Frequently Asked Questions

Residential Organizing Consulting now available in the Long Island/ Queens area. Email Larie to make an appointment.

Organizing Questions

Q. Can you recommend a place to get organizing materials that are affordable and useful?

A. Yes. The Container Store has creative and innovative organizing products for the home and almost any area of your life. Visit them at http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000008966776. They have terrific home organizing products. You will also be able to target specific areas in your home like closets, dresser drawers and organizing products for children. This company has high quality and very targeted organizing materials for almost every room in your home. Take your time and look at the website to see if you can identify some products that would be helpful to you.

Q. I'm really disorganized. I cannot even think about homeschooling when my house is a reck. Can you help?

A. Do not be discouraged--yes you can home educate. Start with organizing your day. Schedule a specific time to homeschool and try not to deviant from that time. This is not to suggest that you will always follow your schedule exactly but it will act as a road map. Give your children daily chores that should be done before school or in between different subjects. I have found that my children need to do their chores early. The use of a posted schedule and chore chart will also serve you as well.   

Q. I have my home office in an excellent place but I'm not as productive as I want to be. What can I do?

A. The number one rule in home office productivity is location, location, and location. You will only work in your office if you are comfortable. Some home workers make their office in their closets then wonder why they are not productive. A closet can be very claustrophobia. A kitchen table might be a more productive place., although of course it won't be as quiet. A practical solution may be to put your files in the closet but to work at your kitchen table.

Q. What if I have no place for a home office?

A. You can create a portable office by putting business items in a 20-gallon plastic storage bin, or a lager one. (From a Kmart, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Sears, etc.) You can purchase file boxes for your files. You can stack them in a corner or conceal them in your closet.

Q. How can I get more desk space?

A. Mount as many things on the wall. Or get a desk hutch it mounts right on top of your desk.

Q. How do I become a Professional Organizer?

A. Visit www.dreamjobstogo.com for a download book. You may contact the National Association of Professional Organizers at www.napo.net See our other links.

Q. Do you have any suggestions for working mothers?

A. Yes. You should definitely be scheduling meaningful moments with your children every day. Remember, little things like, "I love you", do matter. Work hard so that "presents" do not become a substitute for your "presence". Be certain to have a quiet time so you can have more to give out. Create morning and evening routines for your kids. (You can also get my book - "Organize Your Child") Try not to bring the job home with you. I know that's a lot. Also, remember to cultivate a relationship with your husband. Schedule family time regularly and be careful not to over-commit.

Q. I'm a single woman and yet I am so stressed for time. Why?

A. I hear this often. You are probably over-committed. Typically, singles also fail to use their weekly / monthly calendars as much as they should. They are quick to say, "yes", just because they have the day free. Singles are also asked things more often because people assume they have the time. Check your activity level. You probably need to slow down. It is okay to say "no".

Q. How do I develop good habits?

A. Good habits are developed by discipline. It will take time. Generally, it takes twenty-one days to establish a habit. Force yourself to be consistent for this time span. Reward yourself for each step of progress you make. It will be uncomfortable at first, but the benefits are great.

Q. I've tried a lot of home management systems, how do I know yours will work for me?

A. Great question. This program is personalized so you create your own plan. Suggestions are made and you decide which ideas you will try. I, too, have tried many programs. I would get excited, at one point I ran out and bought a hundred index cards to list all my household chores. None of these things worked for me. They were too constraining for a creative person like me. This system allows more for individuality. You are not fitting in someone else's mold. Also honesty to our homes are worth so much. You cannot afford to give up on them. I do not regret anything I've tried to bring order to my home. I have actually spoken to people who used methods that were ineffective for me yet it worked for them. My organization plan is for the creative, busy mom.

Q. How do you get kids to help out in the house?

A. This is relatively simple. Use a chore chart. Take time to train your children in
a task before assigning it to them. Be aware of their emotional, physical and mental readiness for a task. While your son may be physically able to take out the trash, he may not be ready for the responsibility emotionally: he may not understand all it entails. He may need a few reminders to keep up with the task. Remind him in an encouraging matter. Praise him when he does remember to take out the trash.

Q. I just want my house to stay clean. Is this an unreasonable thing to ask?

A. Well, it might be. Although, I have not spoken much about it, you should be aware of the atmosphere of your home. Love or law can rule a home. Law says you obey every rule in this house. No exceptions. No mercy. The house becomes more important than the relationships in the house. This kind of home will be spotlessly clean but radiates a kind of shallowness. A person like this serves their home.

Or your home can be ruled by love. Shoes should not be in the living room but if your son comes home and throws them there after his team was defeated in the playoffs, what should you do? Pick up the shoes, encourage your son and offer to make him his favorite meal. See the difference. It is my prayer that people attending my workshops will design homes ruled by love not law.

OYL Related Questions

Q. Will you come speak to my church next Saturday?

A. While Organize Your Life seeks to accommodate as many groups and individuals as possible we do prefer advance notification. We request that you contact us for a preliminary package with our rates and availability.

Q. I notice your calendar is free two weeks from next Tuesday. Since you are free, can you come to my church then? We would love to have you!

A. I would love to come, however, be advised that the calendar reflects just my open public meetings/speaking engagements. It does not reflect personal commitments or non-speaking related commitments. These commitments are just as important and are generally non-negotiable. We do attempt to accommodate most requests. This is not always possible.. We pray over all requests and will try our best to serve you.

Q. Do you only speak to Christian groups?

A. We are a Christian organization and primarily communicate with Christian groups but we also embrace all people including parenting, family and educational institutions.

Q. Can you come to my house and help me organize and de-clutter?

A. The Executive Director, no longer does home visitations but will still perform group consultations for business executives. This needs to be scheduled just as one would a speaking engagement.. Organize Your Life does consult a limited organizing staff that will make visits in the Long Island area. You are encouraged to visit www.napo.net first to locate a Professional Organizer in your area.

Q. Do you only speak to large groups?

A. No, we will come and minister to any group. However, we may require travel expenses if we are need to travel specified distances. (outside state lines or for groups with no official affiliation).

Q. Why do you require me to send information to you on my group?

A. Most of our clients come through referrals or after reading one of our books or hearing a tape. We warmly welcome your request, however for our physical and spiritual soundness we do require contact with us be made on official letterhead with a contact telephone number. We encourage you to initially contact us via the website/ email. If you organization or ministry has a website please give us that info in the initial contact. We sometimes get lots of junk email and will only respond to legitimate ones with detailed contact information. Thank you for complying.

Q. I heard you speak at a writer's conference. Will you read my manuscript and critique it for me.

A. While I enjoy encouraging other writers. I simply do not have the time to accommodate all such requests. I recommend you join or form a writers critique group or visit some of the groups on the web. See our links.

Q. I noticed you were a home-schooler. Can you home-school my children?

A. Homeschooling is generally done by the parent. While I have heard of instances of others homeschooling children other than their own this is not a practice I would even consider. I encourage you to read books and network with home educating/ schooling groups in your area. See our links.