Archives for May 2012
A year ago on Unclutterer
2011
- Ask Unclutterer: Concert tickets
Reader Ali wants to know how best to display her concert, play, festival, and movie tickets she has kept over the years.
2010
- Ask Unclutterer: Regular car maintenance
Do you have any tips to keep track of upkeep for your vehicle, such as when to have tires rotated, etc.?
2009
- Be organized with a Butler Bag
The Butler Bag makes purse organizing a breeze.
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Unstuck: An app that helps you achieve your goals
I’m always on the lookout for smart phone and iPad applications that can improve my productivity. It’s probably not a good idea to keep app switching all the time (it certainly makes more sense to stick with what works), but if I did that I wouldn’t have discovered Unstuck, a free iPad app.
Basically, if you’re stuck in a rut, Unstuck can help. It helps you to get rid of said rut, take action, and “live better every day.” I’ve decided to use it for a project that’s been hanging over my head for a bit, and it’s time to get it moving.
But, first, a test run. Here’s the process:
Step One
After downloading and registering, the app asks you to select three emotions in response to “How are you feeling in this stuck moment?” Some of your choices include hazy, high and dry, tired, unprepared, uninformed, indecisive, to name a few. Then, you get to rate how strongly you feel each emotion. I chose conflicted, uninformed, and up in the air, all with medium strength.
Step Two
In this step, you drill down the type of stuck you’re in (personal, professional, or both) and who’s stuck with you (alone, you + another person, or you + other people). For my test, I chose professional and to go it alone, but if you select that you’re working with others, you’ll be asked to name the people in the rut with you.
Step Three
You get to answer why you’re stuck and see examples of what others have written. I entered: “I’m stuck because there’s so much I want to do.” Even though this is a test, that statement is 100 percent true.
Step Four
Now for the fun part. You get to sort your thoughts using these cool thought cards (they look like playing cards except they have words on them) that you drag and drop into two categories: So Me and Not Me.
Here are some of the cards:
- I thought I knew what to do but now I’m not sure
- I don’t know why this is not working
- It doesn’t seem real yet
- Remind me why this is important to me
- Maybe I need to ask somebody else what to do
- I NEED HELP
- Why is it so hard to decide?
- Doing a lot but getting nowhere
Can you see how these might be helpful? I really think this app forces you to think about the nuances of why things are not going the way you want them to.
Step Five
Here, you’re asked to pick three (out of twelve) things you’re doing. I randomly chose:
- Letting yourself get distracted
- Doing busywork that gets nowhere
- Debating an issue over and over again
Step Six
You wait a second or two until Unstuck diagnoses your problem. The app decided that based on my entries, I’m a Waffler. I may not like being called wishy-washy, but I like knowing that I’m not the only one in this spot. And, I know this because the app tells me that three other people, like Amy Tan, Ellen Degeneres, and Wallace Stevens, are just like me. Well, if they can get past that … you know the rest. I also learn that 9 percent of the Unstuck community is also having a “waffler” moment.
There’s an explanation of what it means to be a waffler, and I’m asked to confirm if this really sounds like me. I clicked yes, but when you click “no,” you get to start over, save and start a new stuck moment, or keep going. You also get a few tips.
Step Seven
This is where the work really begins as I’m asked to select a tool to help fix my flip-floppy self. But, first, I’m greeted by a lovely note that tells me not to give up and that change is a process. I’m also encouraged to be creative. I’m so in love with this app!
And, it loves me back by telling me to Take a stand, a.k.a., make a decision.
The next three steps really help you to do just that. It’s a very simple process, but that’s the beauty of it. It makes you think things through and gives you several tools (e.g., Map it out, Get your game on, Shake up your routine) so that you’re not just muddling through. If you don’t think that you’re quite through the woods, you can try out other tools.
So far, Unstuck seems different from all other project motivation apps I’ve seen. It seems to ask the right questions and help you to really think through your next steps. It’s similar to having a mentor or coach.
Could this app help you make life-altering decisions? Maybe. Could you get a few steps closer to a project’s goals? Definitely.
