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Schedule It and Organizing a Bookshelf by Color

Are you having difficulties finding the time to get organized? That project you’ve been complaining about won’t get done unless you set aside the time.

Step four in overcoming procrastination is to Schedule It. Determine how much you can do or tolerate at a given time. Typically, a project is broken up into smaller 5-30 minute tasks. Be careful to not push yourself too far or you might end up frustrated or jaded. Set dates and times for completing each small task and place it on your calendar, blackberry or iPhone.

For example ,if you are organizing a bookshelf, one of your tasks may be to arrange the books by subject, size, author or the most interesting, by color.
Here are simple steps to organize a bookshelf by color:

1. Remove all books and clear off your shelf
2. Sort all books by color and create “color” piles
3. Arrange books on the shelf by hue (follow the rainbow… red into orange, orange into yellow, etc.)

Love this playful room above by Chotda. For more inspiration, check out the Rainbow of Books Flickr Group.

The photos above and below were taken by me at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2009 house. I love how the designer of “His Sitting Room” kept the bookshelves simple in all black and white.

Organizing a bookshelf by color certainly brings interest to the room, but has its drawbacks. Where’s that stinkin’ book? In addition to color, my books are organized by subject and shelf (novels, reference/fiction, cookbooks, art/coffee table). Each shelf is organized individually by color instead of the whole bookshelf. My shelves look great and this way I can actually find the book I’m looking for easily. See what works best for your lifestyle and home.
And don’t forget… Schedule it!
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Read full story By on May 26, 2009 in bookshelves, home organization, organization tips, overcome procrastination

Overcoming Procrastinating and Garage Organization Steps

It’s easy to get buried in a large task like organizing the garage and it’s something most of my clients dread. One step in overcoming procrastination is to take baby steps. Instead of having tasks that may take hours to complete, break it up into smaller tasks.

To avoid getting overwhelmed each task should take no more than 30 minutes to complete. For example, to organize the garage it may take several days and your task list may look something like this:


Garage Organizing Task List

1. Categorize the items in your garage (recycling, tools/paint, sporting equipment, automotive, holiday decorations, etc.) – 30 minutes
2. Group the contents in the garage (include donate or trash groupings) – 30 minutes
3. Order special trash and donation pick-ups – 10-15 minutes
4. Leave out items for trash and donation – 10-15 minutes
5. Determine the best layout for your garage (hire professional if needed) – 30 minutes
6. Buy appropriate size bins, boxes, cabinets, etc. and labels – 30 minutes
7. Put items in appropriate storage bin or box (label each) – 30 minutes (break up into multiple tasks if over 30 minutes)
8. Install cabinets (hire professional if needed) – 30 minutes (break up into multiple tasks if over 30 minutes)
9. Install shelves (hire professional if needed) – 30 minutes (break up into multiple tasks if over 30 minutes)
10. Sweep garage floor – 15 minutes
11. Relocate items to their new location in the garage – 30 minutes

Happy Organizing!

 
*images by Real Simple and Martha Stewart
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Read full story By on May 21, 2009 in garage organization, home organization, organization tips, overcome procrastination

Stop Procrastinating and Get Organized: Step One

OK, OK… I am a professional organizer & designer and I confess, I have been procrastinating too. I’ve been thinking about starting this blog for months and have been waiting for the “perfect” time to start. Well, there is no perfect time friends. The time is now. Let’s get going and simplify our homes and lives.

The first question my clients ask is, “Where and how do I begin?” I always answer with this question back, “What in your home is causing you the most pain and discomfort?” That is where we typically begin. For my last client, it was her cluttered bedroom. Step by step we created an action plan that outlined simple “tasks” for her to complete to reach her goal of making her room a peaceful, clutter-free retreat.

Many times the biggest hurdle in getting organized is procrastinating. Here is the first step in stopping procrastination…

Take Action
Plan your mission and keep it simple. Just select the one project you must get done to feel productive. It may be going through that pile of mail, purging old shoes from your closet, or organizing the utensil drawer. Keep it simple and choose a manageable item you can complete in 5-15 minutes. Break the day up into a series of “sessions” for other tasks and balance the time spent planning with time spent doing. Don’t over think it and take too much time planning ~ this too can cause procrastination. Once complete, review your progress, pat yourself on the back (or reward yourself with a nice glass of vino) and plan your tasks for the next day. I find my clients get more and more motivated as they complete tasks.

Stay tuned for Step Two

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Read full story By on May 13, 2009 in home organization, organization tips, overcome procrastination