Blog - Page 18 of 26 - Getting it Together

Storage Locker Auction Part 1 by Rowena List Professional Organizer and Speaker

Have you seen that TV show called “Storage Wars?

It features a storage locker auction.

Have you ever been to a storage locker auction?

I had the opportunity of attending a storage locker auction.

It was so interesting to watch the people as they pulled out their flashlights and sniffed around the lockers. What where they looking for? A valuable treasure or two. A storage locker auction brings out people looking to find that one in a million valuable forgotten item.

Check out this video for some of the top secrets on how to organize a storage locker.

There is a time and place for storage lockers.

Do you have one?

How long have you had it?

I helped a client downsize her storage locker. We came across a 20 pound bag of rice that had been in there for over 5 years. Good thing there were no mice with it! What do you have in your storage locker?

Are you needing help with your storage locker? Please contact me for a FREE phone consultation. We will discuss your needs and how to move forward.

If you like this video, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends. And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:48+00:00April 24th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move|0 Comments

Storage Locker Auction Part 2 by Rowena List Professional organizer and Speaker

After spending a morning at a storage locker auction I thought it would be fun to do a video.

Do you have a storage locker?

What does it look like? What is hiding inside your storage locker? Would people at a storage locker auction be excited at the haul inside? Would a storage locker auction crowd find that hidden valuable in your locker.

Want to avoid be the subject of a storage locker auction?

Is it time to clear it out? Is it time to downsize and get rid of it?

One of the clients at the storage locker auction shared that he was going to take all the items and sell them. It is interesting how we all think our things are so valuable and important yet we keep them in storage. We might not even go to the storage locker or it might end up in a storage locker auction. I hope this is not the case with YOU!

What is the most interesting thing you are storing? Love to hear in the comment box below.

If you like this video, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends. And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:48+00:00April 24th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move|0 Comments

Getting Your Socks Organized and Together

Do you have a basket of unmatched, single socks?

Do you wonder where those single socks get to?

Would you like to never again have an odd sock drawer?

Do you dream of having socks organized and together?

As a professional organizer I support people with hands on organizing. Every home I work in has a box, drawer or basket of unmatched socks. Why is that? How does this happen the world over? Where are all those lost socks?

Once a week for well over 15 years I hear an “unblemished record” coming from the living room. This triumph happens without fail. This claim to fame comes from my partner who is responsible for doing the laundry. His unblemished record is that we have never had a pair of socks that don’t match up and we have never “lost” a sock. No spare socks, no missing socks just paired up socks.

Mark is not a professional organizer we just have a system which I will share with you right now.

The 5-step system for saying goodbye to a pile of unmatched socks:

Step #1: Limit the number of socks you own. Ask yourself how many pairs of socks do you or your family members need? How many do you wear? Toss the ones with holes. Give away the ones you do not like or wear. Match up all remainder.

Step #2: In the future buy several pairs of the same socks. For example 6 pairs of white socks and 6 pairs of black.

Step #3: Pin each pair of socks together before washing them or make sure you put a matched pair in the washer. You might think all the socks are in the laundry hamper however some socks do not even make it to the hamper. One could be hiding under the bed or in a sports bag.

Step #4: When you are folding your dry clothes check the corners of fitted sheets. This is the best hiding spot for single socks (that is if you did not pin your socks together). Another great hiding spot is down the outside of the washer or dryer.

Step #5: Every so often go through your odd sock box, drawer or basket and match up any pairs. Toss the rest or use them as a hand held dust cloth.

Are you feeling a bit lost on where to start or need to get your whole bedroom organized (not just the socks)? With spring here, now is the perfect time. If you live in the Vancouver area, contact me today for a 30-minute complimentary no-obligation phone consultation.

During this consultation we will discuss your biggest organizing challenge, what is frustrating you most, and changes you can make to ensure you can enjoy the upcoming summer months with ease, and of course have plenty of time and energy to enjoy them! Then we will discuss organizing packages and pricing. If we are good fit for one another, we can schedule your first personalized in-home organizing session.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:49+00:00April 16th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move, Self Care Organization|0 Comments

Getting It Together FAQ’s – Part 2

Thank you for all of your questions. You know I love hearing from you. The interesting thing is that most people share very similar questions and concerns when it comes to clearing the clutter and getting organized.

Please keep those questions coming. Together we can help each other.

Q- What should I do with those plastic bags that a set of sheets comes in? I hate to toss them because they have the zipper closure and look so handy.

