"I want to de-clutter but I can't let go…"

Lasting change starts within.

Ask yourself:

– How would my space and my life be different if I minimized? What would I lose ...and what would I gain?

– For individual items, be brutally honest with yourself about why you’re reluctant to let go. What are you afraid of? How can you talk yourself through those fears with logic?

Start small. Part with just one single object today. Enjoy the lightness of owning less and the satisfaction of donating useful items to those in need. You’ll see it’s not as hard as you think. Baby steps. It’ll get easier as you go.

Get help. You don’t have to do it alone. The right Organized Living Coach can shepherd you through the process of developing healthier, more rewarding attitudes toward objects.

What should I do with all my kids' "artwork?"

Less clutter is the least of the benefits to keeping only a small portion of your kids' "creations." Consider these benefits to your child's creative and psychological growth.

1) Kids who get the message that everything they make is wonderful are less inspired to create new and different things. Stop saving every last scribble and encourage your child to keep experimenting.

2) Kids who learn to distinguish between passing fancies and truly special things are more likely to mature into financially responsible shoppers and less likely to need an Organized Living Coach like me to help them wade through their clutter. Engage your young children in a conversation about which of their objects is most special - and why.

3) We are a culture overly attached to documenting and commemorating our past - at the expense of making time and space for NOW. Be an example to your kids by making room for new creations.

Kids and Stuff: holiday gift prep continues

I promised (warned?) you that there'd be more about kids and stuff before the holiday season was through…and here it is! In preparation for the holiday buy-a-thon, I'm arming you with everything I can find against buying or accepting too many things for your kids.

In My Kids Have Too Much Stuff, Sharon Holbrook writes for The Washington Post, "I might get a sticker at the doctor’s office, just like my children still do, but I didn’t get a strip of eight stickers from Trader Joe’s. One is more fun than eight. One gets stuck proudly on a shirt. A strip of eight winds up in a discarded heap on the floor of my car."

"One is more fun than eight." Yes! Less is truly more. So when it comes to holiday gifts, give one special item instead of ten. Ask family members to go in together on one or two gifts, rather than each person adding to your child's pile of loot.

A Thanksgiving Wish

This week, as always, I am thankful for my clients, who welcome me into their homes and lives, and make it possible for me to live my passion.

My wish for them and for all of my fellow Americans this week is twofold. May we find joy in our celebrations by honoring the inherent blessings in our lives. And may we carry that focus throughout the onslaught of Black Friday and the torrent of consumption that ensues.

The pressure to gather "stuff" reaches a fever pitch at this time of year. I admonish us all to resist the siren call. Give thanks to those you love by giving gifts of experiences this year. It's scientifically proven to make us happier (Buy Experiences, Not Things - James Hamblin, The Atlantic, Oct. 2014). In the coming weeks, I'll offer several experiential gift ideas, including non-toy gifts for kids. Now is a great time to start thinking about what experiences your loved ones will cherish.

Get started with your Thanksgiving festivities.  The food and fine linens are props, there to heighten the experience - but togetherness is at the heart of the holiday. Be present in these moments and they'll last forever.

Honor Thy Stuff

Thanks to an October 22nd article in The New York Times, I have been made familiar with Japanese de-cluttering superstar Marie Kondo and her methods. Her book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing,” is a best seller in Japan.

"Tidying is a dialogue with oneself," according to Kondo. Amen, sister! Making appropriate decisions about one's belongings requires more than just a trash bag. It involves a thoughtful definition of one's values and goals, and an honest evaluation of how belongings support or detract from them.

Belongings must “spark joy,” Kondo insists. True that! It's easy these days to loosen our definition of the word, "joy," but you're shorting yourself if you welcome anything into your world that doesn't kindle satisfaction and inspire love.

"Thank your stuff, it’s been working hard for you," says Kondo. “When we take our clothes in our hands and fold them neatly,” she writes, “we are, I believe, transmitting energy, which has a positive effect on our clothes.” Here's where Kondo's eastern perspective introduces a fascinating approach. She anthropomorphizes items, encouraging us to treat our belongings with respect, taking care when handling them, putting them away - and even when discarding them.