And, just to be clear, Unstuck didn’t pay me or reward me in any way for writing this post. I’m just really fond of it and think it can help anyone who is stuck on a project or problem.
New additions to the Unclutterer family: Introducing Deb Lee
We are happy to announce that two writers are joining our content team here at Unclutterer. Starting today, there will be three active voices bringing you advice, reviews, inspiration, and a little bit of humor regarding home, office, and life uncluttering and organizing. Twice a week, Deb Lee will bring her seasoned perspective to the site (she’s a phenomenal professional organizer who knocks my socks off with her depth and breadth of knowledge about how people can improve their lives with order). And, twice a month, Dave Caolo will share his wit and wisdom (he’s a technology wizard who has helped me improve my digital organization more than any other writer out there). I’ll still be here, too, rounding out the content team.
I really respect the work Deb and Dave do and I’m thrilled you’ll be able to get to know their work. In case you aren’t already familiar with them, they have written brief introductions to let you know a bit about themselves. Deb’s is below, and Dave’s will run on Thursday. Welcome, Deb and Dave.
The fabulous Deb Lee
Hello, I’m Deb and I’ve been anal retentive for, well, forever. I thought I’d open with a joke, but it’s really true, most people would describe me as anal retentive. I’m kind of like the husband in Sleeping With The Enemy, but without the evil, violent, murderer traits.
If my name seems familiar, it might be because Erin has mentioned me in a few blog posts. We became friends through the Washington, D.C., chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, of which we’re both members.
As a professional organizer, I help people kick clutter in the arse and manage their time better. I’m also a first-time mom and I’m learning that all my plans for staying organized are much more difficult with a new baby in the house. This transition into parenthood hasn’t been so easy for a Type-A personality like me, and there have been many times the past few months when the control freak in me has needed a time out.
Although I’m personally obsessed with being organized, I’m not judgmental about how other people are. Being organized works best for me and my life. I enjoy being organized so much, though, that I love to help others who are interested in being organized with their lives, too.
Ok, so now that you know a little about me, tell me more about you.
Five tasks to keep your Monday morning productive
Monday mornings can be tough, especially rainy ones like we’re having in the Mid-Atlantic this morning. Instead of wasting away your morning, try these simple five tasks to keep your productivity from stalling:
- Read and sort any stray emails that somehow went unread and processed last Friday when you were thinking about your upcoming weekend.
- Inspect your rain gear — umbrellas, boots, rain coats, compact poncho — and look for any damages, proper size and fit, unnecessary duplicate items, etc. Weed out anything that is past its prime, donate to charity any unnecessary duplicate items (if you’re a house of one, do you really need seven umbrellas?), and properly store what you choose to keep.
- Thoroughly review your to-do list/next action items list. Cross off any tasks that have been completed or are now obsolete. Add any items you’ve forgotten to write down before now. Do that thing where you write down something you’ve already done and then immediately cross it off so you get an immediate sense of accomplishment (I know I can’t be the only one who does this). Finally, schedule on your calendar any actions that need to take place at a certain time.
- Make the phone call you’ve been procrastinating making.
- Look at the time, and then give yourself 10 minutes to get a second cup of tea or coffee and ask your coworker if he/she saw the Capitals lose to the Rangers this past weekend (or whatever small talk interests you and your colleagues/friends). When the 10 minutes is up, head back to your desk and start chugging away at your to-do list/next action items list you recently updated (and on that cup of coffee).
A year ago on Unclutterer
2010
- Book review: Stuff
Hoarding specialists Randy Frost and Gail Steketee recently published Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things that explores the psychological world of hoarding. In the book, the components of the disorder are explained through case studies, and the authors also provide many examples to illustrate where a hoarder’s actions diverge from those of a healthy individual. - Parting with sentimental clutter
We all struggle with sentimental clutter, not just hoarders, and the authors of the book Stuff explain why on page 45: “We can’t help but imagine that some essence of the person or the event symbolized by the objects will magically rub off and become part of us.” - Unitasker Wednesday: Tu-Go Travel Coffee Cup Holder
A decade ago, I might have looked at the Tu-Go Travel Coffee Cup Holder and not considered it for our weekly unitasker feature. But now, thanks to security measures at the airport, I can’t even imagine when a person would have the opportunity to use this. - Weigh in: How do you store the tiniest toys in your child’s playroom
Reader Stephanie is in the process of making over her children’s playroom and wrote to me asking for some organizing help. She is specifically having problems finding ways to store those small, easily misplaced, choke-able pieces of games and toys. She has tried using zip-top bags with very little success and wants a more visually pleasing solution.
