Did you know that one of the ways to improve your memory is to organize your life?  That's right!  There are simple things you can do.

Keep items that you frequently need such as keys in the same place every time.  Don't strain your brain trying to remember where you put them all the time.  If they are always put in the same place, it will become automatic and you won't have to think about it.

Use a planner to keep track of appointments and due dates.  Don't rely on your memory to recall appointments and due dates.  Write it down in one place every time.  Keep that planner, whether it's a pocket calendar, your cell phone or your black berry with you at all times so that when you need to log in an appointment or a reminder for a due date, it is easily accessible.

Keep phone numbers in one address book, rolodex and cell phone.  Same is true for phone numbers.  If you keep all the pertinent information in one place, you will always know where to find it.

All of these tips will eliminate the stress of trying to remember to do things.  You will have a "go to" place to retrieve the information you need quickly and easily.

Improved organization can help free up your powers of concentration so you don't have to spend time concentrating on remembering those routine things.  You can focus instead on other things and thereby reduce your stress.

For more tips or assistance with getting organized, simply contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I can show you how to create those life-changing habits that will reduce your stress and help you focus on more important things.

I recently finished working on a clean-out involving a home owned by a "hoarder". 

What is a hoarder, you ask?

A hoarder is a person who suffers from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) a compulsive behavior wherein they are unable to control the amount of stuff they bring into their home and save.  They continue to save and save until the clutter starts to create problems in living.  It get's to the point where the possessions own them rather than the other way around.

Compulsive hoarding is thought to be present when the following criteria is met:

1.  You accumulate and then have great difficulty discarding objects that most other people would consider useless or of limited value.

2.  The clutter is so severe that it prevents or seriously limits the use of living spaces in the manner for which those spaces are intended.

3.  The clutter, acquiring or difficulty dicarding causes significant impairment or distress.

The good news is, however, that compulsive hoarding is recognized as a diagnosable (and treatable) behavioral syndrome.

This is a complex condition that requires the support of family, friends, psychologist and professional organizer.

My role in my recent project, as a professional organizer, was to coordinate a plan and implement it with a team of assistants to systematically work through the home to clear it of it's excess and return the home back to where it is again functional and enjoyable. 

Now that the "clean-out" has been completed, I will continue to work with my client to show her how to make choices and set limits as to what comes into the home.  My work will be supplemented with the help of a psychologist to work with the client to get to the route of the problem.  (In most cases, hoarding is triggered by a traumatic occurrence, i.e. death of a loved one, which brings on loneliness.  The loneliness is then substituted with this uncontrollable desire to go to a store or garage sales or even, in some cases, trash dumps to bring items into the home to fill that void.) 

The result of hoarding is that the person can no longer function in the home.  The piles of possessions continue to grow in every room of the home until they cannot open the front door, walk down a hallway without stepping on piles of "stuff", climb the stairs, eat or cook in the kitchen or even use the shower or bathtub because they are filled with "stuff".

If you think that you or someone you know has the symptoms of hoarding, there is help.  Contact A BETTER SPACE for more information.

I would like to urge everyone to go thru their elderly parent's refrigerators. As an organizer, I have worked with some elderly people and have looked in their fridge when organizing their kitchens. Among the items I have found were a bottle of salad dressing that expired in 2003, bags of chocolate candy that had an expiration date of 2007, numerous little packets of condiments (like you get at fast food places) of sour cream, butter, jelly--who knows how long they were in there. Just imagine if they had eaten any of this stuff.

At times I have gone through their medicine cabinets when working to organize a bathroom and have found medicines and over the counter medicines that were many years old. Old prescriptions and pills either don't work or will make you severely ill--get rid of them! To an elderly person this could be critical!

So please, I urge anyone who has elderly parents to look into their refrigerators and medicine cabinets. And check yours while your at it. What lurks in your refrigerator and medicine cabinet? Let me know what you find! 

If you need assistance getting your kitchen or bathroom organized because you are overwhelmed with the prospect of the task at hand, let me hear from you.  Simply contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I can help you create the organized kitchen and/or bathroom you have always wanted.

Have a great week!

