Here’s what I made sure I did in order to shop successfully:

• I made sure I spent the time on makeup and at least halfway decent hair so I felt good about how I lookd.
• I made sure I brought the belt and shoes I’d be wearing with the jeans so I could get the right fit.  Although I always need to hem denim, I had on the shoes and rolled the extra material inside so I could so how they fell.
• I came out of the dressing room to look in the better lighting, larger mirror…and with denim, I especially advise working with the sales associate to make sure you have the right size and right fit.  They know which brands stretch more, where they’ll stretch and how they should fit.
• I walked around, sat down and practically got on the floor to see how the jeans fit and felt as I moved around.
• It was an immediate no to anything I had to tug at and adjust a lot.
• It was no to pieces that I thought the fabric was too thin or sheer.  If I wasn’t comfortable in the dressing room, I would never be comfortable wearing the clothes out.
• I only bought items I wanted to wear tomorrow….NOT pieces that I’d feel more comfortable in when I lost 5 pounds.
• I thought about what I was trying to achieve and how I wanted to look so I didn’t buy things that didn’t fit the bill.  Denim had to be classic looking at tailored so that ruled out anything distressed and the summer-y clothes had to be easy and casual, that could go with anything.

Next time you go shopping, go with a goal and use the same practices when you try things on and be aware of what you feel good in, today.

Happy Organizing!

Happy Organizing!

Happy Organizing!

There are probably a few reasons for this, but I think the main two are not wanting to be wasteful or frivolous with money and the other is people are trying to be green, not wanting to put something else in the landfills.  (You can read my post about being green with a balance here.)  I agree with both of these reasons to keep something, but not to the extent that it makes me hang onto items that I am done with.  I certainly don’t expect you to start throwing everything away, I just want you to be more mindful of an item’s lifespan.

When I worked in furniture retail, some of the sofas I sold had a ‘lifetime guarantee.’  But I had to make sure people understood that it wasn’t for their lifetime, it was for the lifetime of the sofa, which was 10-15 years.  That’s how long the integrity of the frame was meant to last and other parts would wear out before then.  The sofa was not disposable nor was it meant to last forever.  It was meant to be used and used up, so to say.

What if everything you bought had an expiration date?  Or think about it like we do with electronics — planned obsolescence.  Clothes expire when they become stained or worn.  Shoes become obsolete when they have broken down and are no longer comfortable.  Pillows become flat, linens threadbare.  When something breaks or starts under-performing, think of it as expired (like a non-stick pan that is no longer non-stick).  Continuing to use something that has “expired” elicits negative thoughts and those thoughts can add up to negative moods and outlooks.  Getting something that is shiny and new feels good and it’s not only because of the rush of the newness.  It’s because it’s clean, it’s functional, it’s updated and it’s going to perform at its best.  Be aware of the condition of your items and use them for however long they are truly intended to be used, and not a minute more.

If this still seems difficult, try being more mindful of what you’re buying.  Purchase the right items, for the right amount of money for what makes sense to you.  And learn to accept the statement, “I got my money’s worth” and be able to move on (even if you bought something that turned out to be a mistake).

Happy Organizing!

Happy Organizing!

Books are wonderful, but after they’ve been read, they can easily become clutter.  I think this is a GREAT way to read books if you prefer physical books or haven’t moved to digital devices.  Swap out that stack on your shelves and get the books you’re looking to read!

Happy Organizing!

Over the weekend I culled my closet because I knew there were a few shirts that were too worn or things I was getting tired of.  But I took it one step further and looked at everything and asked myself if I’d buy that item today?  The reason it works so well is that it encompasses all the other questions you’d ask that you often rationalize your way out of the true answer.  For clothing, it takes care of the questions of does it fit, do you like it, are you wearing it, do you feel good in it, etc.  If the answer is no to any of the previous listed questions, then you should get rid of something.  You don’t need a further reason, but we often invent one — I paid for it, it’s still good, I can wear it to… but if you don’t love it and feel excited about it, then you probably don’t feel good in it.  And you should only have clothes that you feel good in!   You deserve it!  Try it next time you’re looking at your clothes!

And it doesn’t have to only apply to clothes.  Use it to edit what you have on your walls and what you keep on your shelves.  Many of these items we no longer like, but we keep them because we’re used to them.  Or if we still like them, we’re not excited anymore.  You should have things that you love, that you find beautiful.

This also works for items buried in drawers and closets.  (Or with all your collections!)  These areas are filled with things we bought, that we once needed, but we probably aren’t using anymore and the only reason they’re still there is just because they are.  They haven’t been edited.  Sure, you could use them “someday,” but would you buy it TODAY?  Do you need it TODAY?  Do you love it TODAY?

Would you buy it today?  The best tool you can use when editing what you have in your home.

Happy Organizing!

For many years I would be getting ready for work in the morning (hair, makeup….the routine), wondering if I was on-time, running behind or ahead of schedule.  Now I planned enough time to get ready without rushing, but some days just go differently.  Anyway, I would waste time going back to check the clock….until one day I had an epiphany and I put a small, attractive clock on my bathroom counter.  Now I know what time it is and I save time by not running around.  I highly recommend this!  Or if there are there other places that you could use a clock, where you’re wondering what time it is.  Get something you like, that you want to look at.  The clocks pictured above are from Pottery Barn.  And yes, you have the clock on your phone, but are you carrying it everywhere?  Plus, you have to grab it and turn it on to see the time.  Go for the simple and old fashioned option and use a clock : )

Happy Organizing!

So you get the gist of what I’m talking about.  The other day I was with a client who has a lot of these types of items because she is very artistic and creative, which is wonderful.  And we all need leisure activities.  As we were going through these items, I was saying of course she could keep whatever she wanted….but keeping the “knitting” wasn’t going to give her any more time in her schedule to knit.   That was a new way of thinking about the items we keep!  Just because you keep it, you have the desire or intention to use it again… NOTHING HAS CHANGED!

• Keeping an item does not making it easier to use.
• Keeping an item does not make it more likely that you will use it.
• Keeping that item does not give you more free time
• Keeping the item does not rearrange your priorities.

So the next time you’re confronted with any of these types of items, be really honest with yourself….are you going to make time to do this?  Does this fit the current version of you?  Does it fit in your life?  Or does it all relate to who you used to be or who you thought you wanted to be?  If you had a free hour, evening or afternoon….would you even think about using this item?  Do you want to use it….or do you just feel like you should?

Only keep things that truly fit your life and just let go of the rest.  Make positive changes and move forward.

Happy Organizing!

As an organizer, I’m often talking about containing clutter and creating systems and this product does both!  Here I’ve chosen a leather catch-all from Pottery Barn, but you can use any bowl or small tray.  The idea is to put this in a convenient place where you normally throw down your keys, drop your sunglasses, maybe empty your pockets and set down your phone.  This is either on a table by the door or the kitchen counter.  Now you know where things go and where to find them.  Plus, you no longer have items strewn about.  And when you’re getting ready to leave the house, drop your phone back in there to make sure you don’t forget it.  It’s also a great spot for notes, shopping lists or to leave reminders for yourself.