NAPO Michigan Our Blog

Can Your Car Fit In Your Garage?

Cindy Greenleaf — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 19:06:16 GMT

If not, you’re not alone. Over a third of American garages (36%) are so cluttered that homeowners can no longer park their cars inside according to a 2022 survey.

If your garage holds everything but your car or you can never find an item when you need it, summer is the perfect time to organize your garage.

The National Association of Professional Organizer Michigan Chapter (NAPO Michigan) want to share their top ten list on ORGANIZING YOUR GARAGE:

1. Sort garage contents by activity or task. Declutter what you don't use. Organize the rest.

2. Think about what activities happen in or near your garage. Plan task-specific zones in the garage accordingly. Store related items in each zone.

3. Hang shelves on walls to free up floor space.

4. Use lidded plastic boxes to store similar items and parts for each power tool stored in garage. Be sure to label it. Store on shelves.

5. Make use of corners by placing a triangular shelfing unit or gardening tool caddy.

6. Hang pegboard to keep hand tools, hoses and extension cords visible.

7. Use vertical space whenever possible. Use tall metal shelving units with adjustable shelves to increase storage capacity. Rafter space is often overlooked for storage in garages too.

8. Hang L- or U-shaped utility hooks at top of wall studs to hang seasonal items like ladders and seed spreaders.

9. Keep toxic substances like pesticides up high or behind locked doors so they are out of reach of children and pets.

10. Keep a fire extinguisher and First Aid kit handy for any emergencies to save precious time when needed.

Once you’ve gotten the garage organized, remember to build one simple habit!

Whatever you get out ~ you have to put away after using it.

This not only applies to parking the vehicles in the same place every day, but it also applies to bikes, sports equipment, yard tools and machinery.

Organizing your garage is much easier than you think! For more organizing tips or to find a Professional Organizer, visit www.NapoMichigan.com.

Article submitted by Cindy Greenleaf, Chapter member, and Chief Organizing Officer of New Leaf Organizing LLC.

A recent Redfin Blog article featured a NAPO Michigan member. Check it out! 19 Must-Read Storage Hacks for a Cluttered Home in Redfin’s Blog.

Cindy Greenleaf — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 13:10:30 GMT

19 Must-Read Storage Hacks for a Cluttered Home in Redfin’s Blog.

Click here to read it: 19 Storage Hacks for a Cluttered Home | Redfin

How can a Professional Organizer help me?

Cindy Greenleaf — Wed, 19 May 2021 16:13:41 GMT

Do you have too much stuff? Do you just want to streamline what you have?

A Professional Organizer is just the person to help you in the process of decluttering, sorting and organizing any space! Find a Professional Organizer who meets your needs, goals and one you feel comfortable with. He/she can be an objective third party who can give you new perspectives on your spaces and maximize their functionality.

As with any field, there are niches and experts in particular areas. Look for a NAPO member who has experience in the type of organizing you desire. NAPO, The National Assoc. of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, is the trade association for the industry.

Why choose a NAPO Professional Organizer?

NAPO Professional Organizers are trained experts in the field who belong to the association and have learned strategies, techniques, ethics, standards and quality of services with all things that are organization- and productivity-related. It is important to hire an Organizer who knows the field, has experience and understanding of the intricacies of handling their clients “Stuff,” mentally and/or physically. A NAPO member hits all those marks.

Can I just have a family member or friend help me instead?

Remember that sometimes family members or friends want to help you in the decluttering and organizing process but may not see eye-to-eye with you on what is or is not important. There may be emotions that get brought into the process from a family member or friend who may have an interest in your items or keeping them in the family. That can mean pressure and guilt. No one likes to have to hold onto items out of guilt and that only brings negative emotions.

Keeping items when there is a purpose and place for them or when the items bring positive thoughts/feelings make much more sense. Positivity begets happiness and that applies when we are dealing with all our "stuff!"

Here’s how a Professional Organizer can help you:

1. Helps with the sorting and deciding process.

2. Helps with figuring out the best way to use valuable storage spaces.

3. Reorganizes the spaces using organizing products on hand or recommended.

4. Fills the role as the objective person in the process.

5. Frees up your time to do the things you want to do.

6. Reduces anxiety and uncertainty by helping to bring a process and game plan to the table.

7. May offer haul away donations and recycling so you can see the progress made.

8. Can offer ongoing maintenance tips/help.

How do I find a NAPO Professional Organizer?

You can find a Professional Organizer in your area by searching this website under Our Chapter, then go to Our Membership Directory. Members are listed there alphabetically but you can also click on Advanced Search to search by County or Organizing specialty.

Nationally, you can go to NAPO.net to search for NAPO National members.

If you have Chronic Disorganization challenges such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, hoarding, etc., you can find an organizing expert at ChallengingDisorganization.org

Happy Organizing!

Post written by Susie Marsh, NAPO Michigan Member and LBSW/owner of Susie's Organization Solutions LLC

Smile Mom!

Cindy Greenleaf — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:12:54 GMT

Moms are usually the family historians that take most of the pictures. These photos capture beautiful moments of their families at school, work, play, sports, vacation, all because they want to remember a moment in time.

However, since moms are the ones with a cell phone or camera in their hands, they rarely appear in pictures themselves. Husbands and children please take note, moms want to have pictures with their family to look back on.

If you see her helping the children with day-to-day activities, please take the picture.

If she’s cheering on the kids with a group of other moms at a tee ball game, please take the picture.

If she’s helping the children with homework and everyone breaks out laughing, please take the picture.

She wants to remember these special times as a family.

Do her a favor and PLEASE TAKE THE PICTURE!

Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms!

This post written by NAPO Michigan Business Partner Patty Hopp, Owner of Pictures of You, Photo Organizing business.

THE MATCHING GAME

Cindy Greenleaf — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 15:14:10 GMT

One of my favorite games to play with my children when they were young is the “matching game”. You know, the game that requires players to match similar elements on cards by turning one card over and then turning over a second card in hopes that they “match”.

According to Google, Matching and Memory Games have many benefits including....

· Improved concentration

· Increased short term memory

· Increased attention to detail

· Improved ability to find similarities and differences in objects

· Improved vocabulary

· Help to classify objects that are grouped by similar traits

These benefits are not limited to children, but are also seen in adults, especially the elderly.

Matching and Memory Games can be purchased at the store, or can easily be made at home using photos of your family members glued to cardboard or heavy paper.

Your children may even enjoy helping you make a set of “matching cards” and then have a family night where your family can enjoy a competitive game of Matching.

This post written by NAPO Michigan Business Partner Patty Hopp, Owner of Pictures of You, Photo Organizing business.

BECOMING A GOAL GETTER

Cindy Greenleaf — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 19:03:22 GMT

Organizing your mind is just as important as organizing your home. By setting aside an hour to download and let go of all the “I should’s” that live in our brains, we eliminate mental clutter and create space for future possibility. Goal setting is a simple, straightforward way of creating this space.

Many of us shy away from goal setting. We’re fearful of not accomplishing our goal; therefore, we don’t solidify the exact result we’re hoping to achieve. We think that we need to know all the steps necessary to achieve the goal before we begin. What if the act of selecting one result for the upcoming week, one for the month, one for the upcoming season, and one for the upcoming year was about the journey and the process and not the result? What if we gave ourselves grace to learn and grow along the way?

Empty Your Mind

Begin by setting aside a peaceful hour on your weekly calendar. Perhaps it’s early in the morning or late a night. Grab a few pieces of paper or a journal, and your favorite beverage and drop all expectations for yourself. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and empty out your current thoughts about your home, business, family, and/or yourself. Don’t judge the thoughts or the “I should’s” that arise, just write down the phrases that exist in your subconscious. These are the thoughts that rarely see the light of day. “I should call my grandmother more. I should spend less time on social media. I’d love to make more money next year. I should figure out how to fix this thing that’s been bugging me for ages.”

Again, don’t judge yourself. These thoughts are currently weighing your mind down. They’re taking up your brain’s processing space. Some of these items you’ll eventually decide to act upon. Some of them will turn out to be less of a priority than you originally thought. By allowing yourself dedicated time and space to make visible the mental clutter, you’ll then be able to evaluate the items objectively.

Permit Yourself to Dream

Next, allow yourself to dream. This can be challenging at first. Our primitive brains are designed to keep us safe – from not taking risks. Imagine a money goal, a relationship goal, a selfcare goal. Most likely, a tiny voice will pop up and say, “you don’t have time to…” Recognize that it’s your brain’s default mechanism trying to keep you stuck right where you are. It’s just a voice, and you can choose not to listen to it. List the possibilities, no matter how ridiculous or time consuming they seem. Again, it’s about acknowledging and creating the vision for your heart’s desire.

These two lists can co-exist in your life. Recognize that every single phrase you put down is optional. Some items may feel more critical and pressing than others; others feel impossible. Creating awareness around this is key. Every task and every goal take time to accomplish. You are in charge of what makes sense for you and your lifestyle at this moment.

Evaluate and Constrain

The process of setting goals is not scripted. The next step is to evaluate your lists for what you’d like to do, what you’d like to accomplish, and recognizing the relief or joy you’d feel by intentionally working towards making it happen. Simultaneously, recognize what you don’t want to do, what’s not an immediate priority, and allow yourself to classify those items as “someday maybe” tasks. We all have an unknown, fixed amount of time in our lives, and identifying what you’d like to accomplish, is in essence goal setting.

Give yourself permission to constrain to a few goals at a time. We often believe that, through multitasking or overscheduling ourselves, we will accomplish more. Setting goals gives our minds specific tasks to focus on. Trying to add more than a few things to your goal list will reintroduce the overwhelmed feeling you get. Your brain will get distracted more easily, and the tiny voice that keeps you stuck will return.

Ask yourself: “What’s one thing I can do this week that I’ve been avoiding?” Schedule time to make it happen. “What’s one thing I can reasonably set aside time to get done this month?” It can be as simple as sort through seasonal clothing and identify clothing for donations. It could be to finish the book that’s on your nightstand. Setting the intention and the time to do the task is more critical than the topic of the task itself. Repeat the questioning for the upcoming season and year.

Once you select one goal for each timeline, tuck your lists away. Get out your paper or electronic calendar and schedule the time to work towards your goal. For those that are distant goals (quarterly or yearly), simply put a note every week or two to check in with yourself about your progress. Set time to remind yourself of why the goal is important and why you’re consciously adding it to your calendar.

