It’s that time of year again – that mad-dash to set resolutions. Resolutions are well and good, but unless we develop new habits and intentions, they are not likely to happen. As a Certified Professional Organizer, I am happy to share three tips that can help you stay organized and clutter-free. These are not your standard organizing hacks, but simple tweaks to common behaviors that make a surprisingly big difference.

Toss obvious trash, daily

This seems, well, obvious. But it’s not. Obvious trash is the first thing I tackle with most clients, especially in crowded rooms, drawers, and garages. You would be surprised by how much of what you perceive as clutter is truly obvious trash. I’m referring to wrappers, empty boxes, old receipts and envelopes you no longer need, empty water bottles – you get the idea. This might not be an issue for you, but it might be for someone else in your household like your partner or your children. Have small trashcans in all bedrooms and bathrooms and a larger one in the garage. The easier it is to toss the trash, the more likely it will get done. Take a few minutes and tackle your junk drawer and you’ll likely see what I mean.

Make progress with paper

So much for a paperless society, right? Paper is still one of the top things my client’s need help keeping in order. Setting up paperless billing and statements is a good idea, and a different topic. Let’s address the paper many of us receive weekly.

Back-in-the-day the rule was to ‘touch each piece of paper only once’. Well, that’s just not always possible. The key with paper is to make progress with it every time you handle it.

For example: The mail is brought in, but you’re busy and can’t deal with it at that moment. So, it stays in a basket on the entry table until you have time to open it. (This is its intentional holding place.) Later that day or the next day you open it and start to process it. This is when you make the decision to toss, shred, scan, file, or act on it. You can take that action now or create an intentional place for it to go again until you complete the action. This should be closer to the place it will need be processed. If you call on something and it is still not resolved, write a note on it, or a sticky note, with the date, and place it on your desk in an area designated for follow up.

This example shows how paper may move through your house. It’s a process. The key is to have a system that works for you, so you don’t miss anything important, and it doesn’t turn into an overwhelming pile on the counter.

Break down and recycle those boxes

We all have them – boxes, boxes, everywhere. Many of our daily used items are delivered and most come in boxes. Boxes are now like bags…and oh how we all LOVE our bags. Bottom line: they take up a lot of room, are a cause of visual and physical clutter, and let’s face it – more will likely come within the week.

The tip is to break them down as soon as they are unpacked and recycle them. The exception: you have a uniquely sized box for an item you’re not sure you’ll keep. In that case I still recommend breaking the box down but storing it out of the way in the garage.

For tips and organizing inspiration follow me @storebysteph on Instagram or Facebook. For help setting up systems to organize and keep your home clutter-free please contact me through this link to set up a time for a complimentary consultation.

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Stephanie Boyd is a Professional Organizer, mom, and local business owner. She helps people clear clutter and chaos from their homes and offices so they can lead more intentional, productive and peaceful lives. Stephanie comes from a corporate sales and marketing background. Although her first professional organizing job was in 1998, it was in 2015 that she decided to take her experience and passion for all things organized to the next level by launching her own business, ‘S.T.O.R.E. by Steph’. Stephanie believes in giving back to her community and that learning is an integral part of a full life. She is an Active Member and Ambassador for the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and the two leading associations in her field, NAPO and ICD. She learns from her clients every day and has earned certificates of study in Chronic Disorganization, Understanding the Needs of the Aging Client and Life Transitions.

Stephanie Boyd
Professional Organizer
310.245.9303
sboyd@storebysteph.com

www.storebysteph.com

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