Many of my clients seem to have trouble getting their kids involved in organizing the home. By the time I come into the picture mom’s are exhausted and worn down. Today, I heard from my client “Beth” who had these issues and she told me about one of the techniques she used that I suggested.

It’s simple. Make a list of chores that can be completed daily, weekly or monthly. Write each chore on one index card, fold them in half and place them in a fish bowl. Now make a list of fun rewards your kids would enjoy like more time on the computer, special candy, or even create a card that says “No Chores Today!” Fold each and place in the fish bowl. Use the system daily, weekly or however often you need. Have your child pick a card from the fish bowl and see what they fish out. It gives children an opportunity to have fun with chores, they like knowing there may be an exciting reward and you don’t have to become a demanding witch who draws out tantrums.

Beth put this technique into play a few weeks ago and she has been having a blast. She said her kids wake up first thing in the morning and instantly want to pick from the fish bowl. Her son even asked to pick out an extra chore. He was willing to take the chance to pick a chore for an opportunity to get a reward!!!

What this tells me is creativity goes a long way. Especially when it comes to getting organized. Using creative techniques like this one can reduce the amount of time you spend organizing and cleaning your home, it makes it fun for the kids and it doesn’t have to get boring. Replace old rewards with new ones, add different chores as the seasons change, create new rules like “do-overs.” If your child isn’t in the mood to do the chore they chose give them one do-over so they can pick another. The possibilities are endless.

Does anyone out there have other game ideas for kids to get them organized? I’d love to hear them.

If you’re part of the Facebook mania catch a glimpse of my NEAT Tips. You can send your friends organizing tips anytime. There are tons of topics. So you’re sure to find something helpful for anyone you know. Here’s a sample:

I’ll be honest, I am no expert on lighting. But I do know how important lighting is in a room. Lighting creates mood, and of course is important for several functions. Lighting can even help you stay focused or even give you headaches if it’s not appropriate for the space. Since I am not a designer, I am always looking for resources on lighting so I can learn a few tips here and there. This evening, I found tons of information in the New York Times. Check it out. It’s fabulous!

On a daily basis I bet you say more than once “I’ll do that later.” It’s so easy to push something off to another day. But what’s wrong with now? I mean, I know there are times when it isn’t a good idea to start a big project. Maybe you have an appointment in less than an hour, or maybe you don’t feel well. Perhaps you need someone to help you. These are all legitimate reasons to save something for later. But think about how often you push something off to later because you simply don’t want to deal with it. In other words, you procrastinate.

I completely understand. I procrastinate all the time. I have even identified why I do. When something is difficult or out of my comfort zone, without fail, I’ll push it off. So it doesn’t surprise me when a client calls on me to help them get their butt in gear. They have identified that organizing is something that is out of their comfort zone. So they want help getting it done. And, as it turns out, when it comes to organizing, I am all about doing it NOW.

Ironically, their tends to be some slight hesitation when I suggest that we tackle a project NOW. My clients want to talk it out, tell me their stories, grab a glass of water, show me what they have accomplished since we last met and so on. But it’s inevitable, once we get started, with-in minutes, their running the show. Their totally into it and can’t be stopped. It’s awesome!

So, I ask again, what’s wrong with now? The answer is.... nothing. You just need a little push.

This weekend I was finally able to pay attention to my home. I moved into my new home in September and I still hadn’t hung pictures or displayed any of my decor. For me, interior design is a very difficult process. I really have to think things through before I hang them or place them around my home. I am also always changing things around.

I realized after decorating my living room how much better I felt when I was done. I think this was for many reasons. 1. I was taking care of unfinished business. It was so nice to complete a project that had been sitting around glaring at me and reminding me I had work to do. 2. The more I surround myself with the things I love, the better I feel. 3. I was focusing on me and my home. It feels good to have no interruptions and the energy to take care of my own needs. Now here is another thought… and this may sound really “philosophical.” I think because the items were sitting stagnant and unused, they lost their life and were sucking the life out of me. Once I put these things to use, they began to have purpose. Having a purpose created meaning. Which ends up making me feel good. 

A client of mine might argue that they ARE surrounding themselves with things they love. They simply love a lot of things. However, a majority of the items are unused and have no purpose. They may argue that they have too many projects to complete and their is no way they will ever get them done. So I ask this… “Is it important to you to create a lot of projects for yourself so you feel you have a purpose?

Do you see where I am going with this?

