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Three BIG Questions: Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman

Three BIG Questions: Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman   Carleen-Eve-Fischer-Hoffman.jpg

Getting organized for the New Year

By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com

Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman, aka “ The Clutter Doctor” founded her professional organizing business 16 years ago. A recognized expert and recipient of the prestigious Golden Circle Award from the National Association of Professional Organizers, Fischer Hoffman has been featured in local newspapers, magazines, radio and T.V. shows, and has taught organization classes at area colleges. She’s also written on organizing for national publications, hosted her own T.V. show and is an advisor for the Western Mass Clutter Support Group.

For January, Fischer Hoffman graciously agreed to share her organizing expertise with Prime. Here are her tips:

Q: “Getting organized” is often a doomed New Year's Resolution. Why is it so hard to get started organizing things?

“It’s hard to get started because everyone makes such a big deal about it – ‘I’m going to spend the day organizing my office!’ or ‘Honey, let’s clean out the garage this weekend!’  Plus, there’s added stress at the New Year to ‘start fresh.’ But who wants to spend time going through 20 years of items when they could be out skiing? There will always be something that’s more fun and less stressful to do.

“It’s also difficult to get started because people are overwhelmed – both in their lives and with the thought of having to start yet another project. Organizing seems too big to do.” 

Q: If you are committed to decluttering, what steps should you follow?

“First, don’t say you are going to spend a day organizing a specific area in your home and expect to be finished by day’s end. It’s too much to ask yourself to do; you will lose interest and get discouraged pretty fast. Decide what your plans are for the space. Having a clear goal in mind is always good!

“Next, break the project down into small, manageable steps:

1. Schedule a two-hour time slot on your calendar. You schedule your doctor and other appointments, why not make an appointment with yourself to get started? 

2. Gather a few supplies and have them ready to go (boxes, trash bags, labels, marker).

3. Just do it.  If your goal is to organize your spare bedroom, start on one side of the room and work towards the other. Look at items one by one and decide if they should stay in this room, go to another room, be donated, go to a friend, or be placed in the trash. Don’t worry about whether or not the item ‘brings you joy,’ or whether or not you have worn it in the past year. Simply ask yourself if you will ever use the item.

4. “Next, review your space and see how you can use it differently to maximize storage. There are many types of storage products available, make sure you choose the right product for the job.  Measure before you go shopping!

5. For each stage, work only for the two-hours, then stop. Either take a break, or pick up where you left off on another day. If you are done for the day, remember to schedule another date with yourself.”

  “Keep in mind that getting organized is about living simply, it’s not necessarily about how much you can get rid of.”

Q: Once you get an area or task organized, how can you keep it from getting re-cluttered?

“If you follow the steps above and take the time to create systems that work for you, chances are you will maintain what you’ve accomplished.  “Second – and this is the hardest– you have to be aware of your daily habits and CHANGE THEM.  Yes, change them!  If you are used to just dumping items into that spare bedroom because you don’t use it often, that’s a bad habit.  A better habit would be to catch yourself doing that and decide where an item should go so things won’t pile up again.

“Getting organized can be rewarding and liberating!  Good luck with your project!”

 

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