I believe that if we treated our stuff with more respect, we'd also recognize when it no longer sparked joy, and we'd be better prepared to simply set it free.

Read The New York Times article on Marie Kondo, "Kissing Your Socks Goodbye" by Penelope Green

Why I no longer call myself a "professional organizer"

I am very proud of the work I do to help people eliminate clutter from their spaces and lives. With my guidance my clients are better equipped to let go of the things that don't serve them and to redirect precious resources (time, money and energy) into the things that are truly important to them. By investing in health and self-care, family and relationships, career and personal growth, we can all improve our quality of life. Far beyond delivering clients immaculate homes, this is my true purpose.

Most professional organizers share these values and goals. Unfortunately, the organizing industry has been somewhat co-opted by profiteering companies looking to sell us more stuff. Rather than helping us to let go of the clutter, these forces encourage us to shuffle it around - or worse, spend time and money creating neat little storage solutions for it.

In order to distinguish myself from this agenda, I am now referring to myself as a Personal Organizing Coach. 

The purpose of organized living is to enjoy life to the fullest - by being good stewards of our resources and by valuing experiences over things. As an Organized Living Coach, I aim to help my clients achieve sustainable, long-term habits that result in a life lived in line with their individual priorities and value.

Your Kids Are Amazing

My experience working with children of all ages has shown me that kids are tremendously adaptable, capable of change and willing to introduce order into their lives. Much, much more so than adults.

I've yet to encounter a young client who is more reluctant than his/her parents to let go of clutter, despite Mom and Dad's warnings. Usually it's parents' unconscious influence causing excessive object desire and attachment in kids. Sometimes it's overindulgence - allowing too much stuff into kids' lives. Often it's leading by poor example, regularly making unnecessary purchases for oneself and holding on to one's own clutter. Either way, kids internalize the message that objects are inherently valuable.

The result is more detrimental than a messy house. It's more stress for parents and kids, and conflict between the two. It's less time for play and diminished enjoyment of play. Long-term, it's the problems of the parents perpetuated in the lives of the children, from disorganization and debt, to the reduced quality of life that comes from overvaluing " things."

Often it's impossible for parents to incite improved organizational behavior in their own kids. Like adults, kids encounter all kinds of conflicts and resentments if they sense they're being dictated to. As an objective outsider, I'm in a better position than parents to solicit kids' cooperation. I treat children with the same respect with which I treat their parents, serving as their partner in pursuit of customized solutions to increase their peace and productivity. As with my adult clients, my kids lead the decision-making process, with my guiding support. As always, I focus on what's to be gained from organized living. Most kids are more than happy to sacrifice some old toys for more free time, less nagging from Mom and Dad and some quality family time.

The most effective way for parents to encourage improved organizing behavior in their kids is to lead by example. Allow your kids to observe you cooperating with your professional organizer, making the tough decisions. When it's their turn to purge, they'll be a lot more likely to buy in to the plan.

And step aside when it's their turn. Kids can sense when their parents have an opinion about what to keep and let go. Respect their choices and they'll be more motivated to take responsibility for their space and the belongings within it. Believe me, they want to.

Often it's parents' desire to "treat" their kids that lands another toy in the shopping cart. Kids won't argue with any suggestion to buy something. Don't tempt them! It's their job to push you toward indulging them. Push back. Believe me, they want you to.

A (Dressing) Room of One's Own

For apartment dwellers making the best of a single, cramped closet, the very idea of a extra space is but a mere fantasy. But for families living in large suburban homes, it's often a given. If you're lucky enough to have a spare, spare room or an empty sitting area, you might consider moving out of the shared master closet and creating a luxurious dressing room of your own.

In the client home below, we handed over the entire walk-in closet to Mr. and transformed this small guest room into a gorgeous space for Mrs. We brought down a desk and chest from the attic, purchased some easy-to-install Closet Maid products and hung jewelry pegs on the wall. Voila!

Vanity station for easy access to makeup and jewelry…with good lighting and a large mirror! Plenty of hanging space – long hang and double hang.

Shelving for folded items and bins. Plenty of slots for shoes and handbags.

