Archives for August 2012
Workspace of the Week: Beauty and functionality in a shared, multi-use space
This week’s Workspace of the Week is Ichirorabbit’s shared home office and music room:
There isn’t much to say about this office that the images don’t say themselves. Using furniture from Ikea, Ichirorabbit has created an amazingly well organized and highly functional shared office. I also love the creative use of the floating shelves. This office is impressive on numerous levels. Thank you, Icirorabbit, for sharing your workspace 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.
Eight ways to cut clutter from your communication
For anyone who’s met me, they know I’m a talker. And, a fast one, too, especially when I’m excited or nervous. The words seem to get bottled up behind my teeth and like bubbles in a shaken soda can, they try to burst out all at once. The result is usually that the person I’m talking to gets a perplexed look on his/her face and I’m asked to repeat myself (slowly, of course). Other emotions can take over, too. For instance, if I’m feeling particularly testy, it’s helpful to wait until I’m in more positive frame of mind before engaging me in conversations (whether in person, on the phone, or via email/text message).
Controlling your emotions so that you can get down to the basics of what you want to say doesn’t have to be difficult, though. All you will likely need is a strategy or two, along with some practice, to help you communicate more clearly and keep conversations uncluttered.
Before figuring out what you want to say, first …
Recognize your triggers
As I mentioned, when my nerves or enthusiasm get the best of me (or both at the same time!), I know I need to take things a bit more slowly. If you make a point of focusing on how you’re feeling at specific times, you’ll be able to decipher which situations make you the most anxious (like public speaking or asking for a raise) so that you can come up with some strategies to remain calm and in control of what you say and how well you say it.
Think about what you want to say
If you have to opportunity to craft a message ahead of time (like when writing an email/letter or leaving a voice message), take it. You’ll be able to gather your thoughts and really think about what you want to say before your say it (even if you’re saying it electronically). This is especially true if you’re annoyed or angry. In those situations, it’s best to wait until you’re feeling more positive, as you run the risk of saying something that you may regret and are unable to retract if you type when you’re mad.
Stay in the moment
Sometimes we trip ourselves up by focusing on things other than our conversation, like what the person we’re talking to thinks about us (like during a job interview). Just like multi-tasking can leave you feeling a bit scattered, so can shifting back and forth from the key points that you’re trying to make. If you start worrying about the impression you’re making, you could find yourself grasping for words, lose focus, and you might not come across the way you intend. Instead, stay in the moment, keep your attention on your discussion, and …
Breathe deeply
… from your diaphram. When you’re feeling nervous and tense, diaphragmatic breathing allows you to take in more oxygen and helps you to relax. This is also a useful technique for the moments leading up to a group presentation, report, or interview. Taking deep breaths will give you some time to think rationally, to put things in perspective, and solidify your talking points.
Rehearse
To get more comfortable with what you want to say, do a trial run, if possible. Say it out loud (and/or record yourself) to hear how you sound. Does your pitch increase or decrease drastically? Are you speaking too quickly or slowly? Does a nervous laugh pop up? Rehearsing can help you fine tune what you want to say in a natural way. It can also help to practice in front of a mirror or with a friend who can give you objective feedback and suggestions for improvement. Recording yourself and playing it back can also be helpful.
Gather pertinent information
You may feel pressured to respond to emails immediately, particularly if the sender indicates they need a quick reply. You could send multiple messages — one that says you received their email, another that actually shares the needed information, and a final follow up. Or, you could gather all the data you need before replying. This will save you some time and reduce inbox clutter.
Block distractions
One way to reduce distractions when you’re on an important phone call is to turn off your call-waiting notification. Turning off call waiting is like turning off email notifications. Both tempt you to stop fully attending to the person you’re talking to, and can make you lose your train of thought (especially when you take your mobile phone from your ear to see who’s calling).
Maintain a positive attitude
Saying the right thing at the right time is important. But, rather than focusing on how poorly you may be feeling, turn your mood around by holding on to your sense of humor and focusing on solutions. Choose strategies that help you feel more comfortable so that you can communicate well.
The less clutter you put out in your communications, typically the less clutter you receive in response.
Unitasker Wednesday: Chef’n Grapefruiter Citrus Sectioning Tool
All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!
