Category Archives: Downsize

What Does It Mean To Be Organized?

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What does it mean to be organized? This is a question I get from my clients, especially when they are in the INTENTIONAL DECISION process of the Organize Coaching program. It is not an easy question to answer, because I know what it is like for me – we are all different when it comes to finding “homes” for our belongings.

Being organized means different things to different people. For some, it means having a clean and tidy home. For others, it means being able to find what they need when they need it. And for still others, it means being able to manage their time effectively.

There is no one right way to be organized. The important thing is to find what works for you and stick with it. If you are struggling to get organized, there are many resources available to help you.

The most important thing to remember is that being organized is a journey, not a destination. It takes time and effort to get organized, but it is worth it in the end. When you are organized, you will feel more in control of your life and you will be able to focus on the things that are important to you.

Being organized can have various meanings and interpretations depending on the context and individual perspectives. Here are some common characteristics and experiences associated with being organized:

  1. Clarity and Focus: Being organized often entails having a clear understanding of priorities, tasks, and goals. It involves being able to focus on what matters most without getting overwhelmed by unnecessary distractions or clutter.
  2. Efficiency and Productivity: Organization often leads to increased efficiency and productivity. By having systems in place, being able to find what you need when you need them, and managing time effectively, you can accomplish tasks more efficiently and make better use of your resources.
  3. Reduced Stress: An organized lifestyle can contribute to reduced stress levels. When you have a sense of control over your environment, tasks, and commitments, you are less likely to experience the anxiety and overwhelm that can come with disorganization.
  4. Improved Time Management: Being organized allows for better time management. You can prioritize tasks, allocate time effectively, and create schedules or routines that optimize your productivity. This can help you avoid procrastination, meet deadlines, and have a better work-life balance.
  5. Less Clutter and Physical Order: Organization often involves keeping physical spaces tidy and clutter-free. Having an organized living or working environment can create a sense of calm, make it easier to find things, and provide a visually appealing space that promotes well-being.
  6. Better Decision-Making: Being organized can contribute to better decision-making processes. When you have a clear overview of your options, relevant information, and priorities, you can make informed choices more efficiently and confidently.
  7. Improved Accountability and Responsibility: Being organized can foster a sense of accountability and responsibility for your actions and commitments. By having systems in place, tracking progress, and meeting deadlines, you can develop a reputation for reliability and dependability.
  8. Enhanced Creativity and Focus: Some individuals find that being organized can enhance their creativity and focus. When the external environment is organized and distractions are minimized, it becomes easier to concentrate, think creatively, and generate new ideas.

It’s important to note that being organized is a personal journey, and what works for one person may not work for another. The key is to find organizational strategies and systems that align with your preferences, needs, and goals, and create a sense of order and harmony in your life – this is where a Professional Organizer Coach can help you.

𝓟𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓮 & 𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓸𝓷𝔂 ~ Your Organizer & Coach, Cheryl

If you are seeking further guidance beyond this post, my personalized coaching programs may be of assistance to you. Please book a complimentary session to discuss what is holding you back. I look forward to guiding you on your journey to achieving organized spaces in your lifestyle.

NEW PHONE # 860-941-8630

A TEXT  gets to me faster: Name, Issue, the Best time to call

Email: envisionsdesigns@gmail.com

There Are Benefits Of Downsizing

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Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

You spend a large part of your life and hard-earned money on the concept of the American dream, buying and living in your forever home. Your home is a special place, filled with lots of memories, love, and tons of laughter. As you age, you might start asking yourself whether your home works with your changing daily routines and needs. 

To ease challenges and simplify living, you may want to consider downsizing. Downsizing can offer many financial and lifestyle benefits for seniors.

Why Downsize? Downsizing is the idea that your current space is more than you need and moving to a smaller space may fit your future needs better. Minimizing your living space and the amount of stuff you have can lead to less stress, lower living expenses, and a simpler overall life.

What to Look For. Before you downsize, create a list of your needs and wants in a new home. First and foremost, make sure you are moving to a space where you feel safe and comfortable. If you are going from a single-family home to a condo, consider that you will now have neighbors and the style of living will be different, but sometimes different is good and can expose you to new things you would never enjoy if you didn’t downsize.

Also, consider your future health needs. You may no longer want or be able to go up and down the stairs easily, so consider a ranch-style home or a first-floor unit. Ensure you have optimal mobility in your new living space to help prevent accidents and falls.

YOUR FIRST STEP:

Declutter.  As we get older we seem to accumulate a lot of treasures over the years. Moving into a smaller space forces decisions on how to sort through treasures. There are some basic ways to streamline possessions when downsizing:

  • Determine what is going on with you
  • Give items to the adult children
  • Donate
  • Sell
  • Create 4 piles when decluttering  each space – K-T-D-S = KEEP TOSS DONATE SELL

Packing. If the senior and family members are packing up instead of using professional movers, there are a few tips to consider:

  • Pack one room completely before moving on. This means making the more difficult decisions up front without leaving items to decide on late in the process.
  • Pack dishes and glassware with care. Use extra packing paper and wrap each individual piece. Stack dishes vertically, not horizontally. Pad the container’s top and bottom with cloth or towels and mark the box “fragile.”
  • Pack essentials separately. Consider what will be needed in the first week in the new home—examples: medications, toilet paper, shower curtains, towels, and hand soap. Make sure you Label the boxes so that each container does not have to be opened to discover what is inside. Label each box with – WHAT ROOM DOES IT GO, CONTENT believe me as many times as I have moved your friends will appreciate these two bits of information.

