Ellen Hankes

The 40-70 Rule

Conversation between multiple generations can be challenging. A survey, conducted by Home Instead Senior Care, provides some insight on how Baby Boomers and their parents are communicating on issues that affect both the adult child and the older parent.

The Home Instead survey reported that 22% of the adult children found their parents are too independent. The 40-70 Rule was suggested to help address some of the age-related issues. Conversations about independence issues such as home help and driving should begin when the adult child is 40 or the parent is 70 years of age.

These discussions should also address the minimalization of clutter for health and safety reasons as well as the disposition of family heirlooms and special mementos. Decision-making can become overwhelming and is often coupled with periods of other stress. Sibliling relationships come into play as well.

A professional organizer is a neutral individual who can work with adult children and their parents to systematically review how household items and keepsakes will serve family members or others.

How might a professional organizer help resolve your inter-generational family challenges?

Hanging on to Yesterday?

Moving forward can be exhilarating for many, but it can also be a scary time. Some people thrive on dealing with new and uncharted territory and for others it can be a painful time.

Sometimes people keep many mementos of relatives long gone, souvenirs of memorable times, and reminders of happier days. Just having these things helps individuals hang on when change surrounds them.

Each person determines what works best for them in terms of space and maintenance of the reminders of times long past. However, for some the past gets the way of the present and future. Space is devoted to things that have lost their significance. Items are kept out of guilt or misguided responsibility. Somewhere in the turning of the calendar pages yesterday becomes today.

Kara L. Swanson tells the story of change so well in Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet. Kara's life changed dramatically during her journey with a traumatic brain injury. Here is what Kara L. Swanson says about change

"If tomorrow is simply another  yesterday, they wouldn’t call it tomorrow.  If tomorrow were only yesterday, we’d be going backwards.  But we’re not. 

We’re going forwards."

Are you hanging onto yesterday in a way that keeps your todays and tomorrows from being what they could be?

Secrets of Saying No

Interesting people are often interested in many things. When asked or invited to participate in an activity the automatic response may be "Yes, I would love to do that." Moments later regret steals the excitement. The next thought may be "I wish I had said No!"

You'll find some useful techniques for saying no in The Simple Life: Eight Strategies to Keep Our Wonderful Enthusiasm in Check by Sandy Maynard. You'll even find a way to gracefully change your mind!

What is your secret of saying No?

Shopping Outcomes Different for Collectors, Compulisve Shoppers and Hoarders

Two shopping bags full of new-found treasures can result in uniquely different outcomes for Collectors, Compulsive Shoppers and Hoarders. Lynne Gilberg, CPO-CD, a Los Angeles, CA, professional organizer suggests how these three kinds of individuals respond to shopping and acquiring in a National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization subscriber publication.

Collectors purchase items with the intention of adding them to an existing group of similar items. The collection is often displayed in the collector's home and space is usually available for additional pieces as purchased.

Compulsive Shoppers intend to integrate newly purchased items into their closets, kitchens or workbenches. However, the new item may languish in a bag in the car or somewhere on the floor. A compulsive shopper may intend to return an item but lacks the receipt, the time, the energy, or the interest to make the return happen.

Hoarders may acquire items without realistic expectations of using or storing the material. An individual with hoarding tendencies may find it difficult to decide where the item belongs in their living space. Consequently, a large mass of material can compromise the individual's health and safety.

Today many Americans are reviewing their shopping habits with budget counselors and financial planners. Professional organizers can be part of the team that helps individuals plan and assimilate purchases in a way that supports their goals and dreams for the future.

Recreate the Nest After a Move

Change is a challenge for young and old. Some adjustment and patience is needed because, well, things just are not where they once were.

When the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization hosted a thought-provoking teleclass on Relocation Stress Syndrome, Presenter Eileen Stevie noted the benefits of getting a nest set up immediately after a move.

Whether the relocation is merely from one part of the house to another or from one city to a distant one, we like to have our familiar necessities in a cocoon or nest. The area shown in this image is a small table next to the owner's recliner.

The newspaper goes into the recycle bin after reading, the lamp provides light, the television remote control is handy, and all sorts of small life comforts are at hand. This is, indeed, a nest that worked for the owner who was recuperating from hip surgery.

