Archives for July 2010

Excerpt: Six tips for organizing your time spent on the telephone

This is an excerpt from my book Unclutter Your Life in One Week, pages 129-131. For even more phone tips, check out “Nine tips for efficiently processing voicemail.”

I go out of my way not to use the phone, especially at work, and I have found this to be a very effective way to stay on task. If someone calls and leaves a voice mail, I’ll send a text message or e-mail in return summarizing what was said in the voice mail and give my response. There is no record of communication with the phone. You don’t have anything to reference later and you can’t run a search on words used during the conversation. Decisions or instructions can be quickly forgotten. Phones are good for relaying sensitive information to people who aren’t physically close to you (like when a coworker in another division leaves for a new job) but bad for transmitting facts and data points.

Since most of us spend time at work dealing with facts and data, the phone should be taking a backseat to other forms of communication. That being said, it’s impossible to avoid the phone in the workplace. And there are times when picking up the phone is the best way to handle a situation. The following are suggestions for how to use the phone in an organized way during those times when you need to rely on it:

  • Create talking points. Before you make a call, jot down notes about what you need to cover in your discussion. This is especially important before conference calls. Like with meetings, you should never make a call without knowing how you want the conversation to end. If you can’t construct a purpose statement before dialing, don’t dial.
  • Set a timer. Whenever you call someone, you’re interrupting whatever it was the person was doing before you called. Be respectful of this and make the call as brief as possible. When someone calls you, be up front about how much time you have to be on the phone. Most phone calls should begin as follows: You: “Hello, this is NAME.” Caller: “Hello, this is NAME. How are you?” You: “I’m great. I’ve got X minutes to talk, what can I help you with?” If the person on the other end of the line needs to talk to you for more than the number of minutes you said, then he or she can schedule a block of time to talk with you in the future. You: “Hey, can we talk this afternoon at three? I don’t have any afternoon appointments scheduled.”
  • Use a headset if you’re on the phone for more than half an hour a day. From an ergonomic perspective, your neck shouldn’t be cramped for extended periods of time. Plus, your hands will be free to do mindless tasks while you’re on your call — filing papers, putting paper clips away in your drawer, etc. If you’re going to be making a lot of noise, though, be sure to hit the mute button so that you don’t disrupt the other people on the call.
  • Don’t call people and ask whether they received your e-mail. If you are worried someone didn’t receive your initial e-mail, just resend it with a note and the whole content of your previous message. Ask for a confirmation of receipt if you’re afraid the e-mails aren’t arriving. Not everyone checks their e-mail on your schedule, so don’t disrupt them further by calling.
  • Use the do-not-disturb button. Just because you’re sitting at your desk doesn’t mean that you have to answer the phone. If you need to concentrate intently on work, hit the do-not-disturb button and let all calls go to voicemail for that period of time. You shouldn’t leave the button on all the time, because this practice will reflect poorly on you in the workplace. However, doing it from time to time can significantly improve your productivity.
  • Designate a time to return calls. I like to return phone calls from twelve thirty to one in the afternoon, after lunch, when my energy level is low. I get a boost from the people I’m talking to, and it’s a time when most everyone across the U.S. is at work (twelve thirty PM East Coast time is nine thirty AM on the West Coast).

Posted by Erin on Jul 21, 2010 | 23 Comments | Tweet This

A Thing a Day Challenge

In the Unclutterer Forum, there is an amazing challenge going on that I’ve greatly enjoyed following. Unclutterer reader and Forum member EternalVoyageur started the A Thing a Day Challenge to track daily uncluttering efforts in a fun way.

In less than two months, there are more than 400 posts in the discussion with 59 people already participating in the ATAD Challenge.

An explanation about the challenge from EternalVoyageur:

The challenge is about getting rid of one object a day, for … a month? A year? It’s up to you how long you want your challenge to last.

Whether you give away, trash or donate the object is immaterial, but it must be gone from your life and space. Putting it into storage doesn’t count; though you are allowed to, say, collect the things in a box to donate them at the end of the month.

Oh, and you’re also allowed to cheat and fill your quota ahead of time, like throwing out 7 things on Monday, making that a week’s worth of ATAD.