Love Yourself and Your Effort

Goal setting takes practice and focus, yet it’s a guaranteed way to move you forward. Just like organizing a junk drawer or cleaning out your closet will build the skill of decision making, setting goals of any size will encourage you to decide how best to spend your time. Instead of spinning in indecision and overwhelm, you will have decided exactly what to accomplish and scheduled the time to accomplish it.

Practice loving yourself along the way. For longer term goals, the process itself becomes the result. Acknowledge wins of any size and congratulate yourself. Rewarding your brain with positive affirmation will create reinforcement to repeat the process. You’ll build evidence of your own success, effort by effort. Whether you complete your goal within your designated time frame is totally up to you. Getting the task or dream goal out of your head and onto the calendar is a gorgeous first step.

Post written by Amelia Pleasant Kennedy, NAPO Michigan Member and Owner of A Pleasant Solution .

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER?

Cindy Greenleaf — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 23:00:00 GMT

Most of us have watched those Hoarding shows and seen how, within a “tv hour”, a team of 4-6 people empties, cleans and organizes an entire house. Someone watching the show might not realize that the team was probably more like 15 that worked 6-8 hours a day for several days.

With the magic of editing, it looks so quick and easy when, in reality, there was a lot of hard work and many decisions to make.

While not everyone will have a whole house that needs to be emptied, it is hard to know what the process is like to work with a Professional Organizer if you have never done so before.

Every Professional Organizer has their own method and flow but there are some things that will be similar.

Once you have decided you are ready to tackle that project or deal with clutter that never seems to go away, you need to contact an Organizer, whom you may have found through NAPOMICHIGAN.com or a referral of an Organizer a friend has used.

There will first be an assessment of what you want to do and what your ultimate goal for a space is. This could take place via phone, video chat or in-person. Due to the personal nature of the work, it is important when choosing the right Organizer that both the potential client and the Organizer feel comfortable and be a good fit, skill-wise.

If we get a call from someone who needs a skill set that we don’t have, we’re more than ready to refer the potential client to another NAPO Michigan Organizer who does have the skill set they need.

The Organizer will work with you to decide where to start and agree on the intended goal for the space. Then you will schedule a date to begin the work. Generally, the Organizer will work side-by-side with you (unless you are organizing virtually) to first sort through the items in the space you are tackling. As you are sorting like items together, you will throw out broken items and obvious trash, as well as gather items you want to donate so someone else can use them.

Once you know what items you want to keep, the Organizer will help you identify the best place and way to store those items. Sometimes clients may want to use containers and bins that they already have in their home. Other times, the client will want to purchase new, matching containers to give the space a coordinated and finished look.

Professional Organizers can help you chose containers, and some will take the extra step of helping you shop for them either via the internet or doing an in-store pick up for items you have ordered.

Professional Organizer sessions can range from 3-7 hours depending on the client’s needs, health and mental stamina. Some projects can be completed in one day and some might be ongoing for quite some time. Some Organizers have a team of 2-3 workers, while others work solo alongside the client. Generally, Organizers tend to work with the client, rather than while the client is at work, so that the client is there to make decisions about what they want to keep and get rid of. But that’s not to say there aren’t times when an Organizer couldn’t be in the house alone completing a task that they have agreed upon with a client.

By the end of the appointment, the Organizer will help you move your bagged trash out to your trash cans, as well as consolidating items for donation into one area.

Depending on the amount of trash or donation items you have gathered, the Organizer may help you find a donation charity or junk hauling company to pick up and remove them.

Hopefully, you will find that working with a Professional Organizer is a pleasant experience and usually goes much more smoothly than trying to work with a family member or suffering through doing it on your own.

Professional Organizers are there to help guide and motivate you, helping you through the decision-making process toward a well-organized home.

This NAPO Michigan Blog post was written by Kari Grady, Director of Membership and owner of Need to Organize LLC.

EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL

Cindy Greenleaf — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 18:17:48 GMT

NAPO Michigan represents the best Organizing and Productivity Professional Members in our state. While most of our Blog posts are written from a we, or a Chapter perspective, once in a while we receive a submission that tells the true story of an individual. While the story may be about one of us in particular, this story is compelling and displays the reason why we all do what we do. Organizers of all types, including Photo Managers, help families and individuals sort through their family stories and memorabilia, prioritize those of significance, then determine and create the means to retain that family history for posterity.

Read on. We hope you gain perspective of the value of what we all do from this timely piece by NAPO Michigan Member, Patty Hopp, a Professional Photo Manager.

Most of us would agree that the past few months of quarantine have been difficult. We’ve been forced to adjust and change our “normal” way of life. Many of us started working from home instead of going to an office to work. Children are now home-schooled instead of going to school with their friends. Our old routine and past ways of doing things have changed.

In the middle of all the uncertainty and chaos, I’ve seen many awesome pictures that truly tell the story of what we’re going through. Facebook is filled each day with pictures of families spending more time together, of siblings playing outside having fun, with pictures of people helping other people, and stories of great acts of kindness.

Last week, a friend of mine shared a photo of her boys arm wrestling in their driveway. I LOVE this photo. The look on each of their faces is absolutely priceless. You can see their determination to win and their competitiveness while enjoying some quality time as brothers.

Recent social media has also been filled with numerous stories about random acts of kindness. I’ve seen several pictures and read stories of many of our local school lunch ladies and volunteers who are working countless hours preparing and delivering meals to children. These people are true HEROES.

As we continue to move forward while still under our Stay at Home order, I encourage you to take pictures of your “day to day” activities. One day you’ll look back through your photos and think about how the coronavirus changed your life and the lives of those you love!

Written by NAPO Michigan Member Patty Hopp, Professional Photo Manager, PicturesOfYou.com

A 1918 PANDEMIC FAMILY STORY

Cindy Greenleaf — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 22:01:12 GMT

NAPO Michigan represents the best Organizing and Productivity Professional Members in our state. While most of our Blog posts are written from a we, or a Chapter perspective, once in a while we receive a submission that tells the true story of an individual. While the story may be about one of us in particular, this story is compelling and displays the reason why we all do what we do. Organizers help families and individuals sort through their family stories and memorabilia, prioritize those of significance, then determine and create the means to retain that family history for posterity.

Read on. We hope you gain perspective of the value of what we all do from this timely piece by NAPO Michigan Business Partner, Marianne Behler, a Certified Photo Organizer.

A 1918 PANDEMIC FAMILY STORY

My mother, Berniece A. Lewis, was born during the Flu Pandemic of 1918 to Benjamin Frank Lewis and Malona (Barks) Lewis on July 18,1918. She was their third daughter.

Lewis Family - 1911 – Berniece Lewis’ parents far left; Frank and Malona Lewis with daughter, Opal

By November 1, both of her parents had died.

My mother’s sister, Opal later wrote of her earliest memories. “I saw my mother in bed with a lovely new sister that looked like my baby picture. I adored her and enjoyed rocking her”. She continues; “One day our neighbor came to tell us that his son was home from France. He was a soldier and had been wounded while fighting in our army. He was also having a high fever and needed someone at his bedside especially at night. My dad offered to help and after a week or so he, too, became ill. He kept doing the chores and got some of his crops in the barn. Then my mother started not feeling well. By that time my dad was in bed. My mom pumped the horse trough full of water, threw out a lot of hay and baked and cooked extra food. Next morning, she was unable to get up. She took the three-month-old baby to bed with her. I took diapers to her and gave my parents cold drinks of water while feeding my three-year-old sister and trying to keep her amused. That night my dad called me to the bed and talked a long time to me, making me understand how very ill he and mom were. He put my little red coat and hood on me and buttoned my high-top black shoes, lit a lantern for me to carry, and told me to go to our neighbor a mile and a half through a corn field. I was to tell them to contact my grandparents about ten miles away.”

At seven, Opal walked to the neighbors to contact her grandparents because her parents were sick with the flu. The parents died but their three daughters survived. My mother was orphaned as a baby, yet she survived. Because she survived, I was born as were my children and grandchildren.

Each of the three daughters were adopted by different family members from both sides of the family. My mother, was adopted by her father’s sister, Serrah Anne married to John H. Cook. They had one biological daughter Pearl. My mother adored Pearl. She claimed she was her shadow. Sadly, Pearl died on her wedding day of lockjaw. But that’s another story.

Berniece at age three with Pearl

My mother grew up in Arkansas and their family eventually moved to Michigan in the 1930’s where my grandfather got a job in South Lyon. My mother finished high school, started working and went on to marry my father, and as they say . . . the rest is history at least for me, my children and 10 grandchildren.

Senior Trip 1938. Berniece Cook 2^nd from right. “They drove in cars, five in each. There were not enough teachers to have one in each car. We lucked out and we didn’t have one!”

So why share this story now? The Covid-19 pandemic is calling me to share it. Many stories are being published about the 1918 flu pandemic history now. My mother’s story is one of them. I am writing about my mother’s story to preserve and share it with my family. I also want to encourage all of us to tell our story of Covid-19 now.

The word I have used to describe both my mother and her story is; perseverance. Adopted at three months, she grew up poor but was determined to finish high school even as the family moved around. She knew that education would be the way to a better life. She loved learning. Her hard work and dedication became a stepping stone to many life-long achievements.

What pictures and stories does your family have waiting to be shared and told? Do stories of your family tell of lives well lived? Have your parents or grandparents overcome adversity? Have they been able to achieve beyond what would have been normal expectations?

I’m sharing this story 102 years later during Covid-19 because what is happening now is defining our lives. Unlike the flu pandemic of 1918, we have an abundance of pictures to help us tell our stories.

For me, this has been a time to call family members and see what if anything was written down about our family during the 1918 pandemic. I located the actual notes and a written account from my aunt Opal. I located the genealogy of both sides of my mother’s family. I pulled out the scrapbook album that my mother and I put together of her life with all of her old photos. I found a small photo book treasure that I created for my mother of her 90^th birthday celebration.

Celebrating Berniece’s 90^th Birthday – 2008. What a wonderful celebration. Berniece in front in the pink.

At the beginning of Covid-19, I began taking pictures to tell a new story. I have pictures of what I have been doing, of what my children and grandchildren have been doing. I made soup and shared it with neighbors and friends. I have made phone calls to make sure people I know and love know I are thinking about and praying for them. I am holding Zoom meetings. I have started a gratitude journal. All these things are helping me tell my story

A new Story – Zooming with family on Easter, 2020

How about you? What are you and your family doing right now? Many children stopped going to school in March which means many of you are homeschooling for the first time. Are you and your spouse working from home? Are you practicing social-distancing? Are you glued to the news and to the daily briefings? Are you too trying to figure out life during a quarantine?

