Let’s keep exploring the serious and lighter sides of organising with a wander through the alphabet with The A to Z of Organising.
Catch up on previous posts here:
Now let’s explore H.
Habits – Habits can be helpful, like brushing your teeth twice daily. Habits can also be seriously unhelpful, like dumping your mail on the kitchen counter and leaving it there for weeks, or until after the electricity is cut off for non-payment of the bill. An effective way to change a habit is to practice it daily, and to tie it to a habit you already have. That trains your brain quickly and makes it easier to remember. If you want to start a habit of opening and dealing with the mail each day, think of which habit could you tie that to. Your afternoon cup of tea perhaps?
Handbag – A handbag is one of my favourite things to declutter and organise. Whether small or large, a typical handbag works hard to support the owner’s lifestyle. The same can be said for a briefcase or backpack. My handbag holds my wallet, phone, tissues, a fold-out shopping bag, pens, lists, bandaids, loyalty cards, discount coupons, public transport card, phone charger, a printed copy of my vaccination certificate (in case the phone dies) and more. With my handbag over my shoulder, I’m ready for anything. It can attract clutter, though. Expired coupons, theatre tickets, receipts, old lists, random pieces of rubbish (because I’d rather it went in my bag than onto the street) collect in the bottom of my handbag. Being such a small, contained space, it is quick and easy to declutter and put right. And you can do it almost anywhere. At home, in the doctor’s waiting room, in the car. Go on, try it now. You never know what you’ll find. Here’s something I wrote about finding the “perfect” handbag.
Hoarding – Often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, hoarding is estimated to affect 5% of the population. It does not discriminate. It affects people from all walks of life, all socio-economic groups. It is characterised by excessive acquiring and difficulty in discarding. It results in extreme clutter that risks the health and safety of the occupants of a hoarded home, as well as neighbours. Those risks include rodent and insect infestation, mould, and increased fire hazard, to name a few. In addition, there is a personal cost. Isolation from family and community is common. In extreme cases, homelessness can occur. So what can be done? Actually, there is plenty that can be done to make someone who hoards safer. Hoarding Home Solutions provides practical online training that empowers people to work with confidence and compassion to resolve a hoarding situation. The training focuses on getting results and nurturing relationships while keeping everyone safe, healthy and comfortable. Anyone walking into a hoarded home can make improvements to the safety and well-being of the occupants immediately. They just need the knowledge and skills to do so.
Home Office – With working from home becoming more common, the need for a functional home office space is clearer than ever. Whether you are running a business, working for someone else or just running the household and your financial affairs, a well organised dedicated home office will make life easier. Here’s a peak at mine. It’s now been over 10 years in that office and still growing and going strong.
What other H words would you add to the A to Z of Organising?
I would add HELP to the list. Yes, don’t hesitate to ask for professional help if you’re overwhelmed or stuck. There’s a lot to gain from being clutter-free and organised.
You are absolutely right Nathalie!