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.

This morning while drinking my coffee and having breakfast I was watching the Today Show. They had a segment on animal hoarding. I have to say it was a relief to see. It is a growing problem and I like that it is getting the attention it deserves. The segment was actually a very good representation of people who hoard animals. The woman they focused on was not made out to be a crazy cat lady. She was actually very upset and concerned about her animals. She truly wanted what was best for them. The SPCA was there helping her spay and neuter the animals and allowed her to keep a few of them. I really liked that the SPCA was willing to work with the woman and not condemn her for her love for animals.

Unfortunately there are many cases where the animals are malnourished and neglected. I believe strongly it is not the intent of the owner. However the animals just continue to procreate and the problem becomes out of their control. It is also important to understand that people that do this are not crazy. They may possibly have a compulsive disorder and may have suffered a great loss. Grief can really effect us in many strange ways.

Ironically, I recently met and spoke with Matt Paxton from Clutter Cleaners. He helps people in these severe hoarding situations. He was wonderful and so passionate about his job. He works with local counties and towns to help hoarders keep their homes so they don’t end up on the streets. I strongly recommend calling Matt if you know someone with a hoarding problem. 

You may have noticed a new book on the shelves at Barnes and Noble. It’s written by Peter Walsh and it’s called, “Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat.” Well the title is certainly catchy.

I am currently reading this book and thought I would share my thoughts. Initially the concept of clutter relating to a persons weight has been something I have been seeing myself for a while. It didn’t surprise me that a book like this had come out. It definitely makes sense to me that if your life is unmanageable then why wouldn’t your weight be unmanageable. Peter Walsh has definitely shined a light on a topic that has great value and is no doubt REAL.

When reading the book I am glued. Peter is direct and to the point and he doesn’t sugar coat what he says at all. He refers to people who are overweight as FAT. He acknowledges that he is using this terminology and reminds the reader he is here to keep it real and tell it like it is. He reminds us that our home is a reflection of us. And the inability to keep up our home is keeping us from focusing on ourselves. He drives home the concept that being overweight (or fat) is not about food. It’s about you and how you use your time and if you are living the life you want to live. As a society we no longer value meals with our family. We no longer take the time to plan our meals and spend time friends and our children. As a result, we are eating fast food, take out, and completely overlooking the real problem. Not to mention if our kitchens are disorganized, it’s very unlikely that we would enjoy cooking in them. I am almost finished with the book and I definitely recommend it. As a Professional Organizer I have read just about every organizing book out there. So I read a lot of the same advice on how to organize your closet, your kitchen your pantry etc. But for anyone who is looking for knew insight into their weight and the clutter in their home, this book is a great addition to your library.