Tip for Hanging Artwork

I find in staging or redesigning that a lot of clients hang artwork and photos too high on the wall. I heard something yesterday that is related, and wanted to share. The designer said that decorative art should be hung 60" from the floor. I then did some research to find others online who say the exact or similar suggestion. At least now I have some quantitative proof for what I always thought was just aesthetic!

If people hung art at eye-level, everyone would have a different position due to our differing heights. One article suggested that the problem is 'tall husbands' hanging the frames, thus putting them higher than they should! You should not have to tilt up to look at the artwork. Furthermore, artwork or decorate pieces hung on the wall should correspond to furniture or vignettes, as opposed to placing art centered based on vertical wall intersections. For more ideas, see this article.

Take a look around your house and see if you've done it this way. Give it a try!

Getting Out The Door

Have you ever tried to get your family ready to go somewhere, and you get to a point where Dad, Daughter, and Son are all set but you're standing in a towel rushing around? They look at you like "well, we're ready". And you're thinking, "Yes, but I got you all ready and I have myself to do, too, you selfish (insert naughty word here)!"

Here's an organizational/time management tip for mothers: get yourself ready before you get your kids ready. In the morning, when you're all heading out, and the kids need to get dressed, do your shower first. While they take their own sweet time, you can get dressed, do your hair/makeup/whatever, and when it is Rush Time, you'll be ready. If you do it in this order, when I am helping them, I know I'm done and can focus on getting them ready.

Maybe it is just me, but I know if I do it the other way around, I become resentful, like "Don't you see that I still have to get ready?" P.s. it doesn't matter to them -- preschoolers generally don't 'get' the rushing concept. You're the only one truly aware of the time factor. It makes it that much harder if you are all half-dressed, your hair is wet, Susie needs her hair done, and you're watching the minutes tick by. That's when stress sets in, the yelling might start, etc., because it is all on me to get the household out the door.

When you're in a rush, you are also more liable to do things for the kids to save time. Being ready to go before the kids allows you to have more time to give them to work it out by themselves.

Clutter Questions

I think it is important from time to time to review the questions we should ask ourselves when analyzing our 'stuff' and our clutter.

• How much money are you spending now to maintain what you have? Are you paying to store things you never or rarely use? Could you sell the items to make money or donate them to get a tax deduction? How much do you pay in late fees for missed bill payments or in duplicate products you buy because you didn’t know you already had one?


• Physical clutter also clutters your mind. Imagine what it would be like to reduce your stress level or the amount of cleaning and upkeep. Imagine what you could do with the time, energy, and space your clutter is currently taking up. Instead of reactive or survival mode, organization would allow you to be proactive and creative.
  
• No one says you have to keep everything. Does the item enhance your life or bring you joy? Is it useful to you now? Note that what is useful may change as your life circumstances change. For ex., if you've moved from a home to a condo, lawn & garden equipment may no longer be useful, and now takes up space unnecessarily.


• Do you want to be remembered for your possessions or for who you are? Those who will someday deal with your possessions will thank you for decluttering your environment rather than passing on a huge sorting task. What lessons are you teaching/modeling for your children? How are they impacted by clutter or disorganization each day?
  

To help you figure out whether or not to keep something, ask yourself (and be honest!):

• Do you like it?
• Have you ever used it? Will you realistically use it in the future?
• Does it have a storage place?
• Are you keeping it just because someone gave it to you?
• Does it make you feel bad, ugly, stupid, guilty or remind you of bad times?
• Have you forgotten what it does or that you even still had it?
• Is it old, ugly, not working, out of style, out of date, or inefficient? Do you own another better one?
• If you do get rid of it and need another, can you easily get it again?
• Has it been over a year since you have used it?

"Room Remedies" by BHG

My mother recently passed along the January issue of Better Homes and Gardens, which (join the club) had a cover all about organizing. I had to read it, of course, and wanted to see if there were any original or interesting organizational nuggets.

