 Home offices are doing some heavy lifting this year compared to years past. With an increasing number of individuals working solely from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, home offices give people their own designated space to take calls, attend zoom meetings, and accomplish their responsibilities. It is ESSENTIAL to have your home office organized during a time like now so that you can be as (or more!) productive as you would be in your traditional office building. Not to mention, an organized home office may make you feel a little bit better about starting off the work day- BONUS! If you know you're office could be more organized (and honestly, who's office couldn't be!?) but you're intimidated by the papers, sticky notes, and whatever else is stuffed in the back of your file cabinet, worry no longer- Your favorite professional organizer is here to help you get your home office organized for good! Read on to find out 7 tricks to organize your home office! 1. Start with your filing cabinet Most people automatically start with their desk when organizing their home office. However, I'm here to tell you WAIT! Start with your filing cabinet. If you have an orderly system for your paper filing, it will be much easier to sort your desk and file away loose papers left out. Go through your filing cabinet and declutter. Make sure to throw out papers you don't need anymore and LABEL, LABEL, LABEL those filing folders. 2. Scan documents into your computer This trick goes along with the first home office organizing tip. Now, it may not be reasonable or functional for you to scan ALL documents into your computer, but commit to scanning at least a portion of documents from your filing cabinet. Most importantly, be sure to recycle the papers you do end up scanning! There is no point to keep the paper document once you have it scanned in your computer (remember, you can always print it out if need be!) 3. Utilize Wall Space Use your wall space and use it well! I LOVE using bulletin boards and whiteboards in offices so that you can keep reminders and cheat sheets off of your desk and on a board. Be careful not to clutter up your bulletin board! My rule for organizing bulletin boards is NO STACKING notes and paper on top of each other. If there isn't room on the board, create a digital note or file the paper in an appropriate folder. 4. Two words- Drawer Dividers Folders and labels are perfect for filing cabinets, but make sure not to overlook your desk drawers! You can find inexpensive drawer organizers/inserts at Staples, Target, Walmart, and Amazon. Make sure to measure your drawer before you go shopping and make a list of categories you need enough compartments for (pens, push pins, staples, tape. . .etc.) If you really want to go the extra mile and be next-level organized, add labels to the compartments on your drawer divider. Labels help keep you accountable and encourage you to stick to your organization system. 5. Decide on Receipt Management Receipts, receipts everywhere! Receipts can truly be a pain to corral. A lot of people use shoe boxes or small bins to throw their receipts in, but this system often lends to receipts spilling out everywhere. Instead of open bins, grab a mason jar with a lid for receipts so you can be sure they stay in their designated spot. An even better way to organize receipts is to do so digitally! There are plenty of apps that make it easy to store your receipts. One I love is Wave Financial which lets you take a photo of a receipt and save it in the app for free. Be sure to trash the receipts after you save them digitally! 6. Use Transparent Bins Transparent bins are perfect for storing printer paper, envelopes, and other office supplies. Make sure to add labels for the same reason mentioned in tip 4! Transparent bins are a great way to see if you are running low on any office supplies and prevent from getting caught in a bind. 7. Sort through those wires There's nothing in an office that can look quite as messy as a bunch of wires. Computer cables, laptop chargers, phone chargers, power cords- there are a ton of wires to organize in your home office. First, make sure to throw out any cords not in use. Next, zip tie cords together or use a neoprene sleeve to bundle the wires together so they don't get caught on anything. For cords you can't commit to bundling (like laptop chargers potentially,) designate a transparent bin or desk drawer to keep your chargers in when not in use. Whenever your office starts to feel a bit chaotic, come back to this list! You want to get ahead of the clutter and messiness before it gets too overwhelming. Follow these 7 home office organization tips and you'll look forward to sitting down at your desk in the morning! What is your favorite home office organization trick? Comment below! If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest! Need more help with organizing your home or estate clearing? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.
