Do you have boxes of stuff and not sure whether it's considered a "collection" or just clutter?

I came across a short video that might help you figure it out.

http://www.boomeralley.com/2009/04/14/collection-or-clutter/

If after watching this short clip, you determine it's clutter, just get rid of it.  If you are still not sure, perhaps you want to consult with a professional to find out, or, like the video mentions, go on E-bay and see how much your stuff is really worth.

Remember, in most cases, it's just "stuff" which translates into "clutter".  The memories they evoke are still there (in your head, not in that box). You don't need to keep all that stuff to keep the memories alive.

Before you let go of your precious collection of clutter, simply take a picture and preserve the memory.

Then, just let it go.  

If you are feeling ovewhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, simply contact A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Enjoy your week!

I love to find stories about getting organized! 

Now, even CoverGirl make-up has jumped on the organizing bandwagon and has developed a numerical system for matching up their various types of make-up. 

They claim to have taken the guesswork out of finding your TRU shade with their TRUblend makeup organized system.  This includes liquid foundation, concealer, pressed powder and blush.  The system is numbered from 1 through 6 (1 being the lightest shade, 6 being the darkest shade). 

For example, if your TRUblend liquid makeup is a 2, then your TRUblend pressed power, concealer and blush are also a 2.  

Organizing can be so beneficial, even when it comes to purchasing  your make-up.  Gotta love that!

Now that that problem is solved, if you have any other organizing issues you would like me to address, please feel free to contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Have a great week!

I am currently working with a client who has discovered that she has ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).  She is working with me to learn how to create a system for getting and staying organized.

One of the things I suggested she do on a daily basis, when I am not physically there with her to coach her, is to simply take just 5 minutes a day to focus on one area of her home and declutter it by putting things away.  Basically, straightening up.

Granted, things need to have a home to begin with so that they can be put away.  That is what I am working on with her during our sessions.  However, in the meantime, she has taken my advice and has begun practicing this ritual.  To her surprise, she has found that just those 5 minutes a day can really make a difference.  Sometimes, she is feeling so productive, she takes more than just 5 minutes, but the 5 minutes is the minimum. 

Consistency is the key to success and if you just commit that short amount of time each and every day, you will find that you can keep it under control.  If there are other family members, get them to do the same thing with a particular area of the home.  Just having each of them put things away for about 5 minutes a day can add up to a lot of decluttering in one day!

Give it a try and let me know how you make out.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, simply contact A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Enjoy your week!

Are you familiar with the term Feng Shui and what it means?

Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed more than 3,000 years ago by the Chinese.  The science of Feng Shui involves a complex knowledge that shows how to balance the energies of a space to insure the health and good fortune for the people living in that space.

Gentle wind and clear waters in the Chinese culture have long been connected with good health and a good harvest.   Feng means "wind" and Shui means "water".

The Chinese believe the world is made up of "Chi" or energy.  The outcome could be good or bad, depending on how the energy flows, particularly inside of your home.

The Ba-Gua is an octagonal grid used by experts to do an analysis of the home.  Even though the process can be complicated and best left to the professionals, there are certain concepts the average homeowner can implement in their home.  You can:

• Improve the air quality and natural light by opening up the drapes and windows, letting the sun shine in and the air flow in.  Introduce plants that will help filter the air or use an air filter to remove impurities from the air.  If natural light is not an option, full spectrum light bulbs can be used to improve the light in your home.
• The five Feng Shui elements can help you incorporate changes in your home.  Each element is represented by specific colors, and by using these colors, you can bring about change in your home easily - WOOD - green, brown; FIRE - red, strong yellow, orange, purple, pink; EARTH - light yellow, sandy/earthy colors, light brown; METAL - white, gray; WATER - blue, black
• Learn your Feng Shui birth element which pertains to the year you were born.  By using this element in your home, you can reinforce positive energy.
• Examine door placement.  Your front door and back door should not line up with each other.  If they do, it will cause the "chi" or energy to slip right through the home without bringing any benefits to you.  You can easily solve this problem by placing a large plant or other obstacle beside one of the doors and place an angled throw rug to create a path in a sideways direction.
• Reduce clutter.  (This is the one I am particularly partial too!)  Lightening up the house is key to good feng shui.  Clutter can trap good energy.  Get rid of things you don't absolutely need. 

Your objective is to create a positive space.  Decorating your home with more light, music, water, air, plants, mirrors, windchimes, bright colors, household plants and flowers can activate the positive energy of joy and happiness in your home.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the clutter in your home and want to create more positive energy within it, take the first step and contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Enjoy your week!

I received the following information from my accountant today and thought I would pass it on.

The IRS frequently reminds taxpayers to beware of identity theft scams. Two of the latest phishing scams include one offering inherited funds, lottery winnings, or cash consignment and another offering a bogus tax refund. Scammers use the IRS name, logo, or website in an attempt to convince taxpayers that the scam is a genuine communication from the IRS. Scammers may also use other federal agency names, such as the U.S. Department of the Treasury. After obtaining personal information, identity thieves use the victim's personal data to steal his or her financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services, or benefits in the victim's name, and even file fraudulent tax returns.

Please note the IRS does not discuss tax account matters by email. So, contact your accountant if you receive an email, purported to be from the IRS, requesting personal information.

Hope you find this information helpful.

I found this information and thought it might be helpful so I am passing it on...

