The peak of the summer heat is over and so is summer break. You may have done a lot around the house, organizing and purging. But you probably stayed away from the garage (or attic) with temperatures being way too hot in there to get things done. Now before it will get way too cold in your garage it’s a smart thing to clean it out before winter sets in. Read this little article from Cleveland.com
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I have come by a lot of articles and blog posts about downsizing the elderly lately. It makes a lot of sense that they are the ones that have accumulated quite some possessions over the years. Most of their items are difficult to let get go of because of emotional values, it activates forgotten or lost memories that are attached to them. Read about ‘The painful part of downsizing’ (here) and ‘Downsizing the seniors’ (here)
For some people moving doesn’t take them any big planning ahead of time. But some people like the baby boomers who’ve lived in the same home for many years will face the enormous task of sifting through accumulations. For some of them starting a year before actually moving would be a smart thing to do. Read this short article from The Press of Atlantic City about this topic and nice to see they referred NAPO as a to go to source for Professional Organizing help.
Do you watch the TV show Hoarders? And do you always wonder how hoarders get to that point with all that stuff? Read this really good blog post on how Scientists researched hoarders brains. Also the ‘Healthland’ section of the Time Magazine had a topic related article called ‘Inside the Hoarder’s Brain: A Unique Problem with Decision-Making’
Having too much stuff could really be wasting your time! It slows down your daily routine and your life in general. There is so much time wasted on looking for things that are cluttered in with all of our belongings. Researchers affiliated with UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives of Families (CELF) made a book about it called “Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century: 32 Families Open Their Doors”. Read the UCLA Newsroom article here.
A article from The Wall Street Journal. She Sees Clutter, He Sees Treasures
Why Getting Rid of Old Books and Clothes Is So Tough On a Couple; Revealing the Power Struggle Underneath
If you are moving anytime soon or you have your house or apartment on the market read this short NY Times article.
Last Saturday I volunteered as part of a group of NAPO Organizers at A Wider Circle located in Silver Spring Maryland where we organized inventory and reorganized their warehouse and office space. AWC provides beds, dressers, and other basic need items to families that are moving out of shelters or living in neglected neighborhoods, all their services are provided free of charge. So I strongly recommend when you are planning to donate your furniture and/or other items to check this link to the official AWC website, how to donate. You will be helping out the people that are in need the most, for example, a 5 year old child that never owned or slept on a real bed. The people that can’t afford to buy their child a used bed at a Salvation Army or Goodwill thrift store. So please donate at A Wider Circle, just visit their website, read what they are about and you’ll understand. They also except financial contributions and they have volunteer opportunities.
You can also find me on the “National Association of Professional Organizers, Washington DC” website.
Here is the link to my DC Organizers website page.
I came by this video on how to save space and store your jeans if you have a lot of them. Do think this will not really work for everyone (wrinkles) but it will save space, looks very organized and easy to find ‘that’ pair of jeans just by looking at the back pocket, motive and color. Organize Jeans (and this is not just a tip for females)
Stephen Bok 