Posts Tagged ‘Get Organized Month’
“Organize Your Attic” Series Step Two: The What, When and Where of Getting the Job Done
If you’ve done the prep work we suggested in Step One of our “Organize Your Attic” series, then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get started! Pick a spot near the entrance and work your way clockwise around the attic.
Be ruthless and thorough. Open each box and sort into one of the following categories:
“KEEP” for items appropriate for the attic such as:
- Holiday décor you use each year
- Off-season clothing you still regularly wear
- Clothing or other items you plan to hand down to others someday
- Furniture you plan to use again soon (wood doesn’t hold up well long term in the heat)
- Archival paper you rarely need (e.g., old tax returns)
- Luggage
- Other seasonal items (e.g., coolers, beach gear, camping equipment)
- Family heirlooms you use infrequently but treasure
“TRASH” or “RECYCLE” for items that are no longer useful or in functional condition for others such as:
- Obsolete computer or electrical equipment
- Paper you don’t need to keep for financial, legal or sentimental reasons
- Clothing, furniture or heirlooms that are no longer in useful condition
“DONATE” or “SHARE” for items that could be useful or functional to others such as:
- Gently used clothing you haven’t worn for two or more years
- “Treasures” you never use and keep just in case…
- Furniture you’re keeping but do not plan to use
“MOVE ELSEWHERE” for items you want to keep but that do not belong in the attic due to the elements or to frequency of use such as:
- Photos
- Candles
- Delicate or vintage fabrics
- Books (Silverfish will have a feast!)
- Sporting goods used year round
Once you determine the items you’re keeping, group “like with like” as natural categories emerge. Think of how often you access these items when deciding where to locate them in the attic, keeping frequently accessed items near the door.
WOW! You did it! The heavy lifting is done! Remember to let us know if you’re on board with this attic organization project by commenting below or speaking up on the AtticMaxx Facebook Page.
And join us next week for Step Three as we discuss working through the stress and emotions of letting go of the clutter in the attic. Then, for Week Four, we wrap it all up for the “Big Reveal!”
As the calendar flips from 2012 to 2013, many of us find ourselves un-decking the halls AND pledging to be more organized this year. Why not make 2013 your most organized year yet, and start from the top down – in the attic, where most of us store our holiday decorations?
January is Get Organized! Month
To make it easier on you, we’re offering a special promotion for Get Organized Month in January: This month only, get 13% off AtticMaxx Truss Shelves and FREE shipping! And if that isn’t enough to incentivize you to organize your attic, remember that with every order totaling more than $200, you’ll get a FREE e-subscription to Getting Organized Magazine, AND a FREE e-book “Get Organized; Get Revitalized”. We hope these tools will give you that extra boost to create and maintain your new, orderly home in the New Year.
Also, stay tuned for great tips on helping you break down your attic attack into smaller steps so that it’s not such an overwhelming task. We’ll suggest well-defined milestones that you can manage in short bursts or in one dedicated day—you decide!
Here’s an overview of our upcoming series of blog posts to help you tame that attic clutter throughout January:
- Step One: Take Stock, Set Rules and Gather Supplies
- Step Two: The What, When and Where of Getting The Job Done
- Step Three: Working Through the Stress and Emotions of Letting Go of the Clutter
- Step Four: Find What You Need, When You Need It, And Make It Last!
Along the way, we’d love to hear about your progress. Send us before and after pics, comment below or post a comment on the AtticMaxx Facebook Page. We’ll be here to cheer you on throughout the project!
It’s all part of celebrating January as Get Organized Month. For more information, check out the National Association of Professional Organizers website.
Happy New Year and best wishes for making every space count in 2013!
The AtticMaxx™ Shelving System is available at discounted rates now through January 31, 2012 in honor of “Get Organized” Month. Prices start at $39.95 for a set of two pre-cut, pre-assembled AtticMaxx truss shelves, and $154.95 for a set of eight. Smaller shelves for unfinished walls ideal for garages, outbuildings and attics and a do-it-yourself hardware kit are also available at discounted prices. Visit the AtticMaxx Order page today to order the “get organized” product that will help you maximize your storage space.
Free installation is also available exclusively for customers in the Raleigh, NC area (where AtticMaxx LLC is based) who place orders by January 31, 2012. Call 1-855-766-3855 or write to getorganized@atticmaxx.com to schedule your attic assessment.
“GO Month” Special for NAPO Members
In addition to the discounted rates available to all, AtticMaxx is offering an additional 10% off all products to members of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Please send an email to getorganized@atticmaxx.com to request the password for the NAPO-members-only section of the website.
Since January is also the time of year when many of us are making frequent trips to our attics to return holiday décor, AtticMaxx is currently running an “Organize Your Attic” Challenge blog series. Each week in January, AtticMaxx is sharing tips and encouragement on organizing your attic and making the most of your attic storage space. This week’s post, Step Three, is about working through the stress and emotions of organizing an attic full of memories.
About NAPO’s “Get Organized” Month
The National Organization of Professional Organizers has designated January as “Get Organized” Month for eight straight years. GO Month is dedicated to raising the awareness of the benefits of being organized and of hiring a professional organizer as we begin the new year.