By telling us on here what you got rid of today will not only help with the accountability issues, you’ll also help others rethink their possessions (He got rid of his xyz? Come to think of it, do I really need mine?)

Want to join in the fun? Check out the ATAD Challenge in the Unclutterer Forum.

Posted by Erin on Jul 20, 2010 | 16 Comments | Tweet This

Stumped!

Over the years of writing about organizing and working with clients, I continue to be baffled by how to neatly organize a small number of items. Whenever I see these items or hear about them, I cringe. Organizing them successfully is a complete mystery to me. Maybe you have a few, too, in your home or office — a specific item that always seems to be out of place, cumbersome, or impossible to store well?

I’ve listed a handful of difficult storage items here, and I’m looking for some creative, ingenious, and amazing storage solution suggestions from you in the comments. If you are stumped by something in your space, share this frustration in the comments, too, and we can all work to help you find a solution.

  • I’m not a basket person, so I don’t have much experience with organizing baskets when they’re not in use. Their handles and shapes keep them from stacking well, some are delicate so you don’t want to stuff them into a box, they take up an absurd amount of space on a shelf, and they don’t hang well (especially those without handles). Even craft stores seem to have a difficult time storing and displaying them.
  • Cupcake and muffin pans drive me nuts. I’m always looking for suggestions for ways to store them if a cupboard isn’t designed to accommodate pans on their sides.
  • Plastic bags, like ones you get from the grocery store, if the person doesn’t like the look or idea of a wall-mounted plastic bag holder. (I’ve been successful at convincing folks to switch to reusable grocery bags to reduce the number of plastic bags, but even then it’s difficult not to accumulate a few plastic bags.) Obviously, any container would keep them under control, but what is really an amazing solution?
  • Light bulbs — they are almost always less expensive to buy more than one at a time, but you usually only need one. You can stack the boxes on a shelf if the person has retained the boxes, but not all bulbs come in boxes these days and not everyone keeps the packaging.
  • Personally, we’re at a loss for what to do with our two amplifiers for my pedal steel guitar, my electric bass, and my husband’s electric guitars. We don’t have a music room, so they’re just out like a piece of furniture. Since they weigh more than 70 pounds, they’re not items I can easily move from space-to-space. I regularly look at them and wish they would magically become less obtrusive in our space.

Okay, let’s get the answers rolling — I’m interested in hearing from you.

Posted by Erin on Jul 20, 2010 | 141 Comments | Tweet This

Tips for reducing your commitment to unwanted obligations

It’s easy to back out of an obligation if technically it’s not yet an obligation. When someone asks for your help on a project, you can thank him for considering you, explain that you are not the best person for the job, and recommend an alternative person or method for getting the help he needs. However, we don’t always say “no” when we should and sometimes it’s not until we’re involved in a project that we realize it’s the wrong project for us.

For those times when you’re carrying more obligations or the wrong obligations, you need a management (and possibly an exit) strategy to regain control of your time.

  • Ask for help. This could mean going to the project organizer and requesting that he assist you in prioritizing and scheduling your work, or it could mean picking up the phone and asking someone to step in and lend a hand. Know what resources are available to you, and don’t be reluctant to take advantage of them.
  • Identify the problem. Is it the time commitment that is driving you bonkers or that you were misled about what you would be doing? Maybe the problem is that you were once interested in the project, but you’re ready now to move on to something else? Knowing exactly why you want to change your relationship with a project can help you find the solution.
  • Change your mindset. Often times, just deciding to feel differently about an obligation can improve the situation. Instead of believing you have to do something, you change your thoughts to acknowledging you get to do it and the stress goes away.
  • Manage expectations. If you think you’re going to miss an upcoming deadline, tell those who are depending on you about it as early as possible. “We spent all last night in the ER after my kid wiped out on his bicycle. My work today likely won’t be as productive as it normally is. Just giving you a head’s up that this might alter the deadline.” Keeping your team members in the loop has the benefit of reducing your stress levels. Don’t whine or exaggerate or act defensively, just communicate the facts. People understand that life happens.
  • Know exactly what needs to get done. The stress of an obligation is sometimes greater than the actual obligation. Identify exactly what action items you need to take, and maybe your stress levels will reduce.
  • Create a detailed exit strategy. Similar to planning any project, you’ll need a roadmap for where you’re going that is complete with action items and milestones. Want to get off a committee at your daughter’s school? Your plan for how that will happen might look like: 1. Complete all current work assigned to you, 2. Find a replacement committee member or alternative method for getting the work done in the future, 3. Craft your resignation note, 4. Buck up and resign, but be gracious (a small gift of appreciation for the committee chair might be in order).
  • Know your priorities. There are times when the obligation is a good one, it’s just not good right now. I’ve recently been asked to serve on a curriculum committee for an organization that I value. I’m honored they considered me, and would love being on the committee, but can’t do the work right now. I told the organization this and also said that once my son starts pre-school in a couple years that I hope to be able to participate then if they still want/need my help. Spending my free time with my son is more important to me right now than serving on this committee.

