Organizing tips for business professionals & entrepreneurs: Incorporate the “get-a-way” of summer into your fall organizing transition

Can you believe the summer is ending already?! It wasn’t long ago that we were just getting ready for it and now we’re buying school supplies again? Wow! I’m not a huge fan of the summer season but I do enjoy the benefits of it. It’s the perfect time to get lost and come back completely rejuvenated. So I thought since we are preparing to transition our home, work, and storage spaces for fall, that this would be a great opportunity to incorporate the relaxing, stress-free elements of summer into our organizing routine. We work hard most of the time between managing the “busy-ness” of our home and work lives. What better way to get away from the craziness of the day by creating a home or work space that’s not only organized but puts you in a better place, mentally.

Here are some fall transitioning tips to help you organize your space with a little summer in mind:

1. Store your seasonal items efficiently so that it can be just as smooth a transition the next time that season arrives. One way to eliminate stress is to remove from your space anything that contributes to clutter; this includes any items that you would not have use for in the coming season. You don’t want to attract that sneaky “elephant” by pushing those items off to the side. Sort the items by category. You might categorize them by ‘clothing’, ‘room décor’, ‘supplies’, ‘seasonal inventory’, etc. Your general categories can range from anything as long as it makes since to you. If you need to create sub-categories as well, do so, especially in cases where you are sharing storage with family members, roommates or business partners. Next, you’re going to containerize those items just as you categorized them. Using a label maker and Velcro strips, create labels for each container by identifying the contents in them. Attach the labels you created from your label maker to the Velcro strips and apply them to each container. By doing this, you wouldn’t have to shuffle through each container to find out what’s in them and you can reuse the same containers for the next season’s transition with ease. You would just detach the top portion of the Velcro strip, add a new label, reapply it and you’re good to go. Easy breezy!

2. Create your own little peaceful get-a-way in your home or workspace no matter how hectic the environment. One of the main things we enjoy about summer is that it’s the best time of the year to get away from the usual grind. So a change to a different, non-chaotic, relaxing environment would be just what the doctor ordered. Embrace a change in your work or living space that evokes positive thoughts and feelings throughout the time you’re there. Try adding personal items to the room such as family vacation photos, items or images that you’ve collected during your travels. Incorporate inspirational elements like turning one of the walls in your office into an accent wall full of famous quotes, or add a splash of color throughout an otherwise typical workspace, or even try something as simple as moving your furniture around into specific zones… consider an area specifically for work, a rest area just to relax or read near a window, and etc. Hey, there’s even scented candles out there that can do the trick as well. Although you can’t snap your fingers and turn your office into an island paradise, these little touches can make the environment you’re in feel like a completely different place.

3. Create a schedule that is less congested and stress-provoking. This may seem difficult for some but it really isn’t. As business professionals or entrepreneurs, we know how to make things happen when we really want something done. So if you really want to get organized, start with your time. I can’t tell you how many clients that have hired me to help them get organized but they couldn’t find the time to actually be there themselves. No one knows how you function in your space better than you; so carve out a little time now in order to reap the rewards of being organized for years to come. Consider this with everything that occupies your time. Look at how you spend most of your time. Ask yourself if what you are doing is contributing stress into your life? Can your current responsibilities stand to do without you (can someone else take over from time-to time)? Do you truly enjoy this particular activity in your life or is it an obligation of some sort? Reconsider anything occupying your time that is putting you in a bad place or that is taking away from the most important things in your life like time with family, time for yourself or even getting organized. Create a leaner schedule and be disciplined in carrying it out. Your mind, body, and relationships will greatly appreciate it.

4. Out with the old… in with the new! I love how every summer we plan different things and places to experience than we had the year before. It feels good to mix things up from time to time especially when we find “the old” is just not doing it for us anymore. I thought about this and how it can even apply to transitioning your storage spaces. Although you may not frequent these spaces as often as the most common areas of your home or work spaces, entering an organized, neat, and attractive storage space can contribute to a better mood. Think about an amazing closet that had that “WOW” factor. The items in that closet are typical things you’d store in there but the way those items are displayed is very pleasing to the eye. Try replacing old storage containers with newer, sturdier, and attractive ones to spice up your storage. You’ll be able to find what you need and gain a new, sexy, clutter-free space. You won’t be able to resist doing a double-take.

Bio/By Line:

Syreeta Welch is a professional organizer in Raleigh-Durham, NC and owner of The Elephant in My Room Storage Organizing & Decluttering Services, LLC, a company that specializes in helping busy professionals and entrepreneurs to get their home, storage, and work spaces in order. She is also a wife, mom, and creator of the blog, TheElephantinMyRoom.net. She has a passion for helping others to shine their brightest, personally and professionally. In her own words, “you’d be surprised at how a simple change in environment can change a person’s world.”