A new OTR guest blogger, Grace Pamer, joins us today with tips on how to tackle hoarding tendencies.

Many of us are natural-born hoarders and we end up having far too many possessions but without the room to house them. For others, it can be a type of mental health illness where they throw nothing away because they are unable to.

If you know someone who fits into the latter category, there is help available either in the form of talking to a councillor or visiting an online forum to talk to other sufferers. A person with a serious hoarding problem would need support before undertaking any of the following tips as it could prove too emotionally traumatising for them.

For the rest of us hoarders, here are 5 easy steps to cut down on your hoarding habit and make a clean start.

1. Get organised and prepare

• The first thing you need to think about is the order in which you are going to tackle your hoarding problem. Split the house into different areas and deal with one place at a time; otherwise, you will feel completely overwhelmed.
• Allow yourself at least three weekends if your hoarding habit has got out of hand as it is important that you take your time. For homes with far less clutter you may be able to undertake this task in less time.
• Make sure that you buy plenty of garbage bags, storage boxes, a recycling bin, sticky labels, and a pen. If your stash is huge, you may want to consider hiring a portable dumpster for the convenience of having someone else to take the rubbish away.

2. Categorize

• Separate your hoard into four separate piles and label them “donate,” “discard,” “storage,” and “sell.” This is the hard part as you have to be emotionally strong and decide which bits go where. You will probably have the urge to place everything on the “storage” pile, but you must be strong and get rid of some stuff.
• The general rule of thumb with clothing is if you have not worn it for a year, then you are unlikely to wear it again. Also, if you have worn something the first time it came into fashion, then you cannot wear it any other times (platform boots were great in the 1970s but would not suit you now).
• In this case, you should give your clothing to charity or sell on eBay. Old ornaments and other pieces of bric-a-brac which have been gathering dust for years should either be discarded or donated. Old magazines and newspapers are no good to anyone so you should recycle these.
• Any item you cannot give away or discard (maybe you just have to keep it for sentimental reasons) should be placed in a clearly label plastic storage box. If you are worried that something you have been hoarding may be valuable, you can check this out online before deciding on what to do with it.

3. Protect Yourself

• Depending on which space you are clearing, you may need to wear rubber gloves and protective clothing which will stop any harmful chemicals affecting your skin and clothes. Sometimes things have been stashed away for so long that they get mould and mildew on them or have become loose and are leaking chemical fluids. All of these items must be discarded as they are of no use to anybody.
• If you are de-cluttering a bathroom, you should discard ancient toiletries and out of date medicines (you can hand these medicines in at your local pharmacy that will dispose of your pills in the correct manner). Pills which are past their “Best before _____” date can be harmful to your health and do not carry the same amount of effectiveness, so are useless anyway.
• In the case of your kitchen, you should look for broken utensils, chipped dinner services and out of date cans of food. These should all be discarded immediately as, again, they are harmful to your health. Perishable foods should always be kept in the refrigerator, but if you are a hoarder by nature, there will no doubt be some out of date cheese or carton of Chinese food lurking. 
• So while you are concentrating on the kitchen, take the time to deal with perishables and that includes your vegetable drawer or cupboard. Mouldy potatoes attract flies and once eggs are laid, the smell can be intolerable, so it is best to address this problem before it escalates. Try and use anti-bacterial cleaner to sterilise cupboards and surfaces to minimise the risk of even more bacteria spreading from old waste.

4. Ask For Help

• If the thought of cutting down your hoarding habit seems too daunting, then do not be afraid to ask a friend or family member to assist you. You will probably uncover some interesting things which will make a good talking point and some older things may stir up some nostalgia!
• Remember, more hands make light work, so you will get this job done much quicker and you will have emotional support as well as an extra pair of hands.

5. Reward Yourself

• Even if it takes a month to cut down on your hoard, it is well worth it for the amazing results. You will find that without all of the unnecessary clutter around you, your home will look bigger and lighter. You will actually be able to think more clearly. 
• During the various stages of clearing your house out, allow yourself regular breaks where you can sit and have a cup of coffee or stretch your legs for fifteen minutes. These breaks are important to your mental and physical wellbeing and will help stop you feeling bored or frustrated. 
• You will also find that you have more space in your closet and kitchen cupboards so maybe you can buy yourself a new outfit or a new set of glasses for the kitchen. These rewards will remind you of your hard work and the reason why you did it.