No matter what route you take to getting out from under the stress of being over-committed, be respectful of the people who will pick up the work that you are no longer responsible for completing. Even though you might want to burn some bridges, it’s never a good idea to just abandon your obligations. You wouldn’t want someone to do it to you.

Posted by Erin on Jul 19, 2010 | 8 Comments | Tweet This

Repercussions of uncluttering and organizing

We often talk about the benefits of uncluttering and organizing, but we rarely even hint of their being downsides. Today, I thought we’d break that trend and discuss all the work, headaches, stress, and additional responsibilities that — at least in the short term — uncluttering and organizing create.

  • Physical reactions to dust, dander, and whatever else you might stir up during the process. If you have pets (or pests), multiply this reaction by 100. Sometimes, you can take an over-the-counter allergy medicine mid-way through your uncluttering endeavor and wake up the next morning with no signs of a minor allergic reaction. However, if it’s been awhile since you’ve seen the floor under your bed, you may want to don a silly looking surgical mask while you work and avoid rubbing your eyes.
  • Muscle soreness from bending, reaching, scrubbing, lifting, and carrying. For this I recommend a warm soaking bath and a good night’s rest. If you have a massage therapist, maybe you schedule a massage for the next day?
  • Cuts, bruises, chipped fingernails and other minor injuries are common. Keep a small first-aid kit nearby to disinfect and bandage up any small scrapes you garner along the way.
  • Necessary trips to Goodwill or your favorite local charity. If you already have a lot of things on your to-do list, it might be stressful to schedule in a trip to your favorite donation destination. Before starting your uncluttering project, jump online and research when the charity accepts donations, what kinds of things they accept, and learn if they do home pick ups — you might not need to drive to the charity, after all.
  • A journey to the recycling center or your county dump. Similar to an errand to a charity, you might need to make a stop at your recycling center or a large drop off at your county dump. Similar to my recommendation above, jump online and see where, when, and how to make deliveries. Also check to see if you can pay a few bucks and have the county or 1-800-Got-Junk pick up at your home.
  • Discover more things you need to do. Inevitably, my to-do list increases while I’m uncluttering and organizing. I’ll find a scratch on the wall that needs some touch-up painting or objects that need returning to their owners. It can feel like Sisyphus has his hand in your uncluttering projects, and, to be honest, I don’t know how to keep this one from happening. I think it’s called “life.”
  • Speaking of life, sometimes uncluttering dredges up the past — and not in a joyful, fun, nostalgic way. During a recent uncluttering project, I discovered a beautiful copy of Jane Eyre a student gave to me one year for Christmas back when I was teaching. A couple years ago, the student passed away, and seeing the book stirred up a lot of sadness.
  • Too many cooks in the kitchen. As much as I recommend having buddies to work with during any uncluttering project (they’re great for motivation, inspiration, and an extra pair of hands), sometimes there can be too many people involved. If you have very young children, now is the time to call in a favor from a friend or family member and have her babysit.
  • Specifically in a work environment, your colleagues might not look fondly on you taking part of a day away from your other work to focus on improving your office. If this is the case, it likely means the best time to focus on these beneficial activities is not during regular business hours.

What downsides have you discovered to the uncluttering and organizing processes? How have you moved past or solved these problems so you can go back to enjoying the benefits of all your hard work? Share your experiences with us in the comments.

