How to Stop Losing & Searching for Things

What can you do today to stop losing & searching for things?


What are the pain points?

  • Misplacing items on a regular basis
  • Spending time and energy to find items
  • Feeling frustrated/annoyed by repeating the same tasks
  • Feeling out of control in your environment
  • Panicking when you’re in a rush

What are the causes?

  • Items do not have a designated home (place of belonging)
  • Stress, fatigue
  • Multitasking

What is the solution?

Step 1: Designate a Home for the item(s)

When picking a location, pick a place that is:

  • Easy
  • Convenient
  • Flows with your daily routine and lifestyle
Step 2: Pick a place to Store and Display
  • Bin/Basket/Bowl on a counter
  • Basket on a shelf
  • Hook on the wall
  • Rack on the wall
  • Designate a drawer
  • Box under bottom shelf
Step 3: Practice and Repeat Habits
  • Try finding and putting items back regularly for 7 days
Step 4: Adjust and Evaluate

You know you need to readjust your system if:

  • You place items in random places
  • You place items outside of the designated home
  • You have to search for items

Try to move the location to an easy and more convenient place that makes sense around your habits.


Example: “I always lose my keys, wallet, and glasses.”

Step 1: Designate a home
  • Near the entryway so I can drop and pick up items easily at the door.
Step 2: Store and Display Options
  • The right drawer in the entryway console.
Step 3: Practice and Repeat Habits
  • For 7 days I will put my keys, wallet and glasses in the drawer when I come home.
  • For 7 days I will retrieve my keys, wallet, and glasses from the drawer when I leave.
Step 4: Adjust and Evaluate
  • After 2 weeks, I started to put items on the surface of the entryway console.
  • I placed a beautiful glass dish on the entryway console to place my keys, wallet, and glasses.
  • I find it’s much easier to empty my pockets and pick up my stuff easily off the counter rather than open a drawer.

We align your vision and goals with functional systems and holistic solutions – focusing on the home, mind, and soul.

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    questions and answers tidy lifestyle organizing

    Q & A: Tidy Lifestyle Organizing

    Q & A: Tidy Lifestyle Organizing

    What triggers cause people to want to organize?

    • Feelings of frustration, stress, and distraction regularly when at home or in the office.
    • Life events like expecting a baby, a recent break up, or the passing of a relative or friend.
    • Special Occasions such as upcoming holidays, weddings, and birthday celebrations.
    • Situations involving a big move or trip abroad where organizing and preparation are a must.

    What are the signs to start organizing now?

    Physical:

    • Visual clutter from surfacing being covered and piles of stuff
    • Hidden chaos when you open drawers and closets
    • Duplicates of the same items

    Behavioral

    • Losing track of items
    • Spending time searching for items
    • Consistently buying items at the store only to come home and realize you already have it.
    • Buying items only for them to be left unused with tags on or sitting around in original packaging
    • Organizing day by day, yet nothing changes

    Emotional

    • Distraction
    • Frustration
    • Overwhelmed
    • Hopeless
    • Out of control

    What can I do today?

    Start with a category. Clothing is the easiest category to get started with. Clothes are something we touch and use daily. It is much easier to decide what to keep and discard because you know what you wear and what you don’t. Before you organize your clothes, first sort through them one by one.

    Begin with a super simple subcategory like socks. Pick out the socks you use often and are prone to grab; use these as a basis for what to keep. Try to compare your favorite socks with the others. Is the band loose and fall down when you walk? Are there holes on the bottom? How old are these socks? If socks are 3-5 years old I recommend purchasing new socks. Once you know what socks you are keeping, check out your storage space – will all of your socks fit nicely? Should they be folded in half or in thirds so they can be lined up horizontally? Learn how to display and fold your sock with Tidy Lifestyle’s How-To Videos.

    What can help me stay motivated to tidy?

    Take a moment and think about why you want to tidy. If everything in your life was completely organized and seemingly perfect, what would that look like? What is your ideal lifestyle? Describe the physical space, how you feel in the space, and what you would do. Why do you want that lifestyle? Why do you want to tidy? Create a detailed image of this ideal lifestyle.

    Before you begin to organize, transport yourself into this vision. This long-term goal is a great motivator and reminder of why you are organizing. Remember that the journey is just as important as the destination. Have fun and take breaks if you’re feeling burned out.

    Find a nice space to fold or do a short meditation before you get started. Try your best to reframe your mindset to see organizing as a positive habit that helps make your life easier.

    What does Tidy Lifestyle offer that I can’t do on my own?

    A personal guide who will support you with solutions that are tailored to your specific habits and lifestyle.