By following these easy steps you will soon have your personal space looking spic and span. You may even decide to decorate in order to spruce up your lovely new living area. You could use the money you make from selling your old clothes on eBay. Remember, a tidy house creates a tidy mind, so get to it!

About the Author

Grace Pamer is the author of RomanticFrugalMom.com, one woman’s on going quest to keep romance alive despite the time pressure of dealing with three beautiful but crazy kids and an always working husband. Check out her love letters for him section if you’re looking to put the romance back into your marriage with a well crafted love letter to your nearest and dearest.

Connect With Grace:  Web | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Love Letters

Hey, small business owners! Today’s guest post by Ken Howard is just for you! He has a few tips that will help you structure your social media efforts and put your brand on the map.

If you’re a small business owner, you know that running a business is a lot of work. The fact is you just don’t have the time to do everything unless you put in a 15-hour+ days. Do you ever feel like no matter how much you get done, there’s always more to do? I’m going to give you some tips that will help to simplify part of your day.

In the past few years social media has grown to the juggernaut of Internet Marketing. Facebook has nearly 8.4 million users and continues to grow. As a small business owner, you want to capitalize on that market as well as those on Twitter, Pinterest and Google+.

The first suggestion I give my clients is to be active. But you must not be spammy, which leads in to my second suggestion. Share expert information frequently. By providing expert information, you are informing your audience and gaining their trust. Here are a few tools that will make these two suggestions easy to manage:

• Buffer – Buffer is available for multiple platforms (Web, Chrome, Firefox, Android & iOS). Connect your Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook accounts. With it, you can spread out your updates to keep your account active. You can also share links to articles you have read.

• Google Reader – Finding relevant news to share with your audience doesn’t have to take hours. With Google Reader you can scan through the headlines of the day for the blogs and news sources in your industry.

• ifttt – “If this, then that” is a your digital assistant. This tool looks for signals in your social media accounts and performs an action based on the rules you configure. Do you want to backup your Instagram photos to Evernote? Ifttt’s best “recipe” is to add starred Google Reader articles to your Twitter or Facebook Buffer queue.

Now that you have a few tools to help your social media efforts, you need to think about what you’re going to share. It’s important that your professional profile stays professional. However tempting it may be, don’t share the daily internet memes. You don’t want to attract the wrong audience.

Let’s say you own a bike shop and want to connect with cyclists. Obviously, you’ll want to share any specials you’re offering or articles you have written. But, you also want to share news stories from around the world, race results, lightweight bike frames, mountain biking YouTube videos, strengthening tips, apparel, tire technology… anything that can establish you or your brand as an expert in bikes.

There’s nothing easy about social media marketing. It takes a lot of work to be successful and is extremely competitive. If you use these simple tips, you can take control and start to develop your own social media strategy. After some time you can identify what type of content works based on how many likes, retweets and comments you receive. Use this newfound knowledge to write your own articles and start your own blog.

What social media challenges have you overcome and what kind of strategy did you employ to achieve your goals? Share your story in the comments.

About the Author

Ken is the Interactive Manager at Turtledove Clemens, an Integrated Marketing Communications firm in Portland, Oregon. He is passionate about Social Media, Search Engine Optimization and intuitive, user friendly web design.

Connect With Ken: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn| Blog | Web | E-Mail

Today’s guest blogger, Austin Weaver, has advice on what to do when you get your pot of gold.

Any lottery jackpot comes with a life-changing amount of money, whether it was from the recent $565 million Mega Millions jackpot or from a jackpot which was only tens of millions of dollars. That money from a winning lottery ticket can materialize into college funds, cars, and vacation getaways.

However, with newly acquired millions come additional financial responsibilities, advisors, investments, and celebratory spending to track.  Most lotteries allow winners between 6 months and a year to collect their winnings, so before running to cash in that winning lottery ticket, read this short checklist.

Assemble an all-star financial team
Estate planning is the most important thing any lottery winner can do to protect themselves and their money. Make sure to set up a will and a living trust before even thinking about cashing in a winning lottery ticket. Without these, if a winner dies, most of their millions will be redirected to the government for income tax, estate tax and probate costs.

