Being organized does not just pertain to adults.  It benefits children as well.   

Did you know that you can actually boost your child's confidence, their ability to learn and their maturity level by helping them to create order in their life? 

Being organized is more than just a clean room.  For adults and children alike, it is essential for learning.  If you don't have the materials you need to ace a test or you are surrounded by clutter, it affects your ability to focus.

Organization encourages responsibility.  For children, it can be as simple as cleaning up their toys and putting them into clearly marked containers.  When your child is organized, they become more independent and their frustration level is reduced.  If they know what they want and where to find it, they can do more things on their own, which gives them a great sense of independence and self-esteem.

A few habits is all it takes to help your child develop organizing skills.  There are techniques that work for younger children as well as older children.  

1.  Neatly storing their things:

Younger children can get involved with cleanup. Make it fun by setting a timer and creating a pick-up game that lasts about 10 minutes. If you have more than one child, get the entire family involved.  Get your child used to cleaning up as they go and doing a final sweep at the end of the day.  By the time your child reaches grade school, they will be able to keep their toys organized on their own.  Using simple containers set up by category and labeled with pictures of the type of toy or game will make clean up a breeze. 

When it comes to older children, pointing out their successes will encourage them to do more.  Your grade schooler or tween can clean up toys and games, help clear their dishes off the dinner table, dust and hang up their jacket.  Show them examples of what they are already doing and what else they could also be doing. Make it easy for them to be successful.  When your child sees that they already know how to be neat, the task will feel more doable to them.  

2. Time Management and Routines:  

Younger children do not have a concept of time. However, that does not mean they cannot be taught promptness; it's just a matter of creating routines. For example, every night is "bath, book, bed". If it is verbally stated before the routine is to start and implemented each night, they will get accustomed to staying on schedule. 

Older children need to learn not to procrastinate. This can be taught by requiring your child to lay out their clothes the night before or plan out a long-term school project a week or so in advance.  

3. Completing the task: 

Younger children can learn this concept as young as 1 year old.  Read them a story from beginning to end at bedtime.  They are taught that things have a beginning, middle and an end. Referring back to what I mentioned above, having your child put away a toy after they play with it before pulling out another toy will teach them task completion, as well.  When they are working on a larger project, like a Lego structure, however, you might decide it's okay to leave it for another time to complete.  This will teach them how to manage long-term projects.

Older children need to learn rules and limits.  Older children get distracted by technology, which is a big hindrence for teens when it comes to completing homework or a chore around the house. Set up tech-free zones in the home and create a quiet place for your child to study. Set time limits as to how long and when they are permitted to use a gaming device or their phone for texting.

Lastly, practice what you preach.  Children learn by example, so be sure to follow the rules when it comes to these areas.  

If you are overwhelmed with your own clutter or your child's, I can help.  I work with busy moms to organize their homes and their time, as well as working with their children to create an organized bedroom or playroom and create time management plans for the family.  Don't hesitate to contact me to discuss your particular clutter issues.

In a few months, I will be celebrating another birthday.  As I get older and reflect on my life, I recognize how much we, as adults, evolve and change.

Our ideas about how we want to live our lives, our priorities and other decisions we are confronted with as we get older naturally change.

One of the ways we change, and might not recognize, is our priorities.  Think about it.  It is not only about who we socialize with, live with, spend time with, things we want to do or achieve, but the items we feel we want to hold on to.

Our priorities change as to what we want to keep.  

When working with my clients who have gathered items for a long period of time, I find it interesting how we go through those items and they find that some of what they felt was so important to hold on to, is no longer that important.

Sometimes, it's not the item itself, but the number of items we keep.  For example, do we need to hold onto such a large number of a particular item, or is it possible to pare it down to a smaller number which can be appreciated and perhaps still evoke a fond memory of the person it once belonged to? 