2009
- Not getting things done? Try WSD
WSD = Find something to write on. Find something to write with. Finally, and most importantly, WRITE STUFF DOWN. - Hinge hooks
Recently, I learned about these simple hooks that fit over the pins of door hinges. You pull out your hinge’s pins, slip the hook onto the hinge, and then slide the hinge pin back into place. - Tipke Marine Fold-It Utility Cart
A folding wheelbarrow can save space in the garage or shed.
2008
- Built’s cargo laptop sleeve
Built’s new Cargo Laptop Sleeve is made from neoprene and also includes some very useful pockets to store computer accessories.
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Workspace of the Week: Lots of necessary equipment in a fixed space
This week’s Workspace of the Week is Lpvisuals’ computer workstation:
No doubt about it, there is a lot of equipment in this workstation. A setup like this, however, is very common for help desk employees, IT managers, website designers, network security officers, programmers, and quality assurance testers who have to solve problems on numerous computer systems but who work in traditional office environments. They’re given a small desk that is built into the walls, and then must fit their equipment into the space that is provided as if it’s a game of Tetris. Keeping a desk with this much equipment clutter-free and organized can be a tremendous task, and Lpvisuals does it very well. Taking advantage of the arch area of the desk is a good idea, as it reduces time switching between the different platforms. Since there is so much equipment, it’s wise of Lpvisuals to keep the personal items to a minimum to reduce even more visual distractions. Thank you, Lpvisuals, for submitting your office to our Flickr pool — it’s a terrific reminder that a streamlined workspace can be had even if you need a lot of equipment to do your job.
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.
An uncluttered plunger, really
Every once in awhile, I’m truly impressed by what a product can do. The first time I used the Shazam application on my iPhone, I was in disbelief for hours (to this day, if someone told me magic is involved in its operation, I wouldn’t be surprised). I had a similar reaction when I saw a demonstration at the National Association of Professional Organizer’s conference of the new Rubbermaid Clean and Dry Plunger (yes, you just read that correctly, I was impressed by a toilet plunger … and you probably will be, too):
I didn’t over-sell that, right? The plunger has a NeverWet coating on it that prevents anything — water, bacteria, whatever else is in your toilet — from sticking to it. (NeverWet is like Rain-X on steroids, because it repels even more than water.) Which means that after you plunge your toilet, you can’t drip dirty water onto your floor or spread germs to the area where you store your plunger. Oils from your hands can destroy the NeverWet coating, so you can’t touch the plunger, but I’m not really sure that is something people usually do, anyway.
I’ll be honest, I never expected to be dazzled by a toilet plunger, but life is interesting that way. As far as uncluttered home maintenance products go, a plunger that doesn’t drip toilet water through my bathroom or spread germs is an advancement I can support.
And, once again, it should go without saying, but Rubbermaid did not pay me or give me anything to write this post. I sincerely just think it’s awesome.
Unitasker Wednesday: The KAZeKUP
All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!
We talk a lot on Unclutterer about honoring the things you choose to keep in your life. Put these things up on a (proverbial) pedestal and enjoy the items you value and treasure. But … the KAZeKUP isn’t really what we had in mind:
If you’re someone who goes to the beach every sunny day during the summer and who doesn’t like to twist your cup into the sand to make a drink holder out of nature, today’s item might not be a unitasker for you. For most of us, however, who only spend a few hours each summer lounging on a beach, this monument to drink holding is probably unnecessary. The pole is pretty long and the holder (as is evident in the picture) is significant enough in size to be able to support a Big Gulp. It’s not a small device; the KAZeKUP is the Olympic Torch of drink holders.