As a Photo Manager, I am privileged to see my client’s pictures and hear their stories. I work with them to organize their photo collections. I scan the photos, memorabilia and treasures of their lives. I create photo books to help them tell their stories; births, graduations, retirements and life histories. Once the photos have been preserved and their stories told, they are documented for future generations.

Let me challenge you to tell your story. What will you, your children and your grandchildren want to remember of Covid-19? Tell it, write it down now. Let this be a time when you preserve your photos and tell your story.

Article submitted by Chapter Business Partner, Marianne Behler, Certified Photo Manager at Lifetime Photo Solutions.

Organizing Your Foyer and Front Closet

Cindy Greenleaf — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 17:42:00 GMT

Now that spring is here and most of us have been stuck at home because of the Covid-19 virus, why not spend a little time addressing your foyer and closet.

These simple tips from the National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan will help your family get and stay organized.

As always, take out everything from the closet, placing all items into their categories, such as —

· Footwear, sorted by season

· Coats, sorted by season

· Gloves, scarves and hats

· Sports stuff

· Umbrellas, purses, and bags

· Pet items

Start with the coats that you wear most for the spring and summer season. Then match up your footwear underneath.

This might be the time to include a shoe organizer to better use the limited space available.

Depending on the size of the front closet, decide how many items should go back in, with a little room to spare for future additions. If you don’t have a lot of long coats, perhaps you could consider turning this closet into a double hung closet?

Making the most of your vertical storage could be a real bonus.

Next, match up gloves, toss out singles and those that have seen better days, and donate others, if you find you have too many.

Put your gloves, scarves and hats for each family member in a basket, container/bin or over-the-door organizer. This is a great time to see if your child has outgrown any items. If closet space is at a real premium, you could choose to move these down to the basement for the warmer weather.

Place a rubber mat on the closet floor for those wet shoes/boots. You could also place a carpet piece or rubber mat by the door that you use every day as a landing pad.

If you have dogs, start a bag or basket for their winter sweaters and place a handy hook for their leashes and collar in the closet or by the door.

It’s also a great idea to install more wall hooks, especially if you have young children at home. Maybe you can place them at a lower, kid-friendly height. It’s easier for children to place something on a hook than use a hanger.

Lastly, return the items you find that don’t belong in this closet to their rightful homes.

For those items you no longer need or won’t be using, place them in a donation bag to be dropped off at your favorite recycling/reuse place.

Once your closet work is done, you will start each new day in a more relaxed manner. Plus, you’ll be able to have dry feet — and even close your closet door!

Article submitted by Chapter member, Betty Huotari, Logical Placement LLC,

www.LogicalPlacement.com

Our Earth, Our Closets

Cindy Greenleaf — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 15:41:23 GMT

You might be home, working from home or one of our front-line helpers

in Michigan...thank you to those who are serving us.

April 22nd is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

NAPO MI will post on our social media platforms earth friendly tips, products and statistics all April.

One statistic we’ve recently heard is that up to 85% of our discarded clothing ends up in a landfill. This is not something we often think about when cleaning out our closets.

Here are a few tips on how to avoid acquiring too much clothing.

1. Take inventory. Group items by season, category and color and write down how many of each item you own. This might help you learn something about how and what you purchase.

2. If you find a category you overbuy, think about why. Did you not know you already had something similar? Is it hard for you to resist a good deal?

3. Shop with a list. If you know your inventory, this helps with knowing what parts of your wardrobe needs filling in. Don’t just buy because you love it or it’s a great price. There will always be things we see that we love and always another great price around the corner.

4. Keep your inventory or photos of your closet on your phone. While shopping you can quickly access your list or photo to be reminded of what you already own.

5. Categorize your closet by silhouette, color or activity. Then use garment dividers so you put things back where they belong and have a quick visual of what you have.

The Container Store sells these for 99 cents each.

If we take a little time to consider what we own and think before we get your credit card out, we could all make better purchases and give old Mother Earth some much-needed relief.

We recognize that we could all use some relief right now.

NAPO Michigan wishes all of you and your family peace, health and safety. Thank you for reading.

Facebook - @napomichigan

Instagram - @napo_michigan

Submitted by Leigh MacCready, Re-Nest LLC.

renestleigh.com

MESSIEST ROOM CONTEST WINNER RECEIVES ONE-DAY HOME OFFICE MAKEOVER

Cindy Greenleaf — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 20:31:50 GMT

MESSIEST ROOM CONTEST WINNER RECEIVES ONE-DAY HOME OFFICE MAKEOVER

In the world of Professional Organizers, January is deemed GO Month. That is “Get Organized Month.”

As a Chapter, each year we plan a service project in which we assist groups or individuals with organizing challenges they face. In the past, we have concentrated on helping non-profit groups like Habitat for Humanity or a Human Trafficking home for women and girls get their storage spaces organized in one day. This means a team of about 20 organizers comes in for one day and divides up the project into manageable tasks to get store rooms or individual offices better organized.

This year, we decided to help a person in the community with our residential Messiest Room Contest. This required a smaller group of Organizers so we were a Committee of five. Chapter President Leigh MacReady and Chapter Secretary Betty Huotari, along with Members Terri Closs, Cindy Greenleaf, and Erica Herker planned and executed this fun project.

A special thanks to Chapter Member Jane Hale, who was a photojournalist in another life, for taking the great Before, During and After pictures featured in the newspaper and in this post. Some of the pictures shown here were taken by Cindy Greenleaf.

Planning began in late October as we decided on the rules for applying, preparing the application form and obtaining sponsorship donations. We knew we would need to buy organizing supplies for whatever room was selected. Planning continued right up until and during the day of the project.

NAPO Michigan partnered up with the Detroit News Homestyle section to announce the contest on November 2.

Mark had not seen the contest announced in the newspaper but a friend told him about it so he submitted his application.

We received over two dozen submissions and narrowed it down to three finalists. Each finalist was interviewed and the winner chosen was a unanimous decision. It was announced in the Detroit News Homestyle section on December 7, 2018.

As our contest winter, Mark Steele wrote this in his submission: “This room was originally my computer room. Slowly but surely my wife took it over. She beads, does handcreams, knitting, collecting...My wife passed away in March from cancer. I can’t bring myself to go through this pile of things for fear of reminders of the past and/or not being able to let things go…Please I need help.” He also said he had had a rummage sale and done five carloads of donations as well. He seemed “stuck” with where to start in this room (as a lot of clients are) but was also “ready” to do it with our help.

Ever wonder what it takes to do a large project like this?

It was only a 10’ x 10’ room but it was chock full of stuff.

Here’s how we did it.

Once Mark was selected, Betty and Leigh went to see the room in it’s cluttered Before state and discuss Mark’s goals for the room. He wanted the room to be his computer room again. He’s a Corvette car guy who owns two of them. In addition, he had a lot of Corvette art, model cars, manuals and magazines he wanted displayed once the clutter was removed.

Here are two Before pictures were taken that day.

Photo credit Jane Hale

Once we saw the room and reviewed the pictures, planning began. We selected Billy bookcases (which Mark put together), Magazine files and a rug from Ikea, and a lamp from Target. Mark selected new window blinds from Lowes, which we installed to remove the turquoise vertical blinds that were in the house when they bought it twenty years ago, completing the look.

On Project Day, in mid-January, we arrived at 9:30 am. Mark’s homework had been to build the book shelves and remove any personal items he or his children wanted from the room so this was done when we arrived.

Clients are always in charge when it comes to deciding what items are kept, donated or be tossed. Organizers offer options if they are unclear but the client is in charge of the decluttering process and their goal for the room.

Since the room was too small for all of us to work in, Betty and Leigh worked with Mark in the room and Erica, Terri and Cindy worked at tables in an area around the corner from the Office where we had set up tables in a U-shape to sort and box items for donation. We had boxes donated to us as well. The goal was to have the room emptied of the clutter by noon. Some of the wife’s craft stuff was already boxed up so Mark was easily able to release those items for donation.

Mark had a great attitude towards lots of his clutter. He said, “Everything I need to remember my wife is in my heart and memory. I don’t need these things around to do that.”

In the end, we had 38 boxes of donations by the time the room was emptied just before lunch. Twenty-eight of those were craft items. A second desk in the room was deemed unnecessary and donated as well.

Photo credit Cindy Greenleaf

Professional Organizers always bring one or several different types of tool kits with them to a client’s home, depending on the project at hand. This includes sharpie markers, labeling machines and various types of tape. Since we knew we’d be doing the blind removal and installation, two of us brought drills and screwdrivers as well. Leigh even spackled some picture-hanging holes in the wall. We wanted to be full-service in this office as we tend to be detail-oriented on the small things like that.

Organizers do not ordinarily do things like spackle wall holes or take down or install blinds but we wanted this room to be completely finished when we left so we did those things here.

Photo credit Cindy Greenleaf

Mark’s readiness to release the items that he didn’t use or need made this an easy project for us Professional Organizers. He had shown that by his prior actions and his attitude towards clutter, this was going to be a relatively easy project. Clients may say they are ready but when faced with actually releasing clutter, sometimes it’s a different story. Not so with Mark.

Mark took this opportunity to sweep and mop the room just before lunch so it was a clean slate when we got to work after lunch. Leigh gave that beautiful desk a once over with furniture oil, making it glow.

Photo credit Cindy Greenleaf

By noon, we took a short lunch break and with the decluttering done, got straight to the organizing and decorating of the room. As a committee, we had discussed one potential space plan for the desk, file cabinets and bookcases before arriving there. So once the room was empty, Mark decided on how he wanted the room laid out. We used furniture sliders to make it easy to move a bookcase around to see how it looked to Mark.

Terri, with a little assistance from Cindy, removed the old blinds and installed the dark wood ones which matched the window sill perfectly. It took about an hour to get that done.

Photo credit Jane Hale

Betty and Erica put together the Magazine files outside the office in preparation for the final bookcase placement. Once that was determined, Mark had additional art he wanted hung so we got that up. Leigh polished up the star of the show, the beautiful oak roll top desk Mark had. The new lamp on roll top looked great and the new area rug completed the look.

Photo credit Jane Hale

An antique child’s school desk sits in one corner awaiting a visit from his grand-kids.

In another nod to his wife, beside it sits a small trunk with key rings his wife collected from places they had visited in their cross-country drives in their Corvette. With the Corvette model cars on the shelves, including a pink one in honor of his wife, his computer room was complete. It was his again free of the crafts and clutter there at the beginning of the day.