Consider a portable storage unit or a moving pod, which will provide a less stressful experience because it can be loaded over time. Make sure when you’re setting a new budget for your new home – you budget this item.

Consider hiring professionals. There are Professional Organizers (like Lifestyle by Design) who specialize in assisting older adults and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of relocation or a transition in your lifestyle.

If you’re looking for guidance beyond this article today, my Coaching Programs can be customized just for you. Book a Complimentary Session to discuss what’s holding you back. I look forward to guiding you on your journey to achieve organized spaces in your home or business.

𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓕𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓵𝔂 𝓞𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓷𝓲𝔃𝓮𝓻, 𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓵

𝑾𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒖𝒔!

Call/Text 860.961.6824 or email envisionsdesigns@gmail.com for your free 1/2 hour complimentary consultation.

Let me coach you to transformation by getting rid of Clutter and bringing Clarity to your life. 

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Our Lifestyle Organizers specialize in handling the personal, tangible property items during the process of settling an estate, as well as assisting the professionals, individuals, and families involved.

When a client finds us, or an attorney first refers a client to our Lifestyle Organizer, the person has usually just suffered a loss. Not only is this person handling the new, and many times unexpected, issues at hand, but they are doing so while grieving. 

Everything seems harder and much more overwhelming in these circumstances. As a compassionate and experienced professional on your side in a complex and overwhelming process, a Lifestyle Organizer can be the perfect ally.

Peace & Harmony

Declutter Tool

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picture-your-sentimental-possessionsDownload

Do you have “Those Items” around your house that don’t fit into your style but you can’t quite find it in your heart to depart with them? I remember years ago, a client had lost her father “the fisherman” when they cleared out his fishing cabin they brought home these freaking fish that were mounted onto a wooden plaque and would sing, and flip their fins . . . do you remember them from the 1980s?

Well, everyone and anyone must have brought him one of these fish that sang songs like; “Take me to the river” and many other hits! My client had a what I called a vintage-glamourous home decor – the fish did not have a home in her home to say the least – but, she had a hard time parting with them because they brought back funny memories to her when she and the family would spend time with their father at the cabin.

I created this form for her, she could take a picture of each of the plagued fish and write a funny memory to share with her family, children and grandchildren. I took the pictures had them developed at The Mystic Color Lab and together with her family they shared stories and laughs while attaching the pictures to the sheet, writing the stories, then inserting them into a report covers to be placed into the 3-ring binder I purchased for her.

I would laugh when I’d hear her grandchildren going through the book and telling stories that were half their imagination and the other half the facts . . . it was hilarious!

Download the form – Start sharing stories with pictures – Declutter the fun way!

Peace ♥ Harmony

Cheryl XO

Sunday Blessings

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Amazing Grace

Peace & Harmony ~ Cheryl

This Is Your Brain On Spring Fever

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Peace & Harmony ~ Cheryl

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Are you looking to remove clutter from your life in order to gain Clarity this Spring? Comment me @ cchomeconcierge@gmail.com. We can talk about what the next step will be for you.

Like me here – CC Home Concierge Co. Facebook Page

20% off First Concierge Service Booked – Offer good until 3/31/2019

Trust Me When I Say – Nobody Wants Your Sh$t (stuff!) Downsize Your Clutter Now

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home downsize 2

“In today’s world of tiny houses, capsule wardrobes and consultant Marie Kondo, a lot of people have felt the urge to purge”. More and more of us are deciding to get rid of extra space, and extra stuff, and moving into something cozier and best efficient for our lives.

While several factors are important to us in choosing a home in our later years, which include items like having sidewalks, a nearby grocery store, and relatively short commutes to work, size is also a consideration. I don’t about you, but I don’t want to be taking care of a 2,000 square foot home in my wiser years  – when I’ll most likely have trouble keeping an eye on my shoes!

When you’re newlyweds, eager to start a family, and want extra space for friends and relatives to stay while visiting, a big home fit the bill. But, now your children have their own homes (I hope!) and this big house is now too costly for your life. If you’re an Empty-Nester, now is the time to downsize into a small place.

MANY BABY BOOMERS ARE willing to downsize their home in order to lower their retirement costs. Moving to a less expensive house can simplify your life, to get your expenses under control and help you live out your life in financial security along with Peace of Mind!