Remember Dave’s recent post about not needing to swat a fly with a Buick? I think this week’s unitasker could have been featured as the poster child for that concept. It’s a whole-lotta tool for not-a-lotta job. Introducing the Chef’n Grapefruiter Citrus Sectioning Tool:
If you’re like me and have no idea how someone might use this device, let me direct you to a YouTube video demonstrating how to use the Chef’n Grapefruiter Citrus Sectioning Tool. Careful observation of this video will have you noticing the grapefruit had to first be cut in half with a knife. So, to use the Citrus Sectioning Tool you have to dirty it and a knife … a knife that could easily do the exact same thing. A knife that you already own. A knife that doesn’t have an extra -er tagged onto the end of it for some unknown reason — Grapefruiter?
In case you’ve never sectioned a grapefruit (or orange or one of those cross-breed citrus fruits), check out this other YouTube video demonstrating the simple method I was taught as a child to section a grapefruit with a knife. And, you’ll notice in my preferred method, you can also julienne the sections and dice them and do more fancy things and not call the tool a knifer!
I’m sure the unitasker does a nice job and sections grapefruiter exactly as it describes, but it’s one of those devices that only duplicates one of the thousands of actions you can easily perform with a knife.
Finally, thanks to reader Jillian for bringing this device to our attention.
A year ago on Unclutterer
2010
- Workspace of the Week: High-end modern study
Johannes Bosgra’s home study is a model of how to create an elegant and minimal high-end workspace. - Self-imposed technical limitations in music production can hurt so good
Who says you can’t produce brilliant albums with a single microphone direct-to-tape?
2009
- Link week
My first link of the day is to a book review professional organizer Julie Bestry wrote about “Everything I Know About Perfectionism I Learned from My Breasts.” This book, written by the talented organizer Debbie Jordan Kravitz, has been on my to-read list for months but I haven’t yet reached it in the pile. Julie’s review of Debbie’s book, however, has convinced me to jump it ahead on my list. And, since it persuaded me to read the book, I thought it was a review you might wish to read as well. - Alternative uses for colanders
Not only does knowing how to properly use your kitchen utensils save you time, space, and money, but knowing additional uses for your utensils can have the same effect.
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Hurricane organization: Lessons for creating other organizing systems
Back in August 1995, hurricane Erin hit Florida. Erin may sound familiar to you because although she wasn’t an extremely powerful hurricane (at its strongest in the Gulf, it was only a Category 2), she had a lot of media attention for being the first hurricane to land in the U.S. after Andrew.
Since hurricane Erin and I shared a name, I watched weather reports about the storm with great interest. I learned a lot about tropical cyclones and hurricanes from that news cycle, and have continued to learn more about these types of storms in the following years. With Isaac currently hitting US shores, I’ve become quite interested in learning about how hurricanes form — specifically, with learning how hurricanes organize.
When talking about organizing physical possessions, you probably think about creating unified systems for storing items and making quick work of retrieving items from the system. Surprisingly, hurricanes also go through an organizing process when developing strength. Before becoming a hurricane, these weather systems are actually numerous thunderstorms coming off the African continent. When they group together and start swirling around each other, they become a tropical cyclone. And, finally, when they fully consolidate and organize is when they turn into a hurricane. The more organized the hurricane, the more powerful it is. Conversely, the less organized the storms within the hurricane, the less powerful it is.
Obviously, hurricane formation is significantly more complicated than what I am explaining (air temperature, pressure, and other factors contribute to a hurricane’s strength), but this is the general idea. It’s as if numerous thunderstorms come together around a maypole, each taking a ribbon. If the storms move together as a unit at similar speeds around the maypole with equal distance from the maypole and maintain an orderly fashion, they will gain speed and strength and create a very powerful hurricane. If the individual thunderstorms move at different speeds and vary their distance from the maypole and bump into each other, they will be chaotic and lack speed and strength. One will look like a well-coordinated and vicious dance, while the other will look like a bunch of kids rough-housing on a playground. Neither scenario is safe, but the well-organized scenario is much more powerful and deadly because the strengths of all the thunderstorms are coordinating together.
For instance, look at these images of hurricane Katrina and hurricane Isaac — Katrina, on the left, was obviously the more powerful and more organized hurricane in comparison to Isaac, on the right. These images are from the NOAA and the side-by-side comparison is from WashingtonPost.com:
When creating organizing systems in your home and/or office, consider this concept of hurricane consolidation. A system that works in a coordinated effort and best meets your needs is going to be much more powerful and successful for you than a system with stray and wayward pieces that is haphazard and chaotic. Or, as we often say here on Unclutterer, when there is a place for everything and everything is in its place, you’ll have a simple time using and maintaining your organizing system.