Photo credit Jane Hale

It took five Organizers about six hours to get the room complete. So including Mark’s time before and during, it approached 40 hours of work that day to get the amazing After pictures shown here.

Mark was as thrilled with the result as we were. We checked in with him a couple weeks after we left him and he says the room is very productive and he loves it. No clutter has crept in as he likes it so much.

Photo credit Cindy Greenleaf

He also said doing that room has inspired him to tackle other parts of the house that need attention. He continues to spend an hour or two in a room and loves the momentum this Room Re-do has given him to continue decluttering in other areas of the home.

As for us Organizers, it was very fulfilling to give a very deserving man a productive Computer Room that was all his again. Plus working as a cohesive team of Professional Organizers is always a fun day.

Here’s the link to the Detroit News article:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/home-garden/2019/01/24/organizers-napo-messiest-room/2538523002/

Participating Professional Organizers were:

Terri Closs, As You Wish Organizing, LLC

Cindy Greenleaf, New Leaf Organizing LLC

Erica Herker, Erica Organizes

Betty Huotari, Logical Placement LLC

Leigh MacReady, Re-Nest LLC

Sponsors include Studio Z Architecture, Momentum Construction LLC, and Joe Tiberi Agency.

Chapter Member Sponsors include Need to Organize LLC, As You Wish Organizing LLC, Logical Placement, Nia Spongberg Organizing and Coaching, and Re-Nest.

Business Partner Sponsors were College Hunks Hauling Junk and Frisbie Moving and Storage.

We thank them all for their generous financial donations which enabled us to do this inspiring project.

This article was written by Cindy Greenleaf, Professional Organizer and Owner of New Leaf Organizing LLC

MESSIEST ROOM CONTEST WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN!

Cindy Greenleaf — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 19:48:45 GMT

The winner of the NAPO Michigan Chapter's 2018 Messiest Room Contest has been selected! NAPO Michigan is partnering with the Detroit News Lifestyle Section to provide a team of NAPO Michigan Professional Organizers to spend a day decluttering, reorganizing and making the space functional again.

The lucky winner is Mark Steele of Farmington Hills, Michigan. We will be tackling a room that was his wife's craft room with a desk area as well. His wife has passed so he wants to use it as a productive office space again by decluttering the craft items in the room.

The project will happen in second half of January so keep an eye in the Detroit News Lifestyle Section and here for the Before and After pictures.

The team is really looking forward to helping such a deserving winner!

MESSIEST ROOM CONTEST!

Cindy Greenleaf — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 20:31:18 GMT

Do you or someone you know have a Messy Room that you wish would just magically get organized?

Have we got a contest for you?! \5Our NAPO Michigan Chapter (Professional Organizers and Productivity Specialists) is partnering with the Homestyle section of the Detroit Free Press by having a MESSIEST ROOM CONTEST.

You must submit your application by Noon on November 15. The Application is at our website at napomichigan.com.

The Winner will get their room tackled by Professional Organizers in January.

Read below for details. Exclusions apply.

MESSIEST ROOM CONTEST

One lucky Homestyle reader will be chosen to have a team of Professional Organizers from NAPO Michigan come into their home, tame the clutter in the room of their choice, and give their space new life!

To enter your room for consideration in the contest, you must download and complete the application. The application deadline is Noon on November 15.

The winner will be announced on December 7 and the makeover will happen in January 2019.

If you have questions please contact Betty Huotari at betty@logicalplacement.com.

Organize your Closet once and for all

Cindy Greenleaf — Tue, 29 May 2018 13:39:35 GMT

If you only have one rod and one upper shelf in your closet, you are definitely missing out on available storage space! Items are tossed up to the upper shelf, only to topple down when you are trying to find something in the pile. And who can find matching shoes and your favorite tote bags in the deep dark bottom of the closet?

The National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals in Michigan wants to share some tips on organizing your closet and finding extra storage space:

1. Add a helper shelf or two to the top of the closet for extra things you don’t use every day. Bins work great to contain items on shelves and can be decorative too. Don’t forget to add labels so you can quickly find what you’re looking for.

2. Make your closet have room for double hanging by using an adjustable closet rod extender. This allows much more hanging space in a small area, especially if you're using those awesome velvet thinner hangers.

3. Place portable storage drawer units in the bottom of the closet. These affordable storage solutions come in many sizes, materials and can store anything more efficiently.

4. Use the back of a solid closet door to add an over-the-door shoe storage rack. So easy to install and use!

5. Fill any unused spaces with hooks for scarves, bathrobes, hoodies, totes, etc. Command hooks are removable and permanent ones come in many styles and finishes now.

Organizing your closet and finding extra space is easier than you think!

By keeping what you love and wear, and arranging what fits nicely, you will have an amazing, organized closet.

For more organizing tips, visit www.NAPOMichigan.com.

Article submitted by Chapter member, Susan Carmody. Owner, www.perfectlyplaced.net.

Three Tips on How to Organize a Bathroom Drawer

Cindy Greenleaf — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 14:37:41 GMT

When your Mom stays over, she seems to throw all her and Dad's stuff into the guest bathroom drawer. Your Dad finds it difficult to identify his things in the guest bathroom versus your mother’s things.

So, you try to think of ways that you can assist your parents during their stay at your home.

One way you can help them be organized is to make the space guests share organized BEFORE they arrive.

The big question is: How do you organize a bathroom drawer for multiple people?

NAPO Michigan would like to share some tips on how to organize a bathroom drawer.

Here are three tips on how to organize a bathroom drawer.

1. Insert interlocking drawer organizers

The interlocking drawer organizers assist in creating areas for various items in the drawer. You can pick these up at dollar stores, Walmart, and other retail stores. For adjustable drawer dividers, the Container Store has customize-able solutions.

2. Separate and Label each bin for each person

Creating areas for each person’s stuff allows everyone to easily identify where things are located and where to put things back after each use. For regular visitors, label their bin or drawer so they know where to put their stuff. Finding their stuff will be much easier.

3. Create a cleanup schedule

Creating a cleanup schedule ensures that after each person finishes grooming, their items are expected to be organized immediately following their use and the space will be clean, so the next person can use the space with ease. Ensuring everyone knows the expectation for picking up after themselves will make for a more pleasant home life for everyone.

Organizing your bathroom drawer is easier than you think!

For more organizing tips, visit www.NAPOMichigan.com. You’ll find other informative articles under the BLOG tab.

Article submitted by Chapter member L. Patterson.

January is Get Organized month! Register for a FREE event to get tips, tricks and strategies on how to Get Organized in the New Year!

Cindy Greenleaf — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 16:53:26 GMT

January is National Get Organized Month! Or as Professional Organizers call it "GO Month."

Real Simple magazine readers list Getting Organized as their #1 New Years resolution.

If Getting Organized is a goal of yours, have we got an event for you!

NAPO Michigan Chapter Members and Professional Organizers Donna Lindley from Organize Your World, Terri Closs from As You Wish Organizing, and Kari Grady from Need To Organize, will help you learn how to tidy up, downsize, and get organized in the New Year.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Registration is required and begins December 8 for Bloomfield Township residents.

Nonresidents may sign up beginning January 1, should room still be available.

To register, go to the Bloomfield Township Library website:

http://bit.ly/2o49dN7

Cross Clutter Off the List

Cindy Greenleaf — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 18:59:39 GMT

The following post is a very timely and personal story from a Chapter member.

The holiday season is here and as the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”.

We stock up on new holiday decor, new party attire and start buying gifts for those on our list. Products are marketed to us as the absolute “must” of the season or “best price ever”. Black Friday and Cyber Monday can cause anxiety and fear, if we miss the mark. All this can lead us to buying lots of extras for the wrong reasons.

I am not talking about the well-thought-out purchase of items for us or family members.

I am talking about those last-minute decisions we put in our basket to fill a void, even up the gift count or make the holidays even merrier. Those little finds we convince ourselves we or someone else needs.

I am a gift buyer. Give me a theme for a gift and I am off to the races. Unfortunately, my buying and overbuying makes me guilty of leaving traces of clutter in other people’s lives. Many years ago when my oldest daughter and I were cleaning out her room, I was surprised she was willing to donate all these turtle trinkets I had given her. She liked turtles, we had a turtle tank and therefore, I bought turtle stuff as gifts…for years! When I questioned why she wanted to give it all away, she told me “mom, I like turtles, just not turtle stuff”.

Ouch! But I was glad she felt comfortable enough to tell me the truth. I have had the same types of gifts given to me, but mine all were cat themed. For many years, our family bought stocking stuffers for one another. Inevitably each year, I received a note pad with a cat on it. I would smile and be thankful and when I got home I put it in the drawer with prior years’ note pads…all with cats on them.

Can anybody relate to this?

As Professional Organizers, many of us see the gifts our clients receive. In some cases, we help them deal with where to put the gift, how to store the gift, help them decide if the gift has out lived it’s use and help them deal with the guilt of not wanting it anymore.

Since my children are young adults, I am trying to figure out how to fulfill my desire to give to them, without over giving, filling a void, or thinking they will be happier with more. I do give gifts of need, adventure and grocery-type items that help their pocket book.

I have never believed that gifts need to be kept forever. Gifts don’t have to be purchased to let someone know you love them or are thinking of them. Gifts of time and service are most valuable. I don’t want my family to have to deal with too much stuff because I happen to over buy for them.

I write this partially as my own retail therapy. My husband and I spent this past weekend on a road trip. We stopped and did a little shopping along the way. My oldest daughter said she would like a new flannel shirt for Christmas. I ordered the black and red buffalo plaid.

While in line at Bed, Bath and Beyond, I saw a black and red buffalo plaid hot pad…and in another store, the matching coffee mug. My husband politely reminded me that she just asked for the shirt. Rats! He is so right. She has coffee mugs and hot pads. I know she would think it is cute to get her matching pieces…. but it’s not like she is going to cook in her shirt and use the matching hot pad while sipping hot cocoa.

I am happy he stopped me.

No matter how you celebrate your holidays, take a few minutes to check that list and keep unnecessary clutter off of it.

The following was written by Leigh MacReady, President of NAPO Michigan and owner of Re-Nest LLC.

My Conference Experience

Cindy Greenleaf — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 14:34:53 GMT

I’m just back from NAPO’s 2017 Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, and my head is teeming with information and ideas that I’m eager to digest and integrate into my business operations and the work I do with my clients!

But rather than share a laundry list of the tips, tools, products and strategies that I picked up at conference – which would be a long list – I’m going to share some reflections that attempt to sum up my overall conference experience. I’m choosing this angle for this article because I want to emphasize the value of “the conference experience” itself.

