little did I know that we would enjoy a most enlightening “floor show.”

There was only one barmaid on that shift that night. Her duties were to keep the bar surface clean of used bottles, glasses, cutlery, plates and napkins. She also set places with trays, mats and cutlery for each newer diner and served them their meals when they were delivered from the kitchen.

In addition to these activities she was the bartender for the entire restaurant. Each server would deliver their respective orders and she then made each drink and set them up on a tray for delivery.

Sounds like you would get tired just watching her, right? Well, on the contrary, she was a joy to watch. Every movement she made was coordinated with another task to be accomplished. She would pick up used items with one hand and wipe the counter with the other. As she moved past any area she assessed it, did what was needed and fluidly moved on to the next thing. No server was left standing at the drink ordering area unnoticed. Everything was cleaned and tidied with as little extra movement than necessary.

If we could all be so focused, things would always be as they should be.

I think she was naturally organized and very competent. The next time you are in a space and you see something out of place, put it away. Small changes make big differences. Clutter is made up of little things that belong somewhere else. If you sweep an area and put it right every time you are there, it will most likely stay that way.

Setting Goals for Getting Organized

Goals. We all have them. We need to have them.

Do you know the goals for your living space? Is it convenient for you and your family to live there? Could your house be “company” ready within a 1/2 hour notice? Are things routinely put way; laundry, clean dishes, or table clutter?

Well, if you can’t answer yes to several of these questions you need to set some goals.

The Messies Manual written by Sandra Felton suggests that you should write the goals down on paper.

“The hardest part is keeping one’s goals in view when the going gets rough and the end is not in sight. That’s why it is so important to write it down. If it is written, you have made a stronger commitment”.

My personal goal (which I wrote in the margin of the book as suggested) is: I wish my home to be free of clutter, well organized and clean. I wish to keep only what I need to be comfortable, what I require for my soul and what I need to access for information or posterity.

The book also suggests reaching your goals by incorporating the three Cs into your plan. The three Cs are change, commitment and control.

Change can be difficult. It involves exploring uncharted territory.

Trying new approaches to old routines is one way to start. If your stored dishes are on the other side of the kitchen, far from the dishwasher, it is time to move them. Commitment means you consider these goals part of your daily activities. The goal is as important each day as getting up and getting dressed. Lastly, control is vital. If your goals are to be met, then whatever is standing in your way has to be prioritized.

Ms. Felton says, “You have only a limited amount of time and energy. Spend it where it will help accomplish your goals”.

Workshop Remodel Project

Just finished a workshop remodel. It was an ideal time to do this because my client had just finished up a large kitchen project. Therefore, ALL of his tools were out in the workshop area, because he had used ALL of his tools.

A clean, ready to use, work area!

We began by putting the boxed tools, drill bits, router, cordless drill, staple gun, etc. back in there original cases. I then used my handy P-touch labeler and labeled all the boxes. The boxes are the same black plastic material and several of them are the same size.

When I was done with the labels, each box said what it contained as well as an up arrow to indicate how to open the lid. I then lined them up on a shelf and they looked so orderly and accessible, it was refreshing.

Peg board came next. The pegboards were arranged so that items that were similar to each other were gathered together. Levels with levels, saws with saws, etc. I then took a picture of each pegboard and printed them out, mounted them on cardboard and covered them with cling wrap and attached them to each pegboard. That way when ALL the tools are out of place again my client can see where to put them back without having to remember. Visual reminders are great.

Peg board

We then organized the drawers in the workbench. Previously the nails and screws in their original boxes (a good thing) were on a shelf. Every time he wanted a nail or screw he had to move the boxes around to find what he wanted. They fit perfectly arranged with the writing on the boxes facing up. Now no more shifting them to find what he wants.

We utilized 2 old hollow core doors and a few 2×4s to make two workshop benches, added castor wheels and reworked the space to be more effective and workable.

View more before & afters in the photo gallery!

Culling Your Home Library

Let’s take some time to talk about your home library.

• Do you have so many books you no longer have shelf space for all of them?
• Have they spilled over onto chairs and tables, or in piles on the floor?

Too many books create a great deal of visual clutter. It’s time to assess.

This particular project may take awhile, so set aside the time. It will be worth it.

First, I suggest that you gather all the books together in one place. Then begin with a pile system sorting the books by category: fiction, reference, non-fiction, biographies, cookbooks, etc.

Wow, that was a big job in itself!

Every bibliophile thinks that all books are sacred. However, you don’t have to own every tome you have ever read.

Start with the reference books. I’m sure some of them are obsolete, technology has changed so much that any reference book older than five years is probably out-of-date. Recycle them. If they are hardback remove cover and recycle pages with regular paper. If they are paperback they can go just as they are.

Move on to the fiction pile.

Are any of the books “comfort” books, books you’ve read over and over?

You can keep those. Evaluate the rest, maybe you didn’t even like it that much. Nursing homes, senior centers and some retirement communities would be delighted to have them, donating is a good way to recycle books.

This same process should be applied to all the piles.

If you have never and probably will never make a single recipe from a cookbook, give it away. When this culling process is done you will have more shelf space, dusting will be easier and you will have room for the purchase of a new book you can’t live without.

Recycle or Give Away!

Another resource you can use is The Baltimore Book Thing, Inc., website http://bookthing.org, they accept books, stamp them not for sale and anyone can go in and get a book for free.

Someday = Clutter

Don’t keep appliances, tools, toys, etc. because SOMEDAY you’ll fix it yourself or get it repaired. SOMEDAY always turns into never and
any time you say SOMEDAY it always equals clutter.