    Nicole’s coaching lessons can be compared to a life coach or personal trainer. Nicole teaches clients how to maintain organization through folding lessons, how to categorize, store, and to utilize spaces efficiently. She asks questions to understand habits and behaviors so she can strategically know where and how to place items. She creates an organizing solution personalized for each client and every client.

    Too busy to organize? Want to save time and just get the job done? For those busy with work and other commitments, Nicole also offers traditional organizing services where she organizes for you. From organizing, to beautiful displays, to donation drop offs, and shopping – Take advantage of this all inclusive service.

    Why should you pick Tidy Lifestyle?

    Meet Nicole Sachiko โ€“ Organizing means so much more to me than tidying physical spaces. It is a vehicle to help clients learn about themselves, how to maintain organization, and to live their ideal tidy lifestyle.

    During my childhood I grew up in a hoarder home. It was typical to walk through โ€œalley waysโ€ of piles upon piles of stuff, a tradition to clear clutter off the table before meals, and a struggle to find items when needed. I can empathize personally with what it feels like to be physically cluttered and mentally stressed. How items naturally accumulate over time and hold us back instead of enhancing our daily lives. In college I studied Psychology, Child Development, and Health Education to ease my insatiable curiosity to help and understand people. After organizing my parents hoarder home I realized how the magic of tidying up can change lives physically and mentally. I went on to get certified with Marie Kondo as a KonMariยฎ Organizing Consultant.

    It is my joy in life to help guide you to rediscover what truly sparks joy for you โ€“ not only with your possessions but with your life in San Diego!

    What are the core benefits of working with Tidy Lifestyle?

    Nicole –

    • genuinely cares about you
    • is committed to starting and finishing your project completely
    • carefully considers how to set up your custom organizing systems to make your life easier
    • creates a safe and judgment free zone where you can feel fully self expressed

    Q & A: Tidy Lifestyle Organizing

    Looking for help? Let a professional organizer tidy and donate for you!

    nicole sachiko professional organizer owner of tidy lifestyle organizing in walnut creek ca

    Why hire a Professional Organizer?

    Tidy Lifestyle is a Professional Organizer Service committed to help you live your best life and feel inspired everyday through a sustainable organizing system that makes life easier.



    Common Situations

    Physical
    • Visual clutter from surfacing being covered and piles of stuff
    • Hidden chaos when you open drawers and closets
    • Duplicates of the same items
    Behavioral
    • Losing track of items
    • Spending time searching for items
    • Consistently buying items at the store only to come home and realize you already have it.
    • Buying items only for them to be left unused with tags on or sitting around in original packaging
    • Organizing day by day, yet nothing changes
    Emotional
    • Overwhelmed
    • Stressed
    • Distracted
    • Guilty
    • Frustrated
    • Out of Control
    Spiritual
    • “I want to tidy but don’t know where to begin.”
    • “I’ve tried to minimize but still have too much stuff.”
    • “I have trouble letting go.”
    • “I may use this one day.”

    What can I do today?

    Start with a category. Clothing is the easiest category to get started with. Clothes are something we touch and use daily. It is much easier to decide what to keep and discard because you know what you wear and what you don’t. Before you organize your clothes, first sort through them one by one.

    Begin with a super simple subcategory like socks. Pick out the socks you use often and are prone to grab; use these as a basis for what to keep. Try to compare your favorite socks with the others. Is the band loose and fall down when you walk? Are there holes on the bottom? How old are these socks? If socks are 3-5 years old I recommend purchasing new socks. Once you know what socks you are keeping, check out your storage space – will all of your socks fit nicely? Should they be folded in half or in thirds so they can be lined up horizontally? Learn how to display and fold your sock with Tidy Lifestyle’s How-To Videos.


    What can help me stay motivated to tidy?

    Take a moment and think about why you want to tidy. If everything in your life was completely organized and seemingly perfect, what would that look like? What is your ideal lifestyle? Describe the physical space, how you feel in the space, and what you would do. Why do you want that lifestyle? Why do you want to tidy? Create a detailed image of this ideal lifestyle.

    Before you begin to organize, transport yourself into this vision. This long-term goal is a great motivator and reminder of why you are organizing. Remember that the journey is just as important as the destination. Have fun and take breaks if you’re feeling burned out.

    Find a nice space to fold or do a short meditation before you get started. Try your best to reframe your mindset to see organizing as a positive habit that helps make your life easier.


    What does Tidy Lifestyle offer that I can’t do on my own?

    A personal guide who will support you with solutions that are tailored to your specific habits and lifestyle.

