Procrastination + Chores

Hey Collectors!

What's going on?! You putting some things off? Are you procrastinating on your chores as usual? What makes you put them off? Are you distracted? Would you rather be doing anything else?

I get it it. You associate your chores with negative feelings. Feelings that stemmed from childhood, old feelings. Household chores = yucky. You might be reminded of being made to pick up as a child, or as many of my clients, you were never shown to pick up, so you don't really know how. Maybe your parents hated chores and you are imitating them subconsciously. Maybe your stomach turns at the thought of doing chores because your entire being associates chores as being painful.

It's time to shift the way you think. Chores = happiness. You can finally have people over, you can find things easily so you are not late, you save money so you are not buying duplicates.
Messy = yucky. Messy equals guilt, embarrassment, shame, always running late, having to buy duplicates.

Let's define the word "chores":

Dictionary.com definition of the word "chores", 

the everyday work around a house or farm.

The word "everyday" is super important, as being organized requires a conscious steady effort. You have to maintain your routine in order for it to last.

Instead of moving towards happiness we stay in the land of procrastination, watching tv, surfing the net, and doing anything else possible. Avoiding. Procrastinating. Staying in a rut. Stagnate. No forward motion.

Do you want to be unhappy not doing chores? Or actually be happy by maintaining your nest?

At what point does being unhappy sitting in a mess become worse than actually picking up?

Ask yourself these questions Collectors. Stop procrastinating! You deserve to be happy!!

Rachel Seavey
Professional Organizer
Blogger

Do you need help getting back on track?

Do you want help establishing new systems and routines? 

Hire a Collector Care Professional Organizer today! 

Reclaim your happiness! 

www.collectorcare.com

925-548-7750

help@collectorcare.com  

Celebrating Self Expression!

I love to be able to work without judgement. It allows me to feel free. As someone who is quite frequently judged, I appreciate individuality. Be yourselves Collectors. If you want a wall of cat pictures - do it! Go ahead and make that spare room into whatever you want! Love yourselves some antique glassware.  Who cares what anyone thinks Collectors? It's your home. You don't have to be a minimalist to be happy. There is a happy place between too little and too much. Express yourselves Collectors and keep provoking those boring judgmental unhappy people with your artistic flare!

Rachel Seavey, Expresses herself often. Judged often.

A very special thank you to the gay and transgender community in San Francisco for allowing me to make a difference in your lives. Thank you for coming out of the clutter closet dolls!!!!

Spring Cleaning in 15 Minutes or Less from Collector Care

Hey Collectors! It's time for Spring Cleaning! Here are some quick tips to help you along the way. Choose at least one item from the list below and go for it! You can do it.

1. Schedule 15 minutes a day. Just a few minutes will keep your home organized and help you avoid clutter catastrophes.

2. Choose to keep, toss or donate items. Throw away or donate anything old, unused or unwanted. Toss anything damaged or broken.

3. Throw away outside clutter. Immediately toss things like hangers from the dry cleaner, plastic stadium cups and florist’s vases.

4. Throw away any clothes with stains. These do not double as rags. And they can’t be donated. They’re only taking up space.

5. Immediately recycle junk mail. Don’t even bring it into the house.

6. Check for expired coupons. Coupons are awesome, but can easily become an untamed mess. Store everything relevant in one envelope and regularly recycle unwanted or expired coupons.

7. Empty your purse, pockets and drawers of unwanted receipts. Shred or recycle old receipts. You most likely aren’t going to return anything for a receipt over a week old.

8. Choose paperless billing. Most bills can be paid online. It’s the quickest way to prevent piles of paper.

9. Opt out of unwanted catalogs. Call the number listed and ask them to stop sending you mail.

10. Tame your virtual clutter. Clean out your computer. Delete old documents and sort important files in clearly labeled folders.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer (and blogger) For Collector Care

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Pin with us on Pinterest

Collector Care Tips:4.5 Tips on Hoarding and Backsliding (and how to maintain a clutter free home)

Greetings Collectors! If you have ever read any of Judith Kolberg's books on hoarding disorder and chronic disorganization, than you know that backsliding is a normal part of the process.
You have spent the majority of your life living a certain way, and now you are forced to develop new habits in order to succeed in an organized environment. It's tough. Some call it brutal.