If you’re worried about high tide filling your drink with sea water, I recommend doing what I do and put your drink into your cooler during these brief expanses of time. Anyway, high tide is surfing time — you don’t want your drink to get warm while you’re out on the waves.
Thanks to reader Patty who introduced us to an entire series of beach drink holders. We didn’t even know our cups dug in the sand were uncool.
A year ago on Unclutterer
2010
- Using dynamicFRAMES for children’s artwork
Parents often write to me and ask how they can organize their children’s artwork so that it doesn’t overwhelm every vertical surface in their homes. I usually suggest purchasing an art gallery system and rotating works through dynamicFRAMES.
2009
- Dusting tips
If you struggle with dust, learn how to keep it under control. - DIY note card task board
Follow Brian’s instructions to create a note card task board for less than $10.
2008
- Unitasker Wednesday: Cotton candy maker
Some foods weren’t meant to be made at home. - Rock Band clutter: A possible solution
A decent Rock Band stand for all of your numerous Rock Band controllers.
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Uncluttered gift ideas for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is this weekend (May 13) and although flowers and plants are usually an appreciated and safe gift, you may be thinking outside the (flower) box this year. If you’re still looking for ideas, consider giving an uncluttered gift:
- Consumables. If you know she loves them, get her fancy chocolates, coffee beans, teas, or another treat.
- Services. Take her car to be detailed, have the oil changed, and fill up the tank. Get her a gift certificate to a renowned spa for a pedicure or massage. Treat her to dinner at her favorite restaurant.
- Adventures. In my opinion, spending time with someone is an amazing gift. Take a weekend vacation to a relaxing getaway. Make a date to go on a hike through a local state park. Surprise her with tickets to the opera or to hear a band she likes or to a sporting event she enjoys.
- Wants. Listen for hints about gifts she would use. Does she want a new Chef’s knife? Has she told you five times she’s in the market for new sunglasses? Has she been talking nonstop about wanting a Kindle? Does she have a board on Pinterest called “Please Buy This for Me”? (If so, you should check there.)
What uncluttered gifts are you thinking about getting for the moms in your life this coming Mother’s Day? I bought my mom an adventure gift (we’re going to take a much needed vacation together later this year), my mother-in-law’s gift is still a secret (sorry, no spoilers here!) and I’m pretty certain my husband and son are getting me a physical gift I really want (new earphones, to wear while I run and work, as my beloved pair bit the dust last week).
Also, check out all of our previous Gift Giving Guides for even more uncluttered suggestions.
Image of the Golden Gate Bonsai from Calyx Flowers.
Do your spaces reflect what matters most to you?
My friend Brittany (whom I’ve mentioned so many times on this site that I’m starting to think I need to add her to our About page) sent me a link to the following video, which I’ve found to be incredibly inspiring. As an unclutterer, there are numerous things that caught my attention with this piece and I want you to see it, too. This is a video that fashion icon Anna Dello Russo recently made for the clothing store H&M:
Dello Russo’s home is a perfect example of what I refer to when I say, “it’s important to clear the clutter so you can focus on what is important to you.” What is important to Anna Dello Russo? Fashion and, specifically accessories. Her place has a lot of accessories — more than I’ve ever seen in an individual collection — yet her home is completely uncluttered, simple, elegant. She doesn’t have anything in her home that detracts from her passion for accessories. Even the books on her bookshelf exist to provide her inspiration for new accessories and outfits. And, she is truly organized. Everything has a place, and everything is in its place.
Did you notice the descriptions she has written on her shoe boxes? Did you see how she keeps the packaging for her tights and carefully returns each pair to that packaging when she’s finished wearing them? Did you see how few clothes she actually owns? My guess is that she is a loyal follower of the one-in-one-out rule for her garments. Her purses and clutches are lined up in beautiful rows, and it’s obvious she knows exactly where each piece of jewelry is located in her home.
