There are only 24 hours in a day (to many people’s chagrin!) and the best way to break them down is to start with your sleep.

Step 1: Figure out how much sleep you need to be your best self the next day and make it a priority. If you’re not sure, and you know you’re not getting enough rest, start going to bed 30 minutes earlier for a couple of days and see how you feel. If you’re not quite sure at that point, keep adding on another 30 minutes until you wake up in the morning refreshed.

Step 2: Implement an evening downtime ritual. Some people can drink a cup of coffee, watch an apocalyptic movie, and fall immediately into bed with no problems. But….if this isn’t you then think about how much time you need to decompress in the evening so that when you actually do get in bed, your body and mind are ready to relax. Otherwise, you might be staring up at the ceiling with your mind going a hundred miles a minute!

Step 3: As an organizer, I like things to be neat and I like to think about how our physical objects affect our mental clarity. So, if you have a lot of distracting items where you sleep, take some time and clear the space so it feels like a calm environment. Common examples of distractions are clothes on the floor, electronics, and work papers. Make it a habit every day to do a quick pick-up of the clutter that makes it difficult to fall asleep. This little bit of maintenance will help your allotted sleep time to be most productive.

Here’s what a typical nightly schedule might look like:
7 pm: Dinner
8 pm — 9 pm: Do restful activities like reading a book, listening to calming music, watching your favorite show, doing a soothing hobby, or meditating.
10 pm: Dim the lights in the home. Draw the curtains closed. Turn the thermostat down for a cooler sleep environment. Turn off electronics. Do a 5-minute sweep of clutter in the bedroom. Turn off noises, alarms, and notifications. Spray a restful scent like lavender in the room or light a candle.
11 pm: Get in bed
11 pm-7am: Sleep

Your nightly routine takes some planning but if you break it down into steps based on what you need for relaxation, you just might see how productive you are the next day. Discipline becomes a habit and habits can become cherished rituals. You deserve the sleep you need so build it into your schedule like one of your most important projects!

#productivity #sleep #organizing #evening #schedule

We fall into bed after a long week and right before we close our eyes we notice, the pile of laundry in the corner, the unopened mail on the dresser, the empty water glasses on every surface, and proceed to berate ourselves for not being a more tidy human being. Great way to relax right before bedtime right?
Fret not! Don’t shame yourself, instead show your bedroom some love this weekend and get it ship-shape so your mind feels free when you snuggle down for the rest of the week.
First things first: Make your bed.
If you do no other organizing in this room during the week, make this priority number one. It sets the tone for the rest of the room and slipping into a well-made bed feels so good at night.
Then --
1. Pick up laundry (clean or dirty) and place it in your laundry basket or home them in your drawers and closet spaces.
2. Look at the floor. Pick up any items that do not belong there. For example, kicked-off shoes go back in the closet or rack, children’s toys go back to a basket or bin, and boxes and bags from shopping need to be unpacked and recycled/thrown away.
3. Look at all other surfaces. This includes side tables, desks, armoires, dressers, and shelves. Work your way around the room with each surface and put away jewelry, books, papers/notes, and other belongings.
​
While you are doing this, you may want to get curious about how long the item has been there and why. Often we’ll put something down because we haven’t decided where to put it. If the object has no official home yet, this is a good time to make that decision.
4. Lovingly wipe down and clean. Depending on how long it takes to organize your items, this step may occur the next day. Pay attention to your stamina for cleaning & organizing and do this task at a period when you have the best energy for physical work!
5. Recycle, donate, re-home. If you find you have a lot of items that need to leave your living space, schedule time to get them out right away. Often the longer we wait to do this last step, the more likely they will be forgotten.
Relax in your bedroom knowing where everything is (and why!)

Okay - we have 4 WEEKS LEFT IN THE YEAR! 
It's time to accelerate. 
Take a hard look at the goals we've written down, half-planned, and set aside - and Take Action. 
Where can you drive change and take a big step so you're not dealing with it next year? 