Posted by Erin on Jul 19, 2010 | 53 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2009

Posted by PJ on Jul 18, 2010 | 2 Comments | Tweet This

It’s a table! It’s a desk! It’s a table …

There is a new addition in Ikea’s Vika build-your-own-table series that is wonderful for people who live in small spaces. The Vika Veine begins as a small table, perfect for all your small table needs:

but then transforms into a really great office for a laptop user:

The Vika Veine comes in white and a black-brown and works with the VIKA table legs. The interior of the desk includes cable outlets inside the desk unit, so only one cable runs to the table/desk. The inside lid pockets are made with a heavy felt that Ikea says “absorbs sound and can also be used as a notice board.” And, like so many of Ikea’s products, the Vika Veine is pretty reasonably priced at $100 — not too bad for two highly functional pieces of furniture.

Posted by Erin on Jul 17, 2010 | 20 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Getting rid of knives

Reader Sarah submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

The consolidation of knives between my boyfriend and I has some undesirables. I would like to get rid of them but am not sure how. Also, what is the best way to transport? Thanks so much.

You have a few options when getting rid of knives. (And, since you said the knives were “undesirables,” I’m assuming you mean they are not in good enough condition to be used safely by anyone.)

First, check your local phone book or Google to see if there is a professional knife sharpener or repairer in your area. These people will often take old knives because they can re-purpose them in their work or repair and sell them. They might also have additional ideas for you.

If you have some time, a second option is to learn what type of blade you have and sell its metal for scrap. Most kitchen knife blades are made of iron, steel, or a mixture of metals and carbon. (Some newer knives are made of titanium, but I doubt you’re interested in getting rid of any of those.) A scrap metal shop might take your knives regardless of the specific type of metal its blade includes. You’re not likely to get much money for the blade, but you can be assured that if a scrap metal shop buys it that it will be recycled in some way.

Finally, if you live in an area without these services, my knife skills class instructor recommended that you wrap it in butcher paper, then bubble wrap, and tape it up in an appropriately sized cardboard box. After you’ve made a package of the knife, simply toss it into the trash. The package will keep the knife from inadvertently injuring someone during transportation to the dump. If you need to carry knives to a knife sharpener or scrap metal shop, you can use a similar treatment.

Thank you, Sarah, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Also, be sure to check out the comments to learn of other ways our readers have disposed of knives in the past.

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

Posted by Erin on Jul 16, 2010 | 29 Comments | Tweet This

Workspace of the Week: Cable cleanup

This week’s Workspace of the Week is Kraemer’s media center cord control:

Okay, so this week’s selection isn’t necessarily an office, but it is a beautiful example of cable management. By using hardboard pegboard and plastic cable ties (which are insanely reasonably priced at less than $4.00 for 100), Kraemer turned a possible rat’s nest of cables into a work of art. Something like this would work beautifully under a desk, behind a media center like Kraemer’s, or in a garage or basement workshop. Thank you, Kraemer, for submitting your image to our Flickr pool.

Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.

Posted by Erin on Jul 16, 2010 | 18 Comments | Tweet This

Are you ready?

In the Montesorri method of education, teachers will often ask students, “Are you ready?” The program in a Montessori school is primarily self-directed, and teachers use this question to help children to focus and prepare for learning.

I think of this question quite a bit during the course of my day. As I’m getting ready to work, I ask myself if I’m ready for the many things I need to accomplish. When I’m taking my son to the park, I check in to make sure I’m ready to focus on having fun and not still thinking about work obligations. Before I drive anywhere, I ask myself if I’m ready to pay attention to the road.

“Are you ready?” is also a great question to ask yourself before taking on any uncluttering project. Are you ready to clear the clutter so you can have more time, space, and energy to focus on what really matters to you? Are you ready to let go of things that prevent you from having a remarkable life? Are you ready to change?

Don’t be surprised if some days your answer is “no.” We all have bad days and heavy loads that can make uncluttering difficult — so don’t unclutter during these times. Uncluttering isn’t a race or a competition, and doing it when you’re not ready can lead to regrets. Wait for a time when your answer is a resounding “yes!”

What is your answer? Are you ready?