For me, the highlight of conference is connecting with fellow organizers. Gathering together in community with peers from around the globe is unbelievably affirming ~ making me feel deep and renewed pride in my profession and reminding me of the high value of my services. Reconnecting with old pals and meeting new friends at conference gets me incredibly jazzed and refuels my tank with ideas and energy for the year ahead.

Here I am (center, front) in Pittsburgh with members of our fabulous NAPO Michigan chapter, from left: Linda Fuzi, Susan Hunsberger, Jo Golda, Kari Grady, Leigh MacCready, Sue Elder, Susie Marsh

I’m not a natural networker, but somehow, at conference, the connections seem to arise organically ~ in the elevators, standing in line for coffee, sitting in a session ~ and the conversations that result invariably yield fun and rewarding outcomes. This year at conference I had the opportunity to spend time with four women who I’ve spent the past 2.5 years with on the phone as students in an organizer-coach training program. It was incredibly special to finally “meet” these friends in person and to deepen our personal and professional bonds. Here we are one morning at conference, out for a walk in Pittsburgh.

Here I am (second from right) out for a walk with organizer friends in Pittsburgh

The second most valuable part of conference for me is the opportunity it not just provides – but begs! – for stepping back to consider the big picture. Too regularly in my day-to-day life, I fall into comfortable routines and patterns, failing to make the space and time for looking at my larger goals and dreams. Conference is a fabulous antidote for this. Conference exposes you to speakers who share stories and ask questions that tug at heartstrings and get the stuck wheels of your brain turning again! For me the big takeaway this year – the thing that I am most excited to spend time exploring and working on (both personally, and with my clients) – is writing a personal/professional vision. I’m intrigued and excited by the potential power of the visioning process.

The third most valuable part of conference for me is learning about specific challenges our clients face and how we can better support them through these challenges. Returning home with new awareness, deeper understanding, and actionable strategies that I can immediately put into practice with my clients is a hugely rewarding part of the conference experience. This year, for example, I gleaned information that will help me in my work with clients who have ADHD, clients who procrastinate, clients who tell themselves little lies related to their disorganization, grieving clients, families of deceased clients, and clients seeking to enhance their productivity via technology.

For any organizers reading this who haven’t been to conference, I encourage you to consider attending next year. It can be expensive, yes, and it can be scary to venture into the unknown, but in my experience, it’s an unparalleled growth opportunity not to be missed.

This was written by Nia Spongberg, CPO®, Chapter Member. Her business is Spruced Up Spaces LLC.

Can Your Car Fit In Your Garage?

Cindy Greenleaf — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 16:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that 25 percent of people with two-car garages don’t park any cars in their garages.

If your garage holds everything but your car OR you can never find an item in the garage when you need it, spring is the perfect time to organize your garage.

The National Association of Professional Organizers, Southeast Michigan Chapter (NAPO-MI) want to share their top ten list on organizing your garage.

1. Think about what activities happen in or near your garage.

2. Plan task-specific zones in the garage accordingly. Store related items in each zone.

3. Hang shelves on walls to free up floor space.

4. Use a plastic shoe box to store similar items and parts for each power tool stored in garage. Be sure to label it. Store on shelves.

5. Make use of corners by placing a triangular shelfing unit or gardening tool caddy.

6. Hang pegboard to keep hand tools, hoses and extension cords visible.

7. Use vertical space whenever possible. Use tall shelving units with adjustable shelves to increase storage capacity. Rafter space is often overlooked for storage in garages.

8. Hang L- or U-shaped utility hooks at top of wall studs to hang seasonal items like ladders and seed spreaders.

9. Keep toxic substances like pesticides behind locked doors so they are out of reach of children and pets.

10. Keep a fire extinguisher and First Aid kit handy for any emergencies to save precious time, when needed.

Once you’ve gotten organized, “remember one simple rule: ‘Whatever you get out ~ you have to put away’. This not only applies to parking the vehicles in the same place every day, but it also applies to bikes, sports equipment, yard tools and machinery,” said Kathy Tucker, Chapter member. She can be reached at www.finallyorganizedmich.com.

Organizing your garage is much easier than you think! For more organizing tips, visit www.NAPOMichigan.com.

Article submitted by Cindy Greenleaf, Chapter member, and Chief Organizing Officer of New Leaf Organizing LLC.

Maximize hanging space in your closet economically!

Cindy Greenleaf — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 22:00:00 GMT

Even after you have gotten rid of all the clothes in your closet that don’t fit you, have holes in them or you simply don’t like them anymore, your remaining clothes are still jammed tight on the closet rod.

The National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan wants to share a tip on

how to make the most of your closet rod space at little cost!

Often when we hang clothes in our closet, we tend to hang them horizontally and forget about all the vertical space that is available as well. When hanging blouses, shirts, pants and skirts, the space below these items is wasted when the clothes are hung horizontally. Hanging clothes vertically maximizes on the rod space available and allows you to easily see what is in your closet.

An inexpensive way to gain rod space and achieve vertical hanging is as follows – use pop can pull tab or shower curtain rings to attach the coat hangers together in a vertical chain.

You’ll need to detach the pop can tabs from empty pop cans until you get what you need. Give them a quick rinse, if needed, because you’ll want them to be clean. Or hit the Dollar store to pick up the shower curtain rings, either metal or plastic. Make sure you know how many you’ll need before you go shopping.

Simply put the pop can pull tab or shower curtain ring through the hook of the coat hanger and layer the clothes vertical. This is a great way to keep like with like and allows you to see very clearly what is in your closet while maximizing the space you have available.

Article submitted by Chapter member, Soo Porter, Professional Organizer and Founder of Y our Cluttered Space.com.

Where Do the Pots, Lids and Pans Go? THREE TIPS TO ORGANIZE YOUR KITCHEN CABINET.

Cindy Greenleaf — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 21:02:35 GMT

Every time Mom, Dad, and Uncle or Aunt come over, they seem to want to drop off an extra pot or pan. Over the years, you have collected so many pots and pans sets, your cabinet is full of stuff piled on top of stuff.

Now the question is, what are you going to do with all that stuff?

Be sure to sort and purge any pots and pans that do not get used or are duplicates. Keep only the ones you love, use and that are in great shape.

Once you've done that, let's get the remaining keepers organized.

NAPO Michigan would like to share some tips on how to organize the kitchen cabinet that holds your pots and pans.

Here are three great tips to help you get your pot and pan cabinet under control.

1. Separate pans from lids

Storing lids separately from the pots and pans can provide additional space.

2. Insert Storage Bars on Cabinet Door

If you attach some thin towel bars onto the inside of the cabinet door, you can store your lids there. Storing lids on the cabinet door can provide more room to place large amounts of pots and pans inside the cabinet. Make sure your cabinet door is sturdy enough to drill into. As an alternative, you can also buy lid racks that hang over the door for you non-DIYer’s and renters out there.

3. Put Items in a Rack

Putting a rack or divider into the cabinet can help sort the larger pots or pans from the smaller pots or pans. That way when you go into the cabinet, you can easily view and access the pot or pan you need.

Organizing your kitchen cabinet is easier than you think! For more organizing tips, visit www.NAPOMichigan.com

Article submitted by Chapter member L. Patterson, co-owner and Professional Organizer, Simple Places Organizing, LLC.

Leaving your Family’s Photographic Legacy

Cindy Greenleaf — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 15:33:41 GMT

Who gets the pictures? Who tells the Stories?

Every person has a story to tell. Every person should have a book to hold that tells how important they are, their history with pictures and stories of their life.

Have your heard the saying “It’s never urgent until it’s too late?” We encourage people to take the steps needed to preserve their pictures and tell their stories before it’s too late.

Our pictures, our story impacts the lives of others; the people who care about us; our children, our family and future generations. There is a window of opportunity to get this done. This window is before we get ready to move into a retirement facility; definitely before we start needing assistance from others.

We assisted two families in creating their family history books; both almost missed that window of opportunity.

One person developed Dementia during the process, which led to Alzheimer’s. She started exhibiting signs of memory loss when we were working to identify the people and to record the stories of her life.

The other, a gentleman, who lived to see his book completed, died just three weeks later from advanced stage Parkinson’s.

Getting started means creating a plan to guide you through the process.

Start now and allow time.

A collection of pictures and stories that spans several generations will take time to assess and curate (organize and digitize). A collection may include both printed and digital photos, photo albums, framed photos, photo books, movies and more.

Create a Vision and a Plan

Envision completion. A Photo Organizer will assist you in all phases of planning and completing a Legacy photo book, a slide show, celebration poster boards, and digital storage systems that will allow you to keep your memories while eliminating the clutter.

Involve Your Family

Who wants your photos? Many families decide to create a photo book with copies for each of their children and grandchildren as a gift to celebrate milestone events – a Wedding Anniversary, retirement or a significant birthday.

Keep the Memories, Not the Clutter

A DVD can be created of your BEST photos. Celebration of life posters, canvas prints, and important photos framed can become your wall art for you to share and for everyone to see. Photos taken of your collections and significant treasured possessions can be incorporated.

Hire a Professional

A Professional Organizer brings energy, is not overwhelmed, is objective and can assist you in making decisions about each picture, memorabilia and the telling of your story. Create a budget to complete your project. If you have a 50 year collection of photos and accompanying items, it will take time consisting of several stages of work for a Photo Organizer to complete your project.

After giving a presentation at a local retirement facility, a woman approached us saying that she wanted to have a legacy photo book completed of her most important pictures, stories and her family treasures. She was widowed, did not have children to leave her pictures and stories to but wanted to complete it for herself and her family. We took pictures of her significant family treasures and featured both the pictures and stories in her book.

Would you like to tell your story and leave your legacy for your children, grandchildren and future generations? You will not regret getting started today.

This could be the most important gift that you can give your family.

“Photos will only keep your memories alive when they have

been arranged so that you can enjoy them whenever you like.”

Filing Fairies

Marianne Behler of Lifetime Photo Solutions is a Corporate Associate Member of NAPO Michigan.

Organizing for a Successful Garage Sale!

Cindy Greenleaf — Sun, 01 May 2016 18:40:28 GMT

Do you have excess inventory? We all have some. When things are piling up and taking too much real estate in your home, why not give a garage sale a try? It can be a great way to clear the clutter and make some cash too!

The National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan wants to share some tips on organizing a garage sale:

1. Make sure you have enough inventory. What we mean by that is – have enough stuff that makes it worthwhile to stop at your sale. Many times, people just slowly drive by looking for specific items. Baby accessories, children’s items, sporting goods, home décor, small furniture, collectibles and clothes are all in-demand items. Make sure everything is in good shape, otherwise donate or toss.

