The Neat Sheet
March / April 2010
 
 
 
That's Neat! Organizing
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In This Issue
Make Your Exercise Equipment "Fit" Your Life
Especially for Parents: Bag It!
Do Something for Yourself
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Greetings!     

Spring is around the corner! Why not clear a little clutter from your life? 
 
In this edition I share a story about purging some excess items in my life: making a realistic decision about them not only cleared some clutter, it also cleared some guilt.
 
And don't forget to check out what's neat and new on the That's Neat! Organizing blog.
 
Best,
Elizabeth
Make Your Exercise Equipment "Fit" Your Life
In one of my favorite organizing books, The Organizing Sourcebook, author Kathy Waddill shares her nine strategies to simplify life. #1 is: "Make Your Systems Fit You and Your Life."  I often use this strategy with clients to have them pare down items that they may have used in the past, but don't fit their life now....for example those maternity clothes in the back of the closet or skis from all the college ski trips.
 
Recently I used this strategy to deal with exercise equipment in my home. I had always found it hard to squeeze in time to go to the gym, so I talked myself into thinking I'd exercise at home. This led to a collection of well-intentioned equipment ....an aerobic step (with accompanying VHS video), yoga videos, a Pilate's ball, hand weights...among other items. Interestingly, they were hidden away in the back of three or four different closets in our home. Thanks to many DIY home projects over the last two years, however, this equipment slowly surfaced and I gave most of it away...because I didn't use it. It didn't "fit my life now" and so it went.
 
There is still one piece of equipment, much bigger, that sits lonely in the basement: a very nice ski machine passed on from thoughtful parents. It was a great idea at the time, but we could never find the right place for it. Not in the extra room next to the bedroom because it made so much noise when used that no one else could sleep. Not in our living room where it would take up valuable floor space. Maybe the office/guest room? It didn't quite work their either with our two desks, so back to the basement it went.
 
Now the ski machine may have a new home. The former office/guest room is on its way to becoming a family room. After some creative thinking, a new furniture arrangement may just make the ski machine fit. Having a nice new TV on the wall would be good incentive to exercise there too. Once the room is repainted and carpeted, we'll move the ski machine. If it fits, it will stay; if not, it will go.
 
I've also adopted another strategy to pare down exercise equipment clutter: using the Wii for (gasp) exercise and not just games. This compact system makes it so easy to exercise at home that I may actually be able to keep it up.
 
Do you have any exercise equipment that doesn't fit your life now? Forget the guilt: decide to use it, or loose it.
Especially For Parents: Bag It!
Bags are an excellent and inexpensive organizing tool:
  • Use different bags to designate different activities; for example, my daughter has a school backpack, ballet bag, ice skating bag, and swim bag.
  • Bags can also help in other ways. We have a bag with stickers, paper, and small toys and games that we take in the car for short trips (when the DVD player seems like too much). I add things to this special "car bag" at random times so that when it comes out it holds some surprises. (This could be a good use for those small plastic toys from restaurants and birthday parties that seem to multiple in kids' rooms.)
  • Many families keep a bag just for library books.
 How do you use bags in your home? Be sure to label the bags or use different colors/designs to quickly tell them apart. Then you can grab and go!
Do Something For Yourself!
Do you have a space in your home that makes you cringe every time you see it? Need help incorporating some more healthy habits into your life? We can help. Contact That's Neat! Organizing today. Phone coaching for organizing projects is available!