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3 Tips for Living with a Messy Person

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Family — No Comments ↓

 

Most people can relate to living with a roommate or significant other who might not have the same organization style. Usually one person is tidier and one person is a bit more relaxed about cleanliness and clutter.

For example, it might be okay for one person to leave his or her dishes in the sink from breakfast all day long. The other person might consider this an act of complete disgust! These types of cleanliness nuances can be a major point of contention in any cohabitation relationship!

So how do you deal? Here are a few tips to make your life happier and less stressful.

  1. Learn the Art of Compromise – In any living situation, it’s important to acknowledge each person’s individual styles of organization and cleanliness, set expectations and learn to compromise. If you don’t have these conversations, you’re going to start resenting each other. If one person is a bit obsessive about being clean and clutter free, and the other person is more relaxed, talk about what is okay. For example, it might be okay for one pair of shoes to be left in the entryway, but on the flip side, agree to clean and put away dishes after each meal. Talk specifics, and go into detail about what each room should look like. You may be surprised by each other’s answers.
  2. Allow for Individual Spaces – It is possible for each person to have an area or a room for himself or herself? This allows each person to practice his or her own style of living and this space – whether cluttered or perfectly tidy – can be a sanctuary for alone time. Also, if the room is rather cluttered, the other person can simply shut the door and turn a blind eye to the disorganization.
  3. Avoid Nagging! – Nagging will get a person nowhere. It will only lead to emotional turmoil! Likewise, being passive aggressive about the issues will just turn into a non-verbal war. I’ve heard stories about roommates leaving post-it notes telling the other person to take out the trash or empty the dishwasher! Being direct and kind toward the other person can go a long way.

What are your tips for living with your roommate or significant other? Share them below!

Photo: Kaboom Pics

We’re Loving – 5 Outdoor Storage Solutions

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Garage, Garden, Spring, Storage — No Comments ↓

Hello, spring! That’s right, the warmer weather is (almost) here. I’m sure the inside of your home is starting to feel clean and organized. Isn’t it funny how the weather can send a signal to our brains telling us it’s time to get the house in order? Ahh, I just love it. Now, have you looked at your outdoor space? Chances are the outdoor space is ready for a tune up.

In addition to cleaning up the yard and dusting off the outdoor furniture, it’s time to think about storage solutions. Outdoor and garden tools can consume a shed or garage if these items don’t have a proper home. Below are five outdoor storage solutions to tame your outdoor space.

  1. Storage Benches – Wouldn’t it be great to have all your outdoor cushions protected from rain and dirt when not in use? Investing in an outdoor storage bench will prolong the condition of your cushions. You can also invest in additional benches for other outdoor essentials like mosquito repellant, garden tools, and more.
  1. Peg Boards – These are magical storage solutions that use that precious vertical space! Hang up garden tools, or outdoor yard games. If you outline the item on the board, it is so much easier to stay organized after using an item.
  1. Hooks – Install hooks to hang up larger items like shovels, rakes, and even bikes.
  1. Rafter Shelving – If you have high enough ceilings, use the space above to store items off your floor.
  1. Shelving – If you have the space to add shelving, please make sure to make it adjustable. As your needs change, you will be prepared to re-adjust as needed.

As you’re organizing in the outdoor air, take the time to soak up the extra vitamin D and fresh air. You deserve it after a long winter!

Photo: Pottery Barn

PURGE! How to dispose of ink cartridges

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Computer, Eco-friendly, Office — No Comments ↓

Today, give the earth a big hug – Happy Earth Day! We live in a fast-paced society, and doing the eco-friendly thing is not always the easiest or quickest. As a Boston professional organizer, I’m always looking into organization tactics that are both effective and environmentally friendly.

From using digital calendars versus paper calendars to reusing recyclables as organizational solutions (you’d be amazed at what you can do with a cardboard paper towel roll!), there are many ways to maintain a “green” focused attitude around the home. There are eco-friendly organization solutions for every part of the home! Today, we’re looking at the home office, and specifically your printer. Most of us have a printer or copier at our ready and therefore we need to dispose of empty ink cartridges. Throwing them in the trash is the quickest option but not the best solution for the environment!