2. Choose a date. Springtime sales are the most successful. Generally Thursday is the best day followed by Saturday. If you are lucky enough to have a subdivision-wide garage sale, usually you do not need to advertise. Otherwise, put an ad in the paper or post on social media to attract people to your sale. Balloons are a great and inexpensive way to showcase your house.

3. Merchandise your items. Set up enough tables so that your customers can see everything. If you are selling clothes, try to keep them hanging on a line or rack or fold nicely like in the stores. It helps to bring larger items out in the driveway and have a good flow between your tables so people can browse.

4. Price your items to sell. That’s the main objective here. Remember these are things that are just taking up space and causing you stress!

5. Donate anything that doesn’t sell. If you got it out of the house, it certainly shouldn’t go back in. Either drive to a donation location or call for a pick up from Purple Heart or another charity of your choice.

Good luck with your sale and pray for good weather!

Organizing your garage sale is easier than you think!

For more organizing tips, check out our Blog at NAPOMichigan.com.

Article submitted by Chapter member, Susan Carmody, Professional Organizer and Owner of PerfectlyPlaced.net.

The ABC'S of Photo Organizing

Cindy Greenleaf — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 16:47:57 GMT

Whether organizing printed or digital photos, the first steps we take begins with the basics.

Developed by Cathi Nelson, founder of the Association of Personal Photo Organizers (APPO), the ABC’S allows you to work with and teach clients a path to start organizing their photos and memorabilia.

A lifelong photo collection might need to be sorted and resorted several times to be ready for the next step.

Once people start talking about their pictures and the stories behind them, the organizing becomes almost a bi-product of the process.

The ABC’S

One picture at a time, we apply the ABC’S to each picture.

1. A - Album

Does this picture belong in a photo album? - It’s the BEST!

It will always be cherished.

2. B - Box or Back-up

Good pictures, let’s organize them, protect them in archival storage boxes.

Let’s scan them and back them up properly.

3. C - Can - Trash can that is

It’s blurry, it’s a dud, its the upteenth picture of Aunt Mary. Trash it!

4. S - Story

It has a story behind it that needs to be told.

Write a note on a sticky, attach it to the back of the photo to note the story.

Why do people take pictures?

“There have been great societies that did not use the wheel but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.” Ursula Le Guin

A photo collection might contain a picture like the one I decided to put into my forever photo collection. It’s an “ A” photo with a “S” story behind it.

It’s the picture of my baptism dress, made by my Aunt Dorothy just after I was born from parachute silk my Dad brought home from WWII. I was baptized in it, as were both of my daughters. Kept in a bag in a closet, I washed and ironed it for my first granddaughter's dedication. A set of twins - two more baptisms and triplets were born into our family this year and now the little girls will wear it for their baptisms on Easter, 2016.

Organizing photos by applying the ABC’S will help you and your clients start your photo organizing project. No one imagines their precious pictures ending up in a mess in boxes or on a hard drive unable to be found.

Pictures are the first thing we want saved in a flood or a fire and last thing we give time to curate.

Take your first step.

Article submitted by NAPO Michigan Corporate Associate Member Marianne Behler, Certified Photo Organizer, Lifetime Photo Solutions; www.appo.org/member/Lifetime-Photo-Solutions

The Easiest Way to Declutter

Cindy Greenleaf — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 20:06:10 GMT

A big part of staying organized is not keeping things you don’t want. Unwanted items get in the way of those that are indeed wanted, burying them or taking up storage space.

We’ve all experienced the slow accumulation of unwanted items – or, more accurately, the slow transformation of wanted items into unwanted items: the clothes in the back of the closet, the dishes in the basement, the ancient credit card statement.

One very effective way to kick them out of your space is to dedicate several hours, or even days, to concentrated purging.

But you can also employ some “stealth purging" techniques that take less time and energy. For instance:

Place a disposable bag or box in your closet to collect items that, during the course of everyday life, you realize you no longer need. A full "donate bag" means it's time to take the whole thing to the donation center, and replace the container to start again.

When you're retrieving a supply (e.g, Advil, writing paper) and you have two minutes to spare, go through that box or drawer and hunt to collect and dispose of unneeded items.

Decluttering little by little keeps the momentum going without burnout, and builds the muscles that make it easier for us to notice clutter and to deal with it.

It won’t banish a lot of accumulation quickly, so if you’re dealing with rooms full of possibly unwanted items, it’s best to combine “stealth purging” with occasional dedicated purging sessions.

You’ll be on your way to a more streamlined space, and one that will stay that way.

Article submitted by Chapter Vice-President Molly Boren, CPO® at Simplicity Works Organizing Services.

There is help and hope for chronic disorganization.

Cindy Greenleaf — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 20:14:54 GMT

Do you have great difficulty or discomfort parting with things?

Do you struggle on a regular basis to manage your time?

Have you accumulated mass quantities of items such as documents, miscellaneous papers or possessions beyond apparent necessity or pleasure?

You could be struggling with chronic disorganization. The National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan want to inform you and provide you with the resources to help.

Chronic disorganization is not a disease or an illness. Chronic disorganization is a term coined by Judith Kolberg, an expert in ADD and chronic disorganization. She wrote the book Conquering Chronic Disorganization when she noticed a lack of resources for her clients that had great difficulty maintaining traditional organizing methods.

How is chronic disorganization defined? The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) defines chronic disorganization using the following three criteria:

1. Chronic disorganization is having a past history of disorganization in which self-help efforts to change have failed.

2. An undermining of your current quality of life due to disorganization.

3. An expectation of future disorganization.

Chronic disorganization is not to be confused with situational disorganization. An ICD Fact Sheet titled “Are you Situationally Disorganized?” shares with us that situational disorganization occurs when one finds oneself in clutter or chaos for a short period of time, resulting from an unusual turn of events or changes in your living arrangements such as moving, a death of a loved one, having a baby, or getting divorced.

Can you relate to the chronic disorganization criteria listed above or does someone you know come to mind?

If you, a family member, perhaps a friend or coworker is chronically disorganized, and it is not situational disorganization, first and foremost, be patient!

Chronic disorganization did not happen overnight. It is not resolved overnight. It takes time and energy to learn and practice new strategies to cope with being chronically disorganized.

Chronically disorganized individuals have been described to be highly intelligent, innovative, and creative.

Dealing with the disorganization however, can be difficult and frustrating. You don’t have to cope with it alone.

Working with a Professional Organizer and related professionals knowledgeable about chronic disorganization will assist in the progress. Related professionals who can provide support include life coaches, organizing coaches, social workers, therapists, counselors, psychiatrist, or psychologists.

Additionally, online programs, articles, and books, home study classes, and on-line or local support groups are available.

Recovering from chronic disorganization is possible!

For a directory of Professional Organizers in your area, or to learn more about chronic disorganization, please visit the following websites:

www.NAPOMichigan.com

www.NAPO.net.

www.challengingdisorganization.org.

Article submitted by Chapter member Mindy Fairbanks, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyfairbanks

Too Much Clutter?

Cindy Greenleaf — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 12:30:00 GMT

Overwhelmed...Embarrassed…Angry…Alone…Chaos…..Too much clutter around you?

As a professional organizer and social worker, I have seen, first-hand, the struggle people have in living with, and letting go of, their possessions. In cases where a large amount of items are impacting their daily functioning, hoarding disorder may be suspected. Their homes are filled with items they have collected over period of time. Those items may have little value but can be mixed in with items of value such as, photos, memorabilia, antiques, etc.

They may have pathways through their homes that are difficult to move through. They may not be able to use their bathrooms, bedrooms or kitchen areas. There may be health and safety concerns (fire danger, lack of egress in emergency situations, etc.) They may have strained relationships with family and friends due to the hoarding behavior.

Working in hoarding situations as a Professional Organizer differs from typical chronic disorganization (chronic illness, ADD, etc.) or when situations causing disorganization challenges occur, such as death in the family, birth of a child, divorce, job loss, etc. In hoarding situations, environmental conditions and safety are the biggest concerns for me and my clients. Pests, rodents, mold, feces/urine, etc. have to be considered and personal protection equipment (PPE) must be worn in the cases that are extreme.

The person who is hoarding doesn’t usually see that there is a problem. Family, friends, neighbors, emergency responders and code enforcement officials tend to be the ones bringing these cases to light.

Providing these clients with support, understanding and resources in hoarding disorder is my primary role as the Professional Organizer. An assessment of the situation is done in the home with the client and/or family members.

A Plan of Action is developed. If the situation is more extreme, a team is used to complete the clean-out work. In less extreme cases, individual professional organizers do the hands-on work.

Since there is a lot of attachment to the things in the home, small sections at a time are worked on. The client is usually working side-by-side with the organizer to make decisions on the items.

Items are sorted into categories such as Donate, Keep, Important, Throw away, Recycle, Give to Others and Go to Another Place in Home. This is considered a rough sort. The Keep items, etc. are labeled and put into storage such as a garage, off-site storage, or another room in the home. The Important items are put in a safe location where the client can locate them easily.

Working with clients who have hoarding disorder can last for many months and even years. Counseling services with a mental health professional is required in conjunction with hands-on work with an organizer.

Many times the coordination between the organizer and therapist will help to support the client dealing with the emotions that come to the surface during the process of decluttering. Slower and steady decluttering and organizing is the preferred method of organizing as opposed to the fast clean outs.

Studies have shown the fast clean-outs don’t usually lead to behavior changes but rather the hoarding of the spaces continues. Intervention with resources such as mental health professionals, Professional Organizers, interested family members and friends can make all the difference in whether success or failure occurs.

The key to successful intervention is in the approach taken when discussing the situation. Being respectful, non-confrontational, non-judgmental, supportive and factual tends to be the most successful. This can be difficult for family and friends who may have been dealing with the hoarding behavior for years and don’t understand the disorder.

Education is key to understanding and dealing with this complicated disorder.

To learn more about hoarding disorder and the role of professional organizers, visit these websites:

challengingdisorganization.org (Institute for Challenging Disorganization)

NAPO.net (National Assoc. of Professional Organizers)

NAPOMichigan.com (Michigan Chapter of NAPO)

www.childrenofhoarders.com (Children of Hoarders)

Article submitted by Chapter Member Susie Marsh, LBSW, Professional Organizer and owner of Susie’s Organization Solutions, LLC.

Your kids say NO THANKS to your stuff. Now what?

