\t\t\t\tHere are my notes from our Global Gals Gathering in April. \u00a0They are the notes and may include incomplete sentences! \u00a0Have fun reading.<\/p>\n
April 9, 2015<\/p>\n
Attendees:\u00a0 Megan, Heather, Beth, Orchidea, Susan<\/p>\n
Presenter: Cheryl Hughes, Allow Me Solutions<\/p>\n
Cheryl is a do-er.\u00a0 She loves what she does. \u00a0 She’s been organizing for almost 9 years.<\/p>\n
Back in 1986, Cheryl walked, yes walked, across the country with a group of about 300 people.\u00a0 Started in L.A.\u00a0 For global nuclear disarmament. Walked for 9 months.\u00a0 \u201cThe Great Peace March.\u201d\u00a0 Met her partner on the walk, they have been together for 29 years.<\/p>\n
Chocolate, coffee, wine, and a friend.\u00a0 And you just start.\u00a0\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t matter what time of day you start.<\/p>\n
Take everything out of the room\/space that you are organizing.\u00a0 Organize a closet \u2013 start by taking everything out.\u00a0 Put items in categories\/piles such as sporting goods, supplies, Christmas decorations, tools, pictures, gardening supplies.\u00a0 Then you can see what needs to go, thrown away, give away, and keep.\u00a0 Do you love it?\u00a0 Does it bring you joy?\u00a0 Do you use it?\u00a0 If you answer yes, then keep it.\u00a0 If you answer no, then get rid of it.\u00a0 If you keep it, it\u2019s a physical burden.<\/p>\n
3 containers:\u00a0 donation, trash, recycle.\u00a0 Put the items inside a container.\u00a0 Have each container look different.<\/p>\n
Shared space with spouse.\u00a0 Have spouse put the item in his\/her own space, not shared space.<\/p>\n
Everything you have needs to have a home.\u00a0 Avoid piles.\u00a0 Piles are about indecision.\u00a0 You can miss deadlines, you can lose money, lose gift cards, not pay a bill, increases negativity.\u00a0 Solution: sort the piles (filed, needs attention, shredded) and deal with each smaller pile.<\/p>\n
Idea: journal, write important items in the journal instead of keeping a physical magazine or article.<\/p>\n
98% of the time, containers and cabinets that you already have are enough.\u00a0 There isn\u2019t a need to buy bins before organizing.\u00a0\u00a0 You can get new bins after you start organizing.\u00a0 Decrease what goes in the landfill, don\u2019t buy unnecessary storage\/decorative bins.<\/p>\n
If you can store vertically, store vertical.\u00a0 Put items so they are up and down, not flat.\u00a0 You can see things more clearly in vertical.\u00a0 Vertical takes less room.<\/p>\n
Put alike things alike. For example, tools in the house, put all the tools in one place.<\/p>\n
For donations and returns, put it in the car.\u00a0 Don\u2019t leave the items in the house.<\/p>\n
What is the reason for not making room for items that are in boxes.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t leave things in a bag. \u00a0Bags are worse than boxes.\u00a0 Boxes have boundaries and you can take the lid off to see what is inside.<\/p>\n
Cheryl also works with hoarders. \u00a0In general, it\u2019s better to let the person live the way they live unless it\u2019s a safety issue or if they are getting evicted.\u00a0 Repurpose items.\u00a0 Reduce what goes in the landfill.<\/p>\n
Cheryl has a contact for someone who sells on Ebay.\u00a0 China isn\u2019t worth anything and is hard to sell.\u00a0 Silver may be sold as is or melted down.<\/p>\n