Ellen Hankes

Buy in Quantity: Prepared or Perplexed?

There's a great sale on paper towels this week. Should you buy the 12-roll package? At this fantastic price you might even consider purchasing multiple packages. Here are some questions to ask when considering "stocking up" on quantities of items:

Is there adequate storage space? Is there room to keep the extras until you need them?

Can you find it when you need it? Keeping like items together will help you find items as you need them. However, bulky or oversize items may not fit on standard shelving. If extra effort is needed to store items, they may not ever reach the intended space. The hunt for misplaced supplies can be quite perplexing.

Organize to Save Fuel Costs

We watch fuel prices go up and up. Motorists can organize their errands and shopping to cut down on dollars spent at the fuel pump.

With high fuel prices, good lists are your best friends. Keep running lists of needed items such as groceries, office supplies, postal stamps and materials.

Shop at one-stop centers where you can buy multiple items and eliminate stops at multiple stores.

Stuff, Space and Stress are Hoarder Issues

Hoarding involves stuff, space and stress.  While hoarding is not completely understood, it can be recognized by large quantities of stuff. Living spaces become unusable. The hoarder experiences a high amount of stress.

The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) designed The NSGCD Clutter-Hoarding Scale to guide Professional Organizers and others working with clutterers and hoarders. Health providers, social workers, public safety officials, and other agency representatives can use the scale to assess levels of household clutter and hoarding. Four categories are used to evaluate the clutter or hoarding condition. They include building conditions, pets and pests, household functions, and cleanliness.

Pockets are Temporary Containers

Pockets are little wearable containers. We are always looking for the perfect container to hold our pencils, paper clips or papers. While pockets may not accommodate the big stuff, they sure are handy for stray bits of this and that.

Pockets often get emptied in the laundry area. Consider containers to collect the coins and cash, receipts, and other important things that come out of pockets. Check the coat and suit pockets before you donate the clothing to your favorite charity.

Look for pockets when you are shopping for clothes. They can help you keep track of the little stuff.

I like the pockets in my red bib apron. Like a nail apron or utility apron, the three large square pockets hold a marker, stickies, tape and other organizing supplies when I am working with a client.

What are your favorite pockets and what do they help you organize? Let me know by responding to my blog.

Sandhill Cranes Know Organization

  Hundreds of sandhill cranes moved through the early morning sky to find feeding grounds in the Platte River Valley. The 500,000 cranes that move through an area within three miles of Nebraska's Platte River during a six week period in spring and fall each year are productive and organized. Today I watched this awesome example of Mother Nature at her finest. Here's what I think these migratory birds know about organization:

• Use systems that fit your needs. The shallow Platte River is ideal for providing the safe nighttime habitat for these long legged birds. The cropland residues provide ideal feeding grounds. The sandhill cranes return year after year to utilize these systems.
• Travel light in life. These birds travel from Mexico to as far north as Siberia without so much as a duffel bag. Taking more than we need in life weighs us down and prevents us from accomplishing worthwile things.
• Take time to enjoy yourself. Today I saw sandhill cranes dancing. Whether it was a primordial mating ritual or an expression of joy, it is a reminder that we all need intervals of time that feed our soul and nurture our well-being.

Spring is an ideal time to recharge your batteries by observing what the marvelous world can teach us. We would like to hear about your experiences. Please share them by responding to my blog.

Try a Tickler File

A Tickler File may not make you giggle but it can save valuable time. Easy to set up, it can be a useful tool to manage action tasks that are related to events or dates. It is a perpetual system that can systematically organize things that are several weeks or months into the future. You can use the Tickler File to remind you when periodic reports are due or to register for upcoming conferences. It works to store travel plans or event tickets. You can use it to send those birthday cards on time as well.

You will need 43 file folders. Label the folders 1 through 31 and January through February.

In a file drawer or convenient file holder, arrange the numbered files in numerical order, starting with today's date. Since today is the 20th, the file numbered 20 would be in front. Following it would be 21-31.

Learn From Agriculture

Did you know National Agriculture Day arrives with the first day of spring? It is an opportunity to recognize the ag community for the the high quality bounty of food it provides us each and every day.

As part of the farm community for many years, I know some of the challenges, uncertainties, joys and pride that farm life can bring. One of the unique aspects of the farming business is the intergenerational opportunities for family members united by blood and business.

Have you experienced or observed organizational challenges from an intergenerational business? We would like to hear about them!

The Art of Saying No

  "No," said my friend when she was asked to spend another evening as a volunteer.

It is a cause in which she passionately believes. She is exceptionally qualified to perform the service. She is confident in her abilities. She rarely says "no."

By saying "no" my friend is in control of her time and talents. I am proud of her!

Here are some ways we can keep control of our lives:

• Decide what is most important in life. If good health is a high priority, we will want to have enough time to plan and prepare appropriate meals. When family is truly important to us, we will want to include activities that celebrate our precious time together. Pre-selecting worthy volunteer efforts assures our being able to dedicate our time and talents to those causes.
• Budget time. Determine ahead of time how much time can be allotted to volunteer activities on a weekly or monthly basis. Carefully evaluate whether demands on this time are out of whack.
• Consult the calendar. Others find it less offensive when you respond, "My calendar is full," or "I'm afraid there is not time in the schedule." Telling others we don't have time for something infers we don't have time for them.

Organizing Questions We Often Hear

   Who asks for organizing help? According to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), their members serve of a wide range of clients. NAPO members say the top 5 client groups include individuals at home, home-office-based businesses, small business owners, individuals at their jobs, and executives.

How do people who need organizing find someone to help them? The NAPO website has a Find An Organizer link. Here's how to use it:

1. Enter your geographic area.
2. Select a radius. You can select from 10 to 500 miles. Our company works with clients by phone and email as well as in face-to-face situations, so don't assume distance is a barrier.
3. Click on the type(s) of special organizing help you think you need. Check all that may apply. Tend to be broad, rather than too specific.
4. If you agree to the disclaimer statement, indicate by clicking that you agree.
5. Click on Find a Professional Organizer.
6. If there is no Organizer in your area, go back to step one and enlarge the geographic area.

Spring is Coming!

Daffodils are here! Daffodil Days is a successful fund-raising effort of the American Cancer Society in the upper Midwest. The warm 60 degree temperature today coupled with the vase of daffodils on the kitchen counter are signs that spring is nearly here.

Transitioning between seasons requires some organization. It is a good time to start thinking about removing things we used (or didn't use) during the winter months to make room for spring items. Don't forget the car, garage, and closets!

What things do you need to organize as spring approaches? Let me know by replying to my blog.