To learn more about hurricanes, check out the video series by NASA that they created for middle- and high-school science classrooms: Atlantic Hurricanes with Dr. Jeff Halverson
If you’re in the path of hurricane Isaac, check out the following resources to be sure you’re prepared:
- The National Hurricane Center’s Preparedness Guide
- The American Red Cross’ newly launched Hurricane app and Shelter Finder app for Android and iPhone smartphones
- Metropolitan Organizing’s “Organizing an Emergency Pack“
- Unclutterer’s “Are you prepared for severe weather and natural disasters“
Review: Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Dry Erase Decals
We receive a lot of offers to test products and write reviews for the site, and we almost always decline. Very rarely do the items look like they would actually be useful. A few weeks ago, however, we got an offer from the Martha Stewart company to try out their new dry erase boards that looked like they might be useful, so we agreed to give them a try. I received the new Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Dry Erase Decals (free of cost from the manufacturer) to test out a few days later. Two of the key features are that they can stick to many surfaces (including walls, stainless steel, glass, and plastic) and they’re removable (and, therefore, can be repositioned as many times as you want).
At first glance, they look like giant gift labels (about the size of a piece of notebook paper), but they’re really a bit more than that. They can be used to write reminders, to do lists, a grocery list, or even a fun, positive quote for the day. Since I really like to handwrite lists, I was curious to see how well they would work.
I decided to use one of the decals for a task list and placed it in a location that was very visible (so that I would be reminded to use it) — on the glass window of the main entry door to our house. This was the perfect spot for me as I often remind myself to take things when I’m leaving home by putting them by that door. To remember everything on my list, all I had to do was snap a picture of it before heading out to run errands.
Here’s my to do list from last week:
I used the other label on the wall adjacent to my daughter’s room door. This time, I wrote down books I wanted to remember to buy for her. It could be used by older children (or their parents) to jot down updates to their schedule (like a change to an extracurricular event). Or, you could write the instructions for a new recipe or a note to call a client at a certain time. Perhaps you need a visual nudge that says, “Work on important project today!” (that could work well if the decal is placed by your workspace) or a happy face to help you get through an eventful day.
The decals were very easy to apply to both the glass window and wall, and I had no problem removing or repositioning them on either surface. It didn’t leave a residue or take off wall paint. The writing surface is very smooth and erasing was just as easy as using a typical dry erase board. They work well for capturing ideas and reminders, though you will need dry erase markers close by. I will be continuing to test the decals in my home office (to write future blog topics) as well as on the fridge (to write a grocery list). They seem to be a nice solution for someone living in an apartment with restrictions on nailing things into the wall. If you want to give them a try for your home, office, or dorm room, you can find them on Amazon and at Staples. They cost in the $3 to $5 price range and come in a variety of styles, which is relatively inexpensive especially in comparison to most traditional dry erase boards.
A year ago on Unclutterer
2011
- Unitasker Wednesday: FingerPickin Cocktail Picks
Except for spearing food to eat, the only other use I can conceive for the FingerPickin Cocktail Picks is accidentally poking out one’s eye with one.
2010
- What will be your legacy?
Sue DeRoos: “Everyone gets organized at some point, they just might not be around for it.” - Unitasker Wednesday: The Bacon Platter
Mmmmmmmm, bacon. Bacon is so yummy it deserves to be showcased! Let the world know you are serving bacon, glorious bacon, for breakfast with the awesome Bacon Platter! - The science of buying: Women are at the wheel
A She-Conomy article discusses Marti Barletta’s research in the book Marketing to Women and how when “men and women buy as partners, women control at least four out of five stages of the purchasing process.”
2009
- Cut the clutter
Knowing how to properly use a knife can save you time, money, and space. - Downloading digital sheet music
While at her local Nordstrom’s Department Store, my friend spotted the piano player using a MusicPad Pro for his sheet music. It’s a digital device, much like a Kindle, that can hook to a special music stand or be carted around like a single piece of sheet music. - Unitasker Wednesday: Extreme Bug Vacuum
If only there were clutter vacuums to suck up the absurd bug vacuum!
2008
- Streaming Netflix
While I’m waiting for the perfect Netflix player to come along Engadget is reporting that LG has a Blu-Ray player that will stream Netflix content.
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Ask Unclutterer: What to do with your cherished childhood comfort item when you become an adult?
