Tips for Organization

Organization Topics

Conquering Office Clutter –
Home office or corporate office, Elise McVeigh can help purge, control, and get rid of your clutter, once and for all!

Organizing Closets –
Every closet needs a face lift! Let Elise McVeigh motivate you and show you how to successfully make your closet a joy to walk into, no matter how big or small

Organizing your House for Success –
Ever think that you need a bigger house, or that your household flow is dysfunctional? Elise McVeigh will help you walk out with an action plan to make your house the home that you always dreamed of having.

Get Organized for Travel –
If you are traveling solo, or with a large family, organization can be the key for a fun and rewarding trip. Elise McVeigh will show you tips on how to be ready and organized for any type of vacation!

Conquering the Clutter Once and For All!

Written for the Dallas Morning News
By: Elise M. McVeigh

Last week I discussed how to conquer paper piles. This week let’s talk about the other clutter in your life. The “things” that seem to invade and take over your house. Everyone seems to have a junk room. You know the room. The room that is not an official room of any kind, and that seems to get piles of stuff in it. It may be a guest room, a sewing room, or even the kitchen island. Whatever room or space it is, you need to conquer the clutter once and for all! Where and how should you start?

Schedule one hour a day or week for “reorganizing,” and tackle one section of the area or the room, at a time. If you have a whole day to devout to the project, great! If you do not, do not pull everything out and make a huge mess. It will over-whelm you even more.

Pick up the first item, and force yourself make a decision about it. Do you need it? If yes, find a place for it, and put it there immediately, even if that means going up or down the stairs. If you do not need the item, put it in your give-away box or a trash bag, before you go on to the next thing. If you find similar items, such as loose photos, start making a pile, and then determine a system of where they should be kept. It may end up being a separate project. If you start seeing several of these “projects” forming, grab some paper and a pen, and start a project to-do-list. At the end of the clean-out time, schedule your next clean-out time, and determine when you will complete each project.

Do not be scared to throw things out! When I am meeting with a new client, I try to play therapist, and determine what kind of psychological hang-ups the person has about getting rid of items. Some have sentimental attachments to things. I had a client who could not part with toys that were given to her children by family members (even though her kids were not playing with the toys any longer.) I had another client who could not part with things that were her deceased mother’s, even though they were not monetarily valuable, and she did not have a use for the item, or did not like the item.

Determine the reason that you do not like to purge items. Try to over-come your psychological reason(s) by starting with one item. Take the item to your local charity, and give yourself a week or so. You will see that you do not miss the item, and you will actually have a sense of freedom! If this sounds too hard to your, remind yourself that people are important – not things! If you are ready to purge anything, then put all of your items in a trash bag. Find a spot out of the way, such as a spare closet or garage, and then after two months, do not look in the bag, but just drive it to your local charity, drop it off, and do not think about it again. It is like the box that you forgot to unpack during a move that you find a year later. You did not miss the items at all! Once you are finished with cleaning out even one room of your house, you will be amazed at how uncluttered your mind becomes!

When you have everything taken out of the house that you do not need, do not feel like you have to fill it up with “things” again. When there is something that you actually do need, you will have space for it. Happy decluttering! For a check-list of these and other organization tips in this four-week series, you can visit my website at elisemcveigh.com.

Organization Tips: Conquer Clutter

Schedule one hour a day or week for “reorganizing,” and tackle one section of the area or the room, at a time.
Do not pull everything out and make a huge mess.
Find a place for every item, and put it there immediately.
Put unwanted items in a trash bag, or a give-away box.
Put similar items, such as loose photos, in a pile, and then determine a system of where they should be kept.
Have paper and a pen handy, and start a project to-do-list, if necessary.
At the end of the clean-out time, schedule your next clean-out time, and determine when you will complete each project.
Do not be scared to throw things out!
Try to analyze your psychological hang-ups about purging.
Purge one item at a time if necessary, to show your self that purging is okay!
Remember that things do not matter, it is people that matter.

