by tori on August 29, 2011
So much is out of our control: natural disasters, the health of the people we love, losing a job. This got me to thinking about what I do to find a little peace in the unpredictability of the world. And it is no coincidence that getting organized makes me feel better.
When all is chaotic and I need some time to collect myself, I organize. Here’s what I do…
Closet
Step 1. Pull everything out of closet
Step 2. Deep clean closet (vacuum, wipe down walls, paint if necessary)
Step 3. Sort first level: keep, donate & throw away.
Step 4. Sort second level: put like with like.
Step 5. Find organizing solutions: bins, hangars and such; if necessary shop for solutions.
Step 6. My favorite part, putting the closet all back together.
I am always amazed at how good it feels when I finish. For one, the clutter is out the door. Secondly, by re-examining everything, I have made conscious decisions about what is kept and how it is stored. When life gets stressful, I am not stumbling through over cluttered closets; it is easy to find what I may need.
So next time you feel overwhelmed consider cleaning a cupboard or a closet. It may be just what you need to calm yourself. Plus, you get to reap the benefits of being organized.
by Tori Polony on April 16, 2011
There is nothing like taking the time to wipe the slate clean, making space for future possibilities by clearing out all that is cluttering the way. This is why I started Bay Sage, to do exactly that with your home.
Bay Sage began as a response to what I saw missing at times in my life and in the lives of a lot of friends and family. I did not want my relationship to my home to be all about chores and to-do lists. I wanted it to be the place where I can relax and rejuvenate…be creative and inspired…a home that supports me and my family’s goals and aspirations. And that is where my method of working with people evolved.
Yes, home organization is about finding a home for everything and developing systems to keep those things in order, but I couldn’t help feeling that that process seemed dull and difficult to maintain because I was bored by it. But when you sit me in my kitchen, and start asking questions like how would you like to feel when you are in this room? Or what would your fantasy kitchen be like? I get excited at the possibility of fresh herbs growing on the sill…clear counters awaiting the next good eats…and a vision of fresh vegetables that I have just pulled in from the garden. This is how I would begin my work with you. We will start with your dreams and then see what we can do as a team to make them a reality.
Through my years of working with clients, I have found the organizational process to be incredibly transformative. There is something powerful in sorting through belongings and consciously choosing what will stay and what you will let go. One client even commented that she felt she had lost weight at the end of clutter clearing her closet. There was so much more space she felt lighter.
When I work with you, my main goal is to help you get the home you want. This process is really about you and your home. I am just the guide to help you get to your final goal. I promise to bring enthusiasm and neutrality, and hope to make what could be challenging an inspiring process that opens up a world of possibility.