From the many pages on the topic, here are a few things I felt were helpful and worthy of sharing:

1. "Be sure you know how you want a particular area to function. Pin that down, and you can then determine the best way to organize it." I would also add that it helps in the sorting and purging process because you know what goes into the 'stay in the room' and 'goes to another room' categories.
2. In kids' rooms "always make room for your child's interests. That could mean bins for sporting equipment, a flat surface for drawing, or a special hook for dance outfits." You also want to use storage that will grow with the child, and not look too juvenile next year.
3. "Shallow drawers may seem limiting, but they're actually super-efficient. (Deep drawers, in fact, can be dumping grounds.) Organize board games, kids' art and supplies...and albums" in furniture such as armoires, coffee tables or bookcases." I have found that with deep shelves or drawers, you end up piling up items which makes for trouble when pulling out a bottom item!

Hopefully 2008 is making progress towards a more organized year -- if you are reading all the women's magazines, it should!

How Dieting & Exercise Are Like Organizing

So much of what we do every day is about routine, habit and what we're used to. Take eating habits or exercise, for example. I could say "tomorrow, I'm going to eat less" or "every day, I'm going to exercise (more)" but then tomorrow comes, and we end up doing the same thing, and not eating better or exercising more. Creatures of habit are we, and sometimes don't even realize how much so. I, for one, make the resolve, and then by the next afternoon, it dawns on me that, like a robot, I do what I always do, almost unconsciously.

It's as if we go into auto-pilot, and follow that easy path of the norm. It is much harder to diverge and do something different (most of us resist change!). This is similar to organizing -- we can talk all we want about what we want to do, become more organized, blah, blah, blah...but our habits win over. We are not used to doing the different behavior (whether it is diet, exercise or staying organized) so days become weeks, weeks become months, and we are still in the same place.

So what's the solution? I think if it were easy, there wouldn't be so many quick fixes advertised for losing weight or gym membership offers. What might be hard for one may be easier for another. While I don't have the answers, I do think it has something to do with 2 factors: end-of-your-rope-itis, and pleasure. Ok, here's my theory, and it is not rocket science:

• end-of-your-rope-itis: You get to a point where you are sick and tired of the status quo, things are not working as is, so the extreme pushes your motivation to change. For instance, the clutter is getting too much and disorganization is affecting everyone in your household. Time to call in a professional!


• pleasure: I enjoy being organized, but do not enjoy exercising. You may be the opposite. The more we like or enjoy the behavior, obviously we are more motivated to do it. Furthermore, if we see positive results, then we stick with it. We work on decluttering, find things we couldn't find, clear out space and feel less stressed -- now we are more apt to continue.

So be honest with yourself about the areas you want to change, considering the two factors mentioned above. Maybe it can give you a different perspective and get you out of auto-pilot.

To the Naysayers...

Here's a bit of venting and frustration I had to share. It relates to naysayers of organizing advice, the ones who dismiss ideas as impossible and look at me like I have 3 heads for suggesting. Or that I am a freak who is oddly into her own perfection. Or that it is ridiculous to strive for organization if you lived in their shoes.

Obviously not every solution is helpful or readily applicable depending on personality, lifestyle, house layout, etc., but the ideas and principles are presented and can still be considered. And, no, I don't have all the answers nor I am Queen of All That Is Right and Perfect. However...why, then, do some people scoff, laugh or quickly reject organizing ideas upon hearing them? How do they know with absolute certainty that they won't work? Have they tried?

A pet peeve I have is when people express predictions with certainty, such as "I know he is going to (fill in the blank)" or "I couldn't do that in my house. My kids would (fill in the behavior)". They say it with confidence as they are predictors of the future and things are set in stone. I just wish they could have an open mind to the possibility of changing the status quo.

I suspect that this is a defense position; if they admitted that the idea might work in the way I'm suggesting implementing, they would have to admit that they either have not been doing it right or they might be contributing to the problem area(s). You can see the defensiveness in their expression and in their tone. By rejecting my possiblity or idea, they are validating that they know best, their problem is unique, their family is unique and so on.

This definitely comes into play when it involves organizing's connection to parenting issues. Now there's a touchy subject! Often times I suggest organized routines or household systems that are doable but involve changing the way kids behave or what is expected of them.

• If I suggest 6-yr old Johnny should have his clothes accessible for him to reach, it requires that the parent allows Johnny to dress himself and learn about laundry -- don't dress him everyday.
  


• If I suggest toys are stored in open bins with labels so that kids know where things go and can put them away, it requires that the parent makes the kids clean up -- don't tell me that the children don't pick up when you have the control to make them.
  