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 School (or rather homeschool) is out and summer is here! It's time to tackle some easy organizing projects to get this show on the road. Summer is usually spent relaxing and going on vacation, but a little bit of organizing helps those beach trips and pool days go a little smoother. Check out five EASY summer organizing projects for you to tackle this week: 1. Sort through your swimwear AND cover-ups This is a great organizing project for the whole family. Take out all of your swimsuits and cover-ups and place them in a pile. Go through each piece one-by-one and ditch any that are faded or no longer fit. Yes, even the swimsuits you just love to keep around but haven't worn in years. How many of us have 10 bathing suits in our drawer but actually only feel comfortable wearing two of them to the pool? Be honest with yourself. Let go of the swimwear you know in your heart you won't wear again. 2. Get rid of old beach towels This one you can do on your own. Find those ratty beach towels and either throw them away or cut them up into small cloths for cleaning. This is a great way to declutter your beach towel collection and reduce the number of paper towels you reach for when cleaning-- win-win. Once you've narrowed it down to the beach towels that are still in good condition, go ahead and write your name on the label while you're at it so that there is no mix-up at the community pool this summer. 3. Clean out and prepare your pool bag Now, the key to this organizing project is not waiting until you're about to walk out the door with your kiddos to get your bag ready. Cleaning out and preparing your pool bag is a great add-on project to one or both of the first two projects I listed. When organizing your pool bag, make sure to throw out expired sunscreen and any wrappers or other trash that may have found its way in there. Follow the checklist below to make sure you have all the pool bag essentials:
4. Create a self-service station for kids at home I don't know about you all, but quarantine has put us moms on edge more often than usual. Am I right?! Set up a self-serve station in your refrigerator or kitchen with accessible cups, drinks, and snacks so your kids have one less thing to ask you about. Every bit counts! Plus, the little ones will feel especially accomplished. 5. Get your garage ready for ANYTHING Now, before you skip over this one thinking, "Organizing a garage is NOT easy, Candi," just hold your horses for a minute and let me explain. The goal of this project is to make it easy for you and the family to get out from behind screens and do fun, memorable activities. Designate a shelf or cabinet in your garage for activities and stock it with things like sparklers, jars for lightning bugs, kites, water guns, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk. Knock out these 5 easy organizing projects and I'm sure your summer will be off to a great start! If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest! Need more help with organizing your home or estate clearing? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.
 You are not alone if the clutter in your home is too overwhelming for you to handle on your own. According to the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professional (which your favorite professional organizer happens to be a member of *toots own horn*) 54 percent of America is overwhelmed by the amount of clutter they have, but 78 percent do not know to do with all of that stuff or find it too complicated to deal with it (2015). Hiring a professional organizer is an effective and efficient way to not only minimize your clutter, but also create a functional organization system in your home that can be maintained by you and your family. Professional organizers often go into "the biz" because they have a talent and eye for all things organization-- and yes, it's true, we really find satisfaction in organizing! Those beautiful "after" photos we create truly make our hearts soar and it's even better knowing we helped solve a problem for others. There are a few things all Professional Organizers want our clients to know before the organizing process begins. As an experienced Certified Professional Organizer® myself, I want to give you all a peek on the other side and help you prepare to work with a professional organizer, so I'm sharing with you 3 things Professional Organizers wish their clients knew. 1. If you're not willing to get rid of things, you're wasting your money. Before hiring a professional organizer, you need to be mentally prepared to donate and discard. Decluttering is an ESSENTIAL step in the organizing process. It may not be easy but you will have to relinquish a smidge of control and trust your professional organizer when they say "You really should part with *this.*" You are paying and hiring them for a reason! Your professional organizer will know how much needs to be given away/discarded and help you decide what you truly need. If you're not ready to reduce the number of items in your space, then your professional organizer will simply be rearranging rather than implementing an ideal organization system. 2. We are NOT judging the state of your home-- Honestly. Easily the most common hesitation people have about hiring a professional organizer is worrying they will judge your space. Professional organizers are the most organized people- right?! So they won't believe their eyes when they see such a chaotic home- right?! WRONG!! Professional organizers have seen it all, trust me, and even we have a disorderly spot in our homes. Nothing shocks us and we truly just want to help you. You may see a chaotic, cluttered, shameful closet-- we see an opportunity to use our skills, express our organizing creativity and make a client happy! 3. Doing the job right takes time Quality organizing work takes longer than you may think. The cluttered room did not happen in two hours, so it is not going to be fixed in two hours either. A good professional organizer will need ample time to get your space in tip-top shape. Pressuring an organizer to rush or requiring them to finish in an unreasonable amount of time will only result in either an unfinished job or half-assed work. Make sure to use the consultation (which most professional organizers require) to get a full understanding of the estimated time and cost necessary to achieve the results you're looking for. Budget and allow for the time to let us do our job and give you a high quality end result. I hope you enjoyed reading about the 3 things all professional organizers wish our clients knew! What questions do you have about the process of working with a professional organizer? Comment below! If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest! Need more help with organizing your home or estate clearing? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.