• Do we need to set up food or meal deliveries going forward to ease meal planning? 
• Can we re-home or place objects, pictures and other items in a more intentional spot? 
• Is it time to truly get your home office area working for you? 
• Might we clear out the clutter in the garage, and bring outdoor items inside to shelter? 
• Have we sent out our holiday cards? 
• Have we organized our documents - physical and digital? 

Take stock of all you have accomplished this year - and enter 2022 refreshed and ready to go. 

How you approach the remaining weeks are up to you, and what you accomplish with them should feel good - inspiring even!
It's all about your mindset, and I'm your biggest cheerleader. :)

As always - I am here as your Virtual Administrative Assistant and/or Physical Organizer/De-clutterer, working with you to make change and create SPACE! 
Reach out for a complimentary consult and sign up for my newsletter. 

-May your time and space be intentional & free-
Kim

Before we know it, Fall will be upon us!
Now I know we've all bought some new summer clothes this season, and our cozy layers and favorite jeans are waiting patiently for their turn. 
Before that happens, let's do an assessment of your clothing closet. Out with the old and in with the new! 
Give yourself time and make sure you don't have distractions.

• Pick a date in your calendar and block it off. 
• Alert your family, partner, or roommates that you want to be left alone. 
• Eat a light meal about an hour before you start so you aren't hungry or lethargic. 
• Check to see if your donation/textiles location will be open when you're finished. 

Gather your supplies. 

• Set a timer for this allotted occasion! If you'll be distracted by your phone, use an egg-timer, or clock radio. 
• Bring in bags, bins, or boxes for any items you want to recycle, donate or throw away.
• Play some fun music if that helps motivate you. 
• Wear clothing that enables you to move easily and you don't mind getting dirty. Put a hat or scarf on and some closed toed shoes. 
• Fetch a step-stool or ladder for higher shelves.

Get started! 

• I like to start at the top and work my way down. 
  • Bring down your items one at at time to look at them individually, or all of it in one fell swoop. 
  • Touch and look at each item and decide whether you want to keep, recycle, donate, or throw away. Place them in the containers you've designated. 
  • After you finish this section you can either put the keep items back in the closet (or wait until you've gone through the rest of the closet to assess if you want to re-arrange.)
  • Keep working your way down until you've looked at every item from the floor. 

Finish up.

• Place all of your keep items remaining back in your closet. 
  •  Depending on how much time you have, you can organize the remaining items by color, season, etc. or leave the merchandising for another organizing date!
• Take the trash out immediately, and bring the recycling and donations to your pre-planned locations. ​

Some notes to consider: 

• If you have a large walk-in closet and can't tackle this in one-sitting, then choose one wall (or section of a wall) to finish, and make a date with yourself to do the next section another time. 
• Take rest breaks when you need to and drink plenty of water. 
• You will feel sentimental, nostalgic, and emotional at times. It might be overwhelming. Let yourself have a moment to experience the feelings, congratulate yourself for working on this process, and keep going. 
• Trust your instincts. Your first inclination is almost always the right one, so if you make a decision about an item, don't overthink it. 

Pat yourself on the back! 
As always, I'm available to help with this process. 
I will help you open up the boxes, ask questions, give feedback on fit and wear, and most importantly make decisions. 

You. can. do. this. 
'May your time and space be intentional and free!' 
- Kim

Whenever I work with clients to help organize or de-clutter their spaces,  I always take into account the emotional energy as well as the physical. 
Dealing with your belongings, especially if they are sentimental, can be exhausting. Overwhelm can set in when you realize that you have way more 'stuff' than you realized and that can bring up feelings of shame, guilt, and regret for not dealing with them sooner. 
My job is to help guide you through this process as well. While I'm absolutely not a medical professional, I have found that having a caring, empathic, non-judgmental person next to you during the process can bring you much needed support to keep going and stay focused, help with making decisions you wouldn't get to on your own, and some fun! Yes, fun! 
So, whether you book a session with me or go for it on your own, here are some simple steps to prep for your next big de-cluttering and organizing project: 
1. Make a plan. Depending on the size of the undertaking and how quickly it needs to be finished,  I suggest starting small and regular. For instance, 2 or 3 hour blocks once or twice a week. 
2. Be well rested and fed. Make sure you aren't overly tired or your attitude will tank quickly. Have a light to moderate meal an hour or so before you begin the task. Don't overeat or you'll feel sluggish. 
3. Delete distractions. Pets, children, partners, neighbors, contractors, and phone calls/texts/emails all pull your focus. Be realistic and honest -  If any elements will sidetrack you, make the proper plans before you start. 
4. Accept your feelings and pat yourself on the back. Many people put off organizing and de-cluttering projects because the emotions they know might come up will be powerful. I often encourage people to take a moment if need be, and allow the sensations to wash over you. They will pass, and having felt them can be a big relief. Moving through these moments is empowering and shows you how strong you really are.