Any jackpot winner needs to find a top-of-the-line lawyer, CPA, financial advisers and insurance agents that have experience working with large sums of money. Make sure they can be neutral and unbiased with their guidance.

Take a family vacation
No, this does not mean Disney World. Go somewhere peaceful and quiet; spend quality time as a family unit. Suddenly acquiring large sums of money, like a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot, can be overwhelming and confusing for everyone involved.

Any lottery winner has the financial cushion to take some time off work and they should spend it with their loved ones. Have open conversations about maintaining family values, priorities, and humility. Encourage communication and establish an understanding that money should not change people’s values or attitudes.

Make a list of charities to support. Stick to the list.
With millions in the bank, it is only natural for any lottery winner to donate some of their windfall to their favorite charities. However, winners will most likely be inundated with donation requests from countless organizations and projects, making philanthropy incredibly overwhelming and nearly impossible.

Winners should first and foremost compile a list of organizations or causes to which they feel personally connected – a local shelter, environmental group, religious organization or research group. It is impossible to donate to every single charity in the world and winners find they make more of an impact by focusing on a few organizations.

It is also much easier to maintain order over donations and track how the gifts are used when they are concentrated in a few places. Make a list and stick to it.

Diversify the investing portfolio
Any lottery winner should strive to make sound investments that would let them live off their jackpot’s interest instead of the principle. However, smart investing is a balancing act and it is crucial that funds are spread out and invested in a variety of places. Purchase stocks and bonds and establish trusts for children and grandchildren. Winners may also choose to invest some of their millions in new business ventures, fine art, antique cars, or real estate.

So when you check your EuroMillions results (or any other lottery) and find out you have a winning ticket, get excited. But also – no matter what – recognize a risky investment and spread the wealth around to protect yourself and make sure to stay organized!

About the Author

Austin Weaver loves cricket and rugby, and of course organizing things! He is a content and blog writer for theLotter.com, an online lottery website selling tickets throughout the world.

Connect With Austin: Web | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | YouTube | E-mail

 Liz from Simple Italian Cooking is back with a few things you can do to kick kitchen clutter to the curb.

Unless you have had your kitchen recently remodeled, chances are there are a few changes you could make that would create a more efficient and user-friendly environment– without the need to rip out walls or spend thousands of dollars.  Here are some practical tips to help you get the most treasured room in the house organized!

Kitchen Storage Ideas

Storage baskets are very popular and they come in every medium from woven grass to canvas to metal wire. Whatever the style of your kitchen, there is a basket that will stylishly contain all those bits and pieces that need a home.

When looking for baskets, consider the purpose and look beyond typical kitchen designed baskets. For example, rolling plastic 3 drawer carts can be used to store bags of onions or potatoes, housing neatly folded hand towels and table clothes or storing plastic lids – all within easy reach.  You won’t find these carts in the kitchen department, but most likely in the home improvement or living areas.

Create Space Where There Is No Space

If you have a kitchen with a pantry area and a door, you can easily free up countertop clutter by purchasing pocket holders or racks that hang on the back of the door. This is perfect for housing items such as phones, calendars, notepads, pen/pencils, to-do pads, soup packets, canned goods or even seasonings depending on the style of the holders. If you don’t have a door to use, consider tacking these holders where there is empty wall space.

.

Another way to make space where there is no space, is to remove items in your cupboards which aren’t being regularly used. The idea is simple, but when it comes to figuring out what you do and don’t need, it gets a little harder. 

Therefore, take the average number of place settings you use on a daily basis, then box up the rest and store them in an area where they are still accessible should you need them in the future.

You may be surprised at how much new space you have once those extra mugs and chipped glassware are removed.

Keep Out Of The Kitchen

If tight on space, look for ways to store items outside of the kitchen.  For example, if you keep your tablecloths and other “clothware” in drawers in your kitchen, look for storage units which would fit nicely with your dining room or living room decor.

Use these units to store items  such as extra plates, silverware or pots and pans, thus freeing up more space in the kitchen for more frequently used items.  These units can be decorative and not intrusive, blending into the existing decor, without giving the slightest indication for its actual purpose.

