GETTING IT TOGETHER

By: Dafna Breines

Courtesy of Binyan Magazine

Ed: Being a parent is not a simple job. Dealing with special needs makes life a bit more complicated. Here are some tips to help keep your home under control. For a list of professional organizers, click here.

Even people who don’t enjoy cleaning and organizing can see the benefits of having things neat and in place. Let’s talk to Chaya Roizy Vorhand, a professional organizer and life coach who lives in Yerushalayim, and hear more about it.

Hi, Chaya Roizy. Are you the naturally organized type?

Everyone asks me that question! The answer is, yes and no. Certain things come naturally and others, not so much. That’s good, because it helps me understand people who struggle with organization.

Did you learn professional organization on your own, or did you train?

Both. I read a lot of books and talked to lots of people. Even after 25 years in the business, I still do! I also learned counseling, so I’d be able to help people overcome not just the physical challenges of organization, but the mental blocks as well. There are always new skills to learn; it’s a very dynamic field.

Tell us about how professional organization works.

A woman calls me and tells me a little about who she is and what her needs are. Then I make a house visit so she can show me around. I always ask, “Where do you want to start?” We start with the messiest corner or shelf in the room that bothers her the most. We take everything off of that shelf, and we learn the concepts of organization as we go along.

The key is to break everything down into small, manageable steps. Anyone can learn that way, even someone with special challenges or difficulties.

The interesting thing is that while the basics are the same, each client is wonderful and exciting! Each woman has her individual strengths and weaknesses, and together we create a system that works for her. I also do phone consultations and workshops.

Can you share some ideas and tips?

One of the first things I tell my clients is to buy about 25 four- quart containers. When they ask, “So many” I answer yes, because one of my favorite tips – and one of the most basic - is “in, not on.” Whether it’s a drawer or a shelf, store loose items in labeled containers – things will always stay neater that way. Women who couldn’t believe they would need 25 go out and buy more.

It’s a great system – firstly, because it works, but also because it’s so affordable. One of my clients found pretty labels and bought a whole bunch for all her containers. That small addition gave the shelves a whole new look.

Another tip is to make things at least as easy to store as it is to take them out. So items you use frequently should be within easy reach, what’s called “one –motion storage.” That means you can return the item or container without bending down or stretching on your tiptoes. The key is to make it easy so that you won’t be tempted to leave things out.

Something else to keep in mind is to group together items that you use together. For example, things like hairbrushes, scrunchies, and hair clips should be stored in the same place.

What’s the hardest area of the house to organize?

Any place where you’re storing lots of little items is going to be a challenge. People who are into artsy hobbies like sewing have this issue they’ve got buttons, snaps, spools of thread, ribbons, pins, needles… You get the picture. I have that in my own house; we love arts and crafts, so we’ve got lots of small, odd-shaped items that can’t just be thrown into a box.

The solution is to divide everything into small Ziploc bags and then store them in a box. You still need discipline to put everything back, but at least you have a good system that’s technically easy to maintain.

Why do homes get messy to begin with?

The easiest way for a house to get messy is when people take things out and don’t put them back. The other reason things get messy isn’t because people don’t want to put things away; it’s because all those things don’t yet have a place to call home. And when items don’t have a place where they go, they can’t be put back there!

From what age can kids be taught to put things away after they use them?

From the age of about eight months.

Eight months?

Yes. Obviously, you have to sit with the child and show him what to do. But if you model consistently and talk about what you’re doing, kids catch on.

What advice would you give to kids who want to get organized, but for whom it doesn’t come naturally?

First of all, don’t give up! Organization is a skill that can be learned. All you need is the willpower to learn it. Break things up into small units; don’t try to tackle everything at once.

One thing I will say, though. The motivation to change has to come from you. Not from an older sibling, not from peer pressure, but from within yourself.

Any tips on cleaning up a mess?

Unless you absolutely love cleaning up huge messes, don’t take out more than you have to at one time. If you’re working on your closet, start with one shelf. When you finish, put back what belongs there; anything that doesn’t, goes into a separate box. Work in manageable shifts – and don’t forget to take breaks! The more relaxed you are, the easier and more pleasant the cleaning job will be. If you find that you don’t have time to organize everything at once, you can always do that during summer vacation or any other free time you have.

What’s the best way to handle a situation where a neat sibling and a messy sibling share a room?

The same way any conflict of interest would be handled. The siblings need to talk to each other, hear each other’s needs, and then come up with a plan so that both of them get what they need while still giving the other living space. I find that kids come up with great solutions when they work together!

Can you give us some coping skills for rooms with limited storage space?

First thing, get all the loose stuff into those containers we mentioned before. That will free up space you never knew you had! If you still don’t have enough room for your stuff, then you need to take a good, hard look at what you have and get rid of things you don’t need. Items that have sentimental value but are sitting in a drawer can go into storage on a high shelf in the closet, or the basement, or anywhere else where your family has long-term storage space.

Be creative! I don’t think I ever had to tell someone to build another closet. One client had six girls sharing one closet, and we made it work, baruch Hashem.

Are kids a part of the organizing process?

Definitely! Even small children can help decide where their toys should go. Ideally, I want the occupant of a closet or room home when we work in there. After all, it’s that person’s stuff!

Do you have any interesting stories?

One stands out in my mind. One client – she was a friend of mine – really balked at the container idea. She kept saying that she didn’t want them. Eventually, she relented – and she got so into the system that she ended up buying over 200 containers!

What message would you like to give our readers?

The point of getting organized is to be able to find what you need when you need it. Whatever system works for you to achieve that is great. You want to get on with better things, not spend your life looking for your stuff. It might be hard at first, but it’s a life skill that you’ll take with you forever – so it’s worth learning!