Organizing Tips – General

Build Systems for Success

25, Apr 2022

I recently read a quote on social media from James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits. He said, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” This quote is indeed accurate. You must build simple systems for success to achieve… Read more

Home Envy and Organizing Systems

07, Mar 2022

In the mid-1980s (long before the internet and social media), we watched a television show called Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. The audience marvelled at the decadent and eccentric way of life of wealthy celebrities, industrialists, and royalty. Many people experienced “home envy,” a resentful longing for their home… Read more

Re-examining the SMART Acronym for New Year’s Resolutions

27, Dec 2021

Productivity experts and life coaches recommend setting SMART goals; Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. That acronym works well when you want to reach a particular target. New Year’s Resolutions are a different story. We live in a world that changes rapidly. Many things can interfere with our daily routines… Read more

Regifting: The Dos and Don’ts

13, Dec 2021

In theory, when someone gives you a present, it is yours to do with as you please. In practice, however, when people give gifts, they choose a specific item with the recipient in mind. When you think about it in this way, regifting can be a precarious endeavour. However, you… Read more

When a Friend Wants to Help

16, Aug 2021

People call Out of Chaos to help declutter their homes and create functional organizational systems. Occasionally, clients will tell us they absolutely do not want their friends or family members to find out they hired us. Often it is because a friend wants to help or a family member has… Read more

Decluttering Your Life in 2021

10, Jan 2021

I was quoted in the CBC News article 3 tips for decluttering your life in 2021 along with a few colleagues. However, it doesn’t matter when you start organizing; you can apply these tips at any time. Get Help to Get Focused A family member or a friend can help… Read more

An In-Depth Look at Labels

19, Oct 2020

Some people live in labelling limbo. They are reluctant to use labels because they are waiting for the perfect solution. There is no such thing as “the perfect solution,” but there are many “good enough” solutions. This in-depth look at labels will help you decide which labels to choose for… Read more

Tiny Tasks

28, Sep 2020

You’ve done a great job making your to-do list work for you. Every day you’re working on your high-priority assignments. But every day, the non-urgent, lower-priority items keep accumulating on your list. It can become depressing and frustrating when these tiny tasks remain unfinished day after day and week after… Read more

Make Your To-Do List Work for You

07, Sep 2020

People tell us to make lists of things we should accomplish. Yet, we often get overwhelmed when we start making these long lists of tasks. Then, we end up berating ourselves because we can’t complete them. The problem: a list is not a system. It’s just a brain dump of… Read more

Escaping Quicksand

10, Aug 2020

Do you have so many different projects and tasks that you feel like you’re sinking in quicksand? It happens to me sometimes too. But interestingly, we can apply the techniques used to escape quicksand to get us back on track. What is Quicksand? Quicksand is a mixture of sand (or… Read more