Reader Emily submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:
I am having trouble letting go of my old worn out and resewn Pound Puppy stuffed animal that I have been told to cut up and burn due to allergies and asthma. What should I do with it now that I am thirty eight years old?
I think most of us have a favorite item from our childhood that has traveled the years into our adult lives. For me, it’s a small pillow I got when I moved into my big-girl bed. My husband has a stuffed animal that is missing an arm. My cousin has the tattered remains of a blue gingham blanket. These items provided comfort to us when we were scared or lonely or simply needed another guest at our tea parties.
As long as you don’t have a menagerie of these items taking up unnecessary space in your home, I see no harm in keeping your single favorite comfort item from your childhood. However, there are ways to keep the item without upsetting your allergies or asthma.
It’s more expensive then you might expect, but you can send your Pound Puppy to a stuffed animal repair hospital to be cleaned, restuffed, and repaired. Your Pound Puppy will look different, though, when it emerges from the hospital, so only go this route if you’re okay with your stuffed animal looking like new again. (My mother-in-law had my sister-in-law’s favorite doll repaired after some hair loss, and my sister-in-law was so traumatized she never touched the doll again.) Most importantly, after a makeover at the stuffed animal repair hospital, you should be able to keep and snuggle with your comfort item without having an allergic reaction.
If a restoration isn’t for you, I recommend retiring your comfort item to a display box. This way, you can still look at and admire your stuffed animal, but the dander on it will no longer upset your allergies and asthma. Before putting it into the display box, you may want to first have your Pound Puppy cleaned at a stuffed animal repair shop so the mites on the item don’t continue to feast on it. But, in this case, I wouldn’t go for the full-body makeover, just a cleaning.
If displaying your stuffed animal isn’t a priority, you may want to get an archival box to store your item in for the longterm. Again, you’ll likely want to have the item cleaned before going into storage. Once in the archival box, you can place it in a plastic bin to keep other pests from invading your cherished friend.
Clutter is anything that gets in the way of the life you want to live. In this case, I think the mites and dander on the Pound Puppy are the problem, not the Pound Puppy. I also think that if you got rid of the comfort item entirely, you’d likely spend a significant amount of time regretting your decision and having that regret clutter up your thoughts.
Thank you, Emily, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Please check the comment section for even more ideas from our readers.
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.
Put the Internet to work for you with IFTTT
“Weren’t computers supposed to make our lives easier?” How often have you heard that question in a sarcastic or exasperated tone? The answer is simple, but unexpected. First of all, yes, computers are meant to make our lives easier. But, the reason it often seems they don’t is because computers are dumb. That is to say, they are machines and can only do what we tell time to do.
That can be a hindrance, such as when you can’t figure out the steps necessary to accomplish a task. But it’s also out greatest asset, especially when the steps are simple, clear and effective. One of the best examples I can think of is automation, and my favorite automation tool is something called IFTTT.
Automate Tasks with IFTTT
IFTTT stands for If This, Then That. You can use it to build actions, or recipes, to accomplish tasks for you. A recipe consists of two steps. The second step is triggered when — and only when — the first steps happens. To put it plainly:
If [this happens], then [do this other thing].
Creating Recipes
Let’s look at a few examples to get a feel for it. I post lots of photos to Facebook. I also like to maintain an archive of those photos outside of Facebook, for posterity and as a backup. I could do so manually, dragging each one to my desktop and then into an app like Evernote. It’s not a hassle, but I’m likely to forget a step. Instead, I have IFTTT do it for me. After signing up for a free account, I’m ready to make recipes. Here’s how:
- Click Create a Recipe.
- A new screen appears with “ifthisthenthat” in bold letters. Note that “this” is a link. Click it.
- Time to pick step one! This is the “thing” that must happen in order for step two to take place. Click “Facebook,” and give IFTTT permission to access it.
- Choose your Trigger. This is the thing Facebook must “do” in order to trigger step two. In this example, I choose “you upload a new photo.” Click Create Trigger to confirm.
- We’re back to those bold letters, but now the Facebook logo has replaced “this.” Click “that.”
- Choose your action from the grid. In our case, Evernote.
- Click “create image note from URL.”
- Finally, click “create action,” confirm that you see “if [Facebook] then [Evernote]”, click “create recipe” and you’re done!
Now, every time I post a photo to Facebook, it’s added to my Evernote account. It doesn’t matter if I use my phone, computer or camera. Off the image goes to Evernote, saving me time.