Keeping yourself organized is one thing, but making your kitchen organized is another.  By having an organized kitchen you will find not only does cooking and meal preparation become easier, but it also becomes more enjoyable too.

About the Author

Liz Trementozzi Krause, who grew up in an Italian home, has an Italian website where she enjoys writing about Italian recipes, or reviews about Italian cookware such as the best gelato machine for home use. She loves sharing tips with her readers and subscribers and hopes she encourages others to enjoy spending more time in the kitchen!

Connect With Liz: Twitter | Web

Today’s guest author, Brittany Smith, tells you how you can do a little good by doing a little spring cleaning.

It’s that time of year again. Time to de-clutter the lingering remnants of winter and let fresh air back into your home with some spring cleaning. But where do you put everything you remove from your home? In the trash? What you do with all these unwanted items is just as important as removing them from your home, and this spring you can donate them to a good cause.

We here at Live Green have teamed up with Repax for Fwd: Your Fashion, DC’s largest clothing drive. Our goal is to collect a record breaking amount of clothes to benefit Goodwill and help fund over 400 hours of their employment programs for the DC community, while diverting several thousand pounds of waste from landfills.

Live Green is a social enterprise dedicated to growing the green economy and making green living easy, fun, and accessible for all. To us, this means everything from helping businesses chose sustainable sourcing for their menu, to helping consumers make smart and eco-friendly choices in their everyday lives.

By participating in Fwd: Your Fashion, not only are you removing clutter from your life, but you are giving your clothes a second life, which is one of the greenest things you can do.

How can you help?

First, go through all your clothes and start a pile of unworn and unwanted garments. This includes that expensive shirt you never wear.

Next, donate your clothes at the closest Fwd: Your Fashion drop-off location.

Finally, celebrate with us as we tally the total amount of clothes before we kick-off Green Rush, our city-wide scavenger hunt on April 21st.

Ready. Set. De-clutter.

About The Author

Brittany is the Operations Manager for Live Green. As a vegetarian, she enjoys getting the inside scoop on the best eco-friendly restaurants around DC. She loves soy chai lattes, experimenting with vegan baking, reading, and watching entire TV series all at once.

Connect With Live Green: Fwd: Your Fashion Facebook App | Web

Have I mentioned that I’m not quite ready to be back from my mini-break? While I think about all the reasons why I should extend my time away, enjoy this guest post from OTR friend, Julie Bestry. She has lots to say about how you can stop phone calls from sucking all your time.

We’ve come a long way since Alexander Graham Bell shouted, “Watson! Come here! I need you!” Today, Bell probably would have sent a text message, tweet or email – in all-caps.

I’m away on a short break so, I’ll be re-sharing some of my favorite OTR articles and introducing you to some new guest bloggers, like today’s writer, Ana Brady. Check out her tips on how to get your pantry in order.

The point of organizing your pantry is not for the sake of being organized, and not only to get rid of what mice left behind (though, for those folks who had the misfortune to go through this like I did once, this is a big part of it). The point of straightening out your pantry is also to save money and time.

That’s practically what most of the organization around the kitchen should bring.  It might be no fun, but it pays off. You know that feeling when you have a toothache and you keep postponing going to the dentist because you hate it? But once you get it over with, there’s a heavy load off your chest. Organizing a messy pantry might be a little bit like that.

Whatever the level of your pantry messy-ness, one thing is clear: if everything is cluttered, you have no idea what’s expired, and the shelves haven’t seen a cleaning cloth in years – you are the right candidate for pantry organization.

If you have children with surplus of energy, you can proclaim a new game called Who Can Organize the Pantry Better, and let them help you.

How to Organize Your Pantry in 8 Easy Steps:

1. Start by taking out absolutely everything you have in the pantry and line it on a kitchen table or floor. It might take you awhile, so be prepared.

2. Take a few cleaning cloths and whatever cleaning product you like to use for pantry shelves, and give it a good wiping. Don’t forget spider webs and hard-to-reach corners. Everything should be spotless once you’re done, because you won’t be doing this every week, I suppose.

