Simple Effects Blog: Organize Your Personal Life

Wondering what to do with your old camera, phone, game system, GPS  etc. after you’ve upgraded?  Radio Shack’s Trade-In program will appraise your item and tell you what they think it is worth.

You ship the item using their pre-paid shipping label and they will send you a Radio Shack store credit.  Just another way to go green with your old electronics.

Voluntary simplicity means going fewer places in one day rather than more, seeing less so I can see more, doing less so I can do more, acquiring less so I can have more.
-   John Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go There You Are, p. 69

Often I work with people who are VERY Organized, yet their homes are totally disorganized.  The reason is because the systems they’ve created require too much maintenance to maintain. 

For example, one client had started out by alphabetizing her collection of CD’s.  She had lovely lettered labels she made up and in addition to the letter there was a color code for the style of music. The CD’s were to be stored in short,. wall-mounted CD boxes.  By the time she called me, her CD’s were stacked all over the house. She couldn’t put new CD’s away because she didn’t have time to make up the labels and even once they were labelled the boxes were already full.  To put more boxes up on the wall required calling in someone who was good with tools, then she’d have to rearrange ALL the CD’s to make space for the new ones to fit in alphabetical order.  Her CD’s were too organized — she simply couldn’t keep up with her own system.

I also see many clients with mounds of paper because their file system is too complex for them to easily remember where things should be filed.  Closet organizers in teen’s rooms that require precise folding are usually empty while clean clothes stay piled on a chair.

So, what about you?  Do you have a great system for organizing things that’s just too time consuming to maintain? 

The key is to SIMPLIFY your system to better match your current lifestyle.  It really is possible to be TOO organized.

Imagine if you could get rid of all those old VHS video tapes, know that they were going to be re-used or recycled AND as a result, provide work to a disabled person? 

Well, you can do all that just buy packing up your VHS tapes and shipping them to ACT. 

ACT is a non-profit organization that provides personalized support to individuals with disabilities . What makes ACT unique is its powerful emphasis on work.  Work brings life meaning and purpose no matter what limitations may exist. Everyone contributes and everyone succeeds. The rewards are obvious. At every ACT work station, or job in the community, you see smiles, bright eyes and the passion to excel. By breaking down each task into minute steps, ACT can match an individual’s abilities with the task at hand.

So, act now. Complete the on-line donation form here and then ship your VHS tapes to:

ACT
2200 Burlington
Columbia, MO 65202

Sometimes when you are faced with a disorganized space it can be so overwhelming you don’t even know where to begin.

The great thing about a Professional Organizer is they always know where to start and they can help you keep the end in sight.

A professional organizer can also give homework assignments to keep you moving forward in-between sessions and can help you set specific tasks to help you achieve your organizing goals.

Even a one-time consultation is often enough to get you on your way toward a more organized space.

Remember, the hardest part of any task is just getting started — let Simple Effects get you started!

Once a file drawer is more than 80% full it will be almost impossible for you to easily add or retrieve papers and files.  Keep your file cabinet functional by updating it regularly (at least once annually) by purging information that is no longer relevant.

• Personal Income Tax files should be kept for 7years. When you place the newest income tax file in your drawer, remove the oldest one (8 years).
• Regular Bank Account and Credit Card Statements should be kept for 1 year. (check with your accountant regarding  Bank Statements for investments) then remvove
  
• Utility bills should be kept until the next bill arrives with proof of previous payment. (for Home business deductions, keep all utility bills in your business expense file for preparing your income tax return)
  
• Auto and Home Insurance documents should be kept for the term of the insurance – but replace document each time you renew.
  
• Loans and Mortgage statements should be kept for the life of the loan
• Toss warranties for items you no longer own, statements for accounts that have been closed, loan statements for loans that have been paid, vehicle information on previously owned cars etc.

It is best to shred ALL papers containing personal information before disposing.

The Freedom Filer System is my favorite product for creating a color-coded system that tells you wha files to purge and when it’s time to purge them.

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter… to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring – these are some of the rewards of the simple life.  ~John Burroughs

Even temporary things need to have an assigned place in an organized home.  Where do you keep your library books, DVD rentals, school band instruments,  or store returns?

Assigning a specific basket, shelf or container for rotating items will help to keep them and your home organized as well.

You can donate all those "like new" stuffed animals to Project Smile.

Project Smile is federally tax exempt non-profit organization which donates stuffed animals, coloring books/crayons, small toys and children’s reading books to police and fire departments for police officers, fire fighters and paramedics to give to children involved in traumatic situations.

Project Smile has recently launched the Operation Elder Care program which provides stuffed animals to elderly people who are making the difficult and frequently traumatic transition to life in a nursing home.

For drop off points and guidelines click here

"It’s possible to own too much. A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure.”  – Lee Segall