Ellen Hankes

Stash of Cereal Box Liners

Recently I enjoyed dinner with the Women's Outreach of Omaha group before my Too Much Stuff, Too Little Space presentation.Our lively table conversation focused on my dinner companions' interesting organizing experiences.

One member reported finding dozens of empty cereal box liners in an older person's home. This is an example of how value can be derived from almost any item. The value of the item lies in how the thing could be used in the future. In this case, the wax paper liners were kept to be used for future food storage. It is possible the collection predated the widespread use of plastic wrap and bags.

Considerations such as potential fire hazard, pest habitat, and food safety concerns must be taken into account with such collections.

Have you encountered unusual stashes of stuff? We would like to hear about it.

When the Darling Becomes the Monster

We see the irresistible Darling Thing. It is on sale and cries out our name. We buy the Darling Thing and take it home with us. Before long, the Darling Thing takes on a life of its own. We are unprepared for the dry cleaning or complicated upkeep. It does not fit the way we anticipated it would. Once the Darling of the Moment, the Thing is falling short of our expectations.

We often see Monsters lurking in clutter. Things that won't work, don't fit, aren't interesting to the owner, and generally have no immediate relevance are part of the Monster community of clutter.

Here are some ways to attack those Monsters:

Obsolete Technology is Space Robber

The black bag was on the lower shelf of an office shelf. It occupied precious space Anna needed more space for storage of project binders, office supplies and reference materials.

As we worked together to identify materials that could be archived, I asked Anna to tell me about the black bag. She said she didn't know what was in the bag and that it was there when she came to the position three years ago.

Plug The Purchase Pipeline

It is all so irresistible--the bright colors, the new designs, the fresh concepts. The store displays scream, "Buy me!" For many shoppers, bargains and sales are triggers to buy more which results in more clutter.

If you are faced with a severe case of "Too Much Stuff, Too Little Space" consider Plugging the Purchase Pipeline. Think of the process of acquiring stuff as a long pipeline. Purchased goods go into an imaginary pipeline. As long as the shopping continues, a stream of items that must be paid for, maintained and stored comes out the far end of the imaginary pipeline.

What if the flow of the stuff through the pipeline slows down or comes to a halt? Would the result be fewer things to take care of? Would you have more time to do the things you really would like to do?

Have you Plugged the Purchase Pipeline? What was the result?

Closet Organization: One Secret for Huge Results

Would you like to have 80% more room in your closet?

The management concept of the Pareto Principle can be applied to personal belongings such as clothing, shoes and accessories. Here's how it works: We use about 20% of our clothing on a frequent basis. The other 80% of the items are infrequently worn or not currently used.

If Closets Could Talk

Bedroom closets could have some messages for us if they had the ability to speak. Here's what I think they might say:

"I'm stuffed!" It's that Too Much Stuff, Too Little Space routine. The bedroom closet may be full of past and present clothing. When thoughtful decisions about what to keep and what to pass on are made, the closet will be more functional.

"You're always in a hurry!" Articles of clothing may not get hung up or folded neatly when they are put in the closet. Taking time to hang clothes neatly will pay off long term.

"I don't get credit for all that I offer!" Closet owners often yearn for bigger closets. When that is not practical, a remedy might be to use the available closet space in a different manner. There may be unused upper wall space or a place on the back of a door that could provide additional storage space if used in a creative way.

So what is your closet saying to you today?

Closet Systems Are Significant Budget Items

Closet organization is increasingly important to many people. Closets Magazine reported that participants in a recent survey on closet and garage systems said

...they are budgeting an average of $4,770 for future master bedroom closet projects.

No matter the size or budget, a bedroom closet can be made to work better. Watch for ideas that will "spring" you into action!

What about your bedroom closet does not work for you?

Mission: Find the Right Desk Chair

Desk chairs never looked so good! Today I felt like Goldilocks as I tried potential desk chairs with the help of my friend at PL Interiors in Omaha, NE. I was on a mission to find just the right one!

Problem: My traditional red leather high backed swivel chair is beautiful, but it doesn't accommodate my short stature. The beautiful wooden arms don't allow me to work close to the desk. Over the years the height adjustment has lost its flexibility. I'm looking for more comfort and adjustable features to fit the various work I do at the desk.

Solution: Account Representative Jean Olson showed me a great selection of chairs that she thought might work for me. The best fit for my budget and needs is a mesh back chair with adjustable arms. The chair arms adjust in height and also swivel to enable the user to scoot closer under the desk top. We're still discussing the best seat fabric.

Colleague Stephanie Calahan provides more background information on the importance of thoughtful selection of desk chairs in her recent blog "Desk Office Furniture Can Impact Your Productivity."   Like Goldilocks, I think I have found the right chair!

Have you upgraded or changed your desk chair? I would like to hear how it worked for you.

Memory Loss Triggers Tax Filing Problems

L. shared her frustration as she told me about searching the storage unit to find an important document she needed to file her mother's tax return. She described her mother as organized for most of her life. In her late 60's, mom now has Alzheimer's and cannot help L. locate the needed document.

As organizers, we often hear of similar experiences from adult children of parents who suffer from loss of memory.

Here are some questions for you to consider:

• Are your important financial documents organized and labeled?
• Are the documents in a safe place?
• Does someone else know where the important documents are located?
• Do you need help with your financial record organizing before 2008 tax filing time?

We specialize in helping individuals find organizing systems that will work for them. We believe in simple systems that take into account individual learning and working styles and preferences.

As we Baby Boomers get older, what kinds of organizing will get more critical? I would love to hear from you. Just respond to my blog.

Less Stress and Higher Health

  STRESS! We know stress can lead to physical and emotional health conditions if it is not addressed in a healthy way.

In support of  National Public Health week, here's some simple tips for less stress and a healthier life.

Plan ahead. Keep a step ahead of your actions by planning both short-term and long-term. You'll stay on track, have needed resources, and feel better about your progress on important things.