Interestingly enough, my son created a Memory Box when his father died. He was six years old at the time. We make a habit of reviewing that Memory Box once a year.  Not only does he get to go down memory lane, but he sometimes finds that there is an item or two that no longer hold the same significance as they once did, and he can part with them.  

I once had a client who had held onto a box of handkerchiefs that belonged to her deceased husband's deceased parent.  When we found the box on a shelf in her coat closet, we opened it up and she looked at the handkerchiefs she had not seen in years.  When I asked her why she had held on to so many, she said because they belonged to her late husband.  I explained that now they belonged to her.  What connection did she have to them?  Did she need to hold on to almost 100 handkerchiefs?  She realized she did not and reduced the box down to ten of her favorite, instead. 

Is it possible that you have items in your home that you have been holding on to for years and have not looked at for a long time that do not carry as much significance as they once did? Have your tastes evolved? 

The next time you are decluttering and organizing your home, take this into consideration.  Are you ready to participate in an "evolution revolution"?  If so, you will find that those items you are saving will take up a lot less room if they are pared down to what means the most to you.

If you need assistance in determining what to keep and what to donate or trash, don't hesitate to contact me. I am here to help.

Mother's Day is only a few days away.  

Due to the fact that I work with so many moms, I am aware of how little so many of them value themselves.  Yes, they recognize that they wear many hats, such as caregiver, chauffeur, chef, cleaning service, bookkeeper and do so many things to keep the household running.

As Mother's Day approaches, I am wondering whether you and your family know how valuable you are.

As you may know, one of the most common issues I deal with in my clients' homes is paper management.  Having a background as a paralegal working for an estate attorney, I am aware of the legal documents everyone should have, as well as having a life insurance policy.

So many times, I hear that my clients - the busy moms who are trying to balance all of their responsibilities and are just too overwhelmed to get and stay organized - do not have a Will, Living Will, Power of Attorney or a life insurance policy for themselves.

So many "stay-at-home" moms do not recognize their own value and don't think it's necessary.  

Let me ask you a question?   What would it take to replace you if something should happen to you, leaving your family without a Mom?

The misconception that you need to work full-time outside the home and can simply rely on your spouse to provide the only life insurance for the family is a dangerous one.

As a woman who advocates for busy moms, I urge you to take some time to consider getting a Will, Living Will, Power of Attorney and life insurance policy to insure that your family is protected in case something should happen to you.  Have a discussion with your spouse or significant other and take the steps necessary to put these pieces into place as soon as possible.

When I work with my clients, we have a discussion about the documents that might be missing.  For me, it's not just about making the papers in their filing system look pretty.  It's about the function and the whole picture, including critical documents they need to have.

Do you have them?  Don't you think this is something you should think about and discuss with your significant other and family?     

Consider this my Mother's Day present to you.  I would love nothing more than to know that all moms are fully taking care of their families.  

Have a great Mother's Day.  

The other day I heard an oldie on the radio and it prompted me to think about clutter.  Strange, I know, but hear me out.  

Do you know the song "How Long Has This Been Going On?" by Ace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAVl_IJV5eI

I find that I ask this question with so many of my clients when I first speak with them and now, I want to ask you the same question.

Do you have ongoing clutter issues that won't go away?  Do you think your situation can be remedied overnight?  

The fact remains that if your clutter has been accumulating for quite some time - months, even years - it will take some time to eliminate it and get organized.

The good news is, however, that it can be done!   

I know how overwhelming it can be.  Sometimes you feel that it is just easier to ignore it. Is that the real solution?  No!

At some point it needs to be dealt with, so why not now?  

Just imagine what it would be like to walk into a particular room (or perhaps many rooms in your home) and feel that immediate sense of calm.  Eliminating clutter and getting organized can do just that!  

Sometimes it is so overwhelming that you don't know where to start.  Sometimes the answer is to reach out for help and hire a professional.  

