Pro Organizer: New Year is Perfect Time to Create New Order

Jennifer Ryan of Create New Order is beginning a monthly column today called Getting Organized. This month Jen tackles pesky papers; junk mail, school projects and catalogs.

Mail, schoolwork and art projects piles seem to grow faster than a toddler. Keep chaos under control by taking mail directly to the recycling bin when received. Once there,  remove anything that you know you won't read. The Pennysaver and the Carrier Pigeon should go right to the circular bin unless you are looking for a plumber or electrician.

What items should be shredded? Keep in mind that your address is public. If it is not mail that contains account numbers for services you pay for, then shredding isn't necessary. However, if you choose to shred, do it now, don't put it in the pile of things to sort later.

Create a Mail Center

Mail should have a home such as a mail center. This area should not include magazines or catalogs. Those items should be placed in magazine rack or coffee table or where ever it is that you sit and read.

Save the Best, Discard the Rest

School art projects also present an organizational challenge. Here are some general rules of thumb on how to handle your child's masterpiece. It the paper is a ditto, something that all children completed in class, place it on the bulletin board for display. Discard one week later and hang that week's project up on the board.

 If it is a special project that you identify with, date it and preserve it in a memory box. You can also photograph your child's artwork and preserve it that way.

Create a Memory Box

Each child should have a container to house memories worth keeping. Fill the box each school year and then clear it out keeping only the best. One container for each child for their entire school career, not each year is the rule.

Organizing is a lot like success; once you reach it you enjoy it and know it is over in about a minute and a half. It is something you must strive to reach again and again.

The National Association of Professional Organizers has declared January as Get Organized Month and we have been encouraged to use our skills to help out our communities. This year I will be collecting old computers to be recycled. If you have a computer that you would like to get rid of contact me and I can show you how.

Next month: Photo month. Find out how to finally get this project done.

Jennifer Ryan is a professional organizer and a resident of Kings Park.