May your time and space be intentional and free! 
Kim
. 
. 
. 
Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

There is no end to information. We ingest the internet, books, people, TV, movies, podcasts… the list goes on and on. You could spend a lifetime learning and processing “data.”

The vast information available on a regular basis can be overwhelming and stifling. We could stay in a state of ‘information gathering’ forever and never contribute the talents we possess. 

A question: Has this happened to you?
You read, see, or hear something inspiring, and it lights you up, invoking an idea for an exciting project or goal. It could bring extra joy or success in to your life. Wahoo! 
Then, just as soon as the thought enters, it swiftly exits after you say things to yourself such as, “I don’t have time for that” or “I wouldn’t know where to begin” or “That’s not the kind of person I am.”
Ugh.
 
Instead, what if you made the courageous step into endeavoring on your idea?
Here are some thoughts for paying attention to what sparks in you and following through on sharing them: 
 
1. Notice how you enjoy contributing ideas and inspiration NOW. What about it feels good to you? Does it manifest as a physical product, writing, song, a kindness, or conversation? Maybe you share these discoveries by a video, photo, telling a story to a friend or family member, or teaching what you’ve learned.
 
2. Take part in something new or out of your comfort zone regularly. Pay attention to what affects you and the people you meet. How does this shift your perception? What new nuggets of thought travel into your mind? Do you act or speak differently? Is it uncomfortable or pleasant? Why? How does offering yourself to new situations enhance your growth and wonder of the world?
 
3. Mix and match what inspires you with how you enjoy taking action. Write down or voice memo whenever you receive information that strikes you as significant and touches you. Look at your favorite ways in which you enjoy taking action and share it with others.
 
DOING from a loving and creative place FEELS GOOD, and it’s in the best interest of all of us that we contribute our gifts.
Learn how you do it best and in alignment with your personality and interests. You CAN start the project, make the plan, & serve yourself, your community, and the world!
 
Want help? I’m here.
I create an empathetic, holistic, step by step no-judgment zone to assist you. I can help you break down an idea, prioritize next steps, research, organize your calendar, make phone calls and emails, follow up, set up appointments, and more.
 
Email info@spacebykim.com
Let's set up a chat on how I can help and get started.
You can do it! ​
​Photo by AbsolutVision on Unsplash

Are you holding on to sentimental objects because they bring valued memories to you, or are some of these items kept out of guilt, loss, or shame?
Here are a few tips to help you with emotional belongings:
 1. Keep what YOU want. If you possess something that someone else loves, or gave you as a gift but you don’t care for it, let it go. 

 2. Get CREATIVE. Use a favorite CD as a paperweight, nostalgic books as shelves, or frame concert T’s as artwork. Get the picture!? Bring these items into your daily life and make the mundane, special. 

 3. CURATE your collection. Imagine you work at a museum and it's your job to choose the very finest pieces to grace the building for visitors to enjoy.

 4. Hold it, touch it, how do you FEEL? If the emotions arising are undesirable, this energy sticks with you even if you try to forget it far away in a box somewhere. Ask yourself if getting rid of it would create a sense of lightness.
 
Whatever you decide to keep, remember that how you store your sentimental belongings is just as important as why you’re keeping them. Find storage options that feel appropriate to what you’re holding on to. Pretty boxes, metal bins, wooden crates, etc.
 