Cindy Greenleaf — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 20:07:55 GMT

There is a shift happening. A generation ago, bridal registries were filled with china and crystal options, but not these days. Professional organizers helping people downsize continually hear “Our kids don’t want our stuff. What do we do with it all?”

If you’d prefer to make some money versus donating items to a non-profit, then you need to know how to price and sell it.

Sellers usually want as much as they can get for an item, just as buyers want to pay as little as possible. Ask yourself what it is worth to you. Do you want $50 or $250 for your china? For price ideas, visit consignment, pawn and antique shops and look for same or similar items.

You should start getting a feel for what the current retail price is…then subtract from that figure. Subtract because unless you have a very rare or in demand item, chances are slim you will get the retail price. Subtract because you want to attract dealers, who pay rent and insurance, and buy for profit.

EBay.com will show completed sale prices. After searching for the type of item you want to sell, on the left side there are many more categories to refine your search. One of them is entitled SHOW ONLY with boxes below. Check the “Completed Listings” and “Sold Listings” boxes and search again. This can also help in pricing as it indicates what items have actually sold for and the amount of bidding activity shows an items popularity.

If you feel you have an item of considerable value or have many items, it may be wise to hire an appraiser. Check with the International Society of Appraisers for a certified appraiser in your area.

There are a wide variety of ways to sell your item(s).

If you have lots of items to sell, consider having your own sale. Ask friends and family to help and give them a percentage, or hire a professional organizer to help you put a sale together.

If you have a house full of items, an estate sale company might be a better fit. They will come to the house to evaluate whether there is enough value to merit them doing a sale. They usually set up, price, advertise, tear down, work the sale and take the balance to donation.

Consignment shops are another way to show and sell your items for a commission. Look for ones that are well-established, advertise and appear to get good traffic. Larger pieces often require you to get on a waiting list.

Single items do best on Craigslist, local Facebook garage sale sights, eBay and Maxsold.com, another online auction site similar to eBay. If you are not savvy with these sights, ask around for help or check with an organizer. Many know how to use technology to move goods. Be sure to read up on precautions regarding meeting with people through Craigslist or others means.

The desire to downsize is growing as the baby boomers age. The used-goods market will swell as the next generation passes on what their parents have to offer. So is it really worth holding onto when only great-great-grandchildren may see it return to its’ glory days?

Remember, you can’t take it with you.

Article submitted by Chapter Member Leigh MacCready, Professional Organizer and owner of Re-Nest, LLC.

Book Review of THE POWER OF HABIT by Charles Duhigg

Cindy Greenleaf — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 21:00:25 GMT

I recently read the book The Power of Habit (Random House, 2012) by Charles Duhigg. I found this book to be incredibly engaging, well-researched, and the bearer of an inspiring message: any habit can be changed if we understand how it works. I highly recommend this book!

The Power of Habit is helping me to look at the organizing work that my clients and I do together from a new and compelling perspective. It’s also giving me fresh ideas for how to support clients in making and sustaining the changes (i.e. changing the organizing habits) that they’re committed to.

There are many excellent summaries and reviews of The Power of Habit on the internet, so I am not going to pen a lengthy review. If you wish to read one of those, I might suggest:

http://verbatimstudies.com/wp/the-power-of-habit-part-1/

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12609433-the-power-of-habit

http://www.theemotionmachine.com/habit-loops

Charles Duhigg also has a good video on his website which explains habits, and a nice diagram summarizing how to break (change) habits.

What follows, then, is a list of my main takeaways from the book. Perhaps something here will catch your interest and lead you to explore the book yourself.

· Habits are directly affected by our neurobiology. As a routine becomes more familiar – the more and more we perform an action – our brain doesn’t have to work as hard and it gradually learns how to execute the routine ‘automatically’.

Habits work because of a feedback loop which was discovered by scientists at MIT. The loop is made up of 3 parts:

The CUE (the trigger which tells your brain to go into automatic mode)
The ROUTINE (the action you take because your brain tells you to)

The REWARD (the positive outcome that happens as a result of the Routine; this is what helps your brain figure out that this loop is worth remembering)

With repetition over time, the Cue and the Reward eventually become intertwined and combine to create a powerful sense of ANTICIPATION and CRAVING. It is the Craving which makes a habit so powerful.

· Research shows that if we learn the structure of the habit loop we can come to understand, anticipate, control, and ultimately change the habit.

You can never fully extinguish an old habit. You can only change a habit.

You change a habit by developing an awareness of the Craving – recognizing it when it’s coming on, recognizing the power it has over you. Once you’re able to recognize the Craving, you then then learn to replace the old Routine with a new Routine. You keep the same Cue and Reward in place, you ‘simply’ insert a new Routine.

The change formula described above must be accompanied by a genuine Belief that change is possible. Without belief in one’s potential, failure is almost certain.

Mental toughness (willpower) isn’t just a learnable skill, it’s a “muscle” and as you exercise it more and more it gets stronger. It allows you to regulate your impulses and distract yourself away from temptations. Writing down one’s goals is a powerful way to strength willpower.

Small wins often fuel transformative changes. Instead of trying to change lots of habits all at once, pick one and master it. Then move on to the next. You will be stronger and more prepared this way for the next change.

This review represents the opinion of the author and is not the opinion of NAPO or NAPO Michigan.

Article submitted by Nia Spongberg, Certified Professional Organizer®. Nia is our NAPO Southeast Michigan Director of Communications & Technology and the owner of Spruced Up Spaces, LLC in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Sometimes Staying Organized is Just a Bunch of Talk

Cindy Greenleaf — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:46:46 GMT

There’s one essential part of staying organized that doesn’t require you to lift a finger. No sorting through boxes, no printing labels – this step requires only talking.

But sometimes it’s the simple things that don’t get done. When you share a living- or workspace with someone else, it’s essential that you talk about where different categories of items will live in that space. (And if you live or work alone, this might be a silent, but just as important, exercise – though you should feel free to talk it out aloud too!)

If your partner or colleague doesn’t know where you keep the stapler, he or she will be doomed to a staple-less existence…or you will be doomed to always being the one who puts it away and finds it again. Taking the 60 seconds to talk about which drawer it goes to can save much more time that would otherwise be lost to frustration or clutter-clearing.

A family brainstorming session about where to store a new glass measuring cup might go like this: The low cabinet with the plastic bowls? Too likely to be grabbed by the toddler. The drawer with the smaller measuring cups? Not enough room. The high cabinet with the hand mixer? We have a deal!

We at NAPO-SE Michigan think these conversations tend to be skipped because people assume they’re too basic, too easy to warrant the time and attention. But when you’ve seen as many clutter-filled surfaces as we have as professional organizers, you know: much of that clutter’s root cause is simple ignorance about where to put the items after using them. And that clutter becomes the root of tension, unhappiness, and lost keys and even cash!

So it’s worth the investment of your time: your space and well-being are worth it.

This article was written by Molly Boren, Chapter Vice-President, a Certified Professional Organizer® and owner of Simplicity Works Organizing Services for the home and office.

"Clutter Busters" Support Group for Seniors

Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:50:07 GMT

NAPO Southeast Michigan wants to help bring awareness to an upcoming 8-week therapy group for older adults. This support group ~ held at the University of Michigan Turner Senior Resource Center in Ann Arbor ~ is for those who are experiencing depression, anxiety or adjustment issues related to handling clutter. This group is intended to help participants:

Understand why we keep things and readiness for change
Learn ways to cope with letting go of belongings
Practice strategies for decreasing clutter & organizing belongings

This group will meet Thursday mornings from 10am-Noon from Sept 24 - Nov 12., 2015. Please call Mary Rumman, LMSW, at the University of Michigan Turner Senior Resource Center for more information or to register, (734) 764-2556.

You may also wish to download or print this flyer: Clutter Busters Flyer.pdf

Highlighted Organizing Product: Heavy-Duty Wire Shelving Units

Cindy Greenleaf — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 13:40:18 GMT

These shelving units are a tried-and-true, cost-effective way to take advantage of vertical space and store many different items in a home or business. As professional organizers, we routinely recommend these shelves to clients for many reasons:

• They maximize use of vertical space in a way that few other solutions can with so little work and cost;

• They are very strong and durable;

• The shelves are height-adjustable, so they can be positioned at intervals which make sense for the dimensions of the items you’re storing;

• The shelves can be stationary or mobile, depending on your situation (locking wheels are often included, if not you can purchase wheels separately)

• Some units come with plastic shelf liners so small items won’t fall through the bars (if not included, these liners can often be purchased separately);

• The metal bars are trim, which means they don’t impede access to shelf contents, and they let light through which makes it easier to see everything;

• They can be put together relatively quickly and easily (around 20 minutes), and require no tools (although having a rubber mallet can be handy);

• They are competitively priced (around $90-100) for the value they deliver;

• The standard 18 x 48 x 72 unit can be purchased locally at stores like Costco or Sam’s Club or Lowe’s, so it’s easy to pick one up on short notice;

• They are available in any number of dimensions from stores like Target and companies like ULINE and Global Industrial, allowing them to fit in almost any space or hold items of unusual sizes.

Building these shelves requires a bit of physical strength and dexterity. It’s usually easiest for two people to build the unit together. After you’ve built one, you get the hang of it and you become quicker at building subsequent shelves. One final word of advice: when you get back from the store, rather than hauling the heavy box into your home or office and then unpacking the pieces, we recommend opening the box right in your vehicle and carrying the individual pieces inside to the location where you will be building and using the shelf; it’s much easier on your back this way.

This Product Review was submitted by Chapter Director of Communication and Technology, Nia Spongberg, who is a Certified Professional Organizer® and owner at Spruced Up Spaces, LLC.

Strategies for Organizing Sports Equipment

Thu, 28 May 2015 10:58:54 GMT

Sports Equipment can become a frustrating, jumbled mess if you don’t have a good strategy and system for keeping it organized. This can translate into big headaches when you’re scrambling to get the kids out the door to soccer practice or rushing to make your tee time. What follows are four key considerations and associated suggestions for helping keep all your gear and accessories in order so you can enjoy your athletic pursuits to the fullest.

(1) Pick A Zone

Begin by identifying and designating one zone – such as a corner of your garage, or a closet in your entryway – that will serve as the storage area for all of your sports equipment. Ideally this zone will be easily accessible in order to facilitate easy-come, easy-go use.

