Do you have the URGE TO PURGE?

Spring is almost here and so if you are thinking about clearing the clutter, then you are certainly not alone.

While you are at it you may as well do some spring cleaning. The best time to start your spring clearing and cleaning is when you stop using the heat in your home.

The hardest part is always getting started so let’s look at five great “Together Tips” to help you get on your way.

Together Tips

Tip #1

Make a list of all the things you would like to accomplish in your spring clearing and cleaning. Go from room to room and in a notebook write down all the things you would like to have done in each room.

Tip #2

Break your list down into tasks as this project can seem overwhelming and huge.

For example in your bedroom:

1. Closet

• Take out all the clothes that are not seasonal and place them in a pile on the bed.
• Separate this pile into clean and dirty. Send the dirty clothes for cleaning/washing and store the clean clothes in a different closet or storage area.
• Take out all the clothes that you haven’t worn in a year or that do not fit you any more. Pack them up for donating or selling in a consignment store.
• Clean the closet shelves and walls and vacuum the floor to remove dirt and dust that accumulated during the winter.

2. Dresser

• Perform the same tasks as you did in #1 above. Be ruthless with old tattered under clothes. Just because nobody sees them does not mean they have to be old and worn out.
• Do you store your jewellery and accessories in your dresser? If so, is it time for an update. Do you still wear all the items? Are they your style and do they still go with your cloths. If not then it is time to purge. Ask your self “would I buy it again?”.
• What a great time to change the drawer liners and add a little essential oil to freshen things up.

3. Night tables

• This can be a catch all area. Take inventory of what you really need in your night table.
• If your night table has a drawer dump it out on the bed. Ask yourself “do I need this in my night stand, do I use it and do I want it?”. If the answer is “no” to any of these questions then it is time to toss it out or pass it on.
• Does your night table have every book or magazine that you have ever read on it? Pass on the ones you are finished with and organize the rest in your book shelf. Keep only current reading material on your table.

Once your room is complete, move on to the next room and go through this system again. If your entire home needs a spring clearing/cleaning you may need to get help.

If you have a lot of clutter, call a relative or friend or better yet a professional organizer to help you sort through it all. If you can’t stand doing the cleaning part, hire a cleaner. If you end up with no clothes in your closet after the clearing, an image consultant can help you find new or gently used clothes to replace your old ones. And you’ll have a new image to go with it!

Tip #3

Get your family involved. It is no fun doing this alone and chances are it’s not all your stuff.

For example:

1. Spend a day in the garden together clearing out all the debris from winter and cleaning all the cement walks and driveway. Borrow a power washer from a friend or neighbour (the kids will have fun with this one).
2. Get small children to go on their hands and knees and dust all the floor boards and behind hard to reach furniture. Don’t forget to get them involved in their own rooms too. They can clear out old toys and clothes to make room for the new season.Reward them with a treat or special activity at the end of the day.
3. Make a “honey do” pot. Write out all the chores you would like for your husband to do. Write one chore per piece of paper and place them in the pot. Every Saturday morning he gets to pick one job out of the jar. Reward him at the end of the day too! If you do not have a husband or he is not the “handy man” then make a list for the local handy man in your area. Some areas have “husbands for hire” companies.

Tip #4

Turn on your favourite music, open the windows and take it step-by-step. Stay focused and don’t get distracted by those photo albums! Doing this all before summer means you don’t have to think about it during the best part of the year.

Tip #5

The best tip of all is “an organized home takes 40% less time to clean”. What will you do with all your spare time?

If you just can’t fathom tackling your urge to purge alone, contact Rowena for Spring Clearing help.

Rowena List is an Image Organizer™, motivational speaker, CD author, writer, trainer and mentor in the fields of personal and business development. Based on her own personal trade secrets, Rowena provides training, coaching, tools and support for creating healthy reflections from the outside in. She focuses on “enhancing faces and clearing spaces” to provide the energy, productivity and confidence that are the foundations for her unique approach to Success Without Struggle™.For more information on Image Organizing™, on booking Rowena for a presentation or a one-on-one or on Getting It Together please contact her at rowena@gettingittogether.ca.

Getting It Together For Hallowe’en: Less Is More Even When It Comes to Candy

Isn’t it interesting how all year long we teach our kids not to talk to strangers and never take candy from someone you do not know, then Halloween comes along all the rules change? No wonder some kids are confused!

Getting It Together has an exciting approach to having a fun, safe and organized Halloween.

Host a Halloween Party on Halloween Night

Creative Halloween Costume Ideas

Ask the children to choose items from around the house to create their own costumes. This will help in clearing the clutter, save you money as you won’t be buying a costume will sit in the closet for another year collecting dust. Offer a prize to the child wearing the most recyclable or reused items.

Halloween Food

Think up a theme for the food. For example, all green food. Just think of how great everyone will feel after eating healthy food instead of all that candy (and you won’t have to be hiding it from your kids for the next 6 months). Be sure to have some healthy green treats like green frosting on top of a healthy muffin.

Halloween Party Activities

Organize some games and storytelling at your party. Just think of the impact this will have on all the guests as opposed to running around the neighbourhood in the cold and rain.

Halloween Giving

This is the perfect time of year to teach your children about giving. Let them pick an organization or charity and everyone who comes to the party can donate to it. All ages can participate in this with a little help from you.

Less is more even when it comes to candy.

Please feel free to share your success stories with us at Getting It Together.

Rowena List is an Image Organizer™, motivational speaker, CD author, writer, trainer and mentor in the fields of personal and business development. Based on her own personal trade secrets, Rowena provides training, coaching, tools and support for creating healthy reflections from the outside in. She focuses on “enhancing faces and clearing spaces” to provide the energy, productivity and confidence that are the foundations for her unique approach to Success Without Struggle™.

Rowena is available for keynote speaking engagements, workshops and one-on-one professional organizing and Image Organizing™.

For more information on Image Organizing™ or on Getting It Together please contact Rowena List at rowena@gettingittogether.ca.