Organizing as a Team Sport
Brought to you by Joan Kosmachuk, Professional Organizer
and Personal Life Coach

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9

It’s spring and for those of us living in climates with four seasons there’s an inevitable need to reorganize our homes to accommodate the return of warmer weather and outdoor living. Whether its switching your wardrobe, dealing with piles of junk in the garage, or making room for kids coming home from College, spring organizing can be a daunting task to face alone.

Here are a few ideas for making your spring organizing tasks a team sport:

1. Clothing Exchange:
Gather a group of your friends for a winter and/or spring clothing exchange.

This is a great way to declutter your home and replenish your wardrobe all at the same time. The concept is the same whether your focus on kids clothing or adult clothing.

Prior to the date of the event, instruct each participant to sort through their drawers and closets (or those of their children) and cull any items in good condition that no longer fit, haven’t been worn in a year, aren’t liked or needed etc. On the day of the event, each guest brings their pile of cast offs to share with the rest of the group.

You can host a few neighbors or close friends in your home, or open it up to the larger community by holding it in a church basement or community hall. With a larger group, have some refreshments or entertainment at the start to allow a few volunteers time to put all the clothing donations on display. Tables or coat racks work great for displaying clothing or outfits can even be draped over chairs.

Set aside about 30-45 minutes for everyone to look at all the items and see if there is anything item of clothing they need. Temporary fitting rooms can be set up for adults to try clothes on and you can even model for one another.

At the end of the event, after everyone has taken what they need, any remaining clothes can be bagged and a designated driver can drop them off at the local thrift store or charity of choice.

Other “Exchange” events may include a perennial exchange(to help declutter your garden); book exchange (leftovers being donated to your local library ), a sports equipment exchange etc.

2. Garage Sales:
Holding your own garage sale can often seem like a daunting task. However, when a neighborhood sets a date for a street sale or an entire community sets up their wares in the school gym or church parking lot, the task becomes more fun and more profitable. Everyone shares in the cost of advertising and even those with just a few things to sell can participate and benefit from the crowds that will be attracted to a larger collective sale.

Arrange for a rental truck or charity pick up service at the end of your garage sale so that all remaining items can be loaded and sent off to charity.

An alternative to personally participating in a community garage sale is to donate your items to a group garage sale that is being held to raise funds for a charitable organization.

3. Buddy Up:
There’s nothing quite so welcome as company when you are faced with a large and overwhelming task. Ask a friend to sit and visit with you while you undertake a major organizational project. She/he can help you get over the guilt in passing along that holiday sweater from your in-laws, or tell you honestly that you will never finish that rug-hooking project you started in college.

Or, if your friend is willing to help out, an extra pair of hands to move furniture or haul out the trash will help to speed the process along. You can plan to work at your house one week, and your friend’s house the next so that you both benefit.

A buddy doesn’t have to be physically present to be a support. A buddy can also be a remote accountability partner you ask to email or call you for updates on your progress, remind you to get back on task, or help you with problems or tough decisions along the way.

Another way a friend can help out is by freeing up your time so you have a full day to organize. Watching your toddler, picking up your teen from school, dropping off dinner or running your errands are all ways a friend can free up your time to focus on your organizational task. Of course, a true friend reciprocates, so plan to do the same for him/her when they are ready to tackle their organizational challenges.

By working with others, you will create deadlines for your organizational tasks, create accountability for yourself, benefit from the assistance of others, and build relationships in the process.

Another way to team up for organizing is to hire a professional organizer. To hire the services of Joan Kosmachuk, please email your request to info@simpleeffects.com or call 617-784-0707.

If you found the information in this newsletter to be of value to you, please feel free to forward it to your friends and colleagues; you'll be helping them organize their lives.