1. Negative ties. Ask yourself “is this relationship adding joy to my life or unhappiness”? The “Let Them” Theory/movement has taken over this year. It is a great addition to any of our tool kits when dealing with relationships. You will feel the release of control and angst.
2. Toxic habits. Your body is a temple, do you treat it that way? Is it time to add more water to your daily intake? Cut down on sugar? Increase your vegetables and fruits?
3. Broken electronics. If they can’t be fix, simple recycle them.
4. Expired medicine. Be sure to check your first aid kit in your car and your emergency prepared kit.
5. Excess bags. Keep in mind bags are always coming into your home. How many do you need to store?
6. Unworn clothes. We wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. What is your reasoning for storing all the clothes you are no longer wearing?
7. Old outdated cosmetics. Cosmetics have a shelf life. Best to only use fresh new products.
8. Paper clutter. We are heading towards a paperless society.
9. Expired food. Check your tin goods. Rotate items in your freezer.
10. Books you have read. Pass them on to the library or friends.
11. Kitchen gadgets that you never use. Pass on with love.
12. Worn out shoes/ old runners. Many shoe stores will take your old runners for the less fortunate.
13. Unused toys. Pass on to a family in need or list on your local “Buy Nothing” site.
14. Dust collectors.
15. Dried up paint tins. Recycle at the transfer station.
16. Chipped or cracked dishes.
17. Broken or incomplete board games including puzzles that are missing pieces.
18. Outdated travel brochures. Google is your best friend when looking for up to date travel ideas.
19. Unused or broken jewelry.
20. Unneeded user manuals.
21. Outdated text books and reference materials. Sadly, these have to be recycled. Best to pass things on before they are so outdated.
22. Broken or unused sports equipment.
23. Outdated planners and calendars.
24. Unwanted or broken holiday decor including lights.
25. Expired coupons, gift cards from business that are no long around.

Getting It Together is a Professional Organizing company serving Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Langley, Maple Ridge and beyond. Get in touch today. rowena@gettingittogether.ca

Do you constantly hear yourself saying: “Hurry up”, “We’re going to be late”, “How many times have I asked you to __________”?

Do you feel stressed when this happens? Well, chances are, your kids do too!

You don’t need that added strain. So here are The Top 7 Tips.

1. Be ready yourself

If you are ready to walk out the door with your purse in hand…the kids will surely follow soon enough. If you find mornings particularly difficult (who doesn’t!) ensure everything is prepared the night before – lunches, breakfast on the table (whatever can be), clothes laid out for you and your kids, and school bags packed. This will take less than 15 minutes if done the night before and probably an hour in the morning.

2. Ensure you have correct storage

Children don’t necessarily know where to put their toys, so ensure they have adequate and easy-access storage in their rooms and playroom. Label them with drawings and words so that your child can understand what goes into each storage container. This goes the same for the grown-up items. If children learn “a place for everything and everything in its place” from an early age, they will grow up to understand the value of a clutter-free environment.

3. Make it a family affair

When it comes to cleaning the house, make a list of your daily and weekly “To Do’s” and let each person pick what they will be responsible for. Get everyone involved. Put some funky kid’s music on and most importantly reward them for a job well done! Whether it is extra praise, a special letter to Grandma about how well they helped Mom/Dad, an unusual family activity, or even an extra dollar in their allowance, recognition is the key to cooperation.

Together Tip: Don’t give them too much to do at once. For example: Saying “go put away all your toys” is too large a task for children. Instead, ask them to put away all the red toys first, then, when they are done that task, ask them to put away all the Lego, and so on.

4. Donate, donate, donate

If you find there is not enough storage for your children’s belongings, it means it is time to purge. Donate anything that your children have grown out of: toys, clothes and furniture. Keep your kids involved so they understand the power of passing it on. If you keep those things around, even if in your basement, your kids will learn that clutter is ok. Be sure to pass items on before they are of no use to anyone.

5. Schools notices and artwork

This is often a disorganized part of a child’s school life. They bring notices home and they stay in school bags until…oops…it’s too late and they miss the fieldtrip.

Together Tip: Have a special basket/box for each child. Teach your child to remove their lunch bag, artwork and notices from their own school bag as soon as they get home and put it in “their basket”. Then you can empty the lunch bag, review their notices, sign their permissions and admire their artwork.

6. Teenagers…an entire subject unto itself!

First thing I would say is…don’t make them clean up their room. Most kids will sneer and make it very difficult for you. You may end up driving them away from you. Teenagers need to express their individuality more at this age than any other. Their room is helping to form who they are…believe it or not. Also remember, even though they live in “your” house, it is still “their” room and always has been. Common areas are different though.

