How to Organize Your Kitchen Drawers

Are you tired of rummaging through your drawers? Usually certain items don't belong there, creating clutter and causing frustration. Cut back on the time and emotional energy it takes for you to find something by cleaning out your kitchen drawers.

PURGE – Clear out any items that don't belong in the kitchen drawers. Limit yourself to one junk drawer, and don't let the rest become a go-to place to put disorganized clutter that's on your countertop. Also, remove any items that you no longer use and place them in a box to be donated or sold.
CLEAN – After you've removed all the items from your drawers, wipe them out with a clean washcloth.
ORGANIZE – Categorize items by function before putting them back in drawers. Place cooking utensils near the stove, dish towels near the sink, and flatware between the dishwasher and table. Some drawers may need dividers or containers to streamline functionality and efficiency.
MAINTAIN - Make sure to always put back items in their correct space as soon as you're done using and cleaning them, and straighten them from time to time so they don't become jumbled and disorganized.

How to Organize Your Kitchen Countertops

Often one the first places clutter accumulates is the kitchen countertops, making the environment feel chaotic and unmanageable. Reclaim your space simply by organizing and finding new homes for items you rarely use. 

PURGE – Grab a trash can and recycling bin. You may also want to find some boxes in which you can drop items that don't belong in the kitchen, items you want to donate, and assorted papers you find. Start sorting items into these boxes until the countertops are clear from clutter.
CLEAN – When your countertops are clutter-free, wipe them down with a clean washcloth.
ORGANIZE - Keep only what you use frequently on the counter surfaces – The rest can go in one of your designated boxes. Items that you use infrequently can be stored in the cabinets or another storage area in your home, like a shelf in the garage. If papers tend to accumulate on your countertop, set up a nearby mail processing center that includes a shredder, recycling bin, and filing system. Clearly label your files into actionable items such as "to do," "to file," "to call," "offers to consider," etc. This filing system will most likely save you a lot of time, and lessen your late bills and feelings of frustration.
MAINTAIN - The key to taming the paper tiger is to make sure you deal with it daily before it gets overwhelming – Three papers are always easier to deal with than thirty. Make it a habit to keep your surfaces clear and clean on a daily basis.

How to Organize Your Refrigerator

Just like the pantry, an organized refrigerator lends itself to healthy eating habits. So, it's time to get rid of those lingering holiday leftovers and make room for healthy, fresh food.

PURGE – Get rid of expired leftovers, food that you won't or shouldn't eat, and old condiments. After you're done, make a list of healthy items to purchase on your next grocery trip.
CLEAN – Get rid of sticky spills and stains. Remove everything from the shelves and put it on the countertop. Then scrub the empty shelves until they sparkle.
ORGANIZE - Put items back by category – Place leftovers that are still good on the top shelf, drinks on the next shelf, and dressings and condiments on the side shelves. You get the idea!
MAINTAIN – Take stock of what's in your refrigerator before each trip to the grocery store. Throw out old items that you'll never use. It'll help you decide what you need to purchase, and create space in which you can put your groceries when you get home.

Organize Your Home in 40 Days – Week 2

It's week two of the Simplify Challenge, a 40 day detox program designed to rid your life of excess clutter! We hope you're enjoying your clean garage after reading last week's blog post. If you weren't able to get it all done, don't worry! Simply contact us to get assistance from one of our professional organizers – We're always happy to help!