Since my own home is 100 years old, I let my husband take over the master closet and used the adjacent sunroom as a dressing room - slash - sitting area. I enjoy having my own space where everything is visibly displayed and easily accessed. I also love the natural light coming through the windows and the music playing on the stereo in my bookshelves.

Hanging bags are my favorite shoe storage option. Obligatory shelving for jeans and handbags. And I still have space left over for a sitting area…I’m happy in my closet!

STOP: Scan and Deliver

So you've gone through the tedious but rewarding process of organizing your home. You've eliminated the clutter, chosen an appropriate place for everything and, for the moment, everything is in its place. Now, how to keep it that way?

If you're used to a messy house, you're probably accustomed to setting things down without much awareness. Your handbag rests where you dropped it in the foyer. Today's shoes are strewn in the garage and the water glass you carried from the kitchen to the den remains there long after you've departed. If you're going to maintain the order you've worked so hard to create, it's time to be more thoughtful about what you're doing with your belongings.

"STOP: scan and deliver" is a technique I use to ensure that each space in the home is properly organized. Each time you exit a room, take a moment to turn around and scan each area, each surface of the space for items that don't belong. Then deliver those items to their proper places.

To get started, consider printing out this sign and pasting it on the back of each door in your house. (Or buy the sticker). Soon you won't need the sign to remember to check your space before you leave it.

Do You - clearing emotional clutter

The cliche admonition to "be yourself" has found new life in current popular culture as the updated anthem: Do You. Although it feels like a motto for the younger crowd - its foremost proponents being the likes of Beyonce and Kanye West - I'd like to go on the record as a big fan of the life approach, if not of the phrase itself.

According to Urban Dictionary, "Doing you is when you lose all regard for other people's opinions and are finally at peace with yourself." In other words, prioritize yourself and live according to your values.

Living in any other way means allowing emotional clutter to take over. So:

• Don't let guilt, fear, shame or other negative emotions rule your life. Or your closet! Let go of the stuff you don't want and of the guilt you feel in doing so.

• You owe it to yourself to make the best possible decisions, whether it's choosing a career path or choosing what to invite into your space versus what to trash, donate or simply say "no" to.

• And don't apologize to anyone for honoring your own needs and preferences. The social pressure to be perfect, with perfection defined narrowly by influencers such as retailers and media, is greater than ever. Don't succumb to it. Just do you.

Team Up For Success

If you're the type that finds strength in numbers - you exercise more consistently with a gym buddy or cook better with company - then find a partner in your organizing project.

When it comes to working or working out, we're not shy about recruiting help. Why, then, do we not band together to tackle the challenges of running a household? There's no shame in teaming up with a friend or family member - or professional organizer if you need to call in the big guns - to de-clutter, sort and file.

Have trouble focusing when it's time to pay bills? Invite a friend for tea and write out your checks together. Can't seem to get yourself in the car to run those errands you've been putting off? Run them with a friend and it's a lot less intimidating. In fact, you might just enjoy it!

Save time: do LESS

In her August 2014 article "The Best Productivity Trick of All: Do Less," Alex Cavoulacos, Founder of career advice website The Muse, encourages us to be more productive at work by crossing unnecessary items off of our to-do lists. Her advice, in summary, is to:  Say no, delegate, eliminate the unnecessary, reassess the need for meetings, their format and length, and manage email more effectively.

Read Alex's article, which I discovered on WeWork Magazine, which features stories of entrepreneurs and first-hand resources that make your business more successful.

Similarly, there are several ways in which we can be more productive - and happier - at home by reevaluating the tasks we undertake and how we approach them. In fact, some of Alex's advice can be directly applied:

1. Say no  Saying no is just as hard for many of us in our personal lives as it is professionally - and it's at least as important to do so at home as it is at the office. Are you saying no to your kids enough? Doing so is good for your sanity and is a lesson in patience, discipline and moderation of your children.

Social "obligations," including dinner parties, babysitting and the PTA, are not mandatory.  They're choices. Make them wisely and selectively.

2. Delegate  There's no shame in delegating tasks to household members, including spouses and kids, as well as roommates or neighbors, or to hiring a professional to lighten your load.

3. Eliminate the unnecessary  Attending to extraneous tasks at work can reduce productivity but doing so at home can reduce happiness. By cutting the fat from our personal to-do list, we free up time and energy for the things that are most important to us, including family time, friendships, health and personal growth.