Using an Existing Recipe
If you like the idea of the service but don’t want to make recipes, that’s no problem. There are hundreds of recipes to choose from, all ready to go. Some popular ones include:
- Send an email message to Evernote.
- Get updates on what’s new on Netflix.
- Receive the day’s weather forecast as a text message.
- Receive an email if it’s going to rain, reminding you to pack an umbrella.
- Send starred RSS items to Evernote or Pocket for later reading.
It goes on and on. There’s so much you can do, from receiving or sending reminders, watching certain feeds for changes or, my favorite, completing mundane and time-consuming tasks automatically. Create an IFTTT account, start cooking recipes and see what you can do.
Unitasker Wednesday: Nail Protection Clamps
All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!
Today’s Unitasker Wednesday post is a post you won’t want to miss. In this very special episode, or, uh, very special post, we’ll explore the serious issue of fingernail polish smudges.
This post diverges from our regular unitaskery tone, and parental discretion is advised.
Do you sometimes smudge your nail polish after you paint your fingernails? When you smudge your polish, do you experience physical pain or significant financial burden? Even though you just painted your nails, are you somehow rendered incapable of touching up the smudge because of a phobia or a deal you made with your grandmother on her deathbed where you promised to never touch up smudged nails? Do you have a compulsion with smudging up your nail polish when it’s wet and feel you are out of control? Do you long to look completely ridiculous after you paint your fingernails?
If you or someone you love answered yes to any of these questions, it might be time for you to have a confidential talk to your manicurist about Nail Protection Clamps:
These clamps, which look suspiciously like hair clamps with giant plastic fingernails attached to them, are intended to protect your nails from smudges. In all seriousness, no, really, I’m being serious. Very serious. Amazon reviewer Lainey points out the exact problem I imagined these would have when in use: “they’re 2-3 times the size of your nails so you’re 2-3 times as likely to hit them on something.” Right?! So instead of a ding, you then would have a giant smudge on your nails where the Nail Protection Clamp ruined your polish. Which means, you need a device to protect you from the Protection Clamps! Protection Clamps from your Protection Clamps! Ooooooh, I can already see another very special post in the works …
So, the moral of this very special post (all very special posts have moral lessons) is to stop inhaling nail polish fumes or something equally important and very valuable. Whatever the lesson, you should talk it over with your parents or call a hotline or learn more from your local library. Oh yes, you should definitely go to your local library to learn more about the serious issue of nail polish smudges.
Thanks to reader Magic for submitting this very special unitasker to us. It was very special.
A year ago on Unclutterer
2011
- Unitasker Wednesday: S’more s’mores!
Today is National S’mores Day … so we must feature even s’more unitaskers! - Workspace of the week: Cables contained
This week’s Workspace of the Week is JoyMystic’s beautifully wired desk. - Ask Unclutterer: Traveling with jewelry
Reader Katie is looking for a way to keep her jewelry organized when she travels.
2010
- New office products: Antimicrobial file folders and bookmark index cards
My friend and professional organizer Julie Bestry recently headed to Office Depot to see what is new in the back-to-school supplies section. Her recap of the adventure introduced me to two new types of organizing products I wanted to pass along to you. - Unitasker Wednesday: The Mayo Knife — Spreader
I think my favorite part about this unitasker is how it mentions an alternative multitasking object that can do the job just as well in the product’s name. The name of the product reminds you about a knife! A knife you already own! A knife that makes this product completely unnecessary! - Ask Unclutterer: Trash or treasure old stuffed animals?
Reader Kay wants to know what she should do with all of her old stuffed animals that have been in storage for decades in cardboard boxes in her basement. - Marketing to Unclutterers-In-Name-Only
Regardless of if you have read or your opinion of Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Eat, Pray, Love and the recently released movie of the same name, the show Marketplace on National Public Radio had a very poignant piece this Friday about the business, marketing, and branding of simplification and uncluttering. - Unitasker Wednesday: The bananarama continues
We’ve written in the past about the Banana Saver and the Banana Slicer, but did you know you could also get your hands on so many more banana unitaskers? - Simplifying packed lunches
Reader Jon wrote to us asking if we had any tips for preparing lunches at home that he can take to eat at work. He has been spending $100 a week on eating out at restaurants, and is hoping to become someone who brings his lunches to work. Since students are already back in the classroom in many states, and other students are getting ready to go, I thought now would be a great time to discuss the humble brown bag lunch.