Posted by Erin on Jul 15, 2010 | 12 Comments | Tweet This

Fighting the summer productivity blahs

I have the mid-summer blahs. It happens every year, and, even though I know it’s coming, there isn’t much to do to prevent it. It’s something I have to survive instead of avoid.

Maybe you get it, too? You look out your office window, see the glorious warm sun shining, and the last thing you want to do is work. You remember summers spent at camp or on a beach or running in the backyard at your grandmother’s house and your thoughts are overwhelmed with joyful nostalgia instead of the monthly report you have to produce for your boss. You want to be just about anywhere other than at your desk.

To survive these blahs and stay somewhat productive, I try to do the following things every day:

  • Get to my desk earlier in the day (for me, this is around 6:00 a.m.). I try to get as much work done as possible before other people start working. I have more energy than I’ll have later in the day, my phone doesn’t ring, no one e-mails, and it keeps me from feeling guilty when I totally zone out around 3:00 in the afternoon.
  • Do a lot of positive self-talking. My internal dialogue is typically: “Dude, you’re wasting time. Get your stuff done so you can go out and do something outside. The longer you procrastinate your work the less time you’ll have for whatever else it is you want to do.”
  • Have a clear plan for what needs to get done each day. Schedule brainy, thought-intensive action items for early in the day and more mindless stuff for the afternoon.
  • Avoid heavy lunches. If the meal is hard to digest, it often puts me right to sleep or into a zone. Lighter lunches don’t seem to have the same impact. This might be psychological, but, even if it is, I’m okay with that.

What do you do to survive the mid-summer blahs and keep on track with your work?

Posted by Erin on Jul 15, 2010 | 27 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: ept’s Keepsake Bag

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to acquire these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

Today’s unitasker was sent to us by reader Daphne, and it just might be the most, uh, um, uhhhh personal unitasker we have featured since the UroClub.

It’s, well, uh, a purple, satin, keepsake bag for your positive at-home pregnancy test.

As the site explains, it’s for when you would like to “Remember the moment you knew …”

Personally, I don’t know why a clear, zip-top bag couldn’t work just as well. In fact, I’d actually want a plastic bag (not fabric) and would want to see what is in the bag without having to open the bag, touch the test, and pull it out of the bag to “remember the moment.” A zip-top bag is the better option, in my opinion, if keeping a stick with urine on it is your thing.

On the plus side (yes, that horrible pun is intentional), it does look like you can get a keepsake bag for free!

If you’re not at work, I strongly recommend checking out MomLogic’s alternative suggestions for how to showcase your treasured, positive, at-home pregnancy tests. Let the world see your, um, “moment.”

Posted by Erin on Jul 14, 2010 | 59 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2009

  • Such a waste of time
    Being disorganized wastes 4.3 hours of fruitful productivity per workweek.
  • Small space fun and games
    While surfing through the Apartment Therapy website over the weekend, I found this brilliantly designed space-saving door/ping-pong table and knew I had to share it with you.
  • Unplugged and uncluttered
    Oprah asked two families to unplug and unclutter for one week and see how it changed their lives.
  • Organized tool kits
    Kits are great to assemble or purchase because all of the tools you need for a project are in one location and usually everything has a fixed home within the kit.

2007

  • The tried and true Swiss Army Knife
    The Victorinox Swiss Army Ranger Pocket Knife measures in at 3.5 inches and weighs a miniscule 4.8 ounces as it packs a whopping twenty different tools.
  • Gamer clutter
    If you are a gamer, try and keep your entertainment system under control and the gaming clutter to a minimum.