    Nicole’s coaching lessons can be compared to a life coach or personal trainer. Nicole teaches clients how to maintain organization through folding lessons, how to categorize, store, and to utilize spaces efficiently. She asks questions to understand habits and behaviors so she can strategically know where and how to place items. She creates an organizing solution personalized for each client and every client.

    Too busy to organize? Want to save time and just get the job done? For those busy with work and other commitments, Nicole also offers traditional organizing services where she organizes for you. From organizing, to beautiful displays, to donation drop offs, and shopping – Take advantage of this all inclusive service.


    Tidy Lifestyle can help you –

    Physical
    • Personalized lessons, custom follow up emails, and unlimited communication
    • Declutter and have less
    • Custom storage systems and solutions tailored to each individual
    • Recommended products that fit your specific space
    • Taking donations away (included for free!)
    Emotional
    • Empowering clients to donate to local causes
    • Empowering clients to let go of attachments
    • Reframe and refocus on joy, items of value, items with purpose
    • Connect what you own (physical) with how you feel (emotional)
    • Acknowledge patterns within the home – gifts, unused, forgotten items, etc.
    • To build confidence and mindfulness
    • To encourage positive, healthy, and sustainable habits
    Long-term
    • Easily find/put back items when you need them
    • Know everything you have, where it is stored, and when you need to buy more
    • Be surrounded by items you truly love, have purpose, and that make life easier
    • Make smarter purchasing decisions
    • Gain skills/knowledge that you can utilize the rest of your life

    Why Tidy Lifestyle?

    • Nicole genuinely cares about you.
    • A commitment to start and finish every project.
    • Custom solutions tailored to your lifestyle and habits.
    • A safe and judgment free zone where you can feel fully self expressed
    • To guide you to live your BEST life! You deserve it!
    Ready to Tidy Up with a Certified KonMari Consultantยฎ?

    Credentials:
    Free home organization list

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      writing organizing resources on notebook

      Simple Organizing Tips & Tricks

      Ready to tidy? Check out these simple organizing tips & tricks!


      Focus on Joy

      Reframe to the positive and embrace how each and every item serves a purpose and adds value.


      Closet Tips
      • Remove clothes from plastic! Mold and moths can be trapped inside plastic covering your clothes. I recommend reusable & washable cloth garment bags.
      • Create a beautiful closet with matching hangers: it’s a simple yet effective visual appeal when you open your closet daily

      Simple Kitchen Organizing
      • Try to store everything out of sight, inside cabinets and drawers
      • Install a wall basket on the inside cabinet under the sink to store soap & sponges
      • Store less frequently used appliances in low, easy to reach cabinets
      • Toss less joyful items like disposable silverware and chopsticks
      • Store food in air tight containers to preserve quality and for a lovely visual
      • Store loose dry items in bins
        • Snack bin: popcorn, chips, nuts, crackers
        • Canned: soup, beans, chicken broth
        • Sauces: ketchup, soy sauce, hot sauce
        • Health foods: protein powder, supplements
        • Back stock: backup cereal, energy bars, coffee
      • Keep joyful tools and organizers: high level of function, easy to wash/clean, and aesthetically pleasing

      Atmosphere
      • Dedicate a “to-do” area.
        • Place a “pending” box for all incoming mail you want to open
        • Hang a calendar for all chores, appointments, reminders
        • Designate a work area for projects you’re working on
      • Create a drop-zone: this is usually near the front door where you can leave a pair shoes, jacket, mask, and wallet. It’s important to only leave one or time items of each category to avoid visual clutter.
      • Areas for daily rituals need to be easy to access: drop-zone, coffee & tea station, pet zone, workout zone, and more!

      Storage Tricks
      • BINS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND! Kitchen, Bathroom, Closet, Garage – no matter what space you are trying to organize try to CONTAIN all Like-items together!
      • Labels, labels, labels! Label’s help everyone in the home know where items belong and where to put them back.
      • Utilize all storage areas efficiently
        • Store large items first, place smaller items around
        • Install shelves on empty wall spaces
      • Store items of the same category together and label the shelf and/or box
      Looking for help on something specific?

      For more tips see Marie Kondo’s Website

      Organizing Book Recommendations

      Check out these book recommendations to help you start organizing!

      Marie Kondo Book Recommendations

      The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up: This is such a great book to inspire you! After reading this I just knew I had to hire Marie to help my parents with their hoarder home. Soon after I signed up for her Organizing Consultant Program to start organizing on my own! This is where my professional organizing journey began. In this book she describes the deep impact of how organizing can enhance our lives. After all, don’t we all want to live our best lives?!

      Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up: Such an amazing detailed guide on how to organize in each category. Marie includes pictures of how to fold items with TONS of tips and tricks. Take your organizing game to the NEXT LEVEL with this book!

      Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life: What I love most about this book is how she explains how to organize your digital life. I swear before I read this I had soooo many old photos, documents spread all over my desktop, and absolutely no order to all my files. She also goes into detail about how to maintain a tidy workspace.

      Organizing Book Recommendations

      The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals: Clea and Joanna transform spaces to be practical and aesthetically beautiful. They tidy for clients instead of with clients. They love purchasing organizing containers to display everything beautifully and in rainbow color.

      The Personal Organizing Workbook: Solutions for a Simpler, Easier Life: This in amazing guide that really helps clients organize and learn how to maintain organized spaces. I really enjoyed this one!

      Real Life Organizing: (Clutterbug Book)

      Martha Stewart’s Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routines

      Need more suggestions?

      Declutter Guide

      Step by step guide for how to declutter using the KonMari methodยฉ


      joy checking process
      Define your goal by visualizing your Ideal lifestyle

      Clarify why you want to tidy and identify the lifestyle you want to live once you have finished.

      • Step 1: Visualize in detail the ideal lifestyle you dream of
      • Step 2: Identify why you want to live that lifestyle
      • Step 3: Dive into the specifics of how you want to live day by day.

      When we skip this step it delays the whole tidying process and puts you at higher risk for rebound.


      Focus on what to Keep, not what to Discard

      How do you know if an item sparks joy and you should keep it?

      • A feeling of thrill, often a full body experience
      • A pleasing design/look that makes you feel peaceful
      • An item with a high degree of functionality that makes life easier
      • A sense of rightness
      • An items thats useful in daily life

      How do you don’t love an item and should say goodbye?

      • you feel heavy
      • your hands pause
      • you tilt your head slightly and frown
      • you have to think
      • you feel guilty
      • for essential items that don’t spark joy, think about the purpose

      Prepare to Declutter

      Pick an easy category to start with – I recommend clothing.

      Pile all items in one spot so you can see everything in that category at once.ย Example: pile ALL shirts throughout the home/car/office/storage unit on your bed.

      Creating a physical pile gives us that “WOW” moment and helps us make informed decisions once and only once.


      Pick out your Favorite(s)

      Find one item in the pile that you love.

      You know you love something because the instant you see and hold it, you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Sometimes items are less about happiness and more about practicality, usefulness, and function. Example: the blue shirt that goes with everything and is always washed regularly.


      “Does it Spark Joy?”โ„ข
      • Step 1: Pick up one item at a time
      • Step 2: Hold it.
        • Ask yourself:
          • If this got stained/torn would I fix it?
          • If I lost this, would I buy it again?
          • Does this item enhance my life?
          • Do I feel like my best self with this item?
        • If you’re unsure if it Sparks Joy hug it close to your heart!
        • Gaze at it.
        • If it is clothing, please try it on!

      Be Present

      Be aware of how your body reacts to each item. You know you love something because that feeling is immediate. If you pause or have to think about an item – ask yourself, why?

      • Was it a gift?
      • Was it free?
      • Have I used this? Why haven’t I ever used this?
      • What was I really trying to buy in that moment?
      • Does this item fit into to my ideal lifestyle?

      “What if I’m Struggling?”

      Pick 2-3 similar items and compare them.

      Really feel the item in your hand and think deeply about what purpose it plays.


      Be Mindful.

      Have the courage to let go and stop all thoughts of “What if-?” Remember your goals and think of how each item you keep or discard contributes to your ideal lifestyle.

      Try not to focus on-

      • reducing
      • efficient storage methods
      • feeling wasteful
      • giving items away

      Instead focus on-

      • choosing belongings that inspire joy
      • enjoying life according to your own standards
      • appreciate how the items you discard supported you in your life
      • what role each item has in your life

      Reframe Letting Go & Declutter

      Every item you keep is a possession that brings you joy and/or makes life better.

      Every item you discard is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and who you are today.

      • If you let go of something you’ve used until it’s broken and worn out: appreciate how its helped to enhance your life
      • If you declutter something you never used: it taught you a lesson in how you shop, that it did not have a purpose in your life
      • Think consciously about each item you discard: how will you choose to live moving forward? how you will acquire new things?

      Keep items with Confidence

      If you keep it then…

      • Use and appreciate it.
      • Create a forever home for every item: find it and know exactly what you have.
      • It’s natural to not put away everything all the time. No one is perfect. Organization is NOT about perfection! Make it a priority to create positive habits. Maybe you won’t put belongings back all the time, every day, but commit to putting things away.
      Declutter & Rightsize with ease

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        Please note items discussed on this post were from the Marie Kondo books and KonMari networking group. Find more resources here.