You and I both know that if we cannot do something on our own, the best solution is to engage the services of a professional.  I do it!  I hire an electrician, plumber, handyman.  Why? Because I don't always know what I am doing and it will take too long for me to figure it out on my own. Also, I want it done once and I want it done right.

The same applies when it comes to clutter and disorganization. Don't you want it done once and for all and don't you want it done right?  Wouldn't it be great to have someone come in who can provide a new perspective and create a solution that meets your specific needs and provide ideas you might never have thought of before? 

As a professional organizer who has specialized in residential organizing for so long, trust me, I know how to do it once and do it right!

So, ask yourself.  HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?  If your answer is months or even years, and you are ready to get past this obstacle and commit to the process, it's time to reach out for help.  Simply pick up that phone now and contact A Better Space.  You'll be so glad you did!  I would love to provide you with a space that you love. 

As a professional organizer, I work with a lot of very creative people.  Many of my clients have so many creative talents or have a passion for creativity, including artwork.

One of the more common issues that comes up is how and where to display their artwork.  

I love art in many forms and can appreciate the passion to collect it.  However, it can become clutter.

It is very important to keep in mind, when purchasing artwork, that you are able to visualize where it is going to live when it arrives in your home.  

Just like everything else in life, all of it cannot be your favorite.  If you tend to hang everything you own on all of the walls in your home, you are defeating the purpose of featuring the art that you love.  It just becomes clutter.  Artwork needs to be appreciated and it cannot if it is surrounded by lots of other pieces.  It does not stand out from the crowd.  When viewed, you are distracted by all of the other pieces around it.  It is important to hang your artwork sparingly and in a way that complements your decor.  You want to be particular about what you display on your walls

Here are some basic rules to follow:

1.   Use your artwork to balance your room's visual space.  Sometimes large art can feel overwhelming but, if you are aiming for it to be your room's focal point, the rules can change.   Rows of smaller pieces in idential frames and mats make the arrangement a piece of art in itself.  The symmetry draws your eye into the frame itself, emphasizing the art inside.  For a more eclectic arrangement, try mixing and matching size.  Also, aim to keep your art at eye level.  Most people tend to hang their art too high to be truly appreciated.    

2.  Determine the format you wish to use.  Most interior designers airm for a rule of three or an odd number when hanging art arrangements.  Interestingly enough, odd numbered displays tend to feel more balance.  If you choose to go with even numbers, a grid can help balance out the display's visual space.  If you want to make the room look longer, make the display horizontal.  If you want the ceilings to look higher, hang your display vertically. The other alternative is to simply arrange your artwork organically.  Just do what you think looks best, but be sure to plan it out first.  You can arrange the pieces on the floor in front of your wall first, and then move to the wall and mark their places lightly with a pencil. 

3.  Select your style. You can stick with one style, color or artist for a more cohesive look.  This tends to work best in a more refined space with a single framing style.  If you want to be more playful, hang clocks and mirrors on the wall along with other 3 dimentional elements.  Although variety can be interesting, try to find a way to have some elements tie the display together, whether it is frames of the same color or art with the same type of finish.  

4. Tell a story.  A gallery wall should depict who you are and what makes you happy.  Be sure to build your wall with meaningful items.  Start by using one inspirational piece that can be the guide to choosing all of your selections.  You don't necessarily need to put this piece in the center.  Be creative!   

5.  Now you are ready to hang it up.  Groupings look best when the items are spaced close together (approximately 1 to 2 inches apart).  Begin by hanging your middle pieces at eye level (about 5 feet off of the floor) and then build around them. 

Artwork is an easy way to enhance your home decor if it is done correctly and does not end up looking like clutter on the walls.

Are you a busy mom?  So many of my clients are.  They have young children and/or teenagers.  They either work full-time out of the home, part-time at home or are a stay-at-home mom.  Their life is filled with time constraints, a long list of things to do and a feeling of overwhelm.  Their husbands are great but they just can't seem to understand what it's like to manage it all.  

Does this sound familiar? 