While eating dinner tonight I was reading yet another article about obtaining work/life balance. I don’t know about you, but I am kinda over it. The tips and suggestions are always the same. Develop a plan, sort, purge prioritize, maintain. Does this advice help anyone? Does everyone believe there is one answer for keeping your work/life balanced? I am not going to lie, in the past I have been known to write articles like this. But now, I am surprised to see this information is still getting thrown at us.

I am going to be honest, I am not totally sure what it might take for everyone reading this to maintain work/life balance. All I can tell you is what I do to keep things in check… I am very realistic about my time, energy and abilities. I guess I am somewhat lucky. At an early age I identified that i would get really cranky, anxious, stressed and/or depressed if my environment wasn’t orderly, if I had too much on my plate or I was getting involved in something way over my head. Avoiding those feelings is a high priority for me. Therefore I keep things simple… VERY SIMPLE. My friends and family will tell you my home is pretty bare. I keep it that way for a reason. I have just enough furniture that I can dust one room in less than 5 minutes. I have just enough clothing so I can do laundry in no more than three loads. I have only a few cosmetics so I can get ready in the morning quickly. These little things make a HUGE difference in my day to day life.

For some, these things may not make a difference. I think it’s important to identify what will reduce the chances that you will get cranky, anxious, stressed or depressed. I have even removed the people in my life that make me feel crappy. That has worked wonders on simplifying my life. 

Lately I have been getting a lot of calls from individuals who want to become Professional Organizers. I personally love talking about what I do. This job is the most rewarding/creative job I have ever had. Organizing wannabes that I haven’t spoken to, allow me to give you a few tips. If you want to pursue a career in this field you will need a few skills. 1. You will need to be patient. Patience is about 90% of our job. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t. Being patient for a period of time may be easy for everyone. But try doing it for a living… It takes a certain personality to be able to be patient on a consistent basis. 2. You need to be a good listener. I can’t tell you how often I have to read in between the lines to fully understand the positions my clients are in. 3. You need to be non-judgmental.  Our clients are looking for support. The instant they feel judged, a wall will go up and your services can become worthless. 4. You need to be flexible. Our way is not always the best way. I am constantly developing systems for clients that would NEVER make sense to me in my own world. But for them, it works. I have learned that it’s not about me.... ever. 5. You have to be knowledgeable about mental health. learning disabilities, behavioral problems etc. It’s no surprise thousands in the industry were once social workers or therapists. Fortunately for me I just had a crazy family that taught me a lot about addiction, mental illness, and learning disabilities. Half of my training was from the school of hard knocks! 6. You have to be able to set clear boundaries and follow them constantly. Our own health, ethics and morals need to be clear, firm and a first priority at all times. We need to be able to say NO, be assertive and listen to our gut.

Well that is the short of it. I commend anyone going into this industry. It’s a beautiful way to live!

Ok so here is a concept… instead of a “To Do” list, make a “To Done” list. Write down all the things you accomplished today rather than write down the things you need to accomplish. This will give you a positive spin on your daily tasks and you may feel good about it. For example, today I had no client appointments and I was feeling pretty unproductive before I wrote down all the things I did. Here is my “To Done” list for today:

Completed presentation for Wednesday
Cleaned and organized office to prepare for photo shoot
Had interview with Style Weekly
Proofed interview with Style Weekly
Ate lunch with my husband
Dealt with printer problems but got printer fixed!
Went to Staples to purchase ink, ughhhh
Went to shoe repair shop to get shoes fixed
Went to Smoothie King and bought a smoothie
Let the dog out and fed him, twice
Showered and dressed (this morning)
Contacted RVABlogs to be added to the website
Talked to sister and got good news!
Confirmed weekend plans
Set up a time to meet a potential contractor

I did so much already and it’s only 5pm! I feel good about what I have done today. I do have a ton of other things to accomplish but for now I will focus on all that I have done and be happy with that. Give it a try.

I recently rearranged my entire house and what a difference. I have a home built in the 50’s. It has a second floor that was once an attic. There are two bedrooms upstairs and two bedrooms downstairs. My husband and I used to have our bedroom upstairs and my office downstairs. Mostly because the walk-in closet was upstairs and I wouldn’t have to make our bed whenever we had company. But we decided to move our bedroom downstairs and keep the second floor for my home office.

This small change has really changed my perception for many reasons. Separating my home life from my work life with stairs, for some reason, really allows me to be more mindful of the world I am in. It’s as if when I am upstairs, I am Sara Bereika, Business Owner, Professional Organizer. When I am downstairs I am Sara Bereika, wife to Tim Bereika, mother to Parker, Lara, Libby and Peanut (my pets). I no longer sit in front of the television at night with my computer on my lap. Most of the time it’s because I am just too lazy to go upstairs and get my computer. But I also think it’s because I am more productive upstairs in my office.