We all know that email has been beneficial to us all in many ways. It's a quick and easy way to deliver a message and stay in contact with family, friends and business connections.  With email, we can respond at our convenience -- no telephone tag or waiting on hold. And, it's extremely cost effective. You can basically send emails to anyone worldwide, and pay nothing more than a monthly fee!  With the cost of postage these days, it's a bargain.

However, there is a down side.  Just like paper clutter, you email can easily turn into "virtual" clutter. Now, in addition to having a mountain of paper, many people have an enormous amount of email to plow through every day. Here are a few Quick Tips for A Better Space to help you keep your email under control.

1. Check and manage your email on a daily basis. Schedule one or two consistent time periods each day to go through your email inbox. Get rid of as much email as you can each day. If possible, don't go to bed at night before clearing out your email inbox.

2. Take action. Just as it's easy to shuffle your paper around, it's also easy to do the "email shuffle".  Try to take action on each email you open.

First, look at the subject lines and immediately get rid of any email that you don't need or want.  So much of your email can be deleted without you ever having to open it!

Second, open each message one by one. If there are any that you can respond to  immediately, do so. Usually, the message can then be deleted. Be brutal here. Again, most messages do not need to be kept after the action has been completed.

If you "really" need to keep a particular message, file it in a computer "folder". A computer folder is simply an area in your email program where you can "file" your messages so you don't have to print them out, but they're easily accessible when you need them.

Categorize these folders, just like you would with paper folders. For instance, if you like referring to some regular newsletters you get, make a computer folder for each of them. The name of each folder should be the name of the newsletter.

If you need to save confirmations for orders placed on line, make a computer folder for them by the name of the entity you are dealing with.  Once the product is received, you can then delete the information from the folder.

3. Take advantage of filters. Some email programs come with an option which allows you to filter your messages. Check with your email provider to determine if you have this option and how to take advantage of it.

There are two common reasons that you might want to use your filtering capabilities:

a. Quickly storing emails you want to reference later: Let's say you get an email report every day from a co-worker that lists some numbers that you may need to reference, but you don't have to look at on a daily basis. You can filter email from that particular person directly into a computer folder.  Then, when the person sends you the email report, it will automatically be moved into the folder you have set up for future reference.

b. Quickly getting rid of email you don't want: I recently was getting email messages, from a specific email address, that were unsolicited. After determining that it was impossible to get off this list, I decided to filter any email from that particular person right into my 'deleted mail' folder. Now, I never have to deal with it. Very often, you can filter by different variables, such as sender, subject line, messages with attachments, and so on.

4. Stories, jokes and email hoaxes are constantly being forwarded throughout the Internet. Some people really enjoy receiving these types of messages. (But again, they should be read and then deleted.  They can become quite voluminous.)

Others don't have the time for them. If you don't have the time to receive such email, tell the senders that you'd prefer not to receive them anymore. It's not being rude. Simply tell the person that you're happy to receive a personal note from them, but you don't have time for the other types of email. 

For example, one of my friends does not look at her personal email account at home, only the one at work.  Since it was the only way for me to communicate with her, I sent her some funny emails on occasion.  However, she became so busy at work she did not have time to read them and politely asked me to stop.  Not offended in the least bit, I immediately stopped sending them to her and just sent quick messages to stay in touch. 

5. Don't stay on lists that are not helping you. Be particular about the newsletter lists you sign up for and remain on. The lists you should be on are the ones that benefit you in some shape or form.  If you start to find that they do not, opt out to avoid the influx of extra emails you do not need.

6. Print with caution. If you like printing a particular newsletter to read from your comfy chair in another room, that's fine. However, be careful about printing every single email you get. You don't want to double the problem by duplicating your email clutter into paper clutter. Remember, you can store email in folders on your computer. Yes, they'll take up some room on your computer, but at least they won't begin to clutter your home and your office too.

I guarantee that if you use these Quick Tips on a daily basis, you will find that you have greatly conquered your email clutter. 

Until next time, if you have any organizing questions or problems you would like me to address, please feel free to contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be glad to help.