Below are three ways to dispose of your printer ink cartridges:

  1. Check out your printer manufacturer’s website. Manufacturers typically provide information regarding the proper disposal of ink cartridges. Some manufacturers actually have a return label in the box of your new cartridge so it makes it really easy to just drop the old one in the mail.
  1. Turn to office supply stores. Staples and Best Buy have programs where you can return the cartridges directly back to the store where you bought them. Investigate to see if there is a reward program so you can reap some of your investment.
  1. Look into Earth911.com. This is a great resource for investigating how to dispose of just about anything. Look at this site for a location near you that accepts used cartridges.

These are all great ways to lessen your carbon footprint in your office. Also, if you plan to reuse your cartridge, many retailers – including Costco – offer refill services for select cartridge manufacturers.

Photo: PC Mag

Tip Tuesday – 4 Ways to Organize Your Laundry Room

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Family, Laundry — No Comments ↓

A couple of weeks ago, we ushered in the first day of spring. Hooray for warmer weather! There is something about spring that ignites the desire to clean and organize, and as a professional organizer in Boston, I couldn’t be more thrilled.

One area of the home that tends to get neglected is the laundry room. Yes, it is where we take our linens to get cleaned, but how often do you take the time to organize and clean this space? Wouldn’t it be nice to enter your laundry room and have it a pleasant experience? If you enthusiastically nodded yes, below are some ideas to make your laundry room a lovely place.

  1. Install Shelving. The top of your washer and dryer shouldn’t be for folding. Instead, hang a shelf for this very purpose. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a clear, clean space to spread out your clothes and fold them without getting lint or dirt on the clean clothes? If space is tight, consider using a fold down shelf.
  1. Create a Drying Station. For clothes that cannot go in the dryer, but need to be air dried, install a hanging bar. Shirts also dry better by taking them out of the dryer a little damp and hanging on a hanger to finish the drying process.
  1. Say Yes to a Cabinet. From laundry detergent to dryer sheets, the number of products left to clutter a laundry space can be unsightly. Let’s face it – laundry supplies aren’t pretty so keep them behind closed doors in a cabinet. Make sure your cabinet has adjustable shelving so you can customize the height of the shelves to accommodate the different sizes of products (those value sized detergent bottles can be huge!).
  1. Think Small. People’s pockets can bring about loose change and other items. Keep small jars (mason jars are great for this) on the laundry shelves to collect these items. If you want to take this a step further, have a jar for each member of the family so they can go to collect their money, lip balm and notes.

After you organize your laundry room, you’ll be more compelled to do the laundry…right? Well, that is the hope anyway. Happy laundering!

Photo: Decorpad.com

Purge! 5 Things to Purge from Your Command Center

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Calendars, Children, Desk, Family, Kitchen, Office, Paper Management — No Comments ↓

There is one place in the home that is typically the “hub” for the family. This is what I like to call the command center. It can be the desk in your kitchen, a corner in your dining room, or the desk in your home office. While it is essential to have a home base, sometimes these nooks accumulate piles of unnecessary items. It’s time to say “bye” to all of those papers and “stuff” that no longer serves you. Below are a few categories to sort through and PURGE!

  1. Expired coupons – I’m a big fan of saving money, but how many times have you clipped a coupon only to find that it has expired? Whether you save store or restaurant coupons, take a look at the expiration date. If these have expired, say farewell. Additionally, to stay ahead of expiration dates, keep your coupons in a small accordion folder and organize by month, and then create subcategories for categories.
  1. Out-of-Date School Calendars – If you have kids, you know you can collect many different activity calendars. Make sure you just have the most recent schedule of their games and activities, and discard the rest! If you really want to maintain a cleaner command center, keep these dates in your electronic calendar and throw out the paper.
  1. Pens – I just moved and I was amazed at how many pens, highlighters, and markers that had accumulated. I spent time going through them after I moved and got rid of any that were dried out, or those I didn’t like. Oh so liberating!
  1. Odds and Ends – The command center is also the space that reels in all of those random items. You know, the items you put down “just for now” with the intention of moving, but somehow they never move. Take the time to move those items to their intended location, or simply get rid of them. Also, in the future, always take the time to properly store and organize those items NOW. If you truly want to stay organized, there is no room in the day for “I’ll do it later”!
  1. Old Invitations and Calendars – Look around your command center. Chances are you see a few party invitations, holiday cards or baby announcements. If the event has passed, purge those invitations. If there is a holiday card or announcement you want to keep, store those in a keepsake box. As for old calendars, send those straight to the recycle bin!