• If I suggest a shelving unit for the gazillion toys you have that you won't sort/purge, then you have to manage how 4-yr old Mary treats the contents on the shelves -- don't tell me that won't work because Mary will always be pulling everything off. You have to change that!
  

You can set up the organizers then teach your kids how to use them and what's expected. Remember, our job as parents is to ultimately develop self-sufficient adults with everyday life skills. Or else you'll be dressing, picking up, doing laundry, and everything else for your children when they are 18. Just my 2 cents...

For those of you who get the Patriot Ledger newspaper, please check out this weekend's edition (2/16 and 2/17) for an article featuring Orderly Manor and a couple of my clients. To read it online, here is the link to "Clutter can be Taxing".

Hope you find it enjoyable and/or helpful!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Organizing/Staging a Home to Sell

Part of the service I offer clients is assisting them in preparing their house to sell. Home staging, whether it is done by a professional purchasing furniture and accessories to fill an empty home or by someone like me using what you already have, involves preparing your home to sell while maximizing its appeal to potential buyers. Part interior decorating and part real estate sales, I use my skills to 'organize' the house into a state where it will be more sell-able.

Here are some more thoughts on the topic from others in the industry:

• “The …art of home staging focuses on enhancing the overall appearance of a property so that it will appeal to the broadest range of prospective buyers. Studies indicate that people typically decide within seconds whether or not they’re attracted to a home, so first impressions are critical.” (RealEstate.com)
  


• “Speaking specifically to real estate agents, we recommend partnering with a professional organizer in your area as a pre-listing step in the home sale process. You cannot properly stage a home with clutter... Providing this service or recommending it to your clients to help them both prepare for the sale of their home and streamline the move to their new home can set you apart from your competition.” (Rain Active Network, Small Business Support for Real Estate Professionals)



• “Done right, staging can make an impressive difference in how quickly your home sells, as well as in the purchase price”. (StagedHomes.com)



• “Staging is not about personal style choices but about marketing, and what sells homes.” (Staging Your Home to Sell, J. Dana and M. L. Turner)

Interested in more information? Check out "the" staging authority.

Just Sharing...

Want another source for organizing information? Check out the website for Organize Magazine.

The Joy of Writing Out Valentines

If you have Valentine's cards to do for your young kids (i.e. a classroom distribution) and you want the child to participate, start now. To do a class-ful of cards with your child's name on each under "From" takes a while. My almost 4-yr. old son definitely couldn't do 15 Valentines all in one sitting -- space it out with a few each day, and you'll have the batch ready by the 14th. We also did the homemade ones over time, allowing glue and glitter to dry overnight then working on a different one. Plus, if you are mailing any Valentine's Day cards, you will want to do it either today or Monday.

Just a tip from one who has experienced the 'joy' firsthand in recent days!!

Have a Home Office?

I wouldn't say that I have a separate 'home office', but I do work out of my home and it can, at times, present a challenge. (Like the time I was on the phone with a potential client, when my son was crying and then threw up on me while I was still talking on the phone. I cleaned him and I up, consoled him, and continued to finish the call). It is hard with little ones at home, but I have learned to keep kids and work separate as best as I can most of the time.

Here are some other home office tips (#1-4 are adapted from BlueSuitMom.com):

1. Set office hours & stick to them. Post this list where your family can see it & remind yourself to close up shop at the appointed hour. Focus on work during office hours & then transition into parent and/or spouse mode at the end of your day. Performing a simple ritual such as straightening your desk or making tomorrow's to-do list will help you move from worker to family member in a simple but effective way, even if your commute home is just from the desk or across the kitchen. (I wish my husband would have home 'office hrs' and stick to them -- it is hard when you have so much work to just stop, though).
   
2. Close the door & walk away, or put up a decorative folding screen to block the view of works in progress. If you walk by your home office or desk piled high with reports, it's hard to focus on what your family needs from you. Although many of us can & do multi-task quite well, it's fairly impossible to concentrate on everything equally well. Mentally hang a CLOSED sign on your office door & resist the urge to reopen for "just one more thing."


