As I went out to feed the birds today I sunk up to my knees in snow as I made my way to the bird feeder. And more snow is expected for the end of this week. I know this kind of weather makes some people have cabin fever.  Do you get cabin fever?

I was working with a woman who said her therapist told her to get organizing. He told her even if you don’t do any more than move one can to the other side of the shelf you have done something and that is a good thing. In my jargon as a professional organizer of homes I would say doing this is taking baby steps. If you are having cabin fever and want to get outside but can’t because of the weather and it is too early for Spring cleaning here are 8 tips on organizing your home.

Honestly this is the very hardest!!  Tips I have found that work for me: I have showed him how I want something to look and how I want it kept that way (like junk ‘resource’ drawers that he also uses all the time). I bought organizers for the drawer and organized it and asked him (a verbal contract) if he would help me keep it that way.  It worked. Now and again I do have to put things back in their right place in the drawer but that doesn’t bother me as it is a very simple and quick thing to do.

One thing I have noticed as a professional organizer of homes and offices is that most people hold onto magazines and catalogs way after they have ‘expired’; which creates clutter. It seems today everything has an expiration date, from food, medicines, children’s car seats, batteries to parts in cars. Expired magazines or catalogs are the ones that have been around for so long the articles are out of date, you didn’t even know you still had them so weren’t missing them and new catalogs have replaced the old ones. If you have received a new catalog and haven’t tossed the old ones, do it before the day is over.

When you think of clearing clutter does a closet, drawer or room come to mind? How about getting rid of the clutter in your medicine cabinet?  This could be as important as getting rid of clutter in other parts of the home; it could actually be a health issue.

Do you want a balance between perfection and imperfection when organizing? Here are some ideas on how to balance this in your life.

I was reading in the book "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff…and it's all small stuff" by Richard Carlson, PH.D. I have read the book before but not everything always sticks so I like to go back and reread as a refresher.  I set as my goal to read two to three chapters a night. They are so small each can be read in one to three minutes. 
 

It is a beautiful time of year as it is January and we have over 18 inches of snow in our yard.  Where we have shoveled it is about three feet high.  I have several bird feeders and I enjoy watching the birds feed when it is snowy or snowing.  They show up really well against the white background. They also seem so happy and there are so many of them.

A friend was talking about her precious memories of music in her life and shared a story of her father who had a beautiful tenor voice and every morning very early could be heard singing throughout the house or when he was outside all the neighbors could hear him because of his big booming voice.  Years later when he was in a nursing home and she would walk in to the building she knew it was a good day if she could hear him singing and not so good a day if she didn’t hear him singing.

Because I organize homes, give home organizing tips, and organize home offices I asked myself the question do I have any precious memories of organizing.

I worked for The Department of Services for People with Disabilities for ten years. I was a caseworker for people who were low functioning. There are many types of disabilities, mental as well as physical limitations. This can be a challenge for the parent or guardian when traveling at any time and during the holiday rush it can be an even bigger challenge. With preparation and organization those with disabilities can travel just as well as anyone else.  Here are some ideas and tips to make your holiday traveling easier and less stressful.

If you are traveling by plane with children I bet you are hoping they will behave and not throw any tantrums in the airport and will be the perfect angels you know they are. Here are some tips to help make traveling easier, happier and less stressful. Some of them are from The Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Do you cringe when you hear the word goal or New Year’s resolutions?  Or are you goal driven and you relish the thought of writing goals and crossing them off? I am one of the latter.  I write down what I am going to do during a day, if I do something that is not on my list I sometimes go back and write it down just so I can cross it off. And I know others who do the same thing. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment which is motivational.