After you go through this exercise you should see the top of your command center! Hallelujah! What else did you find that didn’t belong in your command center?

Photo: Real Simple

Tip Tuesday – Garage Organization: What to Avoid Storing in the Garage

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Car, Garage, Goals, Groceries, Home Improvement, Paper Management, Storage — No Comments ↓

Tip Tuesday - Garage Organization: What to Avoid Storing in the Garage

Many people find that they are storing everything BUT their cars in the garage. Are you one of these people? Home storage is a commodity, and I completely understand the urge to toss everything in the garage for safekeeping. The first and obvious point I want to make is that you should store everything in an orderly fashion, and maintain some space for your vehicles. (Check out one of my older blog posts on this very topic!).

The next, more important point is that there are things you should absolutely avoid storing in the garage. In most parts of the country, we deal with inclement temperatures during the winter months. Therefore there are some items that should not be stored in our garages.

Paint – Paint is expensive! Extreme cold and hot temperatures are not good for paint, and you risk ruining your paint supply if you store these in the garage. Paint should be stored in a cool place, and believe it or not, stored upside down to create a tight seal around the top of the can.

Propane Tanks – Safety, first! Yes, you can bring your grill inside but leave the propane tank outside. A leak could cause an explosion and the fire code recommends that it be stored at least 5 feet from your home.

Food – Extreme temperatures are not good for canned food. Additionally, dry goods may attract rodents and other pests. It is best to leave food indoors in a cool area of your home.

Books and other paper items – In the summer heat and humidity skyrockets, and these weather conditions can ruin books, photo albums, memorabilia and other paper items. The humidity causes paper fibers to expand and contract, which will make corners curl and ruin bindings on the spines of your books and bound items.

If you do have any of the above items in your garage, it is time to move them out! By clearing out these items, you’ll create more room to walk around your car, and hey, you might be able to park your car in the garage!

Photo: realsimple.com

We’re Loving: 3 Essentials for Organizing Cords in Your Office

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Computer, Desk, Electronics, Home Improvement, Moving, Office, Products — No Comments ↓

We’re Loving: 3 Essentials for Organizing Cords in Your Office

It’s the new year, and that means your office should be in tip-top shape. Clean, organized and ready for 2017, right? Well, if you’re not quite there with your office, it’s okay! Now is the time to take little steps to make your office your working sanctuary. One way to help tackle this is to tame those pesky cords!

I just moved and dealing with the onslaught of cables is driving me crazy! The good news is that there are ways to manage those ugly cables. Here are a few that may help you.

  1. BlueLounge CableBox – This is a sleek black or white cable organizing system that covers up those cable eyesores! It houses your power strips and contains excess lengths of cable. The cords and cables slip neatly through the opening at the other side, and you can also store your phone or router on top of it.
  1. Cable Twisters – I love these because there are multiple colors in the package. You can use them to color categorize what you are holding in the twister to make it easy to access. By doing this, you won’t go crazy determining what cable to grab if you need to change your devices!
  1. OXO Good Grips Chrome Cable Catch – These are fancy and functional! The opening lets you easily insert and remove cords and prevents them from sliding away when you unplug a device. It’s especially handy for items that are frequently charged and used, such as smart phones, tablets, MP3 players and laptops. How many times a day do we need to plug and unplug our tablets or smart phones and the cord drops to the floor? I just love these!

What are your go-to products or DIY techniques for managing your office cables?

Photo: amazon.com

Book Club: 3 Self Improvement Books to Read Through Winter

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Books, Goals — No Comments ↓

After the holiday rush is over, and goals are set for the year, it is time to decompress a bit (hopefully!). The long winter months of New England tend to incite a longing to curl up with a good book. I don’t know about you but there is nothing like being able to sip a cup of tea, wrapping myself in a blanket and really diving into a book on a snowy day.