3. Then, go back to what you lined up on the table and go through all items. Some of them might be expired, some of them might have holes from mice or some other pests (hopefully not), and some might be a surprise to even be there, because you never eat such things, or you stopped eating them. Throw out everything that you won’t be using anymore. Your goal is to make that the last time you’ll be throwing away food (in bulk, at least).

4. Now, this step is optional. You can use only the shelves you have in your pantry, or you can purchase extra bins, baskets, hanging or slide-out racks, turntables, wire shelf helpers, any additional products that might help you create more room for food in your pantry. 

.

5. Group all food items into sections according to likeness. Don’t group according to size because that might confuse you later when you look for a particular thing. Breakfast foods like cereal and oatmeal can be one group, pasta and rice can be another, flour, sugar and salt yet another, etc. Group food according to what makes sense to you.

6. Start putting back the food. It might be a good idea to keep everything you want to hide from your kids on the highest shelves where they can’t reach it. Also, use those shelves on top to keep lighter food packages. Keep heavy stuff (like jars, glass bottles and large containers on lower shelves or on the floor). You can use turntables for bottles of oil, vinegar, etc. Also, it’s not a bad idea to keep everything you often use on shelves/racks that are at eye level.

7. Re-packing the food might also be necessary. If some food packages are torn, or too bulky, you can purchase convenient see-through plastic containers that not only save space, but also let you know what you have inside. They are good for storing cereal and pasta. I use glass jars for storing flour and sugar.

8. Make sure everything you have in your pantry and all labels are clearly visible, so that your search time is minimal.

When you divide pantry organization into these clear tasks, like I did, it doesn’t sound so intimidating. The problem is that new food comes in very often, at least once a week, and you have to remember not to throw it on top of whatever shelf you find convenient at the moment. Place new items where they belong, now that you have nicely grouped food sections. You’ll be doing yourself a favor.

About the Author

Ana Brady is a mother of two, a writer focusing on food and health related topics, and a member of a designers’ group that recently completed a project on food packaging labels.

I’m taking a bit of a break from writing. I’ll be re-sharing some of my favorite OTR articles and re-introducing you to some awesome OTR guest bloggers, like Feng Shui expert Ann Bingley Gallops. She has advice on how to keep the romance alive long after Valentine’s Day is gone.

How was your Valentine’s Day this year?  Romantic? Surprising? Fun?

Did you connect – or re-connect – with your significant other, in a significant way?

Well, just because Valentine’s Day is in the rear-view mirror, doesn’t mean the fun, surprising, romantic stuff has to fade into the past as well. Instead you can use a few Feng Shui tips and tricks to keep the energy going all year ‘round.

Have you identified the Relationship sector in the Bagua Map of your home? 

Place a few images or art objects there that remind you of the romance in your life.

Is the Relationship sector missing from your home?

No problem! When this critical sector is missing, turn up the romantic volume by identifying it in individual rooms and enhancing it there.

.

.

Did you receive a card or trinket from your love partner? 

Honor this tender gesture by placing it – at least for the next month or so – in a position of honor where you and your partner will see it every day as a reminder of the love you share. Honor your intentions for your relationship by putting it in a Bagua sector that has personal significance.

Do you share an important anniversary of  some kind?  The day you met, your first date, your wedding day?

Rather than wait a whole year for the big day to roll around, celebrate your love every month on that day! My husband and I have been celebrating our first date every month this way for 10 years now. I can assure you that it’s a great way to keep romance alive. ;)

Does your bedroom match your vision of a romantic love nest?

In your super-busy life it can be easy to lose sight of how much a bedroom means to your love life. Sit down and visualize the room you desire, and start creating it today. And don’t forget to peek under your bed!

Does your home reflect the warmth of your relationship?

Feng Shui uses the Five Elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water – to attract and enhance particular energies.  Add the passionate Fire element throughout your home with candlelight, shades of red, and materials that invite you to get cozy. 

When you put these ideas into place, you’ll be able to ask yourself, “Who needs Valentine’s Day?” – you’ve created it every day for you and your lover.

Here’s to a happy year-round romance!

*Read other posts by Ann here and here.

.

