Self Organization » XOXOrganizing

30-Day Donate Challenge

August 27, 2015 by XOXOblog in General Organizing, Self Organization

This Donate Challenge is meant to help you make a little extra space in your drawers, cabinets, closets and other places you may not have looked through in a while. Taking this challenge means committing to look through the areas listed in the challenge and donating/tossing what you KNOW you won’t use/want/need in the future.

Donating and purging is one of the best things you can do when you first start organizing your home. Notice the name of this challenge is DONATE- not organize. I only want you to donate/toss things you KNOW you won’t use/want/need in the future. If you need to call a friend or need more than 10 seconds to think about whether or not to keep the items listed in the challenge, then the best thing to do is just to keep them and move on to the next item you see. The point of this challenge is to make a tiny bit of space in each area of your home.

Take the 30-Day Donate Challenge and download your FREE PDF here: XOXO 30-Day Donate Challenge

Participate by taking before and after photos. You can tag us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: #XOXO30DAYS

Here are pictures from last year’s Donate Challenge:

Before and After: Storage Closet

August 10, 2015 by XOXOblog in General Organizing, Self Organization, Testimonials

BA Storage Closet

Sometimes organizing a space in your home seems overwhelming because you might not have the right tools to get organized. I want to share this story on how sometimes you need someone to help you organize and sometimes you can do it yourself- as long as you have the right tools.

A client hired me to organize her home. We organized until our time was up for the day, but we hadn’t even started on her storage closet. Instead of making another appointment, I gave her the task of organizing her storage closet. I told her to buy a shelf and what my vision was and she did it herself and did an A+ job!

If you notice- the BEFORE picture looks a little overwhelming. However, after she had the tools she needed, everything came together perfectly! Remember, not everything has to have the perfect color bin in order to be functional. Sometimes you don’t need to spend extra money on bins, you can just use what you have.

Here’s the Yelp review she wrote for me a few months later…

Sara with XOXO Organizing is AMAZING! She not only helped me organize my closet — but my life too! She was such a blast to work with, it didn’t feel like we were working, just friends hanging out and getting organized! I hired Sara about 3 months ago, and my life and closet have been so much better ever since! She gave me tips and taught me things as we went along, and I now have such an easier time staying organized. If you need help getting your house (or life, really!) in order, call Sara ASAP — I am so thankful that I did, best money I have spent in a LONG time….worth every penny! Thanks, Sara!

– Natalie Y., Irvine, CA

Store More in Your Garage

July 27, 2015 by XOXOblog in General Organizing, Self Organization

Most people use their garage like a storage unit, storing things they’re tired of or don’t know what to do with. Instead, use your garage to help you make space in your home.

If your home is lacking space, you can store much of the following in your garage to help you keep your home clutter-free:

winter clothes/gear
crafting items
outgrown children’s clothes
home decor to be used at a later date
seasonal items
bulk products
kids toys that isn’t being used
keepsake items
wrapping supplies
outdoor gear
old files

10 Dos and Don’ts of Organizing

July 6, 2015 by XOXOblog in General Organizing, Self Organization

DON’T organize if you’re feeling emotional. DO wait until you’re feeling calm and motivated! Being calm ensures you don’t make any hasty decisions.
DON’T move from room to room as you organize. DO keep clutter contained to the room you’re organizing in. Bouncing around from room to room will wear you out and waste time. Have separate bags for donation, trash and items to distribute to other rooms. Once you’re done organizing a room, you can take each bag directly to where it needs to go.
DON’T expect to finish organizing your whole house in one day. DO give yourself a reasonable time limit. Set an alarm on your phone and anything that’s left over can temporarily wait until next time.
DON’T buy bulk items when you don’t have the space. DO spend the extra money each month to keep your sanity- and extra space in your cabinets.
DON’T keep essential items in a limited access area. DO make sure the things you use most are the most accessible to you and your family.
DON’T hold on to items you know you’ll never use. DO donate the items to a charity that’s close to your heart.
DON’T have more than one place for like-items. DO keep like-items together at all times. When organizing, think of your house like a grocery store. The things that belong together should be kept together- just like your local market.
DON’T organize one time and think it’s going to last you and your family a lifetime. DO re-evaluate your space, at least, twice each year. Your life will change, your mind will change, your space should too.
DON’T buy bins without lids just because you don’t need them at the moment. DO think about long-term storage and the possibility of needing to switch things up later. When it comes to containers, it’s always good to leave your options open and give yourself room to grow.
DON’T go to bed without putting things away. DO make a game out of it. Set an egg timer for 15 minutes and every night, the whole family plays, “Hurry up, get organized!”

5 Things To Do Every Day

June 22, 2015 by XOXOblog in General Organizing, Self Organization

Here we go…

Keep a MASTER CALENDAR for you and your family.
Give yourself TIME (about 30 minutes) in between appointments.
File and label documents in a FILE CABINET.
EMPTY your purse every night.
SORT mail as soon as it comes in. P.S. Go ahead and judge an envelope by its cover!

Need help with your day-to-day tasks and getting organized? Register for our Calendar Course to learn productivity techniques that will change your life.

XOXO!