Below are 4.5 tips to help you succeed after the organizing process:

1. Focus on the present. Maintain your space. If you are not used to picking up, maintaining a clutter free counter top is tricky. This is not the time to fine tune, this is the time to maintain.
2. Where does this stuff GO? Make sure you develop a plan for after your cleanup to ensure success. Have your organizer show you where everything is, and don't be afraid to ask!
3. Don't get held up on perfection. Just because you don't know where exactly something goes right that second, don't give up. Don't let it pile up. Don't allow yourself to procrastinate and blame others or the world for not knowing where it goes. Call your organizer and ask.
4. Do your homework. If your organizer left you with 3 boxes of paperwork to sort a month, do it. A good organizer will check in with you and offer maintenance in between.
5. Hire help! Your home is presentable now, call an insured and bonded cleaning service to

Just remember Collectors, it's normal to backslide and feel overwhelmed even AFTER you have been organized. Set yourself up for success by finding an organizer who offers maintenance and by asking for outside help.

Collector Care Professional Organizers specialize in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization, and maintenance plans. We offer FREE estimates in and around Northern California. 

www.collectorcare.com

Collector Care Before & After's: Hoarding Cleanup

 

Hello Collectors! Below is a job that we did for a hoarding disorder client who was going through a very difficult time. Our 65year old client had lost her husband, and did not want to go back to the home they shared for 30 years.

The only reason she stopped by in the last two years was to feed her cats. She was plagued with depression, anxiety and fear. Our initial phone call was almost an hour. With the help of her realtor, we decided to go in for the assessment without her.

When I stepped into the home, the overwhelming smell of cat urine, feces, hair and dust took my breath. I could see where they had had their last meal together,
dishes were still in the sink, papers had been left out with intent to sort. The life that had once been in this home was no longer.
For 30 years the two of them hoarded all sorts of items in their home.  Clothing, books, decorative items, collectibles. The day her husband died, she never went back to her home or her stuff. She stayed with a friend until she found an apartment. She now needed to face her fears, and address the home as she was in need of selling it for money. After looking around for a while, I knew that we could help her.

Due to the poor condition of most of the items (cat urine and cat feces, there had also been a rodent, spider and cockroach infestation) we decided we could not donate anything contaminated. Below is a pic of our 40 foot yard dumpster empty...

And full ...

 

We were able to scrap most metal and recycle all e-waste which saved a huge load going to the landfill.

Here are more pictures on the job...


Tony & Cedric on demolition!
 

Time for an extreme cleaning!

After one exhausting day we were able to completely restore the home to selling condition. We had an incredible team of haulers, scrap metal-ers, organizers and house cleaners to make this happen.


We had to remove the carpet and padding to make this work.

Our client has still not gone back to her home, but feels as though "an incredible weight has been lifted". She has begun therapy and has managed to keep her apartment tidy. Her home is now on the market, and we wish her luck!

Follow this job on our YouTube page for video of us in action!

This client was rare in the case that she wanted to keep nothing. The point of this blog is to show our Collectors just how quickly we can make your wishes happen. Do I wish she was more involved? Absolutely. I encourage every client to make decisions! But this is not about me, is it?!

Free yourselves Collectors!
www.collectorcare.com licensed. bonded. insured. discreet.
925-548-7750

Collector Care Rant:TV Set Stages and How They Mislead Us

Hello Collectors! What is your favorite TV show? Take a moment and think, what does the home of the characters on your TV show look like? Large home, green grass, white picket fence? How about inside this (TV set) home? Is everything neat and orderly? Ultra organized?
 
As someone who frequents others homes a lot, I must say, most homes do not look like this inside. These TV sets have been staged, decorated and designed. 

This is the background of one of my favorite shows, Breaking Bad.

If you have pets or kids, you know they come with clutter. How did Alice from the Brady Bunch do it?! She didn't. This was a TV show. All of those kids were not trained to be tidy and she was not a Superwoman.

If you have crafts and hobbies that you like to do - this creates clutter. When you watch your crafting shows  (like Martha Stewart), a crew comes out and cleans up all of her mess before she moves on to the next project. She is amazing, but she has HELP. She is not racing around cleaning during commercials.

If you find you are in need of help, it's OK to call a Professional Organizer, that's what we do. We help you create a space that you want-based on your needs. 

Still looking for that Better Homes and Garden look? We work hand in hand with Interior Designers in the event you want your home staged after we have helped you with the clutter. 

Collectors, it takes an entire team to help you create that TV set look. The first start is to clear the items that no longest serve you out of your home. Donate them to a local shelter as soon as you can. 

Collectors, let's give our selves a break, lower our expectations and begin where we can. A lot of our clients while striving on perfection, allow nothing to get done.  

Collector Care Professional Organizers

Servicing Northern and Central California.
925-548-7750 www.collectorcare.com rachel@collectorcare.com 

Not ready to let someone in? We offer Skype appointments!
Licensed. Bonded. Insured.

 

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips to Combat PTSD and Clutter

Recently Ive noticed a trend with the combination of clutter and ptsd, a complete overwhelm.

Hello Collectors! PTSD is an overwhelming disorder in itself, when clutter is added you might find yourself in CHAOS. Embarrassment to let people in might plague you; along with the shame of not being perfect. You've always been expected to be neat and tidy, why is it that you can no longer enforce order?