Feel Like Your House is Too Small?

You May Just Need to Reorganize Your Home!
Written for The Dallas Morning News
By: Elise M. McVeigh

Last week I wrote about getting rid of the unwanted items in your house – i.e., junk! Let’s take it a step further this week, and talk about your house overall. If you ask most people what they would change about their house, one of the first answers would be 'I need more space.' Sometimes it is not a lack of space, but just a poor use of space. You may want to consider reorganizing your home.

When I go in to a client’s house as a professional organizer, the first question I need answered is “what each room is supposed to be used for?” My second question is “what does your family actually do in this room?” The client then chuckles, and sees where I am going with the two questions. For example, you may have your second living area designated for a play area, but your kids end up playing in the kitchen, because that is where you spend all of your time. Another example is you may have an area set up with desks for homework, but your kids always do homework at the kitchen table. Look at the reality of what really happens, and then determine a realistic layout for your things.

I have a “computer” room in my house, where everyone has his own desk. My kids end up doing their homework at our dining room table. I now have the second drawer in my buffet table designated as the homework drawer. In it I have a three-ring binder that has a pencil case in the front, with sharpened pencils, and tabs in it for each child. They have their spelling list in a specific section of the notebook, and a spiral notebook in the drawer, so they can practice writing the words. This cuts down on all of the time they used to take getting their homework together. This also works for us because I do not mind them eating a snack while they do their homework, since they are in the dining room. If you think about the logistics of your house, in conjunction with your activities, it will give your house a more realistic flow.

After you have thought through the actual flow of your household, and have cleaned out everything that you do not need – from small unused items, to furniture that you just do not like or need anymore, you can take a fresh look at your house, and find appropriate places for items and furniture. Do not be scared to think 'out of the box.' It sounds crazy to have a homework drawer in a dining room buffet table, but it helps my sons get their homework done a lot faster. Thinking unconventionally will soon seem like thinking logically!

Take your time to think through everything before making any big changes, and if something does not work, no big deal, try something else. Also, your system may change every few months or year, because your family will change and grow. Revisit what works and what needs to be changed a few times a year. You will feel great, and hopefully will not dread the next time you need to change or reorganize something in your household! For a checklist of these and other organization tips in this four-week series, you can visit my website at elisemcveigh.com. Happy organizing!

Organization Tips: Organize your House To Get A Better Flow

Think about the logistics of your house.
Ask yourself if the activities in the house match what each room is used for.
Aim for a realistic flow throughout your house.
Clean out unwanted or unneeded items, including furniture.
Think unconventionally, or “out of the box.”
Think through everything before making any big changes.
Get input from all family members.
If something does not work, try something else.
Be flexible, and expect to update your system every few months

Time Management and Organizing Paper Work

Written for the Dallas Morning News
By: Elise M. McVeigh

It’s that time of year again. The time when everyone sets “New Year’s Resolutions.” We all know the drill, and the typical resolutions – lose weight, spend more time with the kids, and GET ORGANIZED! If you can get organized, you will have more time to spend with your kids, more time to exercise, and more time for healthy meal planning. Getting organized is the key to every resolution and goal. Getting completely organized includes time management, paper work, closets, cleaning out that junk room, and rooms creating enough space for all of your things. This is the first of four articles on how to tackle each one. Today I will address time management and paper work (so you can find time to get organized)!

First of all, do not think that you are the most hopeless and most unorganized person on the universe. Just so you know, every client that I have ever organized has made that statement. So far, no one is the clear winner. Where to start? Set aside 15 - 30 minutes at the end of each day. You can go through the mail, emails, and write out a To Do List for the next day. Gather any paper work, and put it in a folder labeled “Action Plan.” This can include thank you notes, forms to fill out, bills to pay, or projects. To keep focused, you can merge your To Do List and calendar together, writing down when you will complete each task. For example, 9:00 – 9:30 can be set aside for phone calls; 12:30 – 1:30 can be set aside for a project; and 7:00 – 8:00 for volunteer work.