Posted by PJ on Jul 14, 2010 | 1 Comment | Tweet This

Assorted items for July 14, 2010

Some interesting things to share:

  • I’m recording an interview about uncluttering for Renew You that should be available this Friday through next Tuesday. Renew You 2010 was a conference that occurred earlier this summer, and every few weeks the organizer of the conference sends out links to new interviews to conference attendees and people who register for the mailing list. The interviews are targeted toward women, but the information I’ll be giving is applicable for anyone. The e-mail list is free, but there are pay-to-listen areas of the site that have some cost associated with them. You shouldn’t have to pay anything to hear my piece on uncluttering. The interview should be about an hour long, so sign up if you’re interested in hearing my talk.
  • “TV business kisses HDMI goodbye” on the THINQ site leaves me with mixed feelings. I’m glad multiple manufacturers are coming together and establishing a standard cable, but it means we will all have to buy new cables. Not sure it’s simplifying anything.
  • Author Harlan Ellison decided to purge and auction off the majority of his book collection, including a signed birthday present from Neil Gaiman. The following link includes a profane word or two, but is still an interesting read about uncluttering your bookshelves: “The Great Ellison Book Purge” on the AV Club.
  • Have many errands to run at once? Lorie Marrero recommends the “optimal route planner” Route4me to determine the shortest route to take.
  • The website FreelanceSwitch offers terrific project management advice in its post “The Swiss Cheese Method of Project Scheduling.” The article is geared toward freelance programmers, but is applicable to anyone budgeting her time.

Posted by Erin on Jul 14, 2010 | 6 Comments | Tweet This

Evernote Essentials: The definitive guide to using Evernote

Brett Kelly, a champion of simple living and a member of the LifeRemix network, has authored a terrific 80-page guide to using Evernote (one of my all-time favorite digital data applications). Evernote Essentials is a “comprehensive setup guide and a sizable collection of tips, tricks and best practices to help the Evernote newbie get up to speed quickly and show the seasoned Evernote veteran a thing or two about how to become Evernote ninjas.”

I like to think of myself as a hardcore Evernote user, and even I learned a great deal from the guide. I like the conversational tone, the detailed screenshots, and the real-world examples illustrating all the ways Evernote can work for you. Here’s a chapter breakdown of what the guide offers:

  • Evernote Anatomy — Explanation of the basic structure of the service.
  • Installation and Configuration — How to setup and personalize your Evernote account.
  • A Quick Tour of the Main Evernote Window — Navigating your way through the Evernote interface.
  • Adding Stuff to Evernote — Instructions for the myriad ways you can save notes, clips, etc.
  • Evernote Organization 101 — Learn to expertly tag data so that you can quickly retrieve it.
  • Evernote Search: Seek and Ye Shall Find — In my opinion, the best chapter in the document. Kelly gives some amazing tips for retrieving data in this section.
  • Evernote on the Go — Instructions for using Evernote on your smart phone.
  • Evernote, Email and You — Advanced techniques for using Evernote with your email service.
  • Evernote and Satellites in Space — You can save data from satellites and other amazing GPS tricks, and Kelly shows you how.
  • Tagging for Superhumans — Nested tags, sorting, and maintenance tips for the advanced user.
  • Evernote for Bloggers — How to create blog posts directly from Evernote.
  • Evernote for Programmers — Using Evernote as a coding encyclopedia.
  • Evernote for Foodies — Yummy tips for managing recipes, restaurant reviews, equipment information and other topic-specific data saved in Evernote.
  • Evernote for Covert Double Agents — A humorous chapter detailing how to use Evernote to successfully compile information someone or a specific topic.
  • Evernote as an Address Book — How to use Evernote as a personal information manager.
  • Evernote as a Simple Photo Sharing Service — Detailed visuals and explanations for how to create an online photo album you can share with others.
  • Evernote as a Task Manager — One of my favorite uses for Evernote, instructions for creating a GTD-style to-do program.
  • Evernote as a Filing Cabinet — Learn to save scanned documents directly to Evernote.
  • For Longtime Users: Regaining Control of Your Evernote Database — Advice for managing your notes when you have large numbers of data in your account.

If you are a current Evernote user, or are looking for a way to better store your digital data, I recommend checking out Evernote Essentials. The guide is $25 and comes with the guarantee that if you “don’t feel like it delivers the real deal, then contact [the author] within 30 days for a full refund, no questions asked.” Best of all, you can save the guide directly to your Evernote account.

Just to let you know, we don’t receive any kickbacks or revenue from Evernote Essentials or Evernote — I’m really just a huge fan of both. Learning advanced techniques for using Evernote can greatly improve the way you organize the information in your life.