In my experience as a professional  organizer, there are two common causes of squandered time. The first is perfectionism. Women, in particular, are susceptible to societal messages that tell us we have to be super-people. If you're ironing your sheets because your neighbor does or home-making baby food because a magazine suggested that you do, consider letting these things go. Decide what's truly valuable in your life and eliminate the tasks that "others" are pressuring you to perform.

The second common cause of unnecessary to-do items is avoidance. Might you be artificially adding things to your list to avoid facing the really tough tasks? Instead of stocking up on cleaning supplies at the bulk store, sit down and start writing that book. Rather than reorganizing your shed this weekend, join your family for an outing. Dreading your first trip to the gym? Might as well face it now. It'll still be waiting for you after a wasted afternoon of unnecessary tasks. And if you are going to procrastinate, at least enjoy a good nap rather than wasting time on a made-up task.

The 1-Bin method: a fast-results approach to household organizing

By now we all know the organizing process. Get out three bins - one for trash, one for donate, one for keep, and start making decisions … right?

Well, maybe. This is a tried and true de-cluttering method but I have a slight variation to offer, which is particularly suitable for those with a major organizing project at hand. It's also great for people who have a hard time making decisions or who get stuck and quit before the task is complete.

Here it is...

1. Get out 1 bin*. Walk through your house and fill the bin with everything that doesn't belong. That includes trash and donation items, as well as items that are simply in the wrong place. Clothing in the garage? Office supplies in the bedroom? Books in the bathroom? Fill the bin and stash it somewhere out of sight.
2. Once you've removed all that clutter, you're left with a pretty organized home. Enjoy it! Revel in the peace and order you have created.
3. As you have time and energy, tackle that bin. First pull out trash and recycling items and discard them. Then decide what you absolutely need to keep and put it away in its proper place.
4. What you're left with at the end is questionable stuff. For each item, ask yourself, do I want to re-clutter up my nice, neat house with this thing or can I add it to the donation pile?

Benefits of the 1-Bin method:

• Efficiency. This method allows you to work quickly, without getting hung up on every decision.

• Results. You see immediate results, which allows you to start enjoying your progress.

• Maintenance. Once you have great results, you're less likely to re-clutter your household and more likely to just say goodbye to the stuff in the bin.

*Disclaimer: The 1-Bin method will most likely require the employ of more than 1 bin. The idea is that you don't categorize bin items until AFTER you get results.

Smooth Moves: Taking the path of least resistance into your new home

According to the Employee Relocation Council (and as anyone who has ever moved surely knows), "moving is the third most stressful event in life, following death and divorce."

Moving requires managing many logistical challenges - and life doesn't halt for you while you get it all done. You still have to face the daily grind of work and home life, when all the while you're drowning in boxes. In addition to all of that, you also encounter the nostalgia of ending one era and the anxiety of beginning a new one. Downsizing is particularly stressful, not only for the labor and planning involved in reducing your possessions but also for the emotional difficulty of parting with your stuff.

I can't promise that moving will ever be much of a picnic but, having assisted with many moves, I can share some universal advice that can make the process a lot less painful.

Planning

Planning is critical to a smooth move.  There are several spaces, dates and vendors to manage so first think through all the details and write out your plan, including when each step will occur. Start with your deadline for being settled in the new place and work backwards, accounting for packing and unpacking time, utility appointments, address changes, bill deadlines, furniture deliveries, car or truck rentals, cleaning service visits and walk-throughs.

Carefully plan your new space. Floor plans are not always reliable so take your own measurements, not just of walls and ceilings but also of counter tops, and inside closets and garages. Use a free internet space planner to map out how your furniture will fit into the new space.

Then decide where you will store your belongings. Take a visual inventory of all the categories of items you will bring with you and designate a room, closet or area where each will be accessible. Don't assume you can replicate your current home in the new one. Perhaps you keep your extra linens in the guest closet at your current house but it might make more sense in the new space to keep them in your master bathroom. It's important to have a realistic plan for where everything will go, especially if you're downsizing and might not have enough space for everything you expect to bring along.  It also saves time during the move process and means you'll be completely settled in from day 1 (or 2) in the new house.