Sorting through sentimental possessions can be emotional - I’m here to help! I’m available as your right hand during this task. I provide a judgment free zone that’s empathetic and keeps you on track. Sessions are virtual and all you need is a laptop with a working camera & speaker along with access to Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime (for iOS users.)

Email me at info@spacebykim.com to discuss your needs. 
Have a great day! 
. 
. 
Photo: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
#spacebykim #getorganized #gettingorganized #organizer #organizing #sentimental #sentimentalobjects #letsgetsentimental #homeorganizing #homeorganization #sacredobjects #memories #organizedlife #organizers #memorabilia #theseareafewofmyfavoritethings #favoritethings #favorites #nostalgic #nostalgia #stayorganized

Organizing doesn't have to be boring! A big area of clutter for most homes is the kitchen sink, counters, and stovetop. If you don't have a dishwasher and a large household this can be an especially difficult place to keep picked up and put away. This area can be a place of peace ready for your next meal or a nightmare. 
Set time aside to tend to your dishes after every meal. Wipe cutting boards off with a wet towel if you want to re-use during the day. Put pans with sticky ingredients to soak in soapy water. Have a small plate or utensil holder available for pieces that you'll use later on. 
While a bowl or two in your sink or on the counter isn't a tragedy, it can turn into a hurricane of a mess and overwhelming at the end of the day when all you'd like to do is rest.
Institute a rule for everyone in the household on how dishes are to be taken care of. Should everyone be responsible for their own dishes? One day a week a different person does the washing up? If you live alone, does it feel better to set one time a day to take care of it?
Whatever you decide - the rule is do not let dirty dishes sit out overnight
Dirty dishes attract critters, can make a beloved pet sick, and they smell! 
Imagine walking into a clean, fresh, and open kitchen every morning and starting your day off right. 
Make kitchen dish cleaning fun by putting on a playlist!
Many of us don't feel we have the leisure time to sit and listen to music so take this opportunity to sing along, move to the beat, and whistle while you work!
Play your favorites or explore new tracks you wouldn't normally discover. 
Try this cleaning song list and see if it brings a spring to your step - this is definitely good multi-tasking! 
CLEANING MOTIVATION SONGLIST
Let me know how dancing to the dishes works for you in the comments. 

Need Help?  I can work virtually with you to set up your kitchen - where to store items, what to get rid of, how to maintain order and set up home cleaning and organizing schedules. Email me at info@spacebykim.com to set up a consult! 
. 
. 
.
Photo Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash. 
#dancetodishes #dishdancing #cleankitchen #cleandishes #spacebykim #organizer #personalorganizer #declutter #homeorganization #kitchenorganization #dishorganization #dishcleaning #kitchencleaning #cleaningmotivation #cleaninginspiration #cleaningplaylist #washplaylist #motivation #clutterfree #cleaninggoals #kitchengoals #cleaningtips #kitchentips #kitchengoals #cleaninggoals #getcleaning #getorganized #kitchen #kitchensink #kitchencounter #loveyourkitchen #loveyourdishes #cleankitchen #cleansink #cleancounter 

​Organizing doesn't just mean your schedule or your things - your sensitive headspace needs to be tended to as well.
Try these tips:
1. Disconnect! - Put your phone away, turn off the tv, unplug anything that has to do with technology.
2. Make fun! - Build a snowman if you have snow, make a playlist of your favorite songs and have a dance party, go on a road trip for a couple hours somewhere you've never been, or bake a cake...do something that makes you smile and your heart giddy.
3. Rest bursts - During your workday, don't forget to take some small moments to refresh and let go of some steam. Stand up from your desk and do 10 jumping jacks or sit ups OR go in to the stall of your office bathroom and shake your hands, massaging your face and jaw. If your workday is strenuous, sit and read one page of a book, or meditate for 5 mins.
4. Connect - with a project you've had on the table for months, or start one you've been thinking about. Share it with a friend and update them on how it's going. Connecting with your personal pleasures and reaching out to your relationships eases tension and strain.
How do you manage stress and organize it in to your life? 
Want one on one help with managing work/life balance? I'm here to help you devise a way forward! Email info@spacebykim.com
.
.
. Photo: Simon Migaj on Unsplash