2009
- Storing small memory cards
Do you have multiple games that are stored on small discs or do you carry small cards for work or your camera? How do you keep them stored in a safe and organized fashion? - Ask Unclutterer: Organizing hair styling doo-dads
I have a 9-yr-old girl with long hair. She has zillions of barrettes, headbands, clips, bobby pins, etc. and I need some good ideas how to organize these! Any suggestions?? - To-Do Tattoos
You can be sure your child makes it wherever he needs to go with everything on his list. It’s novel, and I like when organizing can be fun. - Does uncluttered have to mean symmetrical?
When organizing and decorating your spaces, do you tend toward symmetry in design or do you seek out the one item that pleases you the most? - Keeping your personal brand organized: An interview with Dan Schawbel
Since we talk about office organizing quite a bit on Unclutterer, I thought it might be fun to instead let the magazine’s editor, Dan Schawbel, talk to us about a topic he knows in great detail and one that we rarely discuss on the site — personal branding. - Nesting cookware for camping
I want to introduce you to the MSR Flex 4 System Cookset. - Unitasker Wednesday: Lem-O Saver
So you have a lemon, and you only want to use half of it? Wow. Now that is a conundrum.
2008
- Unitasker Wednesday: Kool dogz ice treat maker
With the Kool Dogz Ice Treat Maker a dog owner can now make a huge ice block for their pooch with this six piece ice making set up. - Interview with organizing legend Julie Morgenstern
Unclutterer interviews Julie Morgenstern about her latest book. - Keep the stroller at home
Having to lug a car seat and stroller through the airport isn’t a very fun experience. - Hangers, hangers, hangers!
I’m sure our readers have many differing opinions on what the best hanger is, but I’ll highlight a few options. - Clearing mind chatter
When mind clutter takes over your thoughts, what can you do to gain control and refocus? - Make your kitchen magnetic
The managing editor of cookthink.com shares with us ideas for saving space with magnets in your kitchen. - Unclutterer on Carrie and Danielle’s Style Statement website
Danielle LaPorte interviews Erin on the Style Statement website.
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Miscellaneous papers can wreak havoc with your filing system
Managing paper is often a reason I’m called in to help clients. They are usually frustrated by growing paper piles and, almost always, there is a Miscellaneous (MISC) file among the piles. The MISC file is like a junk drawer for a diverse set of papers they’re not sure how to process.
When files are labeled MISC, it’s difficult to figure out (and find) what is inside because the label is broad and encompasses several categories. This will ultimately slow you down when you need to retrieve information, and on days when things are hectic and particularly fast-paced, you can quickly get frustrated. So, why are MISC files created so often? Perhaps because it’s easier to put everything in one general file than making more complex decisions. Figuring out what to do takes time and some decision making, like what to keep and what to recycle/shred, what categories to use, and making room for new items.
To banish that catch-all file and make deciding what to do a little easier, follow these steps. Of course, not every system will work for everyone, but this three-step process will at least get you thinking about creating one that will work for you.
- Ask yourself a few questions. Before you decide where to put a specific piece of paper, decide if you actually need that piece of paper. Can you access it in some other way (internet, a digital scanned copy)? How long has it been since you last referred to that document? Does the responsibility of storing it still lie with you or does it now belong to someone else or another department?
- Determine the next action needed. Once you’ve decided which papers you need to keep, these papers will need a permanent living space (just like everything else in your home or office). Think about the next action that needs to be taken so that you can determine the paper’s category. Do you need to make a follow up call to a client? Pay a bill? Edit a manuscript? Then, you could have folders with the following labels:
- Current bills
- To call or Today’s tasks (or add client call to your to-do list instead)
- Editing or the title of the manuscript
The names you use will be particular to you and the typical documents you need to keep. Also, consider looking at your existing categories to see if you can find the right match for your papers (then you wouldn’t have to make a new folder or come up with a new category at all).
- Use easy-to-remember categories. Putting things in categories actually helps us to remember those items better. This means you’ll be more efficient at finding the files you want when they are grouped by a specific topic that makes sense to you. For instance, you might have a Utilities category in which you put the current telephone, gas, electric, and water bills. Or, a “Blogging” folder for articles that inspire your future posts.
You can really simplify the filing process by removing your MISC folder from your paper filing system. You’ll find that there really isn’t a need for a general file once you have determined the correct category for your papers. And, keep in mind, the less you print, the less you have to file and retrieve. When possible, use online bookmarking tools (like Delicious and Instapaper) and/or tag your documents and save them to your hard drive and/or cloud server so you can find them easily.