My favorite thing about this space is how it represents her love for accessories and that love is directly reflected in the decor of each room. She has some artwork on the walls, but mostly she lets the bracelets and hats and other items be the artwork. This is a woman who knows exactly what matters to her and doesn’t let anything distract her from her passion.
What matters most to you? Have you made room in your life for whatever it is you love? Have you cleared the clutter, the distractions, so you can spend more time focused on what matters to you? Do your spaces reflect who you are and what you love as well as Anna Dello Russo’s do?
A year ago on Unclutterer
2011
- Book review: Keeping It Straight
Keeping It Straight — You, Me, and Everything Else by Patrick Rhone is a digital book that is part memoir, part simple living and productivity guide, which through a collection of short essays addresses clearing clutter from your life to greater experience happiness. - Unitasker Wednesday: Lawn Stryper
No matter how many times I read the product description I couldn’t figure out what the Lawn Stryper does. - April resolution wrap up and an introduction of May’s resolution
For May, my public resolution is to be more mindful and deliberate about my media intake. I’m not against television, magazines, newspapers, or the internet (obviously), I think they are wonderful forms of entertainment, education, and information distribution. I’ve simply realized that it is more difficult for me to disconnect from media now than it once was, and this doesn’t sit well with me.
2010
- Celebrity minimalist: Vincent Kartheiser
Actor Vincent Kartheiser plays the loathsome Pete Campbell on the hit television show Mad Men, and he does it extremely well. (In fact, he does it so well, I can’t watch the show because I truly disdain his character.) In addition to being a great actor, he also appears to be in the running for the most extreme minimalist celebrity in Hollywood. - Organizing and uncluttering as entertainment
If organizing and uncluttering are fun as games, why are these same activities considered chores in our homes and offices? Why don’t we look forward to putting things away? Why is cleaning up after a dinner party never as much fun as setting up? - Unitasker Wednesday: Snap On Bottle Tops
When you’re drinking soda pop out of a can, do you really wish you were drinking it out of a bottle? Is a 12 oz. soft drink just the right size, and 20 oz. way too much? Sure, you could buy a 20 oz. bottle, drink only the amount you want, and save the rest for later — but we both know that would be too easy! - Workspace of the Week: Outdoor office retreat
This week’s Workspace of the Week is NomadJim’s tropical paradise.
2009
- Let board games multitask as artwork
Board games can be stored on the wall instead of just in the closet. - 35 luxury notebooks to organize your life
If you’re a traditional pen and paper notebook aficionado, then this exhaustive list of notebooks will get you headed in the right direction. - Unitasker Wednesday: Spin the Bottle Game
The Electronic Spin the Bottle Game isn’t your parents’ empty bottle. - An alternative to parchment paper
For less that what you will spend in a year on parchment paper, you can buy two reusable Silpat silicone baking mats — and save space, too, in your pantry.
2008
- Unitasker Wednesday: The Dough-Nu-Matic
If you are addicted to freshly deep fried doughnuts, now you can have your cravings quelled by investing in the Dough-Nu-Matic. - How to digitally encode VHS home movies
Instructions on how to create digital files of VHS home movies.
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Workspace of the Week: Personal practical
This week’s Workspace of the Week is NeverMindTheEnd’s glossy white home office:
This home office is a wonderful example of a highly utilitarian space that feels very comfortable and personalized, without any clutter distracting the desk’s user. A mail sorter provides a space to hold a small notebook and mobile phone. The teapot, powdered milk container, and mug are likely used daily (or even multiple times during the day) to keep NeverMindTheEnd productive and happy. I also really like the open bookshelf, that keeps resources handy and looks attractive. The artwork (which appears to be on the theme of Duluth, Minnesota) is hung high enough on the walls so as not to interfere with the visual focus on the monitor, but still provides character to the room. This is a terrific space, and we thank NeverMindTheEnd for sharing it with us.
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.
Start a full-room organizing project with a blank canvas
Earlier this week, our landlord brought in floor layers to pull up the carpet in our master bedroom and replace it with wood flooring. This meant we had to get everything except for the bed frame and mattress out of the room so the flooring guys could work their magic.