About The Author

Ann Bingley Gallops and Open Spaces Feng Shui offer a modern, practical approach to the ancient art of Feng Shui, enhancing your life with balance and good health. Ann has been practicing Feng Shui since 1996, and received her Practitioner’s Certificate from the Western School of Feng Shui. 

Her background includes an MBA from Columbia University as well as Red Ribbon Professional accreditation from the International Feng Shui Guild, the highest Feng Shui qualification available in the U.S.  Ann’s services include consultations for homes and offices, plus space-clearing & blessing ceremonies and long-distance, virtual consultations.

Connect With Ann: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | E-Mail | 646.382.3878

When your Valentine presents a gift box, whether packaged in classic Tiffany Blue or lopsided funny papers, your heart fills with warmth. It’s the thought that counts. But other times, the people you love present you with clutter, and just the thought of it can add a wintry layer of permafrost around the warmest hearts.

Helping your loved ones get organized can be a touchy endeavor. You want to help them. (OK, sometimes you just want to help them not make you crazy.) The first key to achieving their goals (and yours) is to remember that disorganization isn’t a character flaw. It’s not a measure of a person’s maturity, intellect or value. It’s just a mismatch between the skills and systems already in place and the ever-changing demands of the world.

Making people feel guilty about their clutter doesn’t help  — and indeed, it can hurt their self-esteem and the loving bonds you share. Instead, create a guilt-free environment in which being organized is beneficial, fun and easy.

MOTIVATE

Start by knowing and talking about what motivates your sweetheart. Take time to focus on what enticements might make your loved one more willing to get organized. If someone is not already actively concerned with how things look, feeling pushed to declutter to make the house “pretty” is often a deal-breaker. Visual appeal just isn’t a huge motivator for many individuals, including a preponderance of men.

Instead of aesthetics, focus on the major tangible, temporal and visceral benefits of getting organized. Discuss how some new skills and systems will save money (which can be better spent on nifty items and meaningful experiences). Explore how a few tweaks may also save time, reduce stress, and increase overall productivity.

If your darling thinks of organizing as a chore, find ways to make behavioral changes an adventure, a challenge or a competition. Appeal to the big kid inside and document successes with points or rewards. Encourage trying to beat a “personal best”.

EASY-PEASY

Once you and your significant other are on the same page regarding the benefits of organizing, find out how you can make the process easier. Ask what makes the steps difficult in the first place.

Are they neglecting putting things away because they don’t want to be “made wrong” by putting something where they think you’ll say it doesn’t belong? Do they cringe at the prospect of feeling clueless or being corrected? Find ways to be equal partners, instead.

Ask your beloved if there are current storage areas that aren’t convenient – places where items are housed that don’t feel logical, or aren’t easily accessed – and rethink the placement. Perhaps the labels for the family filing system aren’t intuitive, leading to paperwork procrastination?

Everything should have a home, and if the storage place is conveniently located and labeled, it makes it easier to put things away.

Paint an outline of the tools that go on the pegboard in the garage to make it simpler to return them. Work together to label files or the edges of shelves in the linen closet so everyone knows where things should go. Sketch a fun little map of where items belong in the fridge or pantry and post it on the door.

Is time an obstacle? Build time into the family schedule (perhaps a nightly 15 minutes before dinner, or mid-morning on Saturdays) for everyone, kids and grownups alike, to tackle their organizing tasks.

If there are household and organizing tasks your darling just can’t stand, why not make a trade? Nobody says you always have to unload the dishwasher and your sweetie must balance the checkbook. Exchange the least-desirable tasks and you might both gain motivation in new areas.

OUTSIDE RESOURCES

Have patience, and recognize that not everyone starts from the same place. It’s pointless to yell, “You should know how to do this!” and it’s unreasonable to expect that everyone should have the same skills of pattern recognition or ability to conceptualize abstract solutions. Similarly, there are areas where there are no rights and wrongs, but merely where couples have differing organizing styles and retrieval preferences.

Even if you’re great at organizing yourself, consider the potential benefits of outside coaching and assistance. My mother is an excellent driver (insert your own Rainman joke here), but she recognized, after a few initial runs, that a driver’s education course and a few formal driving lessons might reduce my teenage stress level (and her own).