Posted by Erin on Jul 13, 2010 | 24 Comments | Tweet This

Blog to watch: UN v2.0

Alec Farmer, a graduate student in Glasgow, Scotland, is spending a year living in a micro-structure and is blogging about his experience on the new UN v2.0 site. The UN in the blog title is an abbreviation for urban nomad, and it aptly describes Farmer’s interesting project in small-space living.

The structure Farmer built to live in for the year was designed more than 30 years ago by famous minimalist architect Ken Isaacs.

If you’re unfamiliar with Isaacs’ work, Dwell magazine created a design leader video series that included Ken Isaacs and the structure at the center of the UN v2.0 blog. (The structure first appears in the 4:16-long video around 1:26.)

Farmer’s adventure begins in September (I’m assuming at the same time the Glasgow School of Art, where Farmer attends, starts its fall classes). His first entry on his site explains the reason for the experiment:

Having studied [the Urban Nomad] subject for a few years now, one can only speculate so much. Reading can only get you so far, before you have to take another step and actually try it.

So thats what I’m doing.

Follow along on Farmer’s micro-structure living journey at his blog UN v2.0. You also can download a free copy of Isaacs’ How to Build Your Own Living Structures through the PDF library at The Pop-Up City. This document includes architectural plans to a few micro-structures designed by Isaacs.

(via The Pop-Up City)

Posted by Erin on Jul 13, 2010 | 14 Comments | Tweet This

With perspective, it’s normal to feel an emotional attachment to your possessions

Many years ago, a friend of mine tore her favorite jeans and cried. My friend is an extreme minimalist, and I was surprised by her disappointment regarding a physical possession. When I told my husband about the incident a few hours later, I’m ashamed to admit that the two of us had a hearty laugh about my friend’s misfortune.

“Real tears,” I mocked. “Over jeans!”

As the years passed and I went through my personal uncluttering process, I began to understand the tears my friend had shed. When you don’t own many things, and you are conscientious of all of your purchases and your budget, it’s hard not to become emotionally tied to the things you own. You’ve invested time, energy, and great thought deciding if you should let something in your life. What you’ve chosen to keep is the best of the best, and bidding it farewell isn’t always easy.

I’m not saying you should or will cry over your things when they wear out or are used up, but you certainly take notice of their parting. Saying goodbye to one of a handful of things is usually more difficult than saying goodbye to one of thousands.

Instead of beating myself up over feeling a tinge of loss about a physical possession, I simply take note of it. Acknowledging my disappointment is usually enough to keep things in perspective. My internal dialogue might be something like:

“Huh. Look at that. I’m actually sad to see [X] run out/damaged/wear out. I didn’t realize how I’d come to depend on [X]. I’ll wait a week and check back in to see how I feel. This might be something I’ll need to replace.”

I keep a list of things I’m considering purchasing (it’s similar to a grocery list), so I add the item to the list. When I’m determining my budget for the month, I’ll review the list and decide if buying it continues to be a priority. It it remains a priority, I’ll budget money for the item. Sometimes, though, after the initial sting of losing the item, I realize I don’t need to replace it. Over the course of days or weeks, the emotional attachment simply wanes. Time helps put emotional attachments to physical objects in perspective.

Posted by Erin on Jul 12, 2010 | 21 Comments | Tweet This

Making Mondays — and your week — more productive

Mondays are opportunities to start new habits and the day to begin a productive path for the week. While others grumble about Mondays, I try to think of them like the first day of school or the first day of a new job. The possibilities for success, fulfillment, creativity, and all the reasons you do what you do are open for you to experience.

To help keep me motivated and positive about Mondays, I like to begin each week with a 10- to 15-minute planning session. I grab my cup of coffee (glorious, glorious coffee), a pencil, my calendar (this year I’ve been using the Julie Morgenstern Balanced Life Franklin Covey daily planner), and I head to my front porch or the dining room table. During this time, I ask myself the following questions while I plan out the week:

  • What calls, meetings, luncheons, parties, and travel do I have on my schedule that have set times and locations?
  • What deadlines do I need to meet?
  • What actions do I need to take to meet those deadlines?
  • What additional tasks do I also wish to accomplish this week?
  • What reminders for future actions do I need to set on my computer when I get back to my desk?
  • When am I most productive?
  • When am I least productive?