 Hiya fellow Quarantine Queens! I've been seeing a lot of posts swirling around the internet about banana bread, Tik Tok dances, and other activities to keep us busy at home. Many of my friends have texting me asking, "Alright Candi, I finally have some time to get my life together. I want to get an organizing project done but not sure what to tackle?" I don't know about you all, but being in quarantine has not only freed up some time for me, it has also made me think about organizing some of the essential "crisis" paperwork. Now, you may be wondering, "Candi, my favorite professional organizer, what in the world is 'crisis' paperwork!?" Well, I am so glad you asked! I'm about to fill you in. Crisis paperwork is paperwork that is important and and helpful during . . . you guessed it. . . a crisis- I'm here all night ladies and gentleman, well, and morning and afternoon, actually right now I'm here at home everyday all day. Okay okay, back to paperwork organization. Crisis paperwork, you may find, is what many consider death or doom + gloom paperwork. However, I have found: Using the phrase "Death Papers:" -Major bummer -Feelings of sadness -Denial settles in Using the phrase "Crisis Papers:" -Confident -Feelings of preparedness -Ready to take on the world As an estate clearing professional, I have seen the tremendous confusion and concerns that have arisen when a crisis occurs and necessary paperwork/important documents are either uncompleted and/or can't be located. During a crisis, emotions are already running high and stress is inevitable. Make it easier for you and/or your loved ones by identifying and completing your crisis paperwork NOW and organizing it in a designated space away from other miscellaneous paper. Here are the three categories of paperwork to organize your life for a crisis: 1. Healthcare Forms Healthcare forms that are essential to have finished and organized before a crisis include Healthcare Power of Attorney AND a Living Will. These two documents often go hand-in-hand and help protect your wishes as far as health and medical care while you are still alive. There are many situations and crises that would involve you being alive but unable to communicate what kind of medical treatment you want. Now, let me tell you why it's important to have BOTH of these documents. A Living Will lists out your desire or refusal of medical treatment if you are either permanently unconscious or terminally ill. This is an important document to organize before a crisis like the above to reduce emotional stress on loved ones as best as possible and to ensure you are being cared for the way YOU want. However, a Living Will is only used if the patient is deemed permanently unconscious. If you are temporarily incapacitated and are expected to recover, a Living Will does not take effect, therefore; the only person who could make medical decisions on your behalf (even if you're in a freakin' coma) would be a pre-designated Health Care Power of Attorney-- this is why it is ESSENTIAL to have both of these forms completed. I have conveniently included a link to your Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will combined form ONLINE here. Take the time now in quarantine to go online and complete these essential documents to protect yourself and reduce the strain on family members. PRO TIP: Once you're done completing the forms, make sure your Health Care Power of Attorney has the original copy deeming his or her authority, you have a copy, and your healthcare providers also have a copy to put in your medical records. 2. Vital Life Documents This category of documents includes:
I HIGHLY recommend ordering an accordion file folder like this one on Amazon to keep all of your vital life documents together. Take advantage of the labels and use the bullets I listed above to create labels for each pocket. One step further, add a large label to the outside of the folder that says "Vital Life Docs." You don't need a fancy label maker, paper and tape work great! If you have a home office, store the accordion file there. If not, find another easy to access place. 3. Legacy Documents Legacy documents you should organize in case of a crisis are Last Will + Testament, records of all banking accounts, and list of all insurance policies. A Last Will and Testament is defined by LegalZoom.com as "A legal document that lets you, the testator (the person making the will), designate individuals or charities to receive your property and possessions when you pass away. . . A last will also allows you to name a guardian to care for minor children. The main purpose of a will is to ensure that the testator's wishes, and not the default laws of the state, will be followed upon the testator's death." This form is pretty self explanatory on why it is extremely important to have completed and organized before a crisis. You can easily create your Last Will and Testament online with Legal Zoom here. You'll also need to create a list of bank, investment, retirement/pension account numbers to ensure that all accounts are protected and resolved in case of a serious crisis. Lastly, compile all of your insurance policies-- most importantly your life insurance policy! Again, I highly recommend grabbing a second accordion file for this category of paperwork and following the instructions in step two for these documents. Phew, and that's all I got for you today folks! I GUARANTEE if you take the time to complete and organize the above documents, you will feel like you have your life together and more importantly you will be PREPARED in case of a crisis. Quarantine time really puts things into perspective and reminds us how fragile and valuable life is. Take care of yourself and make things easier on trusted family and friends by organizing the above "Crisis Paperwork." Have questions on any of the listed forms or documents? Comment below! If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. onPinterest! Need more help with organizing your home or estate clearing? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.
