Please welcome our guest speaker tonight, Lisa Zaslow!

Lisa Zaslow is the founder of Gotham Organizers.  They create customized solutions that meet your needs and budget.
Since 2000 Gotham Organizers has helped hundreds of individuals, businesses and not-for-profits save time, money and effort by being more organized.  Go to www.GothamOrganizers.com and sign up for the monthly productivity tips newsletter. 
Put NewHorizons in the Country field when you sign up, then check your email for a message asking you to confirm your subscription. You'll then receive the guidelines by email.

The guidelines on how long to keep paper are from my e-book "Can't I Just Shred It All? 

101 Tips to File - and Find - Your Important Papers."

Or go to www.101FilingTips.com - you'll get all her best tips on how to file papers.  

Practical information that you can apply right away to organize your papers. 

Questions & Answers Time!

Q.  Is it better to shred paper, or just toss it out?
A.  Identity theft is a real problem, so there are some things you definitely want to shred, burn or totally destroy.  Anything with sensitive account information - like bank accounts or financial statements and definitely anything with your social security number on it.

Q.  How do you stop loving your clutter when you look at it individually.  Stuff from other people, I guess, or that reminds me of them.
A.  Oh, yes, things that are associated with other people can be hard to let go of. The key is to remember that you can value the PERSON, but still let go of the STUFF.

Q.  When trying to clear clutter, how do you handle the things that you really don't know if you want to keep?
A.  What I recommend is, if you can't decide quickly on something - whether you want to keep it or let it go -then you can create a "temporary holding bin" - don't get bogged down trying to decide on these items - it'll slow you down.  Sometimes, when you go back to them a little later, the decision will be easier. I've heard this called a "ripening bin"! Some things need a little time before you're ready to let them go, but if EVERYTHING ends up in the temporary bin, then you may need some help with the process.

Q.  Is there any mental illness attached to us paper/magazine/article horders? What about us box, bag, bottle collectors? Are we insane or what?? Isn't there something deeper going on here? LOL
A.  Well, you guys are in good company! There's a term that I love for people who have a hard time parting with magazines, newspapers, etc. ---  infomaniacs!
The thing is, there is SO much information coming at us these days You really can't store it all - or have time to read it all. And with the boxes and bags and bottles - from what I've seen  people see these as items that might be useful some day -and they might. But when you have a LOT of them, they probably won't be. Better to recycle them. If you focus on what you really USE and NEED and LOVE, hopefully it will be easier to let some of the other stuff go but I recognize that it can be really difficult for some people, and that's where working with a professional organizer can be really valuable. Unlike maybe your friends and family, they've worked with many people with similar challenges and aren't at all judgmental about it. Some of my clients have found watching shows like "Clean Sweep" to be helpful.  They see other people letting stuff go and it inspires them.
But keep in mind that a lot of what you see on TV is speeded up,  the process can be time-consuming - and that's okay.

Q.  How do you deal with having to have things from friends/relatives or they get upset . Clutter to me, not to them?
A.  That's a tough one. It depends on whether you live with them or not - and how often they come over to your place!  It's not easy, but you might want to start a conversation about it.  Maybe something like "I love you, but we have very different views on 'stuff' ".  Or you could start the conversation by mentioning this talk.  Get them talking about their feelings about stuff, so you can address that. It's not usually about the stuff itself, but some people do attach feelings and meaning to stuff more than other people do. Neither is right or wrong - but it can be a source of conflict if you live with people with different views on stuff.

Q.  Would you recommend using closet organizers ( for suits, dresses, shoes... stuff like that)? 
A.  There are some great products out there for really maximizing your closet space. But don't just run out and go shopping!
First, make sure you've cleared any clothes clutter,stuff that doesn't fit, that you hate, that's stained, etc. Then see if you need some extra racks or shelves or whatever.  Don't just buy it in the store if it looks useful - an awful lot of organizing products just become clutter !
A few good closet items are behind the door pockets - made for shoes, but good for other small items.  Closet rod doublers, which let you get two rows of short-hanging garments on a single rod, under-shelf baskets can be great if you have shelves that are far apart.  Just a few examples of items that can be helpful and if you have the budget for it, creating a custom closet can really maximize the space.  

Q.  Right now, my house is nothing but pure clutter and piles. It's like a mountain of mess. How would you recommend I start making molehills out of this mountain?
A.  First, I'm so glad you made it to this talk! I'd say, start small. Pick one small area to work on, so that you can succeed at it,  maybe just a drawer or the medicine cabinet or one surface like a kitchen counter. Also, it will be much easier if you get some help - a nonjudgmental friend or family member, or a professional organizer.  You can find an organizer in your area by zip code at www.napo.net Good luck - it CAN be done! I have seen people make amazing changes! Once they make the commitment to it. 

 Before we close, I want to give you my number one tip to be more productive at work:
**  Clear your desk!  **
Think of your desk like Mission Control, or the cockpit of a plane, or a surgeon's operating room.
It should only contain the projects you are currently working on, and the tools and information that you use regularly.
You can also add a few personal items that inspire you and make you feel happy.
But if you are surrounded with papers to be filed, old work and information, random things you never use, and knick knacks that you don't even like, it will sap your energy and productivity. You want to create an environment that supports you in doing your best work and that makes you feel good.  I encourage you to think about one or two tips that you want to apply in your own life - make a commitment to make a change in an area that will make a difference for you! 

As I said before, start with a small change - don't say that you'll clear all the clutter out of your house. Start with the kitchen junk drawer or your night stand! Then build on your success.  

As the Chinese proverb says, The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!

Reported by Caretaker Polly

8/17/07