I plan for both my work and my personal life at the same time. I currently keep everything on the same calendar, but there have been years when I have kept things separate. It’s a matter of preference, and you could do one planning session at home and another when you get to work if that better meets your needs.

How you plan for your week is up to you, but taking the time to plan can make a significant difference in what you accomplish by Friday. It’s a lot easier to get somewhere if you know where you’re going.

Happy Monday!

Posted by Erin on Jul 12, 2010 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2009

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2007

Posted by PJ on Jul 11, 2010 | 2 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Encouraging kids to help out at home

Reader Sonja submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

How do you get your family to want to help with a cluttered house? I have four children.

Unfortunately, Sonja, I have some bad news. If your family doesn’t want to help unclutter your home, there aren’t any methods to make them want to help. Fortunately, though, you’re the mom and there are numerous strategies you can implement so they will help you — regardless of if they want an uncluttered home.

The first thing to remember is that children are led by example. If you’re cheerful, excited, and energetic about getting the clutter out of your house, they’ll see this enthusiasm. On the flip side, if you complain, whine, and drag your feet, your children will see and mirror this negative attitude. Maintain an eager and positive attitude, and they’re more likely to get on board with your efforts.

Be explicit about what you want completed, when, how to do the activity, and why. A chore chart (like one that was discussed on Wednesday) helps children to know exactly what actions you expect of them. Telling your kids to “pick up the family room” is vague, they need specific directions such as “return your shoes to the shoe bin in your closet, bring all dirty plates to the kitchen and load them into the dishwasher.” Additionally, let them know how long a task should usually take and when you would like for it to be done (take out kitchen trash, 3 minutes, immediately after dinner). A training session might also be in order to demonstrate exactly how you want an activity to be completed (don’t be condescending, just give them good directions). Even with a demonstration, younger children might also need to be supervised when they do tasks. Finally, be direct about why you want them to help with the uncluttering efforts. “Because I said so,” is not a reason that will motivate your children to help you, but explaining to them the life you want to lead can make an impression — “I want us to spend less time on chores and work around the house so we can spend more time having fun together as a family.” Have a conversation with them and let them share their opinions on how they want the house to look and how they want their home life to function.

Next, take some time to think about what it is that made you happy as a kid and what makes your kids happy now. If your children love games and puzzles, create an incentive structure based on these activities. For each five minutes of uncluttering completed, let them choose a letter on a game of hangman. If your kids are older, do a minute-for-minute video game tradeoff — 15 minutes of uncluttering becomes 15 minutes extra of video game playing later (or reading or bike riding or staying up late on a weekend). Kids can earn allowances with bonus dollars if they don’t have to be reminded to do their uncluttering tasks. They could bank time toward a slumber party or a trip to their favorite park. Put incentives in place that they really want and that you think are deserved for their efforts.

Also, make the uncluttering process fun — play upbeat music while everyone works, have snacks available, tell goofy jokes, and dance while you work. Race to see who can fold their stack of laundry the fastest or find all the toys in the house they haven’t played with in months and can be donated to charity. Work together and enjoy your time uncluttering as a family.

When your children help you with uncluttering efforts, be sure to thank them for their work and acknowledge that you appreciate their contribution to keeping the family home running smoothly. Consider handing out silly awards (King of Loading the Washing Machine!). It feels good to receive praise, no matter what age you are.

Finally, listen to what your kids are saying throughout this process. They might want different incentives than what you’ve put in place, so be flexible and willing to change. Your children might figure out a better way for them to complete tasks, so let them take the lead. If you really want your children to help you unclutter, respect what they have to lend to the project. Most importantly, don’t nag — nagging is a sign of disrespect — but feel welcome to pass along a gentle reminder at different points during the day: “After school today, you’ll have trumpet lessons, probably an hour of homework, 30 minutes of helping around the house, dinner, and then it’s family movie night. What movie did you decide we should watch?”

Thank you, Sonja, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Good luck getting your children to help out with uncluttering efforts in your home. It might take a few months to master their involvement, but with guidance you’ll help your children establish good habits that will stay with them into adulthood.

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

Posted by Erin on Jul 9, 2010 | 13 Comments | Tweet This