 Punxutawney Phil, easily the most famous groundhog alive, correctly predicted an early spring this year which I could not be more excited about! As a professional organizer, springtime means spring cleaning. I get it though, cleaning the house isn't always a fun task even if it is during the springtime. If anything, many of us would rather be out enjoying the nice warm weather instead of scrubbing our floors. Much like New Year's resolutions, spring cleaning often starts with good intentions but can easily be thrown to the side if you are not prepared and organized to get the job DONE! Here are some easy tips from your favorite Certified Professional Organizer® to organize your spring cleaning and make it a success. 1. Gather your supplies Before you start any of your cleaning, make a list of items you will need. This list may include soft cloths, glass cleaner, multi-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, trash bags, a duster, maybe Swiffer pads. . . and any other products you use to clean your home. Organize your list by room and write the products you need to clean each room or space even if there are duplicates. A few items I HIGHLY recommend you add to your list is a few boxes or thick trash bags for donations. Additionally, add a a box or two for moving items. When you start cleaning, you may come across a few items that are out of place. Instead of taking the time to put that item in it's place and stopping your spring cleaning flow, put it in the "moving" box and take care of the items once you're finished cleaning for the day. 2. Declutter before cleaning Make sure to declutter your space before you clean it. It is so much easier to dust and wipe down surfaces with less stuff. There are two approaches to this method:
3. Get creative Don't feel tied to the way you had items placed before the decluttering and cleaning process. Be creative with how you decide to reorganize your things and use the space you have. Consider hanging hats on a wall like the image below for instance or using an over the door organizer for your shoes. Being creative can get us excited about organizing and cleaning. It feels good to have a new look in a room which will provide you the energy you need to work on the next room.  Carrie Waller (The Glitter Guide) 4. Clean by Blog Post Take advantage of the resources we offer here on the Sage Organizing Co. advice blog! Consider planning your cleaning by a blog post a day. For instance, Monday you declutter your kitchen then follow these 4 Kitchen Organizing Secrets that will Blow your Mind to guide your cleaning. Tuesday, declutter your closet then follow Sage Organizing's 5 Tips to Organize your Closet. I've included links to other blog posts that may be helpful for your spring cleaning:
Which spaces or rooms do you plan to spring clean? Comment below! If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. onPinterest! Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area. Related Articles: How to Beautifully Stage your Home so it Sells in a Flash How to Sort Like a Pro: Advice from a Professional Organizer Nobody Wants the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When it Happens to You   I know it may be something you're hesitant to talk about with a professional organizer, but we gotta handle that junk drawer! Now, don't feel ashamed, we ALL have some degree of a junk drawer in our homes (even professional organizers!) However, we can't let it get out hand. A junk drawer can morph into a junk side table, then into a junk console, and before you know, it's turns into a junk virus, spreading throughout your home. Your favorite professional organizer is here to help you get that dreaded junk drawer organized! The goal is not to eliminate the existence of a junk drawer in your home but instead make it a functional junk drawer. If you're tired of slipping things in your junk drawer and being scared to look in, follow the steps below. Step 1: First, DECLUTTER Take everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, out of your junk drawer (or junk drawers.) Dump it all out on the floor or a large table. Now, go through each item and decide if you need it or not (or as Marie Kondo would say, "Does it spark joy?") Do you really need 12 pens that barely write? What about those Chick-fil-a receipts from last year? If you're having doubts, you probably don't need it. Step 2: Clean that drawer! This is a great time to wipe down and clean the inside of the drawer before you put anything back in. Make sure to get in all the corners and take note of how much space you have in there for your stuff (reconsider decluttering more if you're thinking the drawer is smaller than you thought!) Step 3: Sort your stuff Look at the remaining contents and group similar items together. Try to make your "throwaway/recycle" pile the biggest one and don't hesitate to make a "relocation" pile to put items in different places in your home they are better suited for. It is hard to tell you exactly what these groups should be because everybody's junk drawer is going to be unique! Here is an example of a categorized kitchen junk drawer to get you thinking:
Step 4: Choose a storage solution Based on the number and types of categories you have for your junk drawer, choose a storage solution that has compartments to keep your things organized in your junk drawer. Make sure to measure your drawer! If there are gaps between the storage compartment(s) and the drawer, stuff is bound to get stuck where it shouldn't be. There are a bunch of different options at HomeGoods and Target for your junk drawer. Here are some Amazon links to check out
