Tag: decluttering

How to Cure the Summertime Blues

Posted on by Jordank

I’m gonna raise a fuss, I’m gonna raise a holler / About working all summer just to try to earn a dollar / Sometimes I wonder what I’m a-gonna do, but there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.

The Eddie Cochran classic — later covered by recording artists as diverse as the The Who, Alan Jackson and Rush — highlights a common sentiment: That the lazy days of summer often run out before one can make the most of them.

The feeling often sets in around this time of year, with a new school year rapidly approaching for students, and adults scrambling to take a few days off or juggle social event. But while there may be no cure for the summertime blues, there are a few strategies that can help head them off.

The summertime blues often result from a fear of missing out (FOMO). Find something you want to do and make a plan; whether it’s a walk in the park, dinner and a show, or a full-on vacation, get it on the calendar. It will give you something to look forward to as well as a sense of accomplishment.

Suggestions from the Jewish Family Service include spending time outdoors — a little sun and fresh air can do wonders. Get together with family and friends. Develop a hobby that doesn’t involve work or screens. Above all, eat healthy and get some exercise. You also might try to do some #decluttering; too much #stuff can weigh on the psyche.

If the summertime blues go beyond a wistful sense of lost time or missed opportunities and develop into seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and/or depression, seek professional help. Common signs of summertime SAD include “anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, irritability and decreased energy levels,” says the Henry J. Austin Health Center. Disrupted routines, social expectations, body image concerns and oppressively hot weather can contribute.

It’s not unusual to feel a little bit gloomy even when the sun is shining. Fortunately, summer is longer than you think; you still have more than two months to enjoy everything the season has to offer. Start today!

Embracing Summer’s Bounty

Posted on by Jordank

#Summertime offers an embarrassment of riches — warm weather, #holidays to celebrate and cookouts galore. If you don’t like the heat, there are air-conditioned #summer blockbusters, pool parties and water sports to help keep cool.

Summer delivers bounty in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables, too. Whether you grow your own favorites in a backyard #garden or visit the local farmer’s market, there’s no match for fresh, flavorful produce harvested in season.

Here at The Organizing Blog, we enjoy growing heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, chard and herbs — and with the recent heat wave, are looking forward to a bumper crop. In less than a month, we’ll be running out of ways to use it all!

We’ll grill sweet corn and summer squash. We’ll bake zucchini bread and tomato-and-chard tarts. We’ll blend up potato-leek soup, basil pesto and fresh salsa. And we’ll make a host of other dishes that celebrate summer.

There are ways to keep enjoying that bounty year-round, say the chefs at The Chopping Block. Some vegetables can be blanched and frozen, and even more can be pickled and canned. And to enjoy a summery entrée later in the year, cook an extra and freeze it for a wintry day.

Even as you discover creative new ways to eat your way through the season, consider for a second whether your material bounty — your stockpile of owned, nonperishable things — is getting out of hand.

Summer is a great time to cull through those possessions and #organize. Cold weather won’t get in the way of #decluttering, and you can always stage a #garage sale to make a little money off the things you no longer want or need.

You can also #donate lightly used #clothing and household goods to ClothingDonations.org year-round with a #free #donation #pickup. Resale of those goods helps fund valuable #veterans programs.

However you choose to embrace summer’s bounty, remember that it won’t be around for long. Now’s your chance to enjoy everything that summer has to offer! #SummerBounty

A Dad’s Guide to Decluttering

Posted on by Jordank

Father’s Day is June 15, and — like most people — #dads sometimes need a little help with #decluttering. Whether they’re #minimalists when it comes to extra #stuff or irrepressible #packrats, there’s always room to streamline.

Of course, every dad is different. Some are juggling family, kids and career in starter homes with little space to spare, and others may be dealing with the weight of a lifetime of accumulated paperwork and other #stuff post-retirement.

His hobbies will have an effect on the level of #clutter. If Dad is a woodworker, mechanic or tinkerer, he may have hundreds of tools and parts to #organize. He may even have duplicates! Help him sort out his favorites — the ones that really get used — and #donate or sell the rest.

If he’s an avid athlete, sportsman or musician, he will probably have more than one piece of specialized equipment that takes up a lot of space when not in use. And even if Dad just likes to read or listen to music, chances are he has a lot of accumulated books, papers and media.

Young dads with kids may not have as much stuff of their own, but struggle to keep the family #organized. Brooklyn’s Tidy Dad believes that #decluttering, #cleaning and #organizing responsibilities should be shared in a household, since everyone contributes to the #clutter and mess.

His advice? Know what makes a space seem #messy and #cluttered. Reassess the “hypothetical someday” to determine what’s really in use. Find a balance of possessions, space and everyday life. Schedule #decluttering on the calendar. And make #tidying tasks manageable and routine.

Ultimately, he says, #tidying is more than decluttering — it’s a way to create space for every part of your life. Young or old, the idea is for dads to have “just enough” #stuff and systems in place to make it easy to maintain an equilibrium.

Once you’ve helped Dad declutter, tidy up and organize, contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup. He’ll be happy you helped, and in turn, happy to help the nation’s #veterans with his donation. #DadsDecluttering

Dos and Don’ts of a Memorable Summer

Posted on by Jordank

There’s no right way or wrong way to do #summer. The warmest season offers opportunity for festive gatherings, home and self-improvement, exploration, education, and relaxation. The Organizing Blog has several checklist items that can make your summer memorable in all of the right ways, however.

Do protect yourself against the sun and #heat. With climate change, extreme heat is becoming more common throughout the year; be alert to your exposure and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Make a habit of wearing SPF30+ sunscreen when engaging in outdoor activities or cover up to block harmful UV rays.

Don’t waste too much time indoors. Shady and air-conditioned as your home might be, many social, cultural and sporting events happen only when the weather is sunny and warm. Get off the couch, turn off the TV and take advantage of all that summer has to offer.

Do throw open the windows, #declutter and #deep-clean. Household projects are easier to accomplish when inclement #weather isn’t slowing you down. Freshening the home while getting some fresh air may even be energizing! Summer is a great time to tackle larger home projects, too — especially if you need to hire help.

Don’t feel like you have to accomplish everything at once. Even type A personalities can benefit from a lazy day, a leisurely walk in the park or a picnic. Reward yourself with a favorite indulgence for the progress you make at work and at home.

Do take a trip. It might be a day in the city, a road trip to a national park or a flight to a faraway beach, but any change of scenery makes things more memorable. Pile the family into the car or call up an old friend; you’ll be making new memories in no time.

Don’t overplan. Even if you aren’t the spontaneous type, allowing flexibility usually pays off with unexpected discoveries. Make list of the things you’d like to accomplish this summer at home and on the road with must-dos at the top; everything else is gravy.

Do take pictures. Almost everyone has a camera in their pocket these days, so record some of the summer memories you’re making as you make them. Share them with friends and family and revisit them often to make this summer one of the most memorable ever!

Observing National Get Organized Day 2025

Posted on by Jordank

National Get Organized Day is Saturday, April 26! It’s a great day to #declutter, #organize and generally improve your space and productivity. #Clutter and disorganization can undermine progress in all aspects of life, creating anxiety and stress. The average American spends about 8,700 hours of their lives looking for #things, the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) estimates, so you will save time and money by putting the things you need into their proper places. Get started today, and your #decluttering and #organization efforts will snowball until they become second-nature. #NationalGetOrganizedDay