Rubbermaid - Adventures in Organization

How to Unclutter with Evernote and Rubbermaid in 4 Steps

Evernote recently contacted us at Rubbermaid about working on an organizational project. In case you didn't know, Rubbermaid is great for organizing your stuff and Evernote is great at organizing information electronically so you don't forget anything. So could we combine these two? Evernote decided to try! They organized their storage closet and it turned out great! Read about the four steps they used to organize with Rubbermaid and Evernote products:

http://blog.evernote.com/2009/08/26/unclutter-with-evernote-and-rubbermaid-in-4-steps/

Go read the post!!! It has some great advice about remembering what you put where...and you MIGHT be able to win some Rubbermaid storage containers. I mean MAYBE, POSSIBLY...we're TOTALLY giving away some containers so you can try the four steps yourself :)

Rubbermaid as Take Out Containers

I recently stumbled upon a blog I found really cool on using Rubbermaid containers for takeout.  It is an idea we have heard a lot from our consumers as a way to reduce the waste caused by disposable containers.   However, really enjoyed Jason's "social experiment" and also the reference to soup Nazi since I am a Seinfeld fan. 

I commend Jason on his diligence to using durable reusable containers to encourage others to change behavior step by step.  Please continue to share any stories you have on reducing waste!

Organizing Your Shoes

My mom will tell you that shoes are an organization problem for me. I never put them away and am constantly running around the house looking for the pair of shoes that I want. She has yelled at me a thousand times as she has tripped over a pair of shoes.

I recently moved (AGAIN!!! AHHHHH). I was trying to organize everything I own and I could not decide what to do with my shoes. They were in a huge pile in the middle of my floor. Then Julie (@organizedhome) from Organized Home, Inc. tweeted this:

I retweeted it because I thought it was a good idea and my friend Katie (@katieDawg) responded with this:

 

So that settled it in my mind. I had to try this! I went home and put my shoes into three containers that I have. One for work shoes, one for flip flops, and one for tennis shoes/athletic shoes.

So far this has been the perfect solution! It is so easy to just throw my shoes in the bin when I get home. I'll let you know if I can keep it up and solve my shoe organizational problem!

Q&A with Audrey Thomas, a.k.a. Organized Audrey, CPO®

Audrey Thomas, a.k.a. Organized Audrey, CPO®
Minneapolis, MN – www.OrganizedAudrey.com

1) How long have you been a professional organizer?
I began a professional speaking business nearly  18 years ago. As I addressed audiences on the topic of Home and Office organization, people often sheepishly asked me if I would ever consider coming to their home to help get them organized. After hearing that same question over and over, I began offering one-on-one consulting to individuals in their homes and offices

2) What inspired you to become a CPO?
I run my company with the highest level of professionalism and train my employees to be current on the industry, with on-going reviews of new products.  When the Certification program was announced, I knew that it was just one more way to show knowledge and understanding of the organizing industry.  Whatever industry people work in, I encourage them to reach that industry’s highest level of certification. Becoming certified was a personal and professional goal I knew I wanted to reach.

3) What is the most common organizing project you’re hired to do?
Paper is the most common area we help client with. So much for our society becoming a paperless one! Many papers land on the kitchen counter or in the entryway of the home. Being able to help in these areas has such a huge impact on transforming their lives. Clients tell us their credit rating even improves once they’ve become organized because they no longer lose their bills or pay them late! How cool is that??!!

4) What is the most common organizing challenge people have?
We tell our clients that their clutter is a result of delayed decisions. Once they come to understand this, they realize how many decisions they’ve been avoiding or unable to make. Sometimes the tough decisions that have to be made involve cutting back on purchases. And sometimes decisions need to be made about items that are rarely seen or used. Most people admit to not having enough storage space; however, it’s amazing how much space is freed up when they begin managing their “stuff” better.

5) If you had to pick ‘your’ biggest organizing challenge, what would it be?
Even though I conduct corporate trainings on the topic of office productivity, I still have to be careful not to waste too much time related to Email. It’s so easy for me to get lost in my Inbox! I’ve found if I check my Email only 4-5 times during the day, I’m much more productive than having it open while I’m working on other projects.