(2) Sort Into Categories

Next, walk around your entire home and gather up every single piece of sports equipment you own. Bring all of it to your new storage zone. Now, sort the items into the following six categories. As you sort, be sure to get rid of any equipment which is damaged or unsafe to use, or which is no longer relevant (your kids have outgrown it, you no longer play that sport, etc):

1. Long Things: bats, sticks, clubs, racquets, skis, sleds, fishing poles, etc.

2. Things That Go: balls, pucks, birdies, darts, kites, etc.

3. Protective Gear: baseball mitts, goggles, helmets, pads, mouth guards, etc.

4. Clothing: uniforms, hats, etc.

5. Footwear: cleats, rollerblades, skates, ski boots, etc.

6. Accessories: bike pumps, water bottles, fishing tackle, golf cart batteries, scuba tanks, etc.

(3) Add Structure

Now, take a close look at what you’re keeping. Take time to thoughtfully envision how much space each category will require in your storage zone, and how the categories might be optimally arranged within the space. Also consider the specific type of storage (within in a bin or basket? resting on a shelf? hanging on the wall?) that’s best suited for each category. If you don’t already have appropriate storage structures in place, now is the time to obtain and install them. Below are some storage systems I like, as well as specific strategies for each category.

Storage Systems We Like for Sports Equipment

1. Chrome shelving unit with pull-out bins, from Frontgate: http://www.frontgate.com/chrome-finished-sports-shelving/157335?listIndex=0&redirect=y

2. Free-standing 4-bike rack: http://deltacycle.com/free-standing-4-bike-storage-rack?search=rack

3. Elfa products for sports gear, from The Container Store:

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/garage/sportsEquipment

Specific Storage Strategies for Each Category

Long Things: Store upright in an empty garbage can or other stable barrel/bin/container; hang them from hooks on a wall/pegboard; lay them flat on a shelf; lay them flat in a saddle/cradle suspended from the ceiling.

Things That Go: Store in a see-through wire basket of appropriate size (make sure the balls aren’t smaller than the mesh openings of the basket) or in open-front, stacking crates/cubbies. For larger balls like soccer, basketball, and footballs, mount on the wall in a Ball Claw -http://www.ballclaw.de/en/products/ball-claw

Protective Gear: Store in clear, plastic, latch-top totes (to help keep dust at bay), or in bins/baskets on shelves.

Clothing: Store in clear, plastic, latch-top totes (to help keep dust at bay), or in bins/baskets on shelves.

Footwear: Store directly on shelves, or in open-front, stacking crates/cubbies.

Accessories: Because accessories are so numerous and varied, it’s not possible to provide a generalized storage recommendation. Instead, let the physical attributes of each item (size, shape, weight, etc) serve as clues to help you find the best storage solution.

(4) Be A Good Steward

Things don’t stay organized on their own or simply because you have good storage structure; people keep things organized. So you will need to devote a bit of time and energy to tidying up your sports equipment zone on some regular basis. We suggest doing it four times a year with the changing of each season and corresponding change of sports. We also suggest an annual “deep-clean” where you review all your equipment, purge items that are no longer relevant, give the space a thorough cleaning, and re-organize things that have gotten out of order.

Summary

Keeping your sports equipment organized involves many of the same organizing principles that apply elsewhere in your home or office.

· First, assign a home to every item;

· Store like items together;

· Keep things off the floor by making optimal use of vertical (wall) space;

· Make sure everyone who uses the space knows where and how things are stored (labeling can really help facilitate this); and

· Use clear/see-through containers that make it easy to see items and return them to their homes.

For further inspiration, you may wish to do a web search or a search within Pinterest with keywords such as “sports equipment storage”.

Written by NAPO Michigan Chapter member Nia Spongberg of Spruced Up Spaces, LLC.

NAPO-MI Volunteer Work Day at KADIMA

Fri, 10 Apr 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Michigan Organizers Help Lift Spirits

Press Release March 31, 2015

Members of the Southeast Michigan Chapter of National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO-MI) regularly give back to their community by volunteering to organize the spaces of a local non-profit organization. On April 10, 2015, NAPO-MI members will participate in a project to support Kadima, a Southfield-based nonprofit that serves individuals in Oakland County who have chronic and persistent mental illness.

The Kadima staff does a tremendous job serving their community, which leaves them very little time to optimize their working environment. NAPO-MI members will help to organize Kadima’s Lois and Milton Y. Zussman Activity Center that provides daily activities such as psycho-educational classes, art lessons, craft projects, tutoring, outings, volunteer service projects, music, and more. The Center offers Kadima clients needed opportunities for social, recreational and peer interactions.

On April 10th, members of NAPO-MI will step up to help organize their space by decluttering and optimizing storage of arts and crafts supplies, games and exercise equipment, closets and common areas, laundry and kitchen supplies, and staff offices. Kadima is purchasing organizing equipment at cost and members of NAPO-MI are donating their services and supplies for the event, which will take place from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at Kadima’s Lois and Milton Y. Zussman Activity Center, 15999 West Twelve Mile Road, Southfield MI 48076.

The National Association of Professional Organizers was established in 1985 and now boasts over 4,000 members in the U.S. and 23 other countries. The Southeast Michigan chapter,http://www.napomichigan.com, came into being in 2003, and currently has 35 professional organizers and 6 associate members in related industries.

Kadima is a non-profit social service agency that provides services to individuals diagnosed with chronic and persistent mental illness and support for their families. Services include outpatient therapy, case management, residential options, transportation and social activities. Kadima is committed to provide community education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families affected by psychiatric disabilities and to reduce the stigma so often associated with mental illness. Learn more at http://www.kadimacenter.org.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

NOTE: This volunteer work day is open to NAPO Southeast Michigan Chapter Members only; no visitors, please. Members: if you would like to volunteer at Kadima and have not already signed up, please contact: mgsobo@gmail.com.

Smartphone Alarms + Thematic Music = Less Nagging

Sun, 22 Mar 2015 19:00:00 GMT

Do you look up at the clock in the morning and realize that, yes, your family is behind schedule, again?

Do you have a hard time remembering to stop to eat lunch, leave for the day, or floss your teeth? Consider enlisting your smartphone for help! Set thematic songs as alarm ringtones for critical or forgettable parts of your routines.

Songs catch our attention more than clocks or even timers, and are easily recognized by kids too young to read a clock. Start by picking one or two trouble spots. These might be transitions, like waking or leaving for school, or good habits you want to cultivate, like consistently eating lunch or cleaning your desk before stopping for the day.

This playlist can get you started: http://proforganizer.com/about/routinesplaylist

Add more songs as necessary to support your family’s daily routine. With small kids, songs every 5-10 minutes throughout morning routine and bedtime routine makes it easier to be firm and consistent, improves everyone’s ability to estimate time, and replaces nagging with dancing!

It might take some experimenting to find out which times work best for each step, and which steps need to be added. Ask the kids which songs would keep them on track, and what they want a reminder about! Challenge the kids to “beat the pajama song.”

Every few months, delete any alarms that you regularly ignore, adjust the times of others if needed, and add new songs to keep things fresh and relevant.

And be sure to listen to Kate Carpenter’s song “Orderly and Organized.” If professional organizers had a theme song, this might be it! The link is: http://www.broadjam.com/player/player.php?mediaID=572528.

~ ~ ~

This article was written and contributed by NAPO Southeast Michigan chapter member Melanie Sobocinski of Prof Organizer LLC.

Michigan Organizers Don't Fool Around!

Sun, 22 Mar 2015 18:00:00 GMT

Members of the Southeast Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers will give back to their community by volunteering to organize the offices and storage areas of a local non-profit organization, Habitat for Humanity Detroit.

Habitat for Humanity Detroit helps build affordable homes for working families and eliminates poverty housing. The Habitat staff does a tremendous job serving their community which leaves them very little time to organize their working environment.

On April 1^st, 2014, there will be “No Fooling Around” as members of NAPO Southeast Michigan will step up to organize their space by decluttering work areas including desktops, desk drawers, and file cabinets. Storage areas for several areas will also be revamped, if time permits. Members of NAPO Southeast Michigan are donating their services and supplies for the event which will take place from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Habitat Offices located at 14325 Jane Street in Detroit.

Organizing Tips for a Caregiver

Sun, 22 Mar 2015 17:00:00 GMT

As a caregiver, it is a constant challenge to keep balanced and organized. Of course, the best way to get organized is to have a plan of action BEFORE a crisis occurs.

However, if you become a caregiver unexpectedly, these lists and tips from the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers will help your family prioritize what needs to be done.

In either situation, involve your loved one as much as possible, carefully considering his or her input.

ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS

Medical: medical directives, DNRs, Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Wills, disability/health/dental/long term care/life insurance, contact information for all doctors, detailed information regarding prescriptions.

Personal: will, birth/marriage/divorce certificates, driver’s license, organ donation, military record, passport/visa, Durable Power of Attorney.

Financial: banking, deeds, loans and bills, investments.

Final wishes: regarding funeral arrangements/wake, music, passages to be read, officiate.

FAMILY MEETINGS / UPDATES

Share this opportunity with others to give back. Family members, friends, church family, etc. can do something to help Grandpa, or you (prepare a meal, laundry, errands.) Say “yes please!” to assistance – everyone will benefit.

Identify action items, and assign each task a level of importance. Set priorities first, taking care of less important details later.

Discuss what needs to be done, by whom, how often and for how long, how it will be paid for, and at what location.

Embrace the theme of simplification regarding physical space, schedules, obligations and responsibilities to make way for new and evolving circumstances.

COMFORT

Remember your personal needs. You will need to refuel, gain perspective, and work through any number of frustrations. Know your limits and respect them.

Lean on the healing power of relationships and emotional support. Family nights, outings, visits from friends, activities, phone calls, or conversation can take both your minds off illness temporarily.

Utilize online tools: from caregiver calendars, lists and charts to support groups.

Give everyone a generous learning curve, including you and the patient. Work hard to let go of perfection and hyper-vigilance in things that don’t really matter. What really matters in this chapter of your life, and perhaps the last chapter of your loved one, is love.

~ ~ ~

This article was written and contributed by NAPO Southeast Michigan chapter member Jennifer Asselin of Living Arrangements Professional Organizing.

You can still view our older blog entries on Blogspot!

Sun, 22 Mar 2015 16:00:00 GMT

With the launch of our new website, we are now hosting our blog right here (yup, you're reading it!) on our very own website. Until now, we'd used Blogspot to host our blog. For obvious reasons, we've decided not to spend time copying & pasting over our many, wonderful, older blog entries. But, we aren't saying goodbye to all those great posts either. Instead, we're keeping the old Blogspot venue alive!

So, you're welcome to view our older blog entries by visiting:

http://www.napomichigan.blogspot.com