This week, we're challenging you to tackle your kitchen clutter. The kitchen is one of the most important areas of the home, as it's often the hub of activity. Household members also tend to drop whatever they're carrying here after a long day. As a result, surfaces become cluttered and dirty, creating a chaotic, disorganized environment. But it doesn't have to be like this! Here are a few ways to transform this important space into a tranquil area in which your family can enjoy preparing and sharing meals together:

Organize Your Pantry

Now that the holidays and their sweet and salty treats are behind us, it's time to start eating healthy again. Unsurprisingly, an organized pantry goes hand-in-hand with healthy eating habits. So here's how to get back on track and stick to those resolutions just by cleaning out your cupboard:

PURGE - Get rid of any expired food, or food that you won't or shouldn't eat. Donate items that are still within their expiration date to your local food bank.
ORGANIZE - Place similar items together. For example: Put cereal with rice and pasta, place oils, vinegars, dressings, and sauces together, and group healthy snack items on the same shelf.
MAINTAIN – The most important action you can take to keep your pantry organized is to put items away in their designated spots as soon as you get home from grocery shopping. You can also label containers and shelves so you don't forget where the items should be grouped.

Get Organized in 2017 with the Simplify Challenge!

Happy New Year! This is the time of year that we begin to reflect on the past year and plan for the new year ahead. What are your goals for the upcoming months? Some of the most popular include eating less and exercising more, spending less and saving more … and of course, getting organized!

The truth is that most resolutions are forgotten before January is over. However, this year we want to help you accomplish all of your goals. 

That's why we invite you to join us in the Simplify Challenge, a 40-day detox program to rid your life of excess clutter so that you can spend more time living life to the fullest. As with any challenge, this won't be easy, but we promise to provide you with the tools and support to be successful by providing you with a step-by-step guide to organizing your entire home. We'll send you one email per week, each of which will focus on a different area of your home. Don't worry if you fall behind schedule or become overwhelmed – Simply contact us to get help from one of our professional organizers to guarantee your success.

To kick things off, we're going spend this first week focusing on cleaning up one of the most forgotten areas of your home – The garage. But before you get started on that, make sure to:

• PUT YOUR DECORATIONS AWAY- If you haven't already done so, put away all holiday decorations so that you're ready to start organizing. As you find items you no longer love and enjoy in your decorations, donate them instead of wasting space storing them yet another year.

• PURCHASE SUPPLIES - It's hard to know what you'll need until you get into the project, but it's always helpful to purchase some general organizing containers in a variety of sizes so that you have what you need on hand. Make sure to keep your receipt so you can return what you don't use.

• GET SUPPORT - Follow us on social media to find others following this program. That way, you can give each other encouragement and support! You can post photos and comment on our Facebook page, and on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days.

Once you've taken care of these preliminary steps, you're ready to start de-cluttering and organizing your garage! Here are a few steps to help you tackle this cumbersome task:

• PURGE - Pull anything you no longer need out onto the driveway. These items can be sold or donated. If they're too large to carry to the donation center, call Salvation Army or a donation center in your area that offers pick up services.

• ORGANIZE - Now that you've pared everything down to the essentials, it's time to organize. It's best to pick up everything off of the floor, so you may want to install some shelves, hooks or other helpful organizing tools. Put items into categories such as sports, tools, auto, etc. Place small items like nails and screws in labeled containers with individual compartments. Holiday decorations can also be stored in plastic tubs that are clearly labeled. As you sort through items, continue purging items you no longer need.

• MAINTAIN - Always make sure items get put back in their designated spot after you use them.

After you've finally met your organizing goals in this difficult area, pull in your car and enjoy your now-spacious garage! Also, as you're working this week, don't forget to take a break. You'll need to keep your energy up for next week's tough to tackle project – The kitchen! And remember, if you feel overwhelmed with any tasks, please contact us to assist you. We're always ready to help.

Don't forget to post photos of your clean garage on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days, and on our Facebook page.

Until next week, happy organizing!

Alternatives to gift-giving this holiday season

The holidays are upon us again! This season can be one of the best times of the year, offering many opportunities to spend time with loved ones and enjoy special traditions. One of these traditions is gift-giving – and while giving and receiving can be a heartfelt expression of love, it can also lead to lots of unnecessary clutter and expense. This year, consider cutting costs, clutter, and consumerism like one of our Practical Solutions organizers; in fact, her family (pictured below) decided to go without gifts altogether! Here's their heartwarming and inspiring story:

A Present-less Christmas

 

Both our girls now live out-of-state and will be coming home for Christmas.