What’s on your summer to do list? Organizing for next year’s summer events
Summertime is perfect for catching up on outdoor chores, but having fun is probably what everyone (mostly) thinks about. For those of us in the United States, Labor Day (this year it falls on Sept. 3) gives us an opportunity for one final summer celebration before cooler temperatures are ushered in with the start of fall. Many people try their hand at being a grill master for the day and test out new recipes and grilling techniques. Some take road trips or one last visit to the beach.
No matter the activity, by putting things in order at the end of this season, you’ll find everything you need when warmer temperatures arrive next year. Focus on some basic rules of thumb so you can avoid hour-long searches to find your stuff, like …
Keep similar items together
You’ve heard this one before and there’s a reason you hear it so often. It’s perhaps the one rule that, if you stick to it, will help you save time so you can get on with the business of having fun. When everything you need for a specific activity (bike, helmet, knee pads, tire gauge, and pump together; grill cleaning brush, tongs, and skewers together) is in one location, you will find what you want quickly and see what things are broken and need fixing or replacing. Once you’ve gathered all your supplies together, they should be kept in the same location all the time (just like you always keep your keys, wallet, and mobile phone in the same spot). Labeling storage spaces can help, too.
Replace needed items immediately
Those broken items or the ones that just don’t work the way you would like them to? Replace them now if you regularly use the items. If you wait until next year, you’re likely to be suprised (not pleasantly) when it’s time to use them. Keep a running list of things you need to buy and take it with you on your next shopping trip. Stick to your list so you don’t overbuy. Try not to give in to the temptation of getting things that you’re not certain you’ll actually use (is it possible your plans just might change?). Wait on those items and come up with a game plan first. And, donate/recycle/trash the items that you no longer want.
Remember to replenish your first-aid kits as well. Not only will you need them year-round (in your car and in several rooms in your home), but you’ll also want to have a kit ready in the bags you use for your summer events (picnics, trips to the zoo, sporting events, etc.). Don’t forget to stock up on first-aid supplies for your pets, too.
Use checklists to help you remember
Create an “end of summer” list to remind you of all the things you need to do to wrap up the season and get ready for the next. Group your tasks by category (camping, gardening, marathon/race) so you can focus easily on each section before moving on to the next. For example, if hiking is on your list, it might include:
- Clean hiking boots
- Put boots with other hiking gear
- Purchase new socks and liners
- Create a communication plan
- Start training routine to prepare for trip (add start date)
What you put on your checklist will be specific to you and the things you like doing. It should include all the gear you need (what’s a trip to the park without your favorite frisbee or a picnic with a half empty basket or a lawn concert without a comfy chair?) as well as any special requirements (season pass to the water park, parking pass for the football game). After creating your checklist, keep it with the items it belongs with or in a “summer activities” (paper or electronic) file so you can keep using it each year.
Put special events on your calendar now
Get ready for next year’s events by entering on your calendar those that you attend annually or new ones that you want to go to (or host). Doing this will help plan your activities and to narrow down the things you can realistically do based on your available time and budget. You’ll also see if you need to enlist the help of others.
Planning and organizing fun summer activities can give you something to look forward to next year without the hassle and pain of never-ending searches for the things you need. And, there’s still time to take care of many of this summer’s chores that you haven’t gotten to yet. Take a look at our tips on how to organize your:
Ask Unclutterer: Organizing physical media
Reader Nancy submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:
I’m about to finally get a storage unit for music CDs; it resembles an old-fashioned library card catalog. Should I organize the CDs by composer, performer, genre, piece type (symponies, concertos)? What makes the most sense? Almost all are classical but there are some “easy listening.” Many thanks for considering my question.
Your question is about music CDs, but my response can be applied to organizing many other types of physical materials — especially papers and books. And, the answer is simple:
Organize items in the way that makes the most sense to you.
If you’re the person retrieving items and also the person who is putting them away after you use them, you’re much more likely to maintain order in the system if it makes complete sense to you.
How would you want to search for the CDs so you find the exact CD you want exactly when you want it? For me, that would be according to genre (all classical together, all easy listening together, all rock together) and then subdivide according to composer (all Mozart together, all Beethoven, etc.) and then subdivide by work (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) and then alphabetize by performance group or performer or conductor. I’d organize the CDs this way only because I usually have a desire to hear a particular piece of music. If you’re someone who usually desires to hear a particular performer or conductor, you would want to arrange to reflect that search preference.