You wouldn’t set your own arm if it were broken, would you? You don’t expect people to be able to churn their own butter or prepare their own taxes. Think of organizing as a combination of skill and training. Can’t we all use a little help with some things? Consider a trainer for organizational fitness!

Engaging the services of a professional organizer allows both of you to benefit from the technical expertise of a neutral, judgment-free third party. A professional organizer can provide advice and solutions that neither of you might have even considered, allowing you to move forward as loving, equal partners. One might even say, as Valentines.

.

About The Author 

Julie Bestry is a Certified Professional Organizer, speaker and author, who helps individuals and businesses save time and money, reduce stress and increase productivity through new organizational skills and systems. Although a generalist, Julie specializes in paper organizing, blogs as the Paper Doll, and publishes Best Results for Busy People: Organizing Your Modern World. 

Connect With Julie:  Paper Doll |  Web | Twitter | Facebook

I’m taking a sabbatical and have lined up a few posts ahead of time. I’ll also be re-sharing some of my fave OTR articles and re-introducing you to some favorite OTR guest authors, like Ellen Delap. Today, she has advice on how to help your children keep their rooms clutter free.

Kids rooms get stuffed to the brim after the holidays! Helping them learn organizing strategies as well as modeling decluttering is one of our most important jobs as a parent.  Just like every new skill, it takes patience and practice to create good systems and routines.

• Set a time that will work well for you and your child to organize. You will be able to have them work with you between 30 and 60 minutes, so you really want to hit the hard stuff first.  Before you start, set your goals together to be sure you are communicating. Work toward a goal of completion and not perfection in this endeavor. Going into this work with a team attitude makes all the difference as well. If your child is done, but the room is not, continue on but ask about the items you declutter before you donate.  You are teaching respect for each other and taking care of your property, too!

• Think through the areas that are used in your child’s room, including technology, attire, reading and any other zones.  Mapping this out ahead of time helps you both set boundaries for what will fit in this space. Often we have too much in one space to make it work.

• You and your child will approach decluttering with different perspectives. Give your child permission to declutter without guilt or second thoughts.  Often your child is ready to let go of an item and  you are not.  Be sure that you are open to their opinions, regardless of the cost or use of the item.

If your child is reluctant to declutter, be sure to help them by gathering together the items, then asking how many they might need of a single item or if they will keep only a treasured number. By helping them approach decluttering in a positive way, you are encouraging a lifelong process.

• Keeping toys or clothes for your next child? Use 66 quart bins, labeled with size and season for clothes. You can store these on the upper shelves in your child’s closet.  Toys can also be stored this way. Be sure to be discerning and keep only the best of these.

• Kids need a keepsake box, too.  The size of the box helps them limit their keepsakes to what is most precious. This can also be stored under a bed or at the top of the closet.  This strategy also helps them honor what is precious.

• Choose products that encourage independent maintenance of their space. Think of their ability to access and spaces they can return items to so that they can easily keep their room orderly. Place items that are frequently used in open bins for just dropping in. Color and labels can make organizing fun and attractive too. Be sure to label each spot so that everyone knows where items belong.

• Establishing routines are an important final step. Talk through the maintenance with your child. Will they be picking up a little every night? It is much easier this way!  Will they be preparing for the next day each evening as well, taking out their clothes, filling their back pack and getting ready? Easy to follow routines can be reinforced with a chore chart and praise to insure completion.

• Keep a schedule for decluttering each season. Whether it is a holiday or birthday coming up, frequent decluttering is the most reliable way to keep order in your home. Calendar it and you will be sure to keep organization a priority for you and your child.

.

About the Author

Certified Professional Organizer ® and Family Manager Coach, Ellen Delap, is the owner of Professional-Organizer.com. Since 2000, she has worked one-on-one with her clients in their home and offices, streamlining their environments, creating effective strategies for an organized lifestyle, and helping them to prioritize organization in their daily routines.

She holds ADD and Chronic Disorganization certificates and specializes in working with ADD and ADHD adults and students.  Ellen has been featured at The Woodlands (Texas) Home and Garden Show, on ABC13 Houston, in the Houston Chronicle, and is an Expert on The Clutter Diet, an online organizing resource.

Connect With Ellen: Twitter | Facebook | Web | E-Mail