I also noticed my husband doesn’t share my office with me anymore. I think he just automatically assumes that the space upstairs is mine. Debbie Bowie from Simply Organized is a Feng Shui expert in Richmond VA. She told me recently that I should not share my office with my husband. I need my own identity and space to be successful. Well I have to admit, I am enjoying not sharing my office with my husband and I do feel more successful. No kidding!

I am now starting to envision my company differently as well. I can see what it will look like in a few years. I can imagine others working in my space with me. For me, I need to SEE it. Like when I go to the gym… I envision myself getting dressed in my gym clothes, going to the gym, working out on the treadmill etc. Once I envision it, I do it!

I didn’t expect such a change in my perception, but it’s great. The funny thing is I do this with my clients all the time. I get them to move their furniture, sit in their chair in a new place, change angles. Recently I was helping a friend in her laundry room.  It’s a tight space with minimal options for shelving and the washer or dryer. I asked her if we could play around a bit and rotate a few things. Then the ideas started flooding in. She got to see her room in a whole different view and was actually able to start making decisions on the things she needed. It sounds so simple but it works. 

Ever consider declaring email bankruptcy? My friend Phil turned me on to this concept.

Apparently people are so overwhelmed by their email they have decided to delete everything in their inbox and start fresh. They simply have no desire, or time, to sort through their email. An email is then sent out to everyone in their email list requesting that if they are waiting on a response to an old email..... resend it! I would love to hear from someone that has actually done this. I am curious to know how effective it was and if it helped you get your inbox in order. I am also curious to know if the people asked to resend their requests were agitated or supportive.

I might get a bit agitated if someone asked me to resend an email because they couldn’t get their act together. But at the same time, email can really become an obstacle. I have worked with clients in the past with over 4000 emails in their inbox. I might have to start recommending this tactic to the serious cases I come across.

When you think of a Professional Organizer you may think of the TV shows like Clean Sweep, Clean House or Mission Organization. These shows have really brought the organizing industry to the forefront. However, what you see on TV is just the tip of the iceberg. You see what I consider conventional organizing. However on a day to day basis, Professional Organizers in the “real” world use unconventional organizing tactics.

What we do is not always about making things look neat and tidy. In fact, we do so much more. We identify a persons learning styles and develop systems based on their specific needs. We pinpoint obstacles and develop solutions to reduce them. We empathize with a persons emotional needs and guide them in the right direction. As a result we unconventionally organize our clients.

Allow me to explain,,,,,Recently I had an initial consultation with a new client who needed help at his office. We had spoken on the phone about his needs, but as usual, I was not quite sure what I might encounter when I arrived. Once I entered his office it was pretty typical. Nothing abnormal… at least in relation to what I usually see. So we sat down and began chatting. Instantly my client began drawing as he spoke. Not doodling, but actually drawing maps of his ideas and thoughts. I call them mind maps. Instantly, I knew that this was a client that was a visual, and possibly a kinetic, learner. A visual learner learns more effectively by seeing. A kinetic learner learns best when in motion or surrounded by motion. I believe my client enjoyed drawing while he spoke because his body was in motion and he could envision his thoughts as he thought them. As a result he may be more likely to remember and follow information. Making this identification can help tremendously in applying good organizing habits. Therefore, as we work together I make sure to draw all our plans using mind map software. And I don’t consider it strange if my client gets up from his chair and talks to me as he paces. In fact, I encourage it.

This is just a small example of an unconventional organizing tactic. Not everyone has the same needs, feelings, desires, or obstacles when it comes to organizing or learning. I consider a good organizer to be someone who can be creative, identify a customized approach, and tweak it as needed. But it isn’t always necessary to have an organizer help with unconventional organizing tactics. Anyone can do it. It just takes a little bit of imagination, creativity, fearlessness, patience and an open mind. I have heard of some organizers using zip lock baggies to hold papers. They hung them using hangers and that was their file system. I have even recommended to clients that they stop using dressers all together to store their clothes. I tell them to use hooks all around the room to keep their clothes off the floor and always visible. It works.... for them.

So when it comes to organizing try something completely wild and wacky and unconventional. You may find staying organized can be easy and even fun.

Have you noticed when you organize your home or office that the clutter seems to slowly creep back? In the organizing world we call this “backsliding.” That’s right, it has a name and it is very common. All of my clients have said to me that maintenance has been the single most difficult part of organizing. And I have to agree. It’s a lot like going on a diet. You will never maintain your goal weight if you stop exercising and eating right. So you can’t expect to stay clutter free if you stop organizing. If there is one thing I say often it’s that organizing should be a DAILY task. Just like brushing your teeth. Especially if you are chronically disorganized.