HALT!  It's time to stop right there. Please understand that you are undergoing a dramatic change in life, try and cut yourself a little slack. You are not your clutter. Below are  some tips that can help you begin your journey.

1. Try and remain in the present. If you find yourself flashing back when viewing certain items, save those items to go through at a stronger time in your life.
2. Begin somewhere neutral of feelings such as the pantry or linen closet. Pull all of the items out, and clean the space you plan to reclaim. Place only items that serve you back. Remaining items can be tossed or donated. If you find yourself easily distracted - set a timer for 30-60 minutes. 
3. PTSD leaves you feeling stuck. Lost in time. Motionless. Set a calendar reminder for your decluttering efforts so that you don't forget. 
4. Make sure to open up plenty of windows and let sunlight and fresh air in. Sounds of nature from outside will help bring you into the present. 
5. Hire a professional organizer, make sure this person has credentials and is bonded, licensed and

I am not credentialed to treat or diagnose any symptom or disorder. The intent of this blog is only informational and based on my insight as an organizer. Please read the ICD code of ethics to read the standards I adhere by.

4.5 Reasons You Should Hire a Collector Care Professional Organizer

Hello Collectors! A bit nervous about hiring a professional organizer? Worried about letting someone in? Being judged? Pressured to throw things away? I know this all too well, I hear it all the time.
What I hear after we have worked  is "why didn't I call you a long time ago?!".

Would you trust your neighbor do your dental work? No, you would go to a dentist.
Would you let an 8 year old drive you home? No, you would call a taxi.
Would you hire a school teacher to do your plumbing problems?! Of course not, you would hire a plumber. So when clutter has got you down, why would you not call a professional organizer? It makes sense folks.

We are trained to be extremely thorough, efficient and professional. We handle your stuff with the most delicate of care. We are smart, funny, energetic and non-judgmental. Collector Care Professional Organizers are NAPO members and ICD subscribers. We train our staff on managing client expectations, working with clients with disabilities, and teaching OSHA standards. We pride ourselves on our work, and are always learning new methods and techniques.

Need more encouragement? Here you go Collectors!

1. Misc. clutter builds up. You find yourself overwhelmed and don't know where to start. We come over, with a methodical plan and we organize your belongings in a functional way.
2. You have a bunch of stuff in your garage/attic/kitchen/basement and you want it gone through, organized and/or hauled away. We have all the tools and skills to help you do this efficiently.
   Bye bye clutter!
3. You can't have repairs done in your home due to clutter. We will help you get your place up to par so those repairs can happen. We are not state mandated. We won't call your landlord.  We won't call the police. We won't post your pictures on the internet without your consent. We really want to help you.
4. You are limited by your disabilities.  We work side by side with our clients to develop custom systems that work. We have clients with Chronic Fatigue, Lyme Disease, ADHD, and Clinical Depression (just to name a few). We create a pleasant and healthy work space to help you feel comfortable during the entire process.
5. You don't want someone bossing you around and being in control of your stuff. Wonderful Collectors, YOU are in charge of the entire process. You say what stays and what goes. We donate to the charity of your 

Did I mention we are licensed, insured and bonded? Ok Collectors, I hope that gets your wonderful minds going. Thank you for reading this blog, most of our clients are knowledge collectors and I love hearing that you follow us on our blog and social media (hugs!).

Rachel Seavey, Owner & Blogger of Collector Care
Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Pin with us on Pinterest

Random Rant On Plastic Bins - from a Hoarding Specialist's Prospective

Howdy Collectors! It's time to corral up all of your plastic bins. They could be clear, many of them are a solid color and some of them have patterns.

The one thing I will tell ya, is they all have DIFFERENT SIZED lids! What is up with that??? Why are lids not UNIVERSAL?? Lids should not be PROPRIETARY! How am I supposed to be efficient while searching through lids for that perfect fit?

Much love to our #hoarding and #ocd clients who know exactly which lids goes to what with the quickest glance.

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips Organizing Your Outdoor Entry Way

1. Make your address visible. Hire a professional to paint the numbers on the sidewalk for added safety.
2. Wash down your porch with a garden hose. Sweep off water and air dry.
3. Wash your outdoor windows. If you can't do this yourself, hire a local handyman or a company that does this. Find a reasonable rate or try a garden hose attachment product.
4. Empty out your mailbox. Junk goes into recycle - important goes into a safe location in the home.
5. Throw away dead plants or old planters. Any outside trash

Collector Care Book Review: Buried in Treasures

Collector Care Book Review: Buried in Treasures
Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding.

By David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost, and Gail Steketee.

Buy through Amazon using the ICD affiliate link (help ICD!)