3. Establish boundaries including phone rules: create a "do not touch" pile or "do not enter" zone in your work area. Be sure to instruct children in the use of your office, such as what is usable & what is not allowed so that there are no misunderstandings. If you do not want anyone in your work area under any circumstances, then tell your family your wishes up front. Communicate rules such as: ‘no talking allowed…’, ‘use an inside voice…’, or ‘whisper… when mom is on the phone’, and screen calls during meltdowns or family time.


4. Work with, not against, your kids' schedule by utilizing naptimes or when they are in school. If your children are young, work when they are napping or after they go to sleep at night. As they grow older, you can do a little work when they are having a snack at the table or occupied with a video. You will just get frustrated telling kids that “Mommy has to work!” when they really don’t understand the mode you need to be in.


5. Use the same filing tips for your household paperwork as your business paperwork. Keep your files in a separate filing drawer or area to keep them separate from personal/home.


6. Use a circle pattern to consider the ‘flow’ of papers/projects around the office/desk area. You move the work flow around its natural stages using a corner of a room or desk & shelves. For ex., the first “incoming” area could be orders being worked on or not finalized, people to call, incoming calls – so in this section you need the phone, blank notes, catalogs, customer list, anything you use to get orders. Then moving around, have an area of “To Order” section and the items you’d need for that, and then an “on order” section & an organizer for that. Set up an area for finished orders/parties and you’re back by your desk for a “completed” file.

Procrastination Solutions

Quick share....tips for dealing with procrastination (by Jennifer Koretsky, OnlineOrganizing.com). Read it now, don't delay! LOL

When a person is bored or UNINTERESTED, certain tasks and projects can seem like torture! This feeling usually leads to procrastination, and procrastination often leads to GUILT.
Here are some practical ways to avoid these situations and overcome procrastination:

• RECHARGE DAILY Procrastination can often be caused (or exacerbated by) a feeling of being drained and listless. Be sure to get enough sleep and rest each day so that you have the necessary ENERGY you need to accomplish your tasks.
• GET A FRIEND INVOLVED It's harder to procrastinate when another person is involved. If you have a task you aren't looking forward to, invite a friend over to help you out. If you have errands to run, find a buddy who you can run errands with. Just having an ACCOUNTABILITY partner can make all the difference in the world.
• REWARD YOURSELF You're much more likely to complete that boring task if there is a dinner out or a new compact disc waiting for you when (and only when) the task is complete. We often forget that we respond better to a POSITIVE enticement to get things done. Instead of using a whip, why not try a carrot?
• DO THINGS IN PIECES Procrastination often comes from feelings of OVERWHELM. Break tasks, even small ones, into STEPS so that they are manageable and provide you with a sense of direction.
• USE MUSIC Turn on some fun and UPBEAT music and let it pump you up! 80s music and showtunes are often great pick-me-ups that will give you needed energy to tackle your tasks.
• DON'T BE AFRAID TO DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE Don't be afraid to balance routine or MONOTONOUS tasks with something that is more likely to hold your interest. You can pay bills while you watch television, or talk on the phone while cleaning up the house.
• DELEGATE Do you find yourself procrastinating on chores at home like cleaning and laundry? Or maybe paperwork at the office? Delegate them! Kids, cleaning people, laundry services, administrative assistants and more are all available to take some of those BORING tasks off your list and free up your time for the stuff you'd RATHER be doing.
• PRIORITIZE Perhaps you're procrastinating on a task because it's really NOT that important. Maybe you'd love to re-organize your book shelves, but never get around to it. If it sounds like a good idea but in the end it's really not that important to you, don't let it hang over your head. Just let it go and recognize that you wouldn't have gotten that much value out of completing the job in the first place.
• GET IN TOUCH WITH THE END RESULT Before you begin a task or project that has high procrastination potential, get in touch with the OUTCOME. When the task is finished, what will that mean to you? What will be better in life as a result?
• JUST DO IT Don't THINK about it too much, just jump in and get it done!

Um, The Holidays Are Over (FYI)

Ok, people who still have Christmas decorations up...memo just in: it's February! AACK! I get very crazy when I see wreaths and red ribbons still up this time of year. Even my 5-year old daughter has noticed it and has commented: "it's not Christmas anymore!" I know!! Please do my blood pressure a favor and take the stuff down. You could put up your Valentine's Day decor, you know....

I feel better now.