I see it as a huge milestone however, if a client of mine notices they are backsliding on a more frequent basis. This means their threshold for clutter has reduced. Which I believe has a lot to do with my ability to keep organized. I see serious consequences when the smallest pile starts to form on my desk or when my clothes start to pile up in my closet. So backsliding is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just a small reminder that we need to take care of ourselves and focus on our needs for bit. What could be wrong with that?

I recently had a client email me after one session. She said she was feeling discouraged because she noticed the clutter was slowly coming back. Of course, after one session, I had to tell her she was being a bit hard on herself and remind her these things take time. Then I had to congratulate her. She was starting to see things differently already. And just seeing things differently can greatly change our actions.

So if you see yourself backsliding, don’t get discouraged. It’s normal and trust me, it has it’s benefits. Even if you don’t feel it or see it at the present time. 

To me, if someone has a disorganized home or desk, there is something else going on. Now that can be a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe you are having a baby. Everything else, especially organizing, will become a lower priority for a while. For some it may mean they are overwhelmed and overworked. It could mean you are sad or depressed. Whatever is going on in your life if there is a change, the clutter can increase.

My point is clutter can be an excellent barometer. If the clutter level is high, stress, anxiety, depression, etc. may be high. If the clutter level is low the opposite may be true. The key is to know what’s high and what’s low for you. How do you handle the clutter when things are out of control? What’s your clutter barometer telling you right now? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Is it temporary or chronic?

Use your clutter barometer as a tool to help you gauge your needs. If you see the clutter is high it’s time to focus on yourself. Possibly, over time, you’ll begin to tolerate less and less clutter and focus on yourself more often. You may even be able to predict the times when the clutter may increase. Which will help you prepare for common pitfalls. It can be used in many ways to help put you in the right direction. 

I read an article recently in Organize Magazine about clutter-free gifts. For years now I have suggested to friends ways to give to others that keep too much. I always give my clients gifts that won’t create more clutter in their home. It wasn’t until recently that I realized there was a name for it. It’s clutter-free gifting. It means giving someone a gift that won’t create clutter.

Clutter-free gifts can be things like, movie tickets, gym memberships, food items, gift certificates for massages or other services.... is this making sense yet? What I like about these gifts is not only do they not create clutter, but they give someone an opportunity to try something they may never have tried before. For many of my clients, they tend to take on too much, work too hard, forget to have a little fun. With clutter-free gifts you can have an experience! Imagine if someone gave you horse back riding lessons, dancing lessons, or even a picnic in the park. You might be doing something you never thought you would do. Your getting out of your home, you’re relaxing with friends, you’re experiencing new things, enjoying yourself, and you’re meeting new people. Or you can give something that can save someone time. Like weekly meals, cleaning services, car detailing service etc. Knowing you have one less chore to do is a gift I always love getting. It creates time so you can do the things you love. To me this says a lot more than a nice new sweater.

So a clutter-free gift does require a lot more creativity. Which I know can be a challenge. For example last year I gave my father and little brother tickets to see a super motocross show. It took me a while to find the right gift. But I loved the fact that I was giving them a gift they could share together and enjoy. They now have a memory of a special day together because I gave them the tickets. It means so much more than any products I could have given them. This year I gave my father a months worth of dinners. He never has time to cook, he always worries about not being able to cook healthy meals for his son. Now he can come home and feel good knowing he has something he can make quickly. It relieved him of so much stress.

So I urge you to get a little creative with your gifts and buy something clutter-free. If you have ideas for clutter-free gifts i’d love to hear them. Send me a comment.

If you haven’t heard, TSA is asking individuals to SimpliFLY their luggage when traveling. This is a new system to organize what you pack and layer your items in your luggage. They claim it will make your travels easier and quicker. Here’s what they say you should do to SimpliFLY your overall security experience:

1. Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers – a layer of clothes, then electronics, more clothes, and then other items like toiletries. This will help security officers see what’s in your bag.

2. Have your boarding pass and ID ready for inspection when you get to the checkpoint.

3. Remove your coat and shoes and place them in a bin.

4. Place any oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in a separate bin. iPods and other smaller electronics can stay in your carry-on bag.

5. Follow the 3-1-1 rule for liquids and put your one quart baggie separately in the bin.

6. When in doubt, leave it out.

Click here for more information on SimpliFLY. Hopefully this information comes in handy for your holiday travels this year.