Packing

Movers pack with only 2 goals in mind: a) getting everything on the truck and delivered to the new house as quickly as possible and b) covering their liability by ensconcing everything - even your Tupperware - in bubble wrap. Hire movers that you know to be honest and reliable. Then work with them to pack smarter.

• Use large, easily visible color-coded stickers to indicate what stays and what goes. Make sure they are adherent enough not to fall off.
• Take photos before packing begins for reference when unpacking, especially of bookcases and other decorative spaces.
• Keep a list or take a photo of the contents of each box.
• Pack items in groups according to where they will go in the new space, NOT where they are in your current space.*

*This saves a huge amount of time and effort in the unpacking process and prevents your having to drag heavy boxes from one room to another on the delivery end. Don't let movers pack "unlikes" in a single box. The office papers in your kitchen should be packed with other office papers - not with coffee mugs.

If you're moving yourself, leave plenty of time and start early by packing things you can do without for a few weeks. Leaving too much to the last minute adds a lot of stress and disorder.

Move day

Get help! You can't be everywhere doing everything so recruit a trusted friend to lend a hand.  While you field questions and direct movers, he or she can record box contents and start unpacking some of the crucial items.

Be sure to set aside the personal items you'll need for the 24-hour move cycle. In addition to a change of clothes and a day's worth of toiletries, don't forget:

• Keys
• Wallet, checkbook (with some cash on hand)
• Cell phones and chargers
• Medications
• Alarm clock
• Food and water for the day - for you and your pets (remember a couple of bowls, spoons, forks, etc.)
• Keep some toilet paper and hand soap with you so that it's available at both the old and new locations

You should also hand carry valuable or very fragile items, and plan to transport any open toiletries or cleaning supplies yourself. Movers won't load these in their trucks for fear of damaging spills.

Take care of yourself on move day. Be sure to get a good night's rest. Take breaks throughout the day, and remember to eat and drink. Make special arrangements for young children and pets so that no one gets hurt or lost.

Unpacking

Despite movers' preferences, unload and place furniture in the new house first - before bringing in boxes. Otherwise, the boxes block the way. Once you have your furniture in place, start unpacking one area at a time, clearing as many boxes as possible to make more space. I like to start with clothing and then unpack toiletries and kitchen items. That's usually enough work for one day. Less critical areas, including office items, cleaning and laundry supplies and books, artwork and accessories, can wait a day or two.

Starting out in a new space is an opportunity to set up a more organized home. Rather than rush through the process, take time to plan, downsize your possessions and strategically place items in your new home. It's a lot easier to start off right in a space than to purge and reorganize later on.

One final plea: if, while preparing to move, you unearth boxes still unopened from your last move, do not open them. Do not load them on your moving truck. Barring the remote possibility that they contain bundles of cash, take them straight to the dump.

Bread and Milk and Batteries...oh, my!

My organizing colleague Leslie Tansey, of All About Organizing, had this to say about the reaction - namely to the rush on bread and milk - to today's forecast of an impending ice storm in our little southern town: "...If we get an ice storm and lose power, the LAST thing you want in your fridge is Milk and Eggs. Don't forget: Water, flashlights, batteries, candles, and anything in the grocery store that does not require refrigeration. This has been a public service announcement from yours truly. Be safe out there!!!"

Amen, Leslie!

By the way, who are these people who are less than 48 hours away from being out of toilet paper? I call that living on the edge. And, in my case, seeing as I subsist mainly on dairy, the same is true for milk.

While it's prudent to stock up on supplies and non-perishables in advance of a weather event, I have to think that many of the east-coasters bum-rushing the grocery stores today have a wealth of reserves already at home in their pantries. Save yourself time, stress and money: always check your inventory before shopping!

Closet Commandments

A recent Facebook post with a link to The 10 Commandments of Hanging, (see below) according to Melanie Charlton of Clos-ette, drew my immediate attention. I have a duty to my clients to  monitor widely-distributed organizing advice for accuracy so I carefully studied each of Ms. Charlton's "commandments." I'm pleased to report that she and I are in absolute agreement upon all but one of these. Take a look at #9:

"Thou shalt color-code. Organizing your clothes by color allows you to visualize an outfit by separates and helps you to mix and match combinations you might otherwise miss."