Together Tips: Keep their door closed when they are not home so you don’t have to see it. Create a quick and easy schedule by which they can clean the common areas! Ensure they clean their room once a month…to keep it hygienic. Same tips apply here as do for children with regard to family areas of the house. Make it fun to clean and make it a family affair. And teenagers, more than anyone (except Moms of course) need rewards.

7. Don’t try to be superwoman!

If you get tired asking for help from your kids, try a different tactic. Don’t give up and do it all yourself…you will only resent yourself for it. Talk to your kids one-on-one and make them feel important and part of the solution instead of part of the problem. And remember don’t threaten to take something away if they don’t do it, instead offer reward and recognition for a job well done.

Teaching your children that “everything has its place” and that “less is more” are simple concepts and important. It will make everyone’s life much easier and you will have less stress.

Getting It Together is a Professional Organizing company serving Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Langley, Maple Ridge and beyond. Get in touch today. rowena@gettingittogether.ca

Personal estate organizing starts at the time we become an adult. Even if you think you have nothing of value there is still the question of your final wishes. Even if you think you have nothing there is still your bank account or your possible employment benefits etc.

We all know there is no escaping death, however we believe it will never happen to us. When we hear of a famous person’s demise, we are usually in disbelief thinking that somehow, they are exempt from death. And when it is a person close to us, we go into shock, grief and sadness.

This is all real but somehow feels surreal.

Talking about death and dying does not mean it will come sooner. So why is it that we avoid the topic?

There are so many easy ways to be organized for your passing. This in turn will lessen the burden on your friends and family.

Imagine transitioning with grace.

Check out this short video on Estate Planning Made Simple https://youtu.be/mL4MQc2G5o4?t=182 and then read on for the Getting It Togethers Top 5 Tips.

Tip 1: Have a secure place for all of your digital passwords. Even if you use an online service like www.onepassword.com your loved ones still need to know how to get into that site.

Keep a copy in your safety deposit box.

Survivors need access to

• Cell phone
• Computer
• Social media accounts
• Home alarm with instructions on how to work it and the pass code.
• Hidden spare keys and list of people who might have spare key to your home or vacation property.
• Bank Accounts
• Online accounts like banking, direct deposits, PayPal etc.

Tip 2: Our stuff is less important to others. Are you saving stuff for your grown children? Do you even know if they want it or not?

I have heard of people having a family dinner where each person can claim certain heirlooms by placing a sticker on the bottom of the item with their name on it.

Or you might have special pieces of jewelry that you want to go to certain people which you will make note of in your will.

More has lost its appeal.

Less represents freedom.

Tip 3: Making special requests for your remains. Do your family members really know your final wishes?

Does everyone agree on them?

It is so important to have this in writing.

Advanced Planning- non legal organizing

• Funeral, memorial service, celebration of life
• Organ donation plan
• Cremation or burial
• Obituary (be very careful about identity theft when publishing)
• Eulogy
• Asset Distribution
• Estate Directory – friends, family (have an up-to-date list of all their names and numbers)
• List of Doctors, lawyers, financial planner, minister, accountant, insurance agent, employer, godparents, neighbours, kids’ school, babysitter, and daycare. Be sure to update these lists as things change in your life. I suggest reviewing this information once a year.
• phone company
• banks
• credit card companies
• volunteer organizations you belong to
• Safety deposit box (with location of key) one way to ensure smooth sailing is to have your bank acct and safety deposit box in joint name with one of your survivors.
• Anything else you can think of that your survivors would need access to. Like passport, birth certificate and SIN # etc.

Tip 4: Legal Essentials

• Will
• Power of Attorney
• Representation Agreement (living will)
• Cash/life insurance, all financial documents
• Business Succession Plan (if you own your own business) listing names of employees and their numbers, any contract workers or suppliers.
• Any outstanding loans/alimony/child support

Tip 5: In order to process a registration of death for vital statistics and to process a death certificate, the funeral home will need the following

• The deceased persons full legal name including maiden name if female
• Date of birth
• Date of death
• Birthplace
• Social insurance number
• Health care number
• Fathers full name
• Mothers full name
• Full name of surviving spouse
• Occupation and for how long
• Religious affiliation
• Was the deceased a military veteran? This is important to have this information on file.

I am wishing all of my readers a long, happy, healthy, successful life.

When you do pass on, where will your affairs lie in the spectrum between chaos and order?

Please let me help you and your loved ones by making this transition smooth. Let’s get Your Binder together.

Getting It Together is a Professional Organizing company serving Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Langley, Maple Ridge and beyond. Get in touch today. rowena@gettingittogether.ca for a free 15-minute phone consultant on estate organizing. I’ll share with you your first next step.