A- You are right! They can be handy. I have used those bags to store my good round baking tins. I find by putting them in the bag they do not get scratched. They are easy to see and store. I have also used those bags with my clients. We put all electrical cords in one. Again easy to see.

I don’t know about you but I have NEVER been able to get the set of sheets back in those bags. Have you?

Q- How can I tell my friends and family to stop buying me presents? I just do not need anything and I am trying to downsize.

A- Most grownups do not “need” anything. We are all so blessed. Many years ago I sent a letter to all my friends explaining that I was no long going to give gifts. Instead I wanted to make memories with them. They were all so happy to get this letter because they never knew what to buy me or their other friends. Now we get together for lunch, a movie, or have our nails done. Anything that is memory making and consumable. Be the first to start a trend. Think consumable!

Q- How many sets of towels should I have?

A- This depends on the number of people in the house. I would recommend 2- 3 bath towels per person, 1-2 hand towels per person and 5-7 face cloths per person. Most homes have a washer these days. If you go to the laundromat then you might want a couple of extras. Use one bath towel per person per week. It is better for the environment and laundry bill. Use one face cloth per person per day. The common used hand towel can be changed every few days.

I can never figure out how the hand towel can get so dirty when we are drying our clean hands! I keep a few “older” towels on hand for when we are heading off to the pool or beach.

Q- What can I do with all the recycling my local garbage company does not pick up?

A- Do you live in the Metro Vancouver Area? If so, you know your local company only picks up plastic, tins, glass and paper. Here are a couple of options. Call BC Recycling Hotline 604-RECYCLE (604-294-7972) or take your items to a local recycling depot. There is one in Burnaby at 4800 Still Creek Ave or once a month you can go to Britannia Center in Vancouver. Check out their site at http://www.pacificmobiledepots.com/Mobile-Depot-Info-Rates.html

Treat yourself to a nice coffee after.

Q- How can I tell if I am disorganized?

A- The rule is if you cannot find what you are looking for in 20 seconds or less you are considered disorganized. This might sound harsh. What it means is that if your keys are on the hook you’ll find them right away. If they are not then you might go searching. If your eye glasses are always put away in the same spot you will be able to find them. If they are not, it might take you longer than 20 seconds to find them.

What is your burning question? What is your biggest organizing obstacle? Inquiring minds want to know. Please leave a comment below or contact me at www.gettingittogether.ca for a FREE 30 minute phone consultation. We will discuss your burning question and how you can move forward with clearing the clutter.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:49+00:00April 2nd, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move, Self Care Organization, Tax Organization, Time Management, Travel Organization|2 Comments

Help a Friend & Help Yourself (to Cash)!

Would you like to earn some extra cash?

Who do you know who is always late?

Would you like to help a friend?

Who do you know who is always looking for their car keys, cell phone or any other misplaced items

Who do you know who is always complaining about being stressed,wanting more time or has no money?

Who do you know who needs to downsize?

Please send them my way!

It’s a great way to help a friend!

It is as simple as one, two, three.

ONE: Think about who you know that would benefit from my hands on organizing services, or from my by-the-minute phone coaching services.

TWO: Fill in the form below with your referrals contact information. I will contact your friend and offer them a FREE 15 minute phone consultation. In the FREE phone consultation we will discuss their organizing and productivity needs.

Your referrals will be given a top secret organizing tip that they can use right away. And of course, they are under NO obligation to hire me. However, if they do decide to move forward with clearing their clutter and increasing their productivity, you will get paid!

THREE: Receive CASH! That’s right. You will receive 10% of your referral’s total invoice back in the form of CASH.

It’s a WIN-WIN. You will be doing your friend a huge favor by giving them a FREE 15-minute session with me, and if they decide to purchase any of my services, you will earn some cash!

Fill in the form below now. This could be the best gift you ever give your family and friends.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:49+00:00March 29th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizing to Move, Self Care Organization|0 Comments

Rowena List, Professional Organizer and Speaker of Getting it Together on Global TV – Get the Skinny on Your Linens

Global TV is a local Vancouver newsroom.

They like to focus on people in the community. Showcase events around town and report on the news. It was so much fun being on Global TV. I was able to share one tip in the short 6 minutes of air time on Global TV. Check it out!

Those darn fitted sheets. They work best when ironed. Who does that anymore? I actually have a couple of friends who love to iron. They find it relaxing. Not me!

How abut you? Do you iron or is it all wrinkle free sheets and clothing for you?

Love to hear your comments below.

Thanks for sharing this Global TV moment with me!