They gave us an early Christmas gift by asking if we could have "A Present-less Christmas" this year. So, instead of stressing out about getting everyone gifts and spending our time in stores shopping, they just wanted to come home and enjoy being in the company of family and friends; they wanted to spend time doing the simple things that make memories, which will far outlast any material gift we could get from the store.

We are very proud parents to just know that they value our time together more than any gift we could buy them. I think we did something right there.

So, "our Christmas presents" this year is "our presence " with each other

If going completely present-less isn't an option this year, you may also consider giving in ways that are centered around experiences, relationships, and contributing to your local community instead. Here are some ideas to get you started!

Swap traditional gifts with:

• A membership to a local science or nature center, museum, historical site, rock-climbing gym, or regular gym

• Season tickets to a favorite sports team, orchestra, theater group, or dance troupe

• Tickets to a concert

• A year-long pass to a national park, forest, or another favorite camping/hiking spot

• A family vacation

• Gift cards to a favorite restaurant

• A fun class or workshop. Some ideas include yoga, art, music, cooking, or language classes.

• Games that everyone in the family can play

• A charity donation

• An experience volunteering together at a local charity

• An outing to the bowling alley or skating rink

• A relaxing massage or facial

• A memory book or scrapbook of a favorite adventure

• Homemade gifts

• Edible gifts

• Herbs or seeds for gardening or cooking

These are just a few alternatives to traditional gift-giving that will get you started! Share more of your own creative ideas on our Facebook page! 

How to help seniors cope with lifestyle changes

Over the holiday season, it's common for families to notice their senior loved ones experience more physical or cognitive struggles than usual, making it difficult for them to participate in celebrations and traditions. These changes may signify that it's time for them to make the transition to a senior

living community. While this transition can present wonderful new opportunities, such as increased social options and greater support with everyday tasks, preparing for such a move can be overwhelming – Logistically, downsizing and moving present huge challenges, and even after all of these details have been worked out, you'll have to navigate a rough emotional terrain. Your loved one may experience intense stress, which can manifest into symptoms like sleep disturbances, anger, depression and disorientation.

Here are a few ways you can help support and compassionately ease them into a new life phase:

Be empathetic

This transition happens to almost everyone; it's just part of life. So try to put yourself in their shoes and understand the complex, intense emotions they're feeling. Often, they're dealing with a loss of control and independence, fear of the unknown and change, isolation, and possibly illness or the loss of a spouse. Imagine how you'd feel if you suddenly couldn't drive or perhaps even walk, speak, or think with the same ease as you do now. Recognize these challenges and try to understand if they're occasionally moody, angry, or withdrawn. Understanding how they cope with challenges can also help you support them more effectively.

Listen more than talk

Even though it might feel more comfortable to avoid a difficult conversation and push everything under the rug, let your loved one express how they feel. Don't immediately tell them how wonderful the move will be; allow them to externally process their fear, confusion, distrust, or anger. Simply allowing them to do so will help them feel validated and respected.

Involve them in the decision making process

Similarly, involving them in important decisions about their new life when possible can help them feel validated and respected as well. While many well-intentioned family members may take the burden of decision-making upon themselves, leaving them out of the conversation may make them feel obsolete or unimportant, thereby intensifying their feelings of loss of control. Touring a facility or allowing them to meet the people there before moving may also help them feel like participants in the transition.

Involve friends and family

The need to connect with other people doesn't go away when you age. It's important for your loved one to understand that they have a supportive community behind them, even if it's just a few family members or friends. Make it a habit to check up on them often or send them videos, emails, cards, or letters. Make sure they have plenty of opportunities to socialize in their new home as well, which will minimize their risk of feeling disconnected and sad.

Being conscious of your senior loved one's needs over the holidays and beyond will help ensure their life change is ultimately as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. We hope these tips will help you through this journey; let us know if you have any other suggestions on our Facebook page! We'd love to hear from you.