Not sure if you've heard about the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act that is going into effect on February 10th, 2009.  It basically says that children's toys and clothes must now have some sort of proof that they do not contain lead or pthalates.  (Pthalaes are chemical plasticizers used in many products to improve performance or appearance.  For example, they turn rigid plastic into supple vinyl). 

As a result of this Act, there can no longer be any selling or children's toys and clothes manufactured before February 10, 2009 without such proof on ebay, Craigslist, yard sales and church/organization consignment sales to name a few.  This would certainly have a major effect on families struggling in this economy, not to mention professional organizers like myself who advise people how to dispose of their unnecessary household items.

It's a BIG problem.

If you do a google search for the site Fashion Incubator, you will find common-language information there about this issue.

To give you some background, back in early Fall, Congress passed a knee-jerk, feel-good law that is completely unable to be maintained.  If it is implemented without revision, it has the power to bankrupt the entire economy!  That would be the consequence of a very, very poorly-written piece of legislation.  It would make it illegal to sell non-certified items after February 10.  That means every piece of current inventory in every store, boutique, thrift-shop and home business becomes "illegal" on February 10th without destructive and expensive testing.  Some retailers purchase their stock about two seasons ahead of time.  They will have to discard and reorder entirely which can ultimately bankrupt them.

The law as it currently stands demands excessive and expensive testing at "each" level of production, even if that element of a product has already been tested during creation and subsequent production steps.  It affects "everyone" at some level, some of us more drastically than others.  The small "good guys" will be put out of business by this law, and quickly, if it remains without revision.

There are suggested revisions to the law which bring it back in line with current stringent Consumer Protection Agency guidelines, by allowing the transfer of certification through the production process.  In other words, the small maker of, say, wooden salad bowls or hand-rubbed bookcases, buys his wood from one of the many certified organic vendors, he can use their certification as part of his.  Their certificatons would pass down through his product...all the way to the consumer without putting anyone out of business.

The end result of the revisions to the law as it currently stands would enable you, the consumer, to confidently list items for "sale" as you are decluttering, without fear of jail or reprisal.  These revisions, which hopefully will be implemented, would then enable consignment stores and places like Goodwill to continue to accept "donations".  As it currently stands, they would not be able to sell used clothing or items that could be used for/by children under 12 unless every single piece carries a certificate of testing for the regulated substances. 

There is no way to legally sell an item without the certification acquired from testing, which in fact, destroys the items being tested and is estimated to cost $300 to $500 "per component" tested, "per item.".

This 85 page Act was passed and signed into law by the President without sufficient discusssion.  The vast majority of Congress members interviewed had "not" read any substantial portion of the bill beyond the title which sounded good to them!

We must take action immediately to contact our congressmen to get the revisions to this Act implemented prior to the February 10th deadline!  It is crucial to our economy and to the effects on the ecology.  (Keep in mind that if we can't donate or sell our excess when decluttering, we will have to throw the items away in the landfill and that is what we are all trying to avoid these days, are we not!)

This is a very serious issue that needs serious attention.  Get involved!  Don't let February 10th come and go without doing something about it.  This Act, as is currently stands, will have devastating effects on us all.

California family finds $10,000 in box of crackers

Source: Associated Press IRVINE, Calif.

The box of Annie's Sour Cream and Onion Cheddar Bunny crackers that Debra Rogoff bought at the grocery store included something extra--an envelope stuffed with $10,000. Yet the Irvine woman was more curious than ecstatic. After all, who would leave money in such a place? 'We just thought, `This is someone's money,' she said. 'We would never feel good about spending it.' The family called police and was initially told the money could be part of a drug drop. But police later heard from store managers at Whole Foods in Tustin that an elderly woman had come in a few days earlier, hysterical because she had mistakenly returned a box of crackers with her life savings inside. In a mix- up, the store restocked the box. The woman, whose identity wasn't released, had lost faith in her bank and decided the box would be a safer place for the money. Luckily for her, the box of crackers were bought by the Rogoffs, who found the crisp $100 bills in an unmarked white envelope. The Rogoffs never heard from the woman and didn't receive a reward, but Rogoff did return to Whole Foods a couple weeks later. 'I asked them if I could have another box of crackers,' she said with a laugh. The store obliged.