I also find that this is the perfect time to embark on reading self-improvement books that align with your 2017 goals. What better way to garner inspiration and motivation!

Here are a few self-improvement books that you may find hard to put down once you start reading.

  1. Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. If your primary goal centers on your career, this may be a good book for you. Lean In examines women’s leadership roles, and really empowers women to achieve their full potential. This book came out of a powerful TED talk she gave in 2010. Learning to advocate for yourself is one of the best things you can do to strengthen your career.
  1. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. If your goal focuses on finding more happiness in your life, this book is for you. Rubin spent a year digging into scientific research and conventional wisdom to find what truly makes people happy. She found that ‘novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference’. This book will help you find what really matters to you, and uncover that joy missing in your day-to-day life.
  1. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown. “You are enough!” This is one of the great takeaways from this book. Brown encourages us to really dig deep into our minds, hearts, and spirits to discover how to be comfortable in our own skin. In my opinion, once you can be truly yourself, the rest will fall into place.

These are the books on my radar. What books are you cozying up with this winter?

Photo: amazon.com

Do or Don’t – Creating a cleaning schedule

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Bathroom, Bedroom, Home Improvement, Kitchen, Laundry, Time Management — No Comments ↓

Let’s talk about cleaning. Few people love to clean (unless you’re one of those people who find it therapeutic!). And the last thing you want to schedule time for is CLEANING. Scheduling social activities is fun. Scheduling time to clean…not so fun! But in my opinion, it has to be done.

Who remembers their grandmother’s cleaning schedule? My grandmother used to clean various parts of her house on specific days of the week. My own mother picks one day a week to do all her laundry. On that day of the week, she changes her sheets and towels as well.

In theory, it is helpful to have a cleaning schedule. Whether it’s scheduling a day for different rooms, or doing it all at once.

If you can determine what areas of your house need a weekly cleaning – the bathroom and kitchen, for example – then the next step is to pick a day of the week that you know you can commit to cleaning that room or rooms. The other cleaning tasks would need to be put in your schedule for either a weekly or bi-weekly task.

For some busy people, doing the entire cleaning from top to bottom or from right to left is much easier to tackle. Personally, it’s more effective for me to clean the entire house at once. The one exception is with laundry. This is a task that I maintain throughout the week.

The bottom line is that you have to form a cleaning schedule that works for you and your home! What works best for you?

Photo: Real Simple

Tip Tuesday: Three Things Organized People Do Every Day

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Goals, Home Improvement — No Comments ↓

Living an organized life is a daily practice. Trust me. It’s a dedicated lifestyle! Like exercising or eating healthy, being organized requires persistence and a strong mental game. It’s hard at first, but once you get into a routine, it all falls into place. Below are three tips to help you on your way to a more organized new year.

  1. Make downsizing a daily activity. If you open a cupboard or drawer to grab an item, and have to move tons of stuff to get to what you want, it might be time to re-evaluate that space. Do you really need six spatulas? Can 2 suffice? Think of all the time you will save when you can grab it easily and have a home for it upon its return!
  1. Restoring the room to its original look. When you enter an organized room, leave the room in its original condition. For example, take the living room. You grab a blanket from the basket, and pick up the remote from the side table. Instead of leaving the blanket and remote on the couch, put the items back! Restoring order is a maintenance task that few love to do but it can’t be done without you and your commitment.
  1. Forget perfectionism. Life gets busy and sometimes complicated. Even the most organized person can fall off track. However, having systems and established homes in place allow order to be restored faster than you can imagine. Cut yourself a break. Your home doesn’t have to look like a museum or a page out of a design magazine. You need to feel comfortable and ok with whatever your definition of organized means. From my perspective, it’s being able to find what I need, when I need it, and enjoying my home and life without being OCD.

Practicing these three, simple tasks every day can truly lead you on the path to a more organized life. What are some ways that you maintain order in your life?

Photo: Kaboompics.com

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