Satoru Kikuchi

If you like this video, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends. And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:49+00:00March 27th, 2012|Home Organization, Media Appearances, Organizer|0 Comments

Collections vs. Clutter: How to Tell Them Apart

Collections and clutter are two different things.

Clutter is an untidy collection of things where as collections are several “like” items intended for display or investment. Now a collection can be untidy if it is not stored, displayed or cared for properly.

Ask yourself these questions:

Did you start the collection?

Is the collection something that you love to look at?

Do you use the collection?

Did the collection happen by accident and then get completely out of control?

Below I am going to explain Collections vs. Clutter. Are they the same or are they different? My 5 simple tips will help you determine this difference.

Tip #1: Is this collection something you started? In the case of Mary. NO! Her parents thought it was a good idea for her to have an owl in her office. Then a friend and then another friend. Never once did my client buy herself an owl. She did not start the collection nor did she ever intend to have an owl collection. This is important to note.

Tip #2: Do you like the collection? My client thought it was ok to have one or maybe two owls in her office, however by the time I started working with her she was not happy with the takeover of owls. They were everywhere and it was looking “cluttery”.

This is where a collection starts to become a problem. Another client of mine inherited a salt and pepper shaker collection. She had at least one hundred pairs and only used one!

Tip #3: What to do with the collection? In the case of Mary she was ready for a change in her office. She had enjoyed the owls for many many years.

We decided to keep her top 3 favorites. The one from her parents and two other neat looking ones. The rest we put in the hallway of the university with a sign that said “free”.

Tip #4: What happened next? The interesting thing is that all the people walking past her office door thought she was leaving the campus. They did not understand why all of a sudden she wanted to get rid of the owls. It made them a little uncomfortable at first until they heard she was just going for a change.

All the “free” owls were gone by the end of the day. They each got a new home in several other offices. Mary can go visit her owls any time she likes!

Tip #5: How to stop a collection. If you no longer like the items you are collecting, or someone started collecting for you, or if they have taken over it is time to put a stop to it. This can be a little delicate especially if family and friends have always bought you something to go with your collection. It is an easy gift giving idea for them and now what will they do?

You will need to let EVERYONE know that you are no longer collecting XYZ. Instead you would prefer they give you consumable items or donate to a charity of their choice in your name. Let them know you are downsizing. This might even give them permission to start downsizing too.

Some collections can be sold on EBay, Craigslist or at consignment stores. Some collections can be passed down to other family members. Unfortunately, some collections end up in the landfill.

Be careful what you start to collect. Be mindful of what type of collection you start for others. Is it something you will enjoy for years, does it have a purpose or value?

Once it starts to take over, becomes a dust collector or not serve you any purpose it is time for it to go.

I like to collect interesting people, memories and cash!

Are you having trouble knowing what to do with your collections or clutter? Not sure of its value or whether to keep it.

Please call me today for a FREE 30 minute phone consultation. We will discuss your collections versus your clutter, your specific needs and come up with a plan of action.

www.gettingittogether.ca

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:49+00:00March 19th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move|4 Comments

Fanny Kiefer interviews Rowena List Professional Organizer and Speaker on Studio 4!

Fanny Kiefer is a Vancouver icon.

It was my honour to be interviewed on her show. I think you will like her style.

Check out the tips we discussed.

Here is a recap of my interview with Fanny Kiefer on Studio 4, discussing all the ways in which clearing physical and mental clutter can open us up for new opportunities, better health, and happier lives!

What was your favorite Fanny Kiefer tip?

If you like this video on Fanny Kiefer, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends. And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:49+00:00March 2nd, 2012|Home Organization, Media Appearances, Organizer, Organizing to Move, Self Care Organization|0 Comments

How to Increase Productivity: 5 Proven EffectiveTime Management Tips

You can have more time AND get more done! How is this possible?

Below, I am going to share with you 5 simple and proven effective time management tips and you will watch your productivity soar.

The more organized you are the more time you will have.

“If you don’t take the time, time will take you.” Make time to plan.

Please watch this quick video on how to increase productivity.

Tip #1: Create a ‘to-do’ list with your six most important items.

Many years ago when I first started off in business I learned this tip. Each night before going to bed write out the six most important things you want to do the next day. The experts say that six items on a list are not so overwhelming. Any more than that and a person might become paralyzed by the magnitude of tasks. I like to have a list for work related tasks and one for personal.

Make item number one your least favorite thing to do. Get it over with right away. For example it might be to call the leads you got from the latest trade show you did. If you do not get all your most important things done in one day then transfer them over to the next day. You might have overestimated your time.

Tip #2: Focus your time.