If so, BUSY MOMS! THIS BLOG IS FOR YOU!

I want you to know that I get it!  I feel your overwhelm and frustration.  I know how you have tried to get your home and your life organized, but just can't seem to get it done. I want you to know that it is normal to feel that you are a failure and you just can't understand how this happened!  I know that your expectations of yourself and your spouse's expectations of you are more than you can live up to.  But the truth is, you are not a failure!  

So many moms tell me "I know how to get organized, but I just can't."  I speak with so many moms who contact me simply because they feel frozen and overwhelmed.  

I want you to keep in mind that gathering great ideas on "how" to get organized is not always enough. Just having the ideas does not necessarily create enough time, space, discipline and motivation to actually carry through your ideas.

The reality is, it's just not enough to think you can do it.  You need to stop wasting your time and move forward. The longer it goes on, the worse it will become.  I am here to help you stop the chaos and get organized, once and for all.  And the good news is, I am just a phone call away! 

I urge you to acknowledge that it's time to pick up that phone and contact me.  I ask that you think enough of yourself to reach out to me and get some help.  There is no shame in admitting you are overwhelmed.  Busy moms like you are, more so than not, frustrated, overwhelmed and not even sure how to begin the process. These are the most common statements I hear when I get that phone call.  

Are you ready to stop feeling this way and learn the tools you need to get and stay organized? I work with busy moms just like you to help carve out the time, create a solid plan and keep you motivated to get the job done. 

Follow through on your intent to have A Better Space, because thinking about it is just not enough.

I will be here when you are ready.

So many times, my clients and potential clients want to know how I do it.  How do I keep my own home organized when I am so busy organizing others?  I found a video on line that explains, quickly, how it gets done.  

https://www.facebook.com/ELLEDECORmag/videos/10153174978241710/ 

The key is maintanence on a small scale.  It does not require a lot to keep it going after the initial organizing has been completed.

When you have a home for everything and everything is put in its place, it is easy to keep it maintained.  

I hope this short video gives you some ideas and inspiration about what to do after your home gets organized. Knowing how to maintain an organized home is the second step in getting organized.

If you are looking to take that first step and create a home and life that you "love" this month, don't hesitate to contact A Better Space.

I am here to help and have lots of great ideas and inspiration so you can maintain your home on a daily basis, too!

I know it's been a while since I last wrote a blog.  I have been spending some much needed time on my own home for a change.  

I decided at the end of 2015 that I was going to go through my home and thoroughly declutter, clean and organize each and every room of my home. I had been so busy last year organizing others that I, unfortunately, neglected my own home.  It was quite an undertaking, I must admit, but the results are great!

I feel so much better when I walk throughout my home now.  I went through my second floor in November and the first floor in December and am finishing up my basement this month.  

I took time to assess my possessions and ask myself if I really needed everything I had.  The answer was an astounding "NO"! I went through my wardrobe, including my collection of shoes and accessories, got rid of old nick knacks that no longer represented who I am, organized closets, cabinets, shelves, drawers and hung some new artwork.  I gathered quite a large number of items for donation and for sale and a lot for the trash.

I organized my home office to get ready to rock it in 2016 and moved old files and paperwork into my storage area of my home to archive.  I went through all of my filing cabinets and got rid of four boxes of paperwork at a recent shredding event too.  

One of the things I paid attention to was whether or not I needed to repurpose any of the areas of my home.

When was the last time you did that?  When was the last time you looked around your home and identified areas or rooms in your home that no longer serve you?  

Have your children grown up and no longer need a play room?  Has one of your children gone off to college or gotten married and no longer lives at home?  Is that well-intended exercise room no longer being used?  Do you no longer spend time in the living room, but rather use the family room instead?

It is so important to use your real estate.  If a room in your home is no longer being used as it was originally intended, it's time for a change.

