From Critical Mess to a Career
As printed in Simmons Review, Spring 2002
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From Cocoon to Butterfly:
Home
Organizing for Spring ‘04
by Robin Blank
City dwellers are as much creatures of nature
as any other. We need to organize our space to optimize it. At this time of year
that means de-cluttering the cocoon we’ve created all winter long. Out with
heavy bedding, extra blankets, piles of books, mazes of magazines, and closets
of seasonal clothing. Hibernating season is over.
But before you begin your home organizing in
preparation for new ventures to take flight, ask yourself, “How can my home
best fulfill the life I want for spring 2004?”
Very often, our homes contain multiple layers
from the past that are no longer working. As a matter of fact, they are holding
us back and creating chaos, instead of order. Spring organizing provides the
perfect time to evaluate what works, and plan some fresh space for the
future. Do you have a special project you have been waiting to do? Are you
starting a new venture or business? Would you like ways to de-stress your life?
These 5 Ds can help you get started:
-
De-junk – Clear out all that “stuff” that clutters your space
and therefore, your mind
-
Decide – What to keep, donate or sell, or toss out – and then
do it!
-
Designate – A “home” for all the things you keep by the
frequency of their usage
-
Determine – A space using proper containers for size and
function
-
Design – A fresh clear place for your new spring project,
venture, sport, or goal
Organize an attractive home for spring '04 that is easy to maintain. Store
things you use frequently close to where they will be used, and things you
don't use frequently, out of site and out of mind. Free yourself to create
your future.
Play It Again for Uncle Sam
by Robin Blank
“Next year will be different! Next year I
will be prepared for tax time,” you sing out every year as you struggle to get
your tax information together. Best way for that to happen is to stop singing
the same old tune, and play it instead by organizing for success.
This year, right now, before your papers get
out of control, go to the store and purchase a large, accordion pleated
file folder. Choose one with enough compartments or sleeves to hold the
pertinent papers you will gather all year long to do your taxes in April.
Once you have your accordion folder, label
its compartments in the order its contents will be appearing on the schedule you
use with your standard 1040 tax form:
-
Employment and all other
income receipts, including bank interest and dividends
-
Business expenses (dining,
entertainment, travel, phone, equipment)
-
Medical expenses (insurance,
co-pays, deductibles)
-
Donations & contributions
(include receipts for the value of non-cash donations)
-
Taxes (property, excise,
quarterly payments)
-
Investment information
(year-end statements, sale confirmation)
-
Miscellaneous Expenses (safe
deposit box dues, subscriptions)
Keep it simple! You may be
surprised to learn that some of the most intelligent people actually make it
harder for themselves by creating complex systems. They color-code,
cross-reference and index all kinds of information.
Never forget that 10% of
organization is creating a simple, workable, system of order, and 90% is
maintaining it!
The easiest way to maintain
tax files is to file your papers as they come in, so make sure your
accordion folder is easily accessible at all times. Don’t hide it away.
You’ll find this easy way of
creating and maintaining your tax files has a secondary benefit. It can help
even the most non-business person develop an understanding of the rhythm of
the yearly business cycle.
Then, come April 2005, you’ll
be playing a brand new tune!
Robin Blank, MBA is owner of
Chaos Consulting® professional organizers in Boston.
As appeared in Boston Courant Newspaper
Urban Survival, June 28, 2004
Taking the
Pain Out of Packing
It’s
that time of year again. Whether you’re off for the weekend with a few of
your friends or herding the kids to the Cape, sooner or later you’re going
to have to get your act together and pack. It’s certainly not one of the
most enjoyable aspects of any vacation, but if done properly can be quick,
efficient and painless.
When
a friend of mine recently registered for her wedding at a local department
store, she excitedly told me about the packing “lesson” she received from
the luggage experts there. Below are a few secrets she learned towards
taking the pain out of packing:
-
Pre-packing surveillance. About a week before your trip,
make a list of the items you’re most likely to take with you. Check to
see if you need to repair or replace any article that doesn’t seem up for
the journey. Stop at your pharmacy to refill any prescriptions that you’re
likely to need, and pick up some travel size toiletries to make your bags
a bit lighter.
-
Review your social
calendar. If you’re one of those people who habitually over packs, then
take a few moments to estimate the number of outfits you’ll truly need.
You might want to phone your hostess to determine how many events call for
evening attire at an upcoming wedding, or ponder the true likelihood of
seven mid-vacation workouts. By working through this step you’re less
likely to convince yourself that you should bring those four pairs of
stilettos to the weekend trip in Vermont, “just in case”.
-
The right luggage. If
you’ve been stuffing a week’s worth of clothing in a carry-on bag only to
arrive at your destination desperately seeking an iron or some duct tape
to hold the suitcase together, it’s time to invest in new luggage.
Purchasing a quality suitcase doesn’t have to break the bank when you shop
at a discount store. (My friend’s luggage gurus suggested the 27-inch size
suitcase for her and her husband’s ten day honeymoon, supplemented with a
smaller carry-on or tote).
-
Arrive ready to play.
Many people debate how to properly layer shoes and clothing in a suitcase
for the most efficient packing. A time efficient alternative is to pack in
the order of your trip and layer clothing accordingly (with shoes nesting
in the edges of the suitcase). Also, you can roll items that don’t
wrinkle.
Although packing will likely never be a pleasure, these few tips should help
bring you to the point where it becomes relatively painless. Most
importantly, by planning ahead, you’ll be less likely to forget items.
Finally, remember to slow down, breathe deeply, and try to keep the
whole act of packing in perspective. A few months from now, will it really
matter exactly which pair of flip-flops you wore at the beach barbeque on
Nantucket? Or perhaps it’s best to follow the words of Alexander
Solzhenitsyn…”Own only what you can carry with you; know language, know
countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag”.
Robin Blank is the owner of Chaos Consulting®, a professional organizing
company
for home and office based in Back Bay.
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