Since an estimated 250 million computers became obsolete in the past five years, recycling e-waste has never been more crucial.  But figuring out how to do it isn't always easy. 

To help the eco-conscious with this dilemma, STAPLES has gotten involved and has launched an in-store e-waste recycling program. 

Drop off home-office equipment (computers, monitors, printers, fax machines) to any store nationwide, no matter where you originally purchased it, and for just $10 per item, the chain will recycle it according to the EPA's standards.

Bring in your extra keyboards and mice, too - they'll take care of those for free.

Hope you find this helpful in getting rid of your old home office equipment and feeling good about doing so.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting that home office organized, contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Have a great week!

I love professional organizing because it gives me a great opportunity to use my imagination.  This past weekend, I was working with one of my clients.  She is making great strides in getting her home organized once and for all.

We were working in the kitchen area to make some sense of her plastic containers and her recycling of cans and paper, among other things.

This particular client purchases the cardboard boxes of soda which you can open up on one side and it acts as a dispenser. 

Going through the organizing process with her, we recognized that because her particular apartment complex does not participate in recycling, she is transporting her recycling items in her car to a local drop-off point.  Needless to say, transporting a slew of empty soda cans can be annoying and cumbersome.  

I love to teach my clients to "think outside the box", (to coin a phrase).  We figured out that we could use the empty soda can box/dispenser to fill with empty soda cans to be transported to the local recycling center.  It already has a handle to carry the box, so what could be easier! 

This is a perfect example of how you can take something you already have and put it to use in a different way.  I promised my client I would pass this tidbit of information on to my blog readers.

So, take a moment when looking for a solution to a problem and remember to "think outside the box"!!! 

If you have any great suggestions on how to use something old in a new way, send me an email and tell me about it.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or organizing problems you would like me to address, simply send me an email at info@4abetterspace.com and I will be glad to help.

Enjoy the start of Fall and have a great week!

I have always recommended to my clients that they make use of a "To Do" list. I even supply new clients with a note pad and pencil to get them started!  It is a  great time management tool and allows you to have that sense of accomplishment, when, at the end of the day, you see what you achieved.

However, sometimes people get too carried away with the concept and write down every little thing they need to do on the list.  I do not recommend that.  What sometimes happens is that you feel you cannot do something until that other thing gets done so that it never gets done and you schedule yourself so tightly that you are constantly referring to the list to make your next move.

You should look to your "To Do" list as a tool by which you learn to discipline yourself to write down only those things you can physically accomplish in a day.  If you list too many things, you tend to produce an overly ambitious litany that you can't possibly complete and which tends to lead to feelings of failure.  That can be very stressful.  The point of having a "To Do" list is the reduce the stress - by writing it down you get it off your head.  Be realistic about what you can accomplish. 

Choose to accomplish one major task per week instead of several in one day.  If you have a whole list of major tasks, put each one on a separate index card and keep them in an index box, pulling out one at a time.  When you have larger "To Do"s, take that index card and break down the steps it will take to accomplish your goal, putting them on the back of the card.  Focusing on one large task at a time will help you get more accomplished.

Let your "To Do" list fulfill it's essential role - to serve as encouragement and inspiring reminders to get the things done you'd like to accomplish.  Allow time to live your life.  Don't let your "To Do" list dictate every move you make.  Let life happen.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, reach out to me for help.  If you need assistance with this or any other organizational issues, simply contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help. 

Wishing you an organized and productive week!

Everyone at times feels overwhelmed.  Whether it's keeping up with the housework, running the kids to various activities, dealing with a sick family member, or getting organized, we all need some help.  All you have to do is ask. 

My first wake up call was when my first husband was diagnosed with cancer and was terminally ill.  I did my best to do it all myself, but quickly found it was impossible.  Reluctantly, I reached out to friends and family to ask for help with caring for my 6 year old son and helping me to care for my husband.  I quickly realized those that cared about me were more than willing to lend a hand during this most difficult time in my life. 

It's not a bad thing to reach out to others when it's all too much to deal with.  We can find lots of excuses not to but don't let these excuses stop you from getting the help that you need:

• What if they say "No"?  - Don't take it personally.  Give the person credit for being honest with you.  They might be feeling overwhelmed in their life too.  Just find someone else.  Don't let that stop you from asking; it's worth the risk to save your sanity.
• I don't want to owe anyone. - Believe it or not, most people do not expect, or even want, a favor in return when they offer their support.  They just want to be able to help out, trusting that when they are in need, the favor would be returned.  A simple "Thank You" will do.
• It's faster to do it myself. - You may think this is true, but most times, it's not.  If you add up all the little tasks, you will discover that it could take a long list of never-ending to-do's.  You could be spending that time doing something that you are more efficient at and, therefore, be more productive.
• I don't want to be a burden.  - People generally want to help out.  It's a chance for them to show you that they care about you.  They will not look at it as you being a burden unless you over do it.  If you are reasonable in your requests for help, you will get what you need.
• I can handle it on my own. - Don't be a martyr.  No one can do it all.  Don't let false pride rob you of the chance to enjoy life.  Learning to delegate to others will free up more of your time and let others show off their talents too.  Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.  Together we can conquer whatever comes our way!

If you are feeling overwhelmed, reach out for help.  It's there for the taking.  And when the time is right, you can always return the favor. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed with your clutter, reach out to me for help.  Simply contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.  Just ask.

Wishing you an organized week!