It’s time for some tough love

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Public Works Garage
8190 McEwen Rd.

For information, call Public Works at 433-0151…

Reader Tip...

This month’s tip comes from our reader Linda Jones.

Here is an inexpensive but effective organizing tool that I use all over my house - fishing tackle boxes! Go to your local discount store - be sure to skip the craft area that has similar boxes for 4 times the price - and go all the way back to the sporting goods area to the fishing aisle. There you will find all shapes and sizes of clear plastic boxes with dividers that can be moved around to fit whatever it is you are trying to organize. The snap locks insure that it won't burst open even if you drop it. They can be stored flat or on their side without items shifting from one compartment to the next, and the clear plastic allows you to view everything in the box.

I use tackle boxes to organize office supplies, the 'junk' drawer, my scrapbooking area, jewelry, makeup and the items in my car.

Tackle boxes are cheap, versatile, and durable - and they're not just for fishing lures any more!

Thank you Linda for sharing your favorite organizing solution.

I'd like to hear your best organizing tip. If you have a great organizing tip, please send it to lori@forteorganizers.com to be considered for a future newsletter post. I'll credit your name, of course, if your tip is featured.

Organize Your Desk Area...

When you’re ready to organize your desktop and the area around it think about how you are storing items in this space. Sit in your chair, reach your arms out in front of you and spin your chair around. Those items that are at your fingertips should be the items that you use on a daily, weekly basis. Items that you touch when you do this exercise that aren’t used frequently should be stored further from your chair. Think of yourself as an airplane pilot sitting in a cockpit. Only those items you need to get the project you’re currently working on and your usual workload done should be in this space. Imagine if you board a plane and the pilot has old training manuals, past flight records and four dirty coffee mugs sitting on the dashboard. Would you feel like he’s in control of everything? Get control of your workspace by thinking about everything you have within reach and only keeping those items that keep you working efficiently.

Ask and Answer...

Q: My grown children who have moved into their own homes still have their belongings in my home. I have asked on many occasions for them to come and go through their items and take what they want, but they never manage to make it over.

A: Now that your children have moved out you have a right to have only those items that you need and love in your home. I see this scenario often as I organize homes. Get your cue from Dr. Phil and offer a dose of tough love. I give my clients the following two recommendations. Give your children a reasonable deadline to remove the items from your home. Inform them what is left over after the deadline will be donated to charity. If they insist on keeping the items, but won’t bring them into their own homes they will need to rent a self-storage unit and pay monthly storage fees. In my experience with working with clients most adult children do not come back for their items and give the parent permission to throw out personal items and donate what someone else can use. You deserve to live free of your children’s clutter. Give them a deadline and stick to it.

If you have an organizing question you'd like to ask, please send it to lori@forteorganizers.com and your question might be answered in an upcoming newsletter.

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