Take a digital picture to remind you of why your nest is so comfortable. It just might be the blueprint for comfort!

What does your nest contain? What happens when someone shares that space?

Simple Systems Simplify Life

Are you at times lured by the exciting bells and whistles of a new system that promises to "get you organized?" A novel way of doing things may be just what is needed to create enough enthusiasm and excitement to start the change process.

Once the novelty wears off of the new way of doing things, it may become more difficult to maintain the system. Here's a simple system that can answer the question of

"What do I do with all those business cards I have collected?"

The Container Store has a simple box for stashing business cards which is illustrated in this post. Who said cards always have to be alphabetically organized?Try chronological order with the most recent in the front. Keep the frequently used cards in a separate file close to the phone.

Look for simple solutions to organizing issues. Simple solutions are easier to maintain in the long run for many people.

What simple solution do you use that makes your life easier?

Have Fun for Better Work

May is such a busy month with many special occasions including Mother's Day and graduations. A special wedding trip is added to our family's month as well.

This is a good time to be planning how you will have some fun this summer. Whether you have a get-away vacation or a stay-at-home vacation, plan special activities or at least a change of scenery. When you return to work you will be energized and better able to focus on your priorities.

Don't forget to have fun! Even though this picture was taken years ago on a family vacation, I still remember the photographer telling the guys to look very stern while the girls were to smile. It's a great reminder of the fun we had that day in borrowed attire.

How does fun help you be more productive? I would like to hear from you.

Learning From the Fortune Cookie

Don't you love the excitement of opening a fortune cookie? The results could be a lifetime of love, happiness, wisdom, and of course, untold wealth.

I must admit at first I was disappointed when I read "Talking does not teach" as I cracked open the small source of wisdom. However, as a professional organizer I often hear people exclaim "He(she) just won't listen when I tell them how to get organized."

One of the reasons professional organizers can help people is that they show a person how to implement systems that will keep them organized long term. While talking can open doors of awareness, the real opportunity to learn comes from a qualified and experienced teacher.

What's keeping you from learning?

Repurpose for Earth Day

Earth Day is a great day to celebrate the renewal of the earth in it's new spring green hues. I love how the brown grass has responded to the warmer temperatures, sunshine and moisture to provide a lush backdrop for the budding trees.

While we all celebrate Earth Day in unique ways, I was interested in the creative approach Artistic Bead, a Des Moines, Iowa bead shop takes to encourage its patrons to recycle. This shop offers a contest for beaded objects that also include reused material. Some of the suggestions included in an on-line newsletter included pop cans, package labeling, or vintage beads or buttons. I am looking forward to seeing the completed contest entries.

My husband, the beader in our family, loves to repurpose vintage jewelry to create contemporary designs. In a sense, pearls are a repurposed item. A natural pearl is formed by the mollusk in response to an irritant. When the pearl is harvested and used for jewelry it is repurposed and given a new life.

How are you observing Earth Day? What do you do that extends the life of objects?

The Mighty Binder Clip

Have you discovered the wonders of binder clips? Since they were invented nearly a century ago, binder clips have been used primarily for clipping together bundles of paper. Here's a few more ideas for your binder clips:

• Corral cords. Remove one of the wires from the metal clip. Arrange it around unsightly computer or phone cords and replace it on the metal clip. Attach the clip to an out of sight portion of the desk or other convenient place for an effective cord corral.Check this demonstration video.
• Bundle your to-do's. Affix a printed or handwritten label on the black metal area. Some examples are To Call, To Do, Day Off Dreams, or other topics for which you have multiple pieces of paper. Use the labeled clip to bundle all items that fit in that category. The benefit is fewer lost papers and clearer direction on what needs to be done.
• Focus on important things. Clip the agenda, calendar, goals or whatever needs to be kept front and center to your planner or notebook. You can keep it more visible on the front or place it discreetly just inside the front cover.
• Complete your outfit. Larger clips can be used on clothes hangers to hold scarves, undergarments, or pieces of jewelry to complete a special look.

The possibilities are endless for uses for these handy binder clips. How have you used binder clips to increase your productivity and organization? We would like to hear your ideas!