Buried in Treasures can be read by an acquirer, a saver, a hoarder, a loved one, or a professional wanting to learn more about beating hoarding. If self-help books usually work for you, or self-help is the route you want to take at this time in your life – read this book. It offers practical methods to beating clutter with realistic timelines that work. The key point is that you are dedicated to helping yourself, and that you do not give up. Backsliding is normal, so keep on chugging. This book will help. It is easy to read, and the authors are engaging. They will cheer you along the way. These are the some of the most elite professionals in our field, this book is a gold mine. Trust in them and trust in yourself. 

If you are a family member or concerned friend, just know that hoarding can be treated! Don’t give up on your loved one. By reading this book, you might begin to understand what your loved one is actually going through.  You will be given methods to help relieve YOUR concern, anger, sadness and anxiety about your loved ones disorder. Buried in Treasures will open your awareness on how to address this issue with your loved one in a manner that works.

As a professional organizer I find this book helpful as a way to help my clients beat hoarding. The questions at the end of each chapter are much like the ones I use with my clients, in addition to many new ideas I plan to use going forward. This book is a mandatory read if you want to be an ICD Hoarding Specialist. I recommend this book to any professional organizer who is interested in hoarding.

Below are five topics from this book that I picked out and commented on. There is a TON of info in this book and I only begin to scratch the surface of all the "buried treasures" within this book.

1. What is hoarding? This book is an excellent resource for the answer to this question.  A side note states “One of the key features of compulsive hoarding is that the clutter is so bad that portions of the home are unusable.” It also goes in to the three criteria that are thought to be present in hoarding disorder.  Chapter 2 explains hoarding thoroughly.
2.  Hoarding is treatable. “Compulsive hoarding is recognized as a diagnosable (and treatable) behavioral syndrome.” This is coming straight from leading experts. Believing this is a key role in conquering hoarding.
3. “Whereas most people define themselves by what they do, people with hoarding problems often define themselves by what they have. “ Being aware of this will help you win your battle. No one said this is easy work. The more aware you are of yourself, and your identity, you will begin to define yourself in healthier ways.
4. “Try scheduling your organizing sessions during the time your brain is most likely to cooperate.” This is a huge key to organizing success. If you are not a “morning person”, a “night owl”, have ADHD, TBI, physical disabilities, etc. Plan to organize at a time when you are at your best. Get a good night’s sleep, eat and drink plenty of water before during and after your organizing spurts! Take care of yourself and do not overdo it. 
5. “If you are hooked on Saturday morning yard sales, find something else to do”. You cannot beat hoarding if you are bringing more stuff in. There are so many other things you can do with your time. How about finally reading one of the hundreds of books you own? Finally taking in that charity bag, cleaning out your car, taking your dog on a walk, taking your recycling in, etc! Enough is enough folks. If you are a shopper, you have got to take yourself out of those situations until your hoarding is under control. 

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Please feel free to leave a comment on this blog about Buried in Treasures, or feel free to ask any questions about this book or hoarding.  If you are looking for other good books on Hoarding I suggest reading Digging Out by Dr. Michael Tompkins, any book by Judith Kolberg,  the ICD Guide to Challenging Disorganization, or visit the ICD website.

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder and we work side by side with our clients to improve their living standards. If you know of someone who hoards, or if you are a hoarder please don’t hesitate to give us a call. 925-548-7750. Not ready yet? Check out our website, Facebook,or Twitter.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer (and blogger) For Collector Care

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Collector Care Before & After Photo's : Project Single Parent

Hello Collectors! We love when our clients allow us to use their photos for our before and after showcase. Below you will find work that we did for one of our North Bay clients and his family. This client was a level 2 on the ICD clutter hoarding scale, and we knew with a little bit of Care we could turn this house into a home again.

Bedroom before.

Bedroom after. Note, there is still homework for the client to do, such as continue to sort surrounding bins.

Hallway before

Hallway After

Daughter's room before.

Daughters room after.

Son's room before.

Son's room after.

Living room before.

Living room after.

If you are overwhelmed with clutter, are chronically disorganized or have issues with hoarding - there is help! We love the warm fuzzies we get with helping you transform your space. Not only do we address your "house" problem, we  help you understand new ways of thinking. We give homework for our clients to do in between sessions. We follow up thoroughly. We are not going to clean out your home and never talk to you again. Unless you want it that way :) Most of our clients appreciate the maintenance we offer and the suggestions we have. We have kids so we understand the mess that comes with them! We have pets ... we get it! Let's come up with solutions that work that are custom made for you. We offer honest timelines and pride ourselves on our efficiency. Go ahead, give us a call - we offer free estimates!

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer (and blogger) For Collector Care

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Pin with us on Pinterest