Take 4 or 5 colour markers and block off time in your datebook/family calendar or computer for work, personal, family,and spiritual. Do this at the beginning of each month. I block off all the times I want to work in green. Family time is in pink etc.

When a client calls to book an appointment I look for any green spots that are still open. When a family member calls for a dinner date I look at any pink spots that are free. When you see all the coloured squares at a glance you can see how balanced your life is. Do you have too many green squares and not enough pink?

Tip #3: Take 15.

End each work day by taking 15 minutes to clear your desk off and prepare for the next day. Take 15 minutes at the end of the night to prepare your kitchen for the next morning. These 15 minutes will save you hours in the long run. There is nothing worse than walking into your office and finding a pile of papers left from the day before. Or walking into your kitchen and finding all the dinner dishes from the night before.

Tip #4: Time Busters.

Be mindful of any time busters. Do you use a timer when going on the computer? Have you thought to yourself, “I’ll just quickly check emails” and 2 hours later you are still sitting there? Do you get interrupted? Do you answer your phone when you are in the middle of a meeting or high priority project? These can be some common time busters. Stay focused on each task and you’ll be amazed at how much more time you have.

Tip #5: Relinquish control.

The need to do it all. Delegate with confidence. Trust that the job will get done. Look at all the things you do in a day. Delegate what you can. For example your kids can make the beds. They might not look the way you would do it but they are made. Is there a person at your workplace that can help you with some tasks?

Still feeling like time is running away from you?

I would love to share with you my weekly plan sheet and help you with effective time management tips.

You and your family will love how simple and easy it is to use. . We will discuss your time busters and how to move forward without them. You will feel more in control of your time. Contact me TODAY for your FREE 20 minute session. https://www.gettingittogether.ca

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:49+00:00March 1st, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Self Care Organization, Time Management|0 Comments

Stress Free Travel: Arrive Refreshed, Energized and Ready to Go

Do you enjoy travel?

How would you like to travel minus the stress?

Would you like some tips on stress free travel? You’ll arrive refreshed, energized and ready to go!

Below are 5 simple tips to get you on your “merry” way and leave the stress behind:

Tip#1: Time. If you want stress free travel you need to allow enough time for any unforeseen mishaps. Like running out of gas. Do you know how long it takes you to get to your local airport? Add on an extra 30 minutes. If traffic is heavy or there is an accident slowing traffic you won’t get stressed out. If check in is an hour add on an extra 30 minutes. This will allow for any long line ups or packing issues (overweight baggage, for example).

Tip#2: Documents. I love this saying. “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Do you have a handy document file folder or a pouch in your travel bag? When your passport is handed back, you immediately put it back in the file folder or pouch. None of this “I’ll do it later.” Then toss it in your bag. This is how important documents get misplaced.

My Aunt was traveling to England. She had her passport in her hand. When she got to customs she could not find it. Long story short she had tossed her passport out with her coffee cup! Good thing she had ample time to go back and retrieve it out of the garbage can.

Tip#3: Clothing. Wear the most comfortable clothing you have. I love watching people at the customs line up as they start to get undressed. Belts, boots, layers of clothing. This can cause stress for those who are running late. Wear easy to remove shoes. Wear items that won’t set the x-ray machines off. Be mindful of your carry-on bag.

There was a lady at the Paris airport that had about 6 paper shopping bags that would not fit in the machine. She was shoving and pushing trying to get them through the x-ray. She was late for her plane. Talk about STRESS.

Pack one day of bare essentials in your carry-on. Toothbrush, clean panties, prescription medication, and a good book.

Tip#4: Snacks. Low blood sugar makes people grumpy and stressed. I carry protein bars, dried nuts and fruit and some hard candies. Once past all the restricted areas grab a bottle of water. I know most airlines give you water but it is never enough. One of the best ways to arrive at your destination refreshed, energized and ready to go is to be well hydrated.

Tip#5: Pack early. Are you so excited about your trip that you park early or do you leave it to the last minute? Make a master list of must have items. Pull your suitcase out. Place it in an out of the way location in your home. As you think of items to take toss them into the case. 2 days prior to travel get your master list in hand. Pull everything out and systematically put each item back in the suitcase as you check it off your master list. Good rule of thumb is that each piece of clothing should go with at least 3 other items in your case.

If you are already at your travel destination pack the night before. Check your room for items that might be under the bed, electrical cords, and things in drawers or closets.

Here is to fun, safe, stress free travels. Hope to run into you on the slopes!

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:49+00:00February 12th, 2012|Organizer, Organizing to Move, Self Care Organization, Travel Organization|2 Comments