Start to re-purpose a room by eliminating what no longer suits you.  Determine how that space can be better used and re-create a room that you love.  Add a fresh coat of paint and perhaps an area rug to give it a fresh look. 

Perhaps you do not have a home office and the paperwork in the home ends up everywhere.  Wouldn't it be great to have a dedicated room where all of the paper management in the home can live?  You could turn your unused living room or a bedroom into a home office.  

How about that sitting room you have always wanted?  How about taking an unused bedroom and creating a dressing room?  The possibilities are endless.  

You don't need to have a living room if you don't use one.  You don't need to keep a bedroom unused.  It could become a home office, a work-out room, a sitting room or whatever you have envisioned that you would like to have.

Take some time and go through your own home and look at it with fresh eyes and see how you can repurpose your home.  "The purpose" of your home is to create an environment that you use and love to spend time in.

If you need assistance creating a room that you love, some interior redesign might be the solution.  Feel free to contact me to talk about your particular situation.

Until next time, happy organizing!   

I have been working with clients for over 11 years, and over the course of that time, I have spoken with hundreds and hundreds of people.  

Although I have been able to help so many people over the years, sadly, there are still so many who chose not to move forward and get organized.  Are you one of them? 

When it comes right down to it, it's not the money nor the time involved that is used as an excuse to not move forward.  If you want something bad enough, you will find a way to get it.

The real reason is fear.  There are so many reasons that fear gets in the way.  Here are some that I think are most common.

1.  Fear of losing the memory if you let go of something.  I always say the memory will remain in your head and in your heart.  Taking a picture can help remedy this, as well.  

2.  Being afraid you will upset the person who gave you something that you are not particularly fond of.  I call that "Gift Guilt".  Why not pass that "something" onto someone else who can make better use of it and enjoy it instead of storing it somewhere, unused.  

3.  Envisioning that it will be difficult to make changes in the way you do things and have to build all new habits.  It is not as difficult as you might think.  I make it a point to provide solutions that are customized to my clients' particular style, so the changes feel more natural.

4.  Focusing more on what it will cost - in time, money or effort.  The value in getting organized quickly becomes obvious and outways the cost.  Investing in yourself is invaluable.  Making positive changes can last a lifetime.   

5.  Feeling embarrassed to show anyone, including a professional such as myself, the fact that you live in such a cluttered or disorganized home.  From the first time that we meet, my clients recognize that I am non-judgmental.  I find that it is not as bad as they think it is.  That is because my focus is on the potential of a given space and formulating a plan of action to provide "a better space" that we can envision for a particular room or an entire home.  Although I do see the present condition, I can see "the forest through the trees"!  

6.  Being afraid of letting go because you think you will end up needing that item again some day. I call that "someday syndrome" and explain how that can be detrimental. 

7.  You have a fear of failure.  You think that your attempts to get organized won't work. On the contrary, the systems that I put into place do work because they are so easy to maintain.  Again, that is because they are customized, so they are a natural solution that meet your specific needs and coincide with how you function.   

Which of these sound familiar to you? What are you afraid of?

On a day to day basis, living in fear only results in people remaining in a cluttered environment.  

As we work together to create longlasting results, I spend time coaching my clients and get them past their fears.  This is what creates the positive changes in their lives that they can experience for years to come.  

Unfortunately, some never experience that change because of their overwhelming fear. Are you familiar with the quote by Albert Einstein: "Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"? 

If you want different results, you have to do things differently and that involves change. Admittedly, the fear of the unknown can be scary, but with the proper guidance from a professional organizer, such as myself, can you past your fears and onto a much more organized and happy life that is much less stressful.

We have all been there.  I have certainly gotten past fears stepped out of my own comfort zone throughout my life, so I know how it feels.  Getting to the other side of fear, however, provides a profound sense of relief and freedom.  Opportunities open up when you open yourself up to change.  

This holds true when you let go of the obstacle of fear in relation to getting organized. What waits for you on the other side is peace, serenity, time, room to breathe, reduced stress and control of your surroundings. It's so freeing!  

