The stuff of life

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Brynna Leslie

It's been six weeks since Christmas, and I'm finding it difficult to get around my house. Everywhere I step there are toys, toys and more toys. My mom called the other day to say she was ordering a table top hockey game for my son's birthday in February.

"Dear God, no!" It was the only thing that came to mind. "Mom, we can't cram another toy into our space. And even if we could, I wouldn't want it." Anyone who's sliced a foot open on a piece of Lego will understand why I was so adamant.

Like many families, we have an issue with what professional organizer Heather Burke calls "the stuff of life." "We bring things into our space, but we forget that the house is not a balloon," says Burke, the founder of Smart Space Organizing in Ottawa.

Two decades ago, Burke discovered she was "chronically disorganized," losing car keys, late for appointments, and never finding what she needed when she needed it. Since 1999, Burke - a former management consultant - has been helping families, students, and employers get more organized.

She points out most people have issues with organization. But anyone who feels overwhelmed can make 10 simple changes in their daily routines to try and cut down on the clutter.

The first rule is "one in, one out," especially for toys, clothes and books. Don't allow yourself to buy an item until you've selected one to donate.

Once you do bring it into the house, "don't put it down, put it away," says Burke. (Rule two) This includes mail, kids' homework, groceries, new clothes.

The third and fourth rules, "have a home for everything," and "keep flat surfaces clear," means deciding what to do with new acquisitions the minute we bring them across the threshold.

"Think about things before you bring them into the house," Burke says. (Rule five). "If you see something on special at the grocery store, ask yourself if you have room in the pantry for it before you buy it and bring it home."

"Make it easy for everyone in the house to put things away." (Rule six).

Have a basket for television remotes, a box for receipts, a tray for mail, and label the shelves in the fridge to help kids know where everything goes. For anything that doesn't have a place anymore, "have a donation station." (Rule number seven).

And despite rumours we exist in a paperless society, Burke points out that we have more paper in our lives than ever before. She recommends having a system for paper. (Rule eight). File bills, discard flyers and old newspapers, and disconnect your computer from the printer. If you feel compelled to print something, "ask yourself why you're keeping it, and only keep items that you want to take action on."

Laundry-time is an opportunity to get rid of things that are worn or don't fit. At the beginning of each season, turn all hangers in the closet around backward. As you wear items, turn the hangers forward.

"We only wear 20 per cent of our clothes 80 per cent of the time," says Burke.

Finally, the one in, one out rule applies to time management as well. "Make friends with your calendar," Burke advises, and "verb your to-do list." This means to-do lists are action-oriented. Without action, it's just another piece of paper to add to the pile. Decide to do it, delegate it or delete it.

If you're like us, the post-Christmas bulk means before any of these great ideas can be implemented, a de-cluttering session is in order. Burke advises tackling one drawer or shelf at a time for 15-minutes and "see if you can beat the clock."

And if you still need help, even with a single room or group of items? "You don't have to be knee-deep in clutter" (or Lego) to call in the pros.