Moral of this story... It's never a good or organized idea to stick your life savings in a box of crackers!

If you need GOOD ideas on how to get organized, contact me and I will be glad to provide you with ideas that are safe and simple. Wishing all of you a happy and healthy New Year.

We are all getting ready for the upcoming holidays, whether it's Christmas, Chanuakah or Qwanza and don't forget New Years!  More than likely you will be having company over, whether it friends or family or both.  Perhaps, you will want to prepare a fabulous holiday party or have guests stay with you during this festive season.  Here's some Quick Tips to start the holidays off organized and eight simple things you can do to help plan that gathering without a headache:

1.  MAKE A LIST, CHECK IT TWICE:  Making a simple list can help you unclutter your mind so that you can concentrate on the task at hand.   Make a detailed list of everything you need to get done.  If you will be delegating tasks to family members (as you should), mark down who's doing what.  Likewise, if you absolutely must tackle one task before a certain date, write down that date, too.  Make sure you list any supplies you might need to accomplish each task.  If you are in charge of a meal, you can even list your recipes right on your list for the next time you go to the grocery store.

2.  COOK EARLY:  Make your side dishes and desserts the day before your big meal.  Most side dishes and virtually all desserts will keep just fine overnight in the fridge or freezer.  This way, on the day of your party, you can concentrate on your main dish and simply warm up the side dishes before dinner.  If you'll be spending the day baking, take the time between cookie batches to wrap last minute gifts!  If you're all caught up on your wrapping (good for you!), take that time to put your feet up for a much deserved rest.

3.  GIVE SIMPLY:  Avoid long lines and crowds at the malls and department stores by giving gift certificates.  (A great gift idea is a gift certificate from A BETTER SPACE!)  They don't clutter and they don't cost much to ship to friends and family out of town.  Plus, everyone gets exactly what they want.

4.  TRY A POTLUCK:  If you're organizing a large family gathering, ask everyone to bring their favorite dish.  This way, everyone can show off their culinary expertise and you'll be saved from slaving away in the kitchen all day.  (I suggest getting a general idea about what everyone is bringing to avoid duplicates.)

5.  CREATE A WRAPPING STATION:  Save time and energy by designating a corner of your home for gift wrapping.  If you have a nice, comfortable space to work and wrap gifts, you're more likely to get it done before the last minute.  Put up a card table in the corner of a spare bedroom or in a space in your basement to keep your gift wrap, bags, tissue paper, tape, scissors, bows, etc.  All of it can be right where you can easily get to them.  You won't have to pull your supplies from various places in your home every time you need to wrap a gift.  Also, if you wrap gifts as you buy them, you'll save time too.  When the season is over, carefully store any leftover paper and bags in clearly marked containers for next year.

6.  SEND AN E-CARD:  So, you've already mailed out your cards for this year and the holiday is only a couple of days away.  You get a card in the mail from someone you forgot to send a card to.  It might be too late to mail them your holiday wishes in return, but email is instant.  E-cards have come a long way.  Most of the popular greeting card companies offer e-cards on their web site and can be personalized with text and photos.

7.  PICK UP EXTRAS:  When you are out and about and find a great sale, buy a couple extras.  Have something on hand just in case someone drops by with a gift for you.  You don't want to be in a situation where you don't have anything to give them.  Holiday treats, candles, restaurant gift cards and ornaments all make great, simple holiday gifts for anyone.  These gifts are also something you can use personally if you don't end up giving them to someone this year.  Wrap them up and mark a code on the bottom so you know what's inside. 

8.  PREPARE FOR OVERNIGHT GUESTS:  It only takes a few simple gestures to make your guests feel welcome and at home.  Leave a basket of travel sized toiletries in a basket in the bathroom.  Place a few books or magazines on the night stand.  Provide space for your guests to store their clothing while they are staying with you.  Provide space in some drawers and some hangers in the closet.  (See my previous blog from April 30, 2008 for more tips on creating a five-star guest room.)

With some simple planning, you have avoid the stress of preparing that holiday meal, gift giving and providing arrangements for guests to stay overnight.