Color-coding works for some people. Artists and others who are very visual tend to enjoy and thrive off of this system and I'm happy to apply it in those cases. That said, I do not personally believe that organizing clothing by color usually makes sense. I prefer to separate tops, pants, skirts, dresses and other items by season, style,  texture or function. For instance, I wouldn't put two tops together simply because they're in the same color family. When I'm dressing, color is the last consideration after sleeve-length and weight, as well as level of formality. Sifting through red cotton t-shirts is a waste of time when I'm preparing for a business lunch.

My recommendation, once you've categorized tops, pants, skirts and dresses is to separate winter/fall items from spring/summer items. If you don't have a large closet, consider storing off-season clothing in a guest closet. Now, divide work pants from weekend pants, evening dresses from sundresses, etc. Next, order according to sleeve/pant length. If you've done all of this and you still have enough clothing in each section to order by color, be my guest, However, this is probably an indication that you have too many clothes! Choose your favorites and donate the rest.

______

The 10 Commandments of Hanging, according to Melanie Charlton of Clos-ette

-Thou shalt hang as much as possible in thy closet. Hang as much as you can with skinny hangers.

-Thou shalt not hang sweaters. Sweaters are best folded and stored on shelves or in drawers to maintain their shape.

-Thou shalt banish wire hangers from thy closet. They are weak, leave marks, and force your clothes to lose shape. Enough said?

-Thou shalt have matching hangers. A hodgepodge of hangers makes your closet look sloppy and prevents clothes from hanging properly.

-Thou shalt use appropriate hangers for appropriate garments. Coats on coat hangers keeps your topper in tip-top shape.

-Thou shalt not kill clothes with plastic. Those dry-cleaning bags are plastic traps for moisture, which can lead to mildew and mold growth, which can severely damage, discolor, and stain. Natural fibers like cotton, wool, silk, and linen need to breathe. Once you bring your duds home, free them!

-Honor the breathing room of thy clothing. Yes, you should hang as much as possible but you should also leave enough space between each garment so they’re not crammed together in your closet. Cramming causes wrinkling and makes you look like you slept in your best suit.

-Thou shalt not hang thy clothes with strangers. Put like with like and hang items facing in the same direction.

-Thou shalt color-code. Organizing your clothes by color allows you to visualize an outfit by separates and helps you to mix and match combinations you might otherwise miss.

-Honor thy pants and sweaters. Keep pants looking freshly pressed by hanging them along their creases or pleats to keep them sharp; always fold sweaters so that they don’t lose their shape.

You need a Professional Organizer when...

You’re afraid to open your closet for fear of bodily injury.

You enjoy cooking – just not in YOUR kitchen.

You can’t fit your car in your garage.

You can’t remember what’s in your attic.

You've spent thousands of dollars on a storage unit.

Your kids’ toys are taking over your house.

You keep buying things you already have.

You haven’t opened your mail in weeks.

You regularly pay late fees.

You never seem to get around to the really important things on your to-do list.

You’re moving, downsizing or putting your house up for sale.

Your parents are moving into assisted living and you’re sorting through their household.

Your business needs workflow streamlining.

Your child is entering middle school and needs helps with time management and being prepared for daily activities.

You live in a dorm or apartment and need to make the most of a small space.

You realize your kids are picking up your bad organizational habits!

The occasional home office

Why go out shopping for expensive furniture and organizing products when so often we already have the perfect solution at home?!  

This wicker cabinet held a few kitchen odds and ends - mostly some seasonal table linens that found a new home in the kitchen cabinetry. We emptied out the piece and converted it into an "occasional" home office. Like an occasional chair that fills wall space until it's called upon to serve as extra seating for company, the cabinet appears decorative most of the time but easily opens up into a functional, standing office.

Family archive files are stored in Husband's home office along with his business papers; Wife's occasional office holds just the daily necessities for managing household paperwork and kids' schedules. Cork board backing displays invitations and coupons, and laminating paper turned the inside of the doors into wet-erase board for notes. When it's not being used, my client's laptop sits neatly in the cabinet. Files and office supplies are stored in the drawers below.