I also recommend labeling your system well so if someone else approaches your CDs (or files or books) he or she can locate items and put them back.
If you’re not the only person regularly accessing the CDs, you need to develop the organizing system with the other people who will use it. Find the most agreeable solution and then make sure everyone is trained on how to organize the materials so things are returned after use.
Another good idea is to always leave room for growth and change. You don’t want things so closely packed into a space that it’s difficult to put items away or to move items around, if necessary.
Finally, you might also consider digitizing your CD collection. I realize this would take a considerable amount of time and expense, since I doubt you would want to compress the files. But, it’s definitely something to consider if you plan to expand your collection. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that people are very emotionally attached to their music collections and suggesting digitizing it can be taken as offensive. However, it does make storage and retrieval extremely simple, and you never have to worry about a CD getting scratched or something not being returned to its storage space after it is used.
Thank you, Nancy, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.
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.
Get organized for back-to-school
Transitions can be difficult, especially if you’re really enjoying the thing you’re doing and you have to stop to do something that might not be as fun. I suspect that’s how some children feel as the end of summer draws near. It’s the signal that they need to bid adieu to a relaxed schedule and, with help from their parents, get ready to go back to school.
To help your children get adjusted to a new routine …
Transition before school starts
In my former life as a preschool teacher, I sang songs with my students to help them transition from one activity to the next. While you may not want to break into song every day until schools starts, you can start the back-to-school conversation with your children to get them accustom to the return of stricter schedules.
Immediate actions:
- Help children emotionally prepare. A recent study by the Mayo Clinic suggests that some children may feel anxious in the days leading up to the start of school, particularly if there will be an unfamiliar or new routine. If your children will be attending a new school, take a tour or attend your school’s open house (back-to-school night) to get them familiar with their new classroom and teacher (and to find out where the bathrooms are). Find out if any of your children’s friends will be attending the same school or be in the same class. Knowing that they will have someone to talk to or eat lunch with can help them feel more comfortable.
- Adjust sleep schedules. Give your children some practice time with getting up and going to sleep earlier, a week to two before school year starts. Implementing the new sleep routine the night before the first day of school will probably put them in a grumpy mood, which is likely not a good way to start the year.
- Plan for new activities. New activities can put a well-designed schedule in state of flux. Figure out what changes need to be made (transportation, new gear) so that transitions can flow smoothly.
- Solidify routines for yourself. Parents will need to get back in the swing of things, too. If you’re the one who is on wake up duty, who prepares meals, or drops off children at school (especially if you carpool), consider doing a practice run to see what things in your system are working well and which ones need fine tuning.
Help your children remember what to do
Having a chore chart or a checklist will help your children remember the things they’re responsible for each school day. Purchase a chart (or download a list) that your kids like or create one with them. The tasks for each of your children will vary depending on age and how involved they are in preparing themselves for school each day. Younger children may have self-care items on their list (brush your teeth, put on your shoes, help make your bed) while older children may need homework or project reminders. They may also benefit from using apps (if they have a smart phone or tablet, or have access to yours) like Dictionary.com, Mental Case, iStudiez Pro, iHomework, or Evernote to help them manage their schedules and get things done.
Find out what the school needs from you
There are many things, in addition to shopping for supplies, that parents need to do before the class bell first rings (e.g. submitting a birth certificate, proof of residency, a doctor’s approval form if playing sports). Schools often provide lists of things you need for the first day of school, so check their website or give them a call to get more information.
Also, be sure to check on other school rules and ask questions:
- Is there a particular dress code?
- Will your child have a locker (and need to purchase a lock)?
- What happens if your child is late for class?
- What pieces of technology is your child permitted to have on school grounds?
- What happens if a child breaks the rules?
Create a school command center
Having a central location for all-things school related will keep everyone in the know. Post a calendar of events (including volunteer and extracurricular activities), school flyers with important information, papers requiring parent signatures, transportation schedules, and contact information (main office, carpooling parents, after care, sports coach) in a central location everyone in the family can access. On days when things go a little wonky, having a command center will be very helpful, especially if you have more than one child and they attend different schools. If you prefer using an app, consider using Cozi Online Family Calendar or PlumLife.
Helping your children get organized and ready to go back to school doesn’t have to be chaotic. With a little planning ahead of time, the transition can run smoothly for the entire family.