6) What one tip would you give to people who are trying to get organized?
Start a small project with realistic goals and expectations. I.e. A junk drawer, a closet shelf, one cabinet. You’ll be more successful as you progress slowly and gradually versus trying to organize the whole house in one weekend. New habits take up to six months to become part of your personality so allow yourself plenty of time to learn new ways of doing things. Got a house full of clutter? Then focus on one room a month and in a year’s time you will have organized at a pace that allowed you to reach your goals without burning out.

7) What’s the most unusual item you’ve seen a man or woman save?
- 50-year old man: 8-track tapes even though he no longer had the means to play them.
- 40’ish woman: The umbilical cords to her children.

8) How can potential clients get in touch with you?
- Toll Free: 866-767-0455
- Audrey@OrganizedAudrey.com
- www.OrganizedAudrey.com

Everyone has a Water Jug but my son

As some of you may know my son Shannon plays soccer. While I was hanging out at soccer practice the other night I was struck by an interesting realization. Nearly everyone on the soccer team had a Rubbermaid Water Jug except Shannon (although I'm positive none of the other team members have as many Blue Ice blocks as we do). I thought this was rather funny. Anyway, here are some pictures.

The owner of this water cooler must get really thirst.

One of our 1/2 gallon victory jugs in our new blue color.

 

Another 1/2 gallon Victory water jug in our older blue color.

Calling All Bloggers to TakeAlong a Fun Lunch

Hey all you fabulous bloggers out there,

Jim, Lauren and I have got some great news...we're looking for bloggers to write about how to

We are going to be sending samples of our new and improved TakeAlong food storage containers and new Blue Ice Fun Shapes.

TakeAlongs and Blue Ice Fun Shapes are a great addition to packing a perfect lunch. As your kids head off to school and you off to work, pack a favorite sandwich or snack in a TakeAlong to keep it from getting smuched and crunched. Keep a juice box, sandwich or cheese stick cool with a Fun Shape.

Try out these two products and see how they help with packing lunches (maybe you can even share your favorite on-the-go lunch recipe)!

So what is the catch? We only have 25 samples to send out to bloggers (this includes the opiton to hold a giveaway on your blog and giveaway one to your readers also). How can we choose only 25 of you? Leave a comment on this blog post with a link to your web site. You have until August 28th at midnight to enter. We will randomly draw 25 of you from the comments!

I do have to say that if you are choosen as one of the 25 bloggers there is NO OBLIGATION to write about the products. There is also no obligation to write a good review. If you hate them, please tell us (we don't think you will...they're pretty cool products).

So there you go. You have until August 28th at midnight to leave a comment on this post with your blog url and a way for us to contact you (and a note if you want. We love notes!). We will choose 25 bloggers the following week and get in touch with you.

The to-do list

Do you ever wonder how you were able to find the focus and stamina to bang out that twenty-five page essay the night before it was due? How about the ability to pack all of your belongings the morning before your friends arrive to help you move?

The answer is urgency. In some cases urgency is of the life or death variety, and in others it is the more mundane fear of failure or scorn. Regardless, there is definitely something special that happens to us when the “chips are down” or when the deadline has arrived.

A strange focus comes over us, it becomes perfectly clear what must be done and the time for excuses and other distractions has passed. We’re able to close our office door without hesitation, turn off our phone without indecision and get it (whatever it is) done.

Have you ever wondered how much better life could be if you were able to harness some of this urgency way in advance? How much better would that essay have been if I could have done it earlier and had more time to perfect it? How much smoother would the move have gone if I had taken the time to pack and label everything weeks before the big day? How much less frustrated would I be if I had changed my winter tires before the first snow storm (yeah I’m from Canada)? Most of these are small matters….would changing them be insignificant or would the sum of all these mini victories make a noticeable difference in my overall happiness?

I don’t know.

But to find out I’m going to spend a moment and write down a list of the things I should be thinking about, planning or doing each month. The key here will be to identify those things that are important and/or would be greatly enhanced if I got ahead of them. I’m going to need all of your help out there. If we can all add a few big ones we can produce quite a comprehensive list.

Maybe some people think this is strangely rigid and are perfectly happy being spontaneous; while others may have an innate calendar that keeps them on track. Congratulations to both of you. I on the other hand need a crutch….and that crutch is this list….. Please help me with it!

