While the decision to let go comes with relief, it is often accompanied by a surprising feeling of stress. ‘Where will my stuff go?’ Generally speaking, no one wants to think that their longtime prized possessions will end up in a landfill and yet that often is the prevailing thought about what happens to stuff once it is removed from home.

The popular motto, Be Prepared, taught millions of youth across the country to do just that - be prepared. It’s a slogan that is probably most well known for its application in cases of emergency, although it extends far beyond that to teaching participating boys and girls to be prepared for life. That’s a lot of preparing.

While we may not be able to fully prepare for Mother Nature’s most severe conditions, there are steps we can take to organize and protect our household belongings, shielding them from swings in temperatures.

As we all continue to age, our bodies and minds are prone to changes which often make us vulnerable in our own homes. Decreases in hearing, vision and mobility for instance can all contribute to an increasingly untidy home and therefore, risk.

Senior & Specialty Move Managers assist adults and their families with both downsizing to remain in their current home, as well as the entire process of moving to a new residence. Move Managers specialize in helping their clients with the emotional and physical aspects of sorting through a lifetime of memories in the transition process, while providing them with effective options and resources to increase efficiencies and reduce stress.

The systems would be created to accommodate their lifestyle and ideas would be introduced with the goal of being able to return to baseline with no more than a few minutes of their time each day. Home organizing systems are great, but maintenance of those systems is key to get from clutter to calm.

Decluttering and downsizing are words that you have probably heard countless times. It has practically become a national pastime to engage in one or both activities these days. Although they are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences between the two and each speaks to its own purpose.

Let me first say this post begins with a somewhat shameless plug. Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow, by Marni Jameson recently came out, and I am in it. I met Marni a few years back when she contacted me as a professional resource while working on another piece of writing. The subject matter could not have been timelier for me, as my personal and professional lives collided.

For professional organizers, the entire month of January is practically a national holiday. It’s GO Month! In other words, it is Get Organized Month. GO Month is an initiative of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) that celebrates how NAPO members (like me!) improve the lives of their clients by helping them create environments that support productivity, general health and well-being. 

If you are the type of person who has it all together by this point in the holiday season, skip ahead to the merry-making. For the rest of us, keep reading.