I am so excited to receive my breakout session evaluation from The Sharp ~ Speaking at the Women’s Health Conference late 2011. This makes all of my preparation and planning worthwhile! See the attendees comments below:

2011 Breakout Session Evaluation

Become the Master of Your Muck:

Get Organized and Make Room for Yourself in Your Home

Comments

Phenomenal!

Lots of good techniques for decluttering

Liked the tips. Longer please. Will for sure be using her system

She didn’t let the lack of video images phase her great presentation.

Liked everything

Great speaker

Good tips!

Very good

Excellent speaker, really keeps your attention, good with audience participation, great visuals! Very good! Keep it up! Real funny.

Could always use this presentation. Could have been longer and more specific

Wish it could have been longer. She is so personable!

List those 8 places so we can right them down every paper will fit into- to help my new file system

Great takeaways. Next time list 8 things on a handout

Thanks so much!

Excellent

Compassionate, understanding but cut and dry when it comes to organizing

My favorite one! Liked getting tips I can do when I get home!

Liked it all. Thank you

Great ideas!

Nice voice, keep you awake, keep your interest, so many good tips

Practical ideas

Topic applies to everyone

8 categories keep papers vertical

Liked learning about how to declutter and get more organized

We all need this info, very good!

Good practical recommendations! Thank you!

This is a critical shell for today’s life of info overload.

Clear presentation

Liked her tips

Excellent!

Easy to follow. Simple to implement ideas

Good advice

Key tips are great

Liked learning how to control paper!

Liked pics. Next time learn about organizing time

Liked getting tips to thrive! Papers flow… getting to work

Excellent!

Liked the info presented and ideas to change it.

I liked the suggestion of keeping papers vertical

Kathi Burns- I want to hire her!

Liked learning about info on home and garage organization.

I liked the belief that we can do it!

Great ideas. I hope I can incorporate them in my life and home. Thank you!

Liked the positive suggestions for attacking clutter.

Well organized flow. Clear, concise presentation.

Great job. Thank you

Liked it all

Best one!

Great topic

Hold it twice so room isnt so full

Topic applies to a lot of people including me. Closed captioning next time

I liked it all. Thank you!

She didn’t make us feel like we were weird for having so much clutter. Would have liked it if all pics were shown (some of them didn’t show)

Liked it all. Good!

Liked the examples illustrating the points. I feel better knowing we’re in the minority that gets to park our cars in the garage.

The digitizing is what I am doing. Going great

Great stuff. Acoustics not great in the room.

I liked it all. Very informative

Loved handouts

Gave me clarity/understanding the origin of my clutter

Good info and anecdotes. Should have used generic pics

Great speaker

Some good specifics, concrete ideas. Bad acoustics/competing noise

Liked the pics of before and after

I am so pleased and honored that my presentation was one of the most attended sessions and to have been included in this incredible conference! Thank you Sharp!!!

November is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Month, so let’s talk turkey and cold food storage!

Consider arranging your refrigerator items according to function (lunch, snacks, dinner, etc.) instead of by category (vegetables, dairy, meats, etc.) Select a theme for each of your drawers. If you don’t have good drawers, use large rectangular Tupperware bins.
Making breakfast in the morning is a breeze when you can pull out a drawer and immediately have all of your ingredients (eggs, cheese, butter, sausage etc) on the counter and ready to cook.

Try storing all of your sandwich ingredients in the same drawer. Yes, even the mayo and mustard. Pull it out, assemble a sandwich or two and put the entire drawer back in the fridge for the next quick lunch. You can remind yourself to eat healthier lunches by including raisins, carrots and fruit in the same drawer.

Consider leaving dinner items grouped together in their bags when they arrive home from the grocery. When you are ready to cook Sunday’s meal for instance, pull out the bag that contains both the corn beef and the cabbage. You will save time with the dinners that you prepare within a few days after your trip to the grocery.

Dear Kathi,

I have piles of paper spread all throughout my house. I am basically organized with the exception of all of this paper which is driving me crazy. Where should I start and how can I keep it under control?

Marilyn, Encinitas

Marilyn,

Piles of paper are piles simply because you don’t have a place to put each piece of paper when it comes into your life. After you look at each piece of paper, it needs to be either thrown away or stored in a proper location. Do not add it to a pile for future consideration.
If you don’t have time to read the papers as they come into your home, take action. Consider cancelling a few subscriptions, removing your name from mailing lists, or throwing some mail into the trashcan before you bring it into your home.

There will always be items of paper that you don’t have time to read when they arrive. Create an “in basket” system. Make sure your basket is small and shallow. The smaller size will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. A real basket with a handle is exceptionally convenient for this purpose. You can carry it from room to room and read through it as you move into different parts of the house or even the backyard.
Another step toward tackling your piles is to take a look at what type of papers you are collecting. Sort your existing paper into categories. While you are doing this, create a reference file folder system.
When you read an item and wish to keep it for future use, file it when it is in your hands. Eliminate the papers that do not serve an immediate or important purpose.

If the paper is something you need to work with in the future, create an action file. Keep your action file folders on top of your desk for easy access and a quick visual reminder.
Remember file – don’t create a pile!

Kathi is a professional organizer, image consultant and event planner based in San Diego California.

Please submit your questions to: advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
.
San Diego Professional Organizer