Once the crew finished, we moved our dresser, alarm clock, lamps, nightstand, and a bench back into the room. Then, we made the bed, rolled out a new area rug, and stopped moving things back into the space. We didn’t move anything else back into the room because we loved the way it felt with nothing else in there. Without clutter and extraneous furniture, our bedroom felt calm and relaxing again. When talking to each other about the room, my husband and I have used the words refuge and retreat numerous times to describe it. Now, we’re in the process of finding new homes for all the other things that were in the room, such as we moved the hamper to the bathroom, relocated family photographs and books to the bookshelf in the living room, and took a box of charity donations to Goodwill. We were surprised by the amount of stuff that was living in our bedroom that we didn’t want to have in there.
This exercise was a good reminder that there are significant advantages to moving everything out of a space as the first step of a full-room uncluttering and organizing project. When you remove everything, you get to see the bare bones of the room. Additionally, you can bring items one-by-one back into a space to decide if you really want something in that room and be attuned to its presence and its best place. It’s also immediately obvious when a room looks and feels the way you want it to, and you know that everything outside the room needs to be trashed/recycled/donated/relocated because it doesn’t belong in the room.
When you’re uncluttering and organizing a full room, keep these questions in mind once the room is empty:
- Structurally, does any repair work need to be completed in the room? Do walls need to be painted? Do floorboards need to be cleaned? Do any holes need to be patched or cobwebs vacuumed?
- What are the purposes of this room? What are my goals for this space?
- Is the large furniture in its best place? Should the furniture be rearranged?
- Does all of the furniture need to come back into this space? Why? How does each piece of furniture help me to achieve the goals for this space?
- Do the decorative elements in this room add or detract from the purposes of this room? Do they inspire me? Do I find them beautiful?
- Do the other items that are going into this room belong in this room? Is this the best place for these items to live? Do I need these items to meet the goals of this room?
- Are items placed where I use them? Is there a place for everything, and is everything in its place?
- Once the room is set, decide if the items that didn’t make it back into the room need to be trashed, recycled, donated, or relocated. Be careful not to let the clutter from one room become clutter in another room.
If you don’t have the space in your home to temporarily hold all the furniture and items of another room, set down a tarp in your yard or driveway and move your things outside (obviously, only do this in good weather). If you’re in an apartment or condo, give your neighbors a head’s up, and then take over the hallway for a few hours. I’ve found that when you use a space outside your home as a temporary holding location, you’re motivated to work quickly and efficiently, which is also a good thing.
The image above is not of our bedroom, but it certainly represents how our room feels to me now.
Unitasker Wednesday: Cupcake Corer
All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!
This week’s selection sincerely leaves me asking a lot of questions. What horrible event could have possibly happened to someone to make him want to punish cupcakes and those who love to eat them? Why would anyone want there to be LESS cupcake? A cupcake is not an oil field — why would anyone drill into a cupcake? What lurks in the hearts of those who want to ruin (RUIN!!) cupcakes with the Cuisipro Cupcake Corer:
Okay, maybe (but it’s a very unlikely maybe) I’m a bit biased against the Cupcake Corer because I don’t like frosting. (Except for cream cheese frosting, which I’ll tolerate on a red velvet cupcake.) But even people who like all types of frosting still like the cake element of the cupcake. No one would order a cupcake in a bakery and ask the clerk to, “hold the cupcake.” It’s not as if frosting lovers are looking for ways for there to be more frosting in a cupcake, because all they have to do is pile even more on top.
On the plus side, this thing is relatively inexpensive, cleans easily in the dishwasher, and doesn’t take up space. However, a multipurpose melon baller (which I use to core apples, make cheese ball appetizers, scoop seeds out of bell peppers and jalapenos, and more) could ruin a cupcake in the same way — and you probably already own one of those.
I simply don’t get it. Cupcakes should not be mutilated! Give us the entire cupcake!
Thanks to readers Michele and Stella who sent us this cupcake violater.