Each morning set aside 15 – 30 minutes to go through your email, and to get started on your To Do List. You can make phone calls, and start to tackle your Action Pile. This should help eliminate that constant paper pile that seems to always be present.

Managing paper work seems to be a down fall for moms particularly. A “paperless” world may exist in some offices, but a mom’s office is years away from paperless. Three ring binders with labeled pocket folder tabs are useful for keeping anyone’s life more organized. Thinking in categories will help you get a grip on getting your life more in order. Label your first tab 'Action,' and use the pocket for your action pile. If you have a paper calendar, insert it at the front of the binder. Examples of other tabs can include 'volunteer,' 'school,' 'activities,' and 'schedules.' Try not to be too general, such as 'kids.' Your tab will then become too full, and you will not be able to put your hands on what you need. Every Monday morning, use your 15-30 minutes to flip through your binder, and purge any documents that you do not need. Do not be scared to throw paper out. You can always get the information from someone or somewhere else if by a small chance you really need it.

The key to keeping paper work organized is to find a system that works for you. Take the time to think through how you categorize and compartmentalize your life. Once you establish your thought process, make a list of categories, and figure out if you prefer file folders, three-ring binders, or whatever other system that you can think of, or find.
Commit to a time to go through the papers, so you can purge documents that you do not need, and file documents that you do need. This should help you get a great start to organizing your life this year.

As for losing weight and exercising more, I am no expert, but all I can say is eat healthier and exercise more. That is what I always do – until February rolls around! Hopefully you will at least have an organized home until at least March! For a checklist of these and other organization tips in this four-week series, you can visit my website at elisemcveigh.com. Happy organizing!

Organization Tips: Organize your Paperwork

Each evening set aside 15 - 30 minutes to go through mail, and emails.
Write out a 'To Do List' for the next day.
Gather any paper work, and put it in a folder labeled 'Action Plan.'
Merge your To Do List and calendar together, writing down when you will complete each task.
Each morning set aside 15 – 30 minutes to go through your email, and to get started on your 'To Do List.'
Think in categories when organizing your papers.
Purchase a binder and tabs, and label the tabs in categories that apply to your life.
If you have a paper calendar, insert it at the front of the organizer.
If you decide to go as paperless as possible, utilize your phone or computer calendar. A lot of phones also offer Applications that have 'To Do Lists,' or 'Notes.' (You still may need a physical binder for certain paperwork.)
Every Monday morning, use your 15-30 minutes to flip through your choice of organizer and purge.
Do not be scared to purge. (You can always get the information from someone or somewhere else if by a small chance you really need it.)

Organization Tips: Organize your Closets

Pull out every single item in your closet. Make three piles: keep, give-away, and unsure.
Put the unsure pile in a trash bag. If you have not looked at it in a year, take it to a charity drop-off.
Give away clothes that you have not worn it in two years, has a stain, does not fit, is not flattering, or is out of style.
Group your clothing either by item (pants together, skirts together, blouses, etc…), or by outfits.
Purchase nice, uniform hangers.
Hang casual outfits on the left, and graduate to your nicest or most formal outfit all the way to the right side of the closet.
For nice shoes, use clear shoeboxes, or keep in the original box, take a picture the shoes and tape a picture on the outside of the box.
Over the door storage bags are great for sneakers and more casual shoes.
For accessories, such as scarves, ties, and belts, go down an organization aisle of a and choose the kind of system that will work for your closet.
If you are limited on space, consider putting only the current season’s clothing and shoes in your closet.
Space savers include buying graduated hangers for pants and skirts, and store shoes in boxes underneath a bed.

Organization Resources

Elise's Organizational Calendar - this calendar will import into your iCal or Outlook. It has all of the suggested organizational times for you calendar.

Getting Organized Workbook - Need a professional organizer, but can't afford one? Need a place to start. This book will help you get there.

To Do List - Do you need that extra touch to help you put your to do list together? You can download Elise's Offical To Do list or you can order a pad of 100.