Here’s 7 Tips To Downsize & Declutter Your Home

  1. Get motivated. Sometimes you need a reason to downsize. Maybe your son or daughter is moving back home (for a short period of time) and you have to make room, or you’re putting the house on the market in order to move down south. Having a deadline is a powerful motivator to set things in motion. If you don’t have an official move date, then set your own deadline, such as a birthday, anniversary, or the end of the year.
  2. Stop trying to impress everyone. Many people think they have to have the best of everything. But by this point in our lives we should be beyond such trivial comparisons. It’s not what you have in your life that’s important, it’s who and what you have in your life that brings you joy!. The books that sit on your shelves don’t matter as much as the books you’ve actually read. If you really want to impress your friends, display love and interest in what matters to them – instead of showcasing a garage full of junk.
  3. Make a plan. Start making lists and schedules. Come up with a priority-order of things to get done, then delegate who is responsible for what tasks. Who will clean out the garage by what date? Choose the charities that will accept your donations – my favorite is to hold a tag sale to make some extra moola! Determine a strategy for disposing of your household’s old textbooks, magazines, sports equipment, and decide who is going to negotiate with them about what they’re going to take and what they’re going to allow you to dispose of.
  4. Save only what “brings you joy”. Take a positive plan-of-attack. Don’t look at it like you’re getting rid of everything that has no home. Instead, think in terms of saving what’s important and what you will actually use in your new life. If an item doesn’t bring you joy, then let it go to someone else that can appreciate it to its fullest. Your goal is a smaller but more valuable collection of belongings.
  5. Get more decisive. Make decisions about each item. Sometimes decluttering goes in stages. As you proceed through the process, recognize how much energy organizing and disposing of all your stuff takes out of you. You will begin to realize that what seemed like “I can’t live without this” two months ago now just seems like extra stuff. You’ll become more practical, develop a determination to keep your clutter under control. Then, you’ll start moving through your piles more quickly.
  6. Rent a storage unit . . . Not Long Term! Make no mistake, downsizing is a lot of work, and emotional issues may hold you up. If you just can’t find a way to scale down to the level you need, then rent a storage unit and put the overflow in there. Set a deadline for paying the fee; 3 months? A year? Go back and take another look before the deadline. You’ll have fresh eyes and clearer mind to make decisions to complete the job at that point.
  7. Enjoy the new You! The earlier you downsize the better, physically, socially and financially. It’s about giving up something today for something you truly want or need. The payoff is often a fresh start, lower living expenses, less house-related work, a different lifestyle with less stress and more freedom to travel or whatever is most important to you.

Going through a lifetime of possessions may require professional assistance. Not everyone is comfortable, for example, helping people go through family heirlooms. Figure out which pieces family members might want and which to sell, donate or keep. Consider archiving your children’s drawings and photographs digitally. Some opt for an estate sale, garage sale or yard sale, depending on what they have. Whatever you may need help with a Professional Organizer is skilled and educated to help with your declutter & downsize project.

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Are you looking for assistance with downsizing your home? Comment me @ cchomeconcierge@gmail.com. We can talk about what the next step will be for you.

You can find me here – CC Home Concierge Co. ~ formerly Envision – Designs

Like me here – CC Home Concierge Co. Facebook Page

20% off First Concierge Service Booked – Offer good until 3/31/2019

 

Home Is Where The Stuff Is – Declutter and Downsizing For Seniors

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declutter and downsize the home

5 Easy Ways to Start Downsizing Today

1 – Start with your closet. Donate or sell anything you haven’t worn in 6 months, this is a rule I have followed since 1986. Why not try the Hanger Method, one of Peter Walsh’s favorite tricks? Using this method, you hang all the clothes in your closet the wrong way. As you wear the items, you hang them back up the right way. After 6 months or a Season, you can quickly see exactly which clothes you don’t wear just by scanning the direction of your hangers.

2 – How about your kitchen? Recycle all of those plastic storage containers that are missing lids, and all of the lids that are missing containers. (I even have this problem at home — where do all those lids go?)

3 – The bathroom. If you’re a woman, I know you can do some deep-cleaning here. I’m just guessing you have at least 3 bottles of shampoo, one of which is probably very near empty but still sits in your shower, right? Toss it into the recycle bin.  And what about makeup? Do you have compacts filled with crumbled and broken powder or eye-shadow? THROW THEM OUT! If you haven’t used it in the past 3 months, it’s safe to say you probably will not be using it, so clear out the clutter and make room for the products that you do use and love.

4 – Sell your old books online at a site like BookScouter.com. You can also look for a local used bookstore that buys old books or your local library.This is a great way to get rid of old books and trade for gently used books that you want to read.

5 – Go buy a sketchbook at an art supply shop, Michaels   or Ocean State Job Lot in the CT & RI area. Go through your magazines and tear out any recipes, outfit or decorating ideas, etc. and tape them in the pages of your sketchbook. Then get rid of the magazines. What a great way to rid yourself with several years worth of old magazines.

Downsizing in Easy – Simple Quick Steps

The above 5 steps are a good start to downsizing your life, but what about the rest of your stuff? Where do you begin? How do you know what to keep and what to get rid of? You can contact Cheryl at CC Home Concierge Company ~ formerly Envision-Designs for a free 30 minute consultation, together we will come up with a Downsizing & Relocation Plan for the home.

Peace & Harmony ~ Cheryl

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