Once we have our list I will then move through it chronicling my adventures in organizing….should be fun.

JANUARY

• Organize Filing cabinets at home
• Plot out all yearly medical appointments for yourself and family
• Review all subscriptions and memberships and decide which ones to keep and which ones to kick

FEBRUARY

• Clean out and reorganize the Storage Room
• Book a bank appointment for a full review

MARCH

• Clean Out and reorganize the Basement
• Get Bikes tuned to avoid the “first nice weekend” rush
• Start looking at summer dates to make sure I have anchored time for what I want to do (go to my uncle’s cottage, camping, pig roast etc.)

APRIL

• Get Winter Tires off and get a regular car check up
• Purge wardrobe and bring excess to goodwill
• Change Closets over from Winter to Summer

MAY

• Clean out and reorganize the kitchen (especially the cabinets)
• 1st Christmas check in….start brainstorming ideas for key gifts for key people

JUNE

• Enjoy the summer

JULY

• Enjoy the summer

AUGUST

• Enjoy the summer

SEPTEMBER

• Clean out and reorganize Garage
• Clean out and reorganize the linen closet
• Discuss vacation options for following year

OCTOBER

• Purge wardrobe and bring excess to goodwill
• Change Closets over from winter to summer
• Book vacation for following year
• Clean out and reorganize the kitchen (especially the cabinets)

NOVEMBER

• Put Winter Tires on and get a regular tune up
• Get skis tuned to avoid the “first nice winter weekend” rush
• Start Christmas shopping
• Start Christmas baking

DECEMBER

• Organize work filing cabinets on the slower days between Christmas and New Years

Getting Motivated...when the clutter is too much

I have always been amazed at those shows where people have stuff all over their house. It is so disorganized that they can barely walk from room to room. The ones that pile things on their bed and still slept in it always amused me. I never understood how they could live that way let alone let their house get that way.

I have never understood until this past week. As I blogged about before, I moved last weekend out of my apartment in Athens. It was a whole weekend process that was long and tiring. I got back late to Charlotte and had enough energy to unload my car and pile stuff into my living room and crawl into bed.

Then next week flew by with me running around doing work and personal stuff every evening. I did not get home before 10 p.m. any night. I would walk into my apartment and see the pile of stuff I had left in the living room and all the energy (what little was left) would drain out of me. All my stuff piled up was stressing me out but I did not have time to deal with it. I kept promising myself that this weekend would be the time to organize.

So the weekend rolled around and Saturday morning came. I walked into my living room (or at least to the part I could get to) and I did not know where to start. There was piles of things from my move and the week before. Things I just threw down because I did not have time to put them away. Sadly, I turned my back on it all and went into my bedroom to watch a movie.

I was procrastinating and ignoring for two reasons. I was tired and my stuff was making me tired. Thinking of the energy it would take to put everything away and thinking of how much work I had to do was wearing me out. Also, I was overwhelmed. If I have little projects to organize, it's easy. I know where to start and I know I can finish it soon. This wasn't a little project and I did not know where to start.

A movie later, I walked back into my living room. I turned on some music. I stood there and looked at my stuff. Then I decided to clean my kitchen...at least I knew how and where to start there. I cleaned my kitchen. Then, I walked back into my living room and saw a box that had some kitchen stuff in it. I knew where that went so I put it away. I walked back into my living room and grabbed a pile of clothes that went in my bedroom. I put them away. Slowly, I organized my living room by taking it one step at a time.

I seriously was not sure if I was going to be able to put my living room back together. I was not sure if I was motivated enough or had enough energy. I completely understood how people's houses got out of control. It was easier to ignore it. It was easier to put it off. It was easier to stand there and not know where to start. It was easier to fill my time with other, more fun activities.

I thought it was easier until Sunday morning when I woke up and walked into my living room and felt pride, not worry or stress. The work was so worth it.

So, if you have a big organizational problem that is stressing you out and not letting you live your life...stop ignoring it! Break it up into little projects. And don't be afraid to ask for help. My back-up plan was to call my mom, tell her my problem, and have her call me every hour to ask what I had organized. I cannot lie to my mom (she always KNOWS) and she would keep me accountable.

So get motivated and organize!