That's your quick guide to organizing your junk drawer, according to a professional organizer. Now that your drawer is organized, it's time to keep it that way! Check out this post I wrote on maintaining organization to get some ideas. If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest and get ideas from a Professional Organizer! Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area. Related Articles: 4 Easy Hacks to Organize your Pantry Unclog your Beauty Drawer with these 5 Hacks 5 Tips to Organize your Closet TODAY   The holidays are over and the twenties are officially upon us. Woo hoo!! The phrase "out with the old, in with the new" is true for many people when it comes to starting off the new year fresh-- organization is no exception! New Year's resolutions are often well-intentioned, but let's be honest-- they are usually thrown to the way-side a month or even a few weeks into the year. Life is busy, work and kids are a lot to manage, how are we supposed to find time to do yoga and eat vegetables 3 times a day?! Whether it's quitting bad habits, starting a new hobby, or adjusting your lifestyle, you can set yourself up for success this new year by implementing organization in your home and schedule! Read on to find out 5 tips to organize your 2020! 1. Utilize a calendar Whether it be paper or digital, having (and using!) a single calendar for all tasks, reminders, appointments, and events is the first step to organizing your day, week, month, and year. Most phones come with a calendar app already installed, but if you aren't a fan of how it functions, there are plenty of other calendar apps you can download. A great benefit of digital calendars is you can also set up reminder notifications to prevent from any confusion. If digital calendars aren't your thing, a paper calendar works too! One thing to keep in mind is to make sure your calendar is portable so you can add events to it even when you're not home. At some point, we all have had to delay scheduling or adding an event to our calendar because it's at home on our wall or desk. A portable calendar makes it easy for you to keep track of your life at home and on-the-go! 2. Post-Holiday Present Declutter Presents are abundant during the holidays which is all great fun until our home gets cluttered. Think about all the presents you received and count them. Now, take that number and give away or throw away the same number of items in your home. Read here to decide if an item should be donated or thrown out! A post-holiday present declutter is a great way to maintain organization in your home and make sure you don't have too much stuff for the space available. 3. Cleaning/Chore Schedule Establishing a cleaning/chore schedule for your household is a must! None of us are excited about cleaning our bathrooms so it's easy to put it off. However, this often ends up in frustration and feeling overwhelmed. A schedule keeps everybody on track and spreads the responsibility evenly amongst all family members. Nobody can use the excuse anymore that they didn't know or forgot they had to do a house chore! Plus, by spreading the cleaning and chores across all family members, you have more time and can realistically plan accomplishing those new year's resolutions! 4. Family Message Board A family message board and a chore schedule sound like they may be same, but these are separate and have their own functions. The chore schedule should show family members their responsibilities for the week or month. A message board is perfect in the kitchen or anywhere everybody in the house passes through to communicate. Messages may be something like, "I fed the dog" or "I'll be back around 6pm" or "dinner is at 7pm." Message boards are an easy and fun way to make sure the whole family is on the same page and knows what's going on. 5. Meal Prep Prepping your meals for the week is another way to manage time plus eat healthy. Meal prepping prevents those times of coming home from work, starving, and not in the mood to make a balanced meal so you just reach for the instant mac and cheese for you and the family. Moments like these are what often lead to giving up on resolutions. Meal prepping gives you a sense of accomplishment and enables you to be more productive during busy weekdays. You can read more details on meal prepping (and how I manage to do it for my family) here. And those are 5 tips from a Certified Professional Organizer® to start your 2020 off organized! Set yourself up for success in the new year by getting your home, schedule, and life organized. What are your New Year's resolutions? Comment below! If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest and get ideas from a Professional Organizer! Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area. Related Articles: How I created a weekly routine that works for our family 6 Tips to Maintain Organization in Your Home Your Guilt-Free Decluttering List  Whether you're full of excitement or dread, the holiday season is officially upon us. The holidays can be chaotic no matter your own personal feelings on the season. During this busy time of year, it is easy for your home to suffer from clutter and disorganization. I think it's safe to say we all have the thought of "What am I supposed to do with (this/that/the other)?" more often than usual during the holidays. One holiday tradition that trips up a lot of people is organizing, displaying, and storing greeting cards. We all love seeing adorable pictures of family and friends! However, it is important to establish a functional way to organize these cards so that they don't start taking over all flat surfaces. Your favorite professional organizer is here to help! Here are six ways to manage your greeting cards this holiday season: 1. An easy way to display, organize, and store greeting cards is to hole punch the top corner of each card. Next, grab a binder ring clip and thread all of your cards on the ring. This is a great method to keep your cards from being scattered all over the house and to easily flip through all of them. BONUS: if you're really feeling ambitious, you can create a "cover" card to label the year. A cover card, for example, may say something like "Christmas 2019" or "2019 Holiday Cards." Feel free to make it as pretty and festive as you like!! 2. Another way to organize greeting cards is to store them digitally. Of course, you can scan each card into your computer or laptop but for those of who are a little more technologically challenged, it is simpler to take a photo with your phone. Make sure to create a "2019 Holidays" folder for the photos to be kept in so that you aren't cluttering your phone gallery while decluttering your home! 3. Shop for a festive card holder! You can find just about anything on Amazon, am I right? A great way to show off those beautiful pictures of your kids and grandkids is to use a card holder that doubles as holiday decor. I found this absolutely gorgeous card holder that looks like a chapel here on Amazon: Chapel Card Holder There are tons of different styles if you prefer something else like this Wire Christmas Tree Card Holder 4. Another more "trendy" option for displaying photos and cards is on strings of light using clothespins. Here's a link to a string of lights that has the lights IN the clothespins, we are truly living in the future folks: Photo Clip String Lights A lot of people keep these lights up all year round and switch out the photos as often as they like. This is an easier way to display more recent memories without having to find places for more photo frames. 5. Card storage boxes or accordion file folders are great options for storing those cards of your sweet little ones. Here's a storage box on from Bed Bath and Beyond: Card Storage Box with Dividers Whether you use a storage bin or an accordion file, make sure to take advantage of the labels! You can either label by year or even by child. This is a great way to see how your kids have grown through the years. 6. One last tip is the importance of differentiating cards that turn into keepsakes or clutter. Consider why you are keeping holiday cards? If it's out of pure guilt, know that it is okay to recycle the majority of your cards. The KonMari method is a great tool for this situation. Keep the cards that truly spark joy! What is your favorite way to display or store cards? Comment below! If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest and get ideas from a Professional Organizer! Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area. Related Articles: Post-Holiday Organizing: detox + declutter your home after the holidays Gift these 5 Wonderful EXPERIENCES to the Ones you Love Your Guilt-Free Decluttering List   Pantries are like the command center of the kitchen. Our kids and spouses shuffle through them looking for a snack, the chef of the house drags out all the spices for dinner-- our pantries are bound to become a chaotic mess without some organization. Read on for my top 4 easy hacks for organizing your pantry today! 1. Get rid of those boxes Empty out food that comes in cardboard boxes or oversized bags and use clear containers to store your food. This not only helps you fit more into your pantry, but it's also a better system to keep your food fresh longer since the containers will be far more airtight than a box. You can buy clear plastic containers from Amazon, Target, Walmart, or HomeGoods. Mason jars are also a great alternative! 2. Get those cans in order Before organizing your canned goods, it's best to go through them all and make sure there aren't any that are expired. Next, invest in a can rack to keep your canned food from getting knocked over or edging out of its given space in your pantry. You can buy a can rack from Amazon right here! 3. Separate your food by meals/needs Make sure that your food is organized by category. For instance, I like to keep all of my baking ingredients together so I'll keep my vanilla extract (for example) with all my other common baking goods instead of with all the spices I use for cooking meals. I also like to keep all of my "breakfast" food in one area together and "snacks" in a separate part of the pantry too. This makes it easy when you're cooking to just have to look in one spot of the pantry instead of going through the entire space. 