Now my client's supplies are located centrally in her home, where she can work side by side with her kids at the kitchen table, rather than hidden away in a "satellite" office away from the action. And when it's time for dinner, the clutter magically disappears into her lovely corner cabinet.

Office space

Many of us who devote care and attention to the spaces in our personal lives neglect to do the same in our professional space. Considering the time that we spend in our workplaces, it's worth a small investment of time and money to make them comfortable as well as functional. Plus, your office space speaks volumes to those who visit it. An organized, inviting and peaceful office with a few creative touches not only impresses your colleagues...it also draws them to you, creating a collegial working environment.

The first step toward an appealing and functional office is a clean desk with plenty of space to work. Organize your files in drawers or attractive containers, and keep loose paperwork to a minimum. As it is at home, too much visual clutter can create mental clutter and cause difficulty focusing.

An office with a proper door and natural light, of course, starts you off at an advantage. Whether you work in a corner office or a cubicle, consider bringing in outside light sources to create an atmosphere that's suited to your work. Sharp task lighting is great for detailed paperwork while soft, warm lighting is better for conversational spaces.

Bring color into your space by choosing coordinated folders and desk accessories. Use inexpensive fabric such as sheeting to cover cork boards. Highlight appropriate art pieces and photographs that make you feel comfortable and inspired in your office. Display a few awards or accolades of which you're proud. Just don't overdo it - you (normally) don't want to intimidate your visitors!

Natural elements such as plants go a long way to enliven your space. A bowl of fresh fruit is decorative and provides a healthy snack when you're having a hectic day.

Keeping track of coupons

It's more worthwhile now than ever to keep track of your coupons. In a down economy, savings are especially important. And with coupons, Groupons and other "social deals" available everywhere these days, you can afford to indulge in meals, spa services and even organizing services! The only catch: you have to remember to use the coupons before they expire and be able to find them when you're ready to do so.

Many of my clients ask me how I manage my own coupons and social deals, so I thought I'd share my solution here and show you how to set up a system just like it:

• To start, gather all the coupons and social deals in your possession, discarding any already expired items.
• On a fresh letter-sized envelope (if you're an avid coupon user you might consider using a larger envelope or container), list each coupon in order of expiration date (soonest to latest).
• Place your coupons inside the envelope.
• For coupons that aren't available in hard copy, make a note on your list. For example: Libra - organizing services - 2 hours - expires 12/31/11 *Tippr.com confirmation in my Gmail archives

Keep your coupon holder in your handbag, car, desk drawer or entryway table - wherever you are sure to see it frequently. I browse my list a couple of times a week to see if anything is expiring soon. I also check the list before I head to the store or out for dinner to see if I have anything I can use.

An additional safeguard to ensure that a coupon doesn't expire before you can use it is to set a reminder in your calendar, whether paper or electronic, that gives you a heads up a month, a week, even a day before the coupon expires. Whenever I receive a new coupon, I enter it on my envelope and calendar right away. Once I use a coupon, I cross it off right away.

Additional coupon tips: 

Although coupons can be extremely valuable when used properly, be sure to avoid pitfalls:

• Groupons and social deals are a great new way to save money, and try out new products and services. As my grandfather used to say to my mother when she was a kid, however, "You're saving me so much money, you're breaking me!" Be selective about your deal purchases so that you stay within your monthly budget and allow yourself enough time to use them all before they expire.

• Traditional coupons can save you hundreds on groceries each year - if you stick to using coupons for items you already planned to buy, or if you plan your meals around the items currently on sale. Don't use coupons as excuses to make too many impulse purchases. Since grocery coupons usually save you a dollar or less per item, the cost of extra, unnecessary purchases can add up very quickly.

• Finally, coupons are meant to enhance your life - not to burden you. If you find yourself spending hours coupon clipping or sifting through piles of 30-cent scraps, maybe you need to re-prioritize. Unless you truly need to pinch every penny, it's probably worth paying full price on items in order to have more time for the things you enjoy.

In general, the benefits of any tedious or time-consuming practice should far outweigh the costs. Don't let yourself be a slave to an unnecessary habit. Sometimes the best way to streamline your life is simply to let go!