Enjoy the holidays.  In the meantime, if you have any organizing questions or problems you would like me to address, please feel free to contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I'll be glad to help.

Buyer Beware! 

Everyone is out and about shopping for those holiday bargains.  In the meantime, as a result of the nation's poor economy, you might be noticing how many long standing businesses are going out of business.  Such companies, such as Linens & Things, Circuit City, Atlantic Books Store, Oskar Huber are having "liquidation sales".

In the past, whenver I heard this term, I thought that the company is looking to liquidate their inventory until they actually close their doors.  However, I just learned that many of these "Going Out Of Business Sales" are, in fact, being run by actual "liquidators" hired by the company to mark down the items and sell as much inventory as possible.

It has recently been brought to my attention, however, on a local newscast that the reductions are marked down from the "original price", not necessarily the price it was selling for the week before!   In some cases, the liquidation price is actually higher than the sale price was and not a true "bargain".  This tactic can be very deceiving.  The consumer believes they are getting a good price, when, in fact, they are paying more than they should.  

I highly recommend that you do your research on those products before making that purchase.  Know your prices!  You do want to get the best deal, not what they want you to believe is the best deal.

So, go and find those "true" bargains.  In the meantime, if you have any questions or problems you would like me to address, please feel free to contact me.  I would love to make your place A BETTER SPACE.

Wishing you happy holidays.

The weather has changed quickly where I live in the northeastern part of the country.  I thought this would be a good time to help you get ready for the cold months ahead by giving you Quick Tips For A Better Space - your home.

There are many things to consider this time of year.  You not only need to dress yourself in warmer clothes, but you need to dress your home as well.  If not, you are not taking care of your biggest investment and throwing your hard-earned money down the drain.

Here are some suggestions to winterize your home:

Clean and check the heating filters and system for efficiency.  Change your filter and check for leaks in the system to ensure your system is working at it's best.  Call in a contractor if necessary. 

Check all water faucets to ensure there are no leaks or rusting.

Have your fireplace/chimney inspected, serviced and cleaned.  It can be a fire hazard.  This small investment in your safety is so important.

If you did not already do so when we changed the clocks in October, replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.  Most fires are started in the winter by candles and faulty wiring.  If something should happen, you need to make sure you can get yourself and your family out of the house as quickly as possible.  Remember to practice your escape plan!

Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home - they are not expensive but can prevent carbon monixide poisoning from car exhaust from the car stored in the garage, the heater, the oven, etc.  With the home closed up for the winter months, this is especially important for the health and safety of your family.

Check the weather stripping and check for drafts around windows and doors to ensure functionality.  You can lose a lot of heat through your windows and doors if this is not done which can cost you greatly when you receive that utility bill.

Replace and check your fire extinguishers.  Make sure the meter is where it's supposed to be.  If not, get it recharged.  Remember to keep one on each floor, especially in the kitchen.  A small one under the sink in the cabinet is a great place to store it.

Prepare An Emergency Kit: 

In the cold winter months, have a plan and an emergency kit.  Your electricity can go out. A large snow fall or other condition could cause your family to be confined to the home.  Here are things a good emergency kit should contain:

Indoor candles and flashlights for light - just don't leave those candles unattended!

A supply of drinking water and non-perishable food.

A manual can opener to open those cans in case the electricity goes out for an extended period of time.

An emergency weather radio to keep you informed on the latest conditions in your area.  (battery operated, of course.)

A supply of extra batteries and perhaps a generator for back-up supply.

Lots of warm blankets to keep you warm in case you lose your heat.

To occupy your time, have books and board games accessible since the television and other electronics might not be working.

Lastly, when it comes to energy efficiency during these long winter months, you might want to consider wrapping the hot water heater with a blanket.  This helps improve efficiency and can cut down on your utility bill.  That heater can really drive up your bill so any extra savings can really help your budget!  Insullation for the water heater can be purchased at your local home improvement store or online and has do-it-yourself instructions.

Enjoy the coming winter months and take good care of yourself and your home.

In the meantime, if you have any organizing questions or problems you would like me to address, please feel free to contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I'll be glad to help.