4. Add wire shelves Maximize the space in your pantry before sacrificing some of your organizing goals. I personally love to use under shelf baskets like these from Amazon to utilize vertical space. If under shelf baskets don't seem right for your pantry, consider getting shelves for your pantry door like this one. The more space you have, the easier it will be to categorize and organize your pantry so it's not all jumbled. And those are my top 4 easy hacks for organizing your pantry and making your food accessible. It may take a little effort to get it in order at first, but following these pantry organization tips will save you far more time and stress in the long run. If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest! Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area. Related Articles: How to Sort like a Pro: Advice from a Professional Organizer 6 Tips to Maintain Organization in Your Home Unclog your Beauty Drawer with these 5 Hacks   Closets: the space that can either fill our hearts with ease or dread. As a professional organizer, I often work with my home-organizing clients on the closets in their homes. It is so easy for these tiny little rooms of ours to become overwhelming, cluttered, and messy because of all that we try to fit in them. Plus, closets are easy to hide from visitors. We just shut the door and blissfully ignore the truth that lies inside. Never fear, Candi is here! I have listed below my top five tips to make your closet an organized dream. I am positive that if you follow and commit to the following advice, you are sure to have a functional, organized closet. 1. Use slim hangers We've all seen the slim, velvety hangers but I promise you, they are NOT a gimmick! They will reduce how much space your hangers are taking up now by 30%. WOW! Now, I know what you're thinking, "But wire hangers are thin too." And yes, wire hangers are thin but they do not hold onto clothes well. Once clothes start slipping off of hangers, your closet is bound for chaos. The slim velvet hangers keep your clothes from going anywhere and the best part about them is they are CHEAP! You can find them at Target, Walmart, Amazon, HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and plenty of other places. I included a shopping link below for your convenience. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PGT9Y1J/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_YLkPDbBK1YQVY 2. Organize shorter garments closest to the door and longer garments furthest away To give your closet a far more organized aesthetic, place your shortest garments closer to your closet door entrance and gradually work your way back with longer clothing. Not only does this look better, but it is easier for you to find the shorter clothing items when they aren't hiding in between your longer garments. This tip will help you find the garment you're looking for, clearly see all the clothing you have hanging, and create a more pleasing and organized closet. 3. Ratios- The One for One Rule Having trouble with a cluttered closet? Still feel like your closet is STUFFED even after switching to slim hangers? You need the One-for-One rule in your life. Every time you buy a new dress, shirt, skirt, pair of pants, whatever is may be, you donate another piece of clothing from your closet. This rule prevents you from cluttering up your closet and helps you let go of the clothes you aren't using. What I love about this rule is once I give away one piece of clothing, I start to notice other garments I should donate too which is a great habit to get into. If you are really committed to sizing down your closet, make it a One-for-Two rule and get rid of two garments for every new one you bring home. 4. Keep the floor as clean as possible This may seem like an obvious organizing tip, but it's essential to keep this one in mind! If possible, try to keep your clothes from draping on the floor. When your floor isn't visible, it is bound to become messy in those hidden areas. Some people are able to keep their shoes lined up and neatly organized on the floor, but this is difficult for most people. I highly recommend using shoe racks to keep your shoes off the floor and organized. 5. Utilize storage boxes to store seldom used or off-season garments I absolutely LOVE this closet organization tip. I have had many clients tell me that their closet is too small or they can't fit all of their things in their closets even after decluttering. Storing seldom used or off-season garments is the key to getting your closet in tip-top shape. You can either grab plastic bins from the dollar store and add labels or go for some pretty fabric boxes to store your clothes. There are also plenty of under bed storage boxes that work great as well. But don't forget: if you store your bulky sweaters, make sure to throw replace them with your summer clothes when you pull those sweaters out. And for a seldom used bin of clothes: be sure to put them back in their designated bin once you're done wearing them so that they don't sneak into your closet space! Those are the 5 tips to get your closet in order! It isn't as hard as it sounds, I promise. Closets can be daunting, but I hope these five snippets of advice will help get you and your closet on track to an organized haven. If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest! Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area. Related Articles: 4 Kitchen Organizing Secrets That Will Blow Your Mind Closet Organization ideas + hacks: The 3 commandments How to Beautifully Stage your Home so it Sells in a Flash  |
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