If you want a life without clutter, you need to know that it is possible if you just get past your fears.  You simply need to take action!  Take that first step and don't be afraid to reach out for help. I am here for you.

Most people these days understand what a Professional Organizer does.  We have come a long way from the days when people thought we were a cleaning service or an interior designer.  We have magazines, newspaper articles, social media and the like to thank for that.  Over the years, since I began my business in 2004, you cannot miss seeing tips on how to eliminate clutter, get organized, set up a garage sale, etc.  

However, I still get the question from time to time "So, what is it that you do exactly?".  

I thought this might be an opportunity to explain in greater the detail just exactly what a Professional Organizer, such as myself, does to help my clients get and stay organized, and the advantages of hiring a professional, as opposed to going it alone.

First of all, you do not need to be a packrat or a hoarder to need the services of a Professional Organizer.  Although most professional organizers are skilled in these areas, there are so many other areas that we help with.

For example, there are those that are overwhelmed, not sure how to begin, too stressed out, too limited with their time causing an organizing project to take them too long to complete on their own, unable to envision a room or an entire home that is de-cluttered and organized, or in need of new ideas for space planning, interior redesign, paper management systems, tools for better time management.    

Sometimes, a husband and wife will hire a professional organizer because one of them tends to be neater than the other and is frustrated.  They cannot motivate their spouse to "get onboard".  A third party like me can be objective and provide an unbiased, new perspective of the situation and find the middle ground that works for both spouses, relieving the strain this issue is causing in the marriage.

What you see on TV shows such as Hoarders or other reality TV shows sometimes provide a distorted idea of what is involved. In reality, your clutter problems cannot be solved in a 30 minute episode.  

There is more to being a professional organizer than just setting up three containers marked "Keep", "Toss" and "Donate" and shopping for product that will magically transform your space into a home that looks like a designers catalog. The key is "comfort".  Providing a space or a home that you enjoy spending time in is the goal.    

A misconception is that you are "lazy" if you cannot get organized on your own.  I hear this time and time again from women who tell me that their husbands cannot understand why they just can't do it themselves.  I always say, if they could, they would have by now.  

As a Professional Organizer, I am trained and skilled to help people overcome the obstacles they are facing and create order in a comfortable setting and put in organizational systems that will work in the long term.  I always provide customized options to meet my clients' specific needs.  I have many resources available to me that I share with my clients, including contractors, organizing products, donation sites, etc. that they might not be aware of.  I help make those decisions about "what" to keep, trash and donate when my clients are not sure.  

One of the biggest benefits of working with a Professional Organizer is their ability to set up a system that will prevent you from falling back into old habits that no longer serve you.  My focus is not on the "stuff", but the person and tapping into what works best for them.  

Sometimes, I work with clients who are preparing for change in their life - whether it be a new baby, empty nesters, new business, downsizing and staging a home for sale.  The list goes on.    

Organizing is more complex than just "picking up your stuff" and paying someone to haul it out of your house. It's about dealing with tangle items, time management issues and the anxiety of finding a solution. 

These are some of the top reasons that I am contacted to help get people organized:

1. They don't know how to get organized or where to start.

2.  They don't have the time to spend doing it all on their own.

3.  They want that accountability partner and motivator to keep them on track to get the job done.

This is not a situation where, like on TV, you leave, I do all the work, and you come back to a big reveal.  We are a team and we work together to provide you with the best solutions that meet your specific needs.  No television show, book or magazine article can provide that.  

That is what A BETTER SPACE provides and now, you no longer have to ask "So, what is it you do, exactly?"

If you are ready to get past that feeling of overwhelm and frustration that the clutter or lack of systems in your home which is keeping you from moving forward, don't hesitate to contact me.  I am more than happy to speak with you about your particular sitation and provide you with solutions that work.  

You deserve A BETTER SPACE!