Which way should my fan rotate to cool me in the summer and warm me in the winter? Sounds like a black and white question, but apparantly there’s some debate about this. So I ran my own tests and here’s the verdict (which matches Bob Vila’s by the way):

Summer: Counter-Clockwise.
Winter: Clockwise.

The counter-clockwise (summer) motion pushes air down on you and makes you feel cooler. The clockwise (winter) setting pulls cool air upwards and circulates warm air down on the room’s periphery.

So how do you change your setting? Most fans have a small square nub switch on the hub that holds the lights below the blades. It can either switch left to right or up and down depending on your manufacturer. Be sure the fan is off and the blades have stopped rotating before you change its direction, and it’s advisable to clean your fan blades while you’re up there. If they’re dirty, be prepared for dust bunnies to be blown down on you and then you’ll have a big mess to clean up. A quick wipe with a damp cloth on the top and sides of the blades should do it.

Switch settings twice a year, and according to Bob Vila, you can expect a 10-15% savings on your heating bill, and save up to 40% off your cooling bill in the summer.

Heard about this cool little gadget? The Eye-Fi Wireless memory card for digital cameras eliminates the need for cables to download images to your computer! Retails between $60-80. No more cables to lose or clutter your desk! Pass it on!

I often hear from my clients that they’re severly overwhelmed and feel like they’re doing everything themselves with no help from other family members. Personally, I believe that if people are old enough to help make a mess, they’re old enough to clean it up, and running a household requires “all hands on deck.” In most cases, I don’t think that the household chores are maliciously neglected, but that the family doesn’t fully understand how not doing the chores are making my clients feel, don’t realize that they need help, or don’t specifically know to help.

So what’s needed here is a little communication, with an emphasis on how things are communicated being of utmost importance.

Step 1: Warm up. Everyone’s busy, so set the scene by letting your family know you have something important you’d like to discuss and schedule a time.

Step 2: During the discussion, calmly explain what isn’t working, how it makes you feel, and if/how it affects others and why this is important. Pinpoint the areas you feel need the most attention.

Step 3: Ask for help. They may not know that you even need it.

Step 4: Be specific. Instead of saying, “clean the kitchen,” say “Sweep the floor, bleach the counters, and load and run the dishwasher each night after dinner.”

Step 5: Create task lists. Create a list with each of your familiy members with tasks they prefer doing. For tasks that no one likes, rotate them between family members to keep it fair.

Step 6: Define what the end result will look like. If there’s a certain way you like things done, show them. The goal here is to be on the same page about what the end result will look like so you’re not disappointed and they’re not criticized when helping.

Step 7: Schedule it. Ask your family to schedule times they feel they can get things done to prevent nagging. Then ask them how they’d like you to handle it if they don’t carry through, like identifying special phrases you can say that will spur them to action without causing anger or resentment on either side.

Step 8: Offer praise and show appreciation. When the task is finished, always say thank you and let the other person know why their help was important to you and the impact is has on the whole family. Make a family fun list to reward yourselves for jobs well done.

What does a cartoon fish movie have in common with organizing? Dory.

Those of you with kids know what I’m talking about — Ellen Degeneres’ blue fish character in “Finding Nemo” who suffers from severe memory loss. I had a client once compare her ADD to “feeling like Dori everyday” and it got me thinking about how I could apply that movie to her continuing organizing success. I asked her to repeat the phrase “Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!” every time she felt like she was losing steam. She said it worked for her, and even went a step further — she brilliantly personalized this mantra by asking her 4 year old to draw her a picture of Dory she could put on her desk to remind her of her son, her goals, and how exactly to get there. Just keep swimming.

"Just keep swimming!"

That phrase has since become my own mantra in difficult times, and I feel that I find new ways to employ it each day. But to put it in the context of organizing, I can apply it to each phase of the organizing process: the sort & purge, implementing and evolving new systems, and maintenance.

The organizing process begins with the “sort and purge” and it can feel overwhelming to finally go through years worth of belongings and the emotional baggage attached to them. It gets easier as you learn to disassociate “you” from “your things” and it takes practice and introspection. But just keep swimming and you’ll get through it all.

As new organizing systems are put in place, you come face-to-face with a lifetime of unorganized habits that can be difficult to change. But you can adapt to new systems with time and practice. No system is perfect the first time around and requires “tweaking” so that it fits how you live. If you are committed to becoming organized, your systems will evolve over time and become easier. Just keep swimming and you’ll evolve into a more “organized you.”

And finally, maintenance. There is no secret here. It’s just a phase where you continue to tailor your systems, and allocate time each day to the organizing process. I think most people forget about this phase and that’s where clutter can begin to pile up again, but it’s the most important phase in organizing because it’s where you continue to practice the skills you learned along the way to keep your space thinned out from clutter, adapt systems as your life changes, and commit time to staying organized. Just keep swimming and life gets better.

Thanks, Dory. You’re my hero!

Procrastination is dangerous. It can easily become a bad habit, which turns into a vicious cycle, then mushrooms into an unhappy lifestyle. It causes guilt and anxiety which sap energy and ruin self-esteem. But what causes procrastination?

1. Emotions. Procrastination isn’t neccessarily about avoiding work, but about avoiding the emotions that the work will trigger, like feeling overwhelmed, powerless, controlled by others, sad, angry and resentful. We use avoidance in an effort to delay these feelings, but unfortunately there’s an avalanche of other emotions that piggyback procrastination like guilt, anxiety, and feelings of being weak or lazy. Recognize that procrastinating saps more energy than the actual task requires and get a jump on it.
2. Willpower. This is really an issue with prioritizing. If we label something as “unimportant,” “not fun” or “tiring,” we won’t do anything about it. Prioritize a task based on logic and real importance in your life rather than emotion and realize not everything in life is fun.
3. Time. There are times when we’re too busy to accomplish everything on our To Do list, but be careful to not make yourself “feel” busier than you actually are. Don’t fixate on quantity — instead, be realistic about what’s truly important and focus on it. Also, recognize that most things take less time to complete than we think.
4. Perfectionism. Give yourself permission to allow low priority tasks to be “good enough” and move on.
5. Self-Esteem. Fear of failure, fear of success, feeling intimidated, and negative thinking can be self-defeating. You’re the one in control of these thoughts so it’s your responsibility to turn them into something positive. Pay attention to what triggers your negative thoughts then immidately stop them and replace them with new, positive mantras. If you can’t think of something positive to say right away, try focusing on how completing a task would help you or someone you love. It can give you the motivation to take action.

“I just don’t have the time, energy, or inclination to do it.” Ever said that before? Everyone has. It’s very common to feel stretched so thin that the thought of one more thing on your plate can threaten to shatter your life into a million bits and, well, who would clean THAT mess up?

But it’s important to recognize that this statement is actually an excuse to procrastinate. To combat it, you must declutter your “mental space.”

To begin, force yourself to sit quietly for 60 seconds. Think about everything you have to do and let the wave wash over you. Then take a deep breath, and focus on one thing at a time.

1. Categorize your high priority items. This will most likely be the first 3 things that popped into your head and where you should place your focus. Everything else can wait.
2. Identify what’s causing you to procrastinate. Emotions? Time? Trying to make it perfect? By labeling what we feel, we can begin to understand and counteract it.
3. Be clear on what you really want to happen. If you don’t have a clear vision of what your outcome will be, it’ll be difficult to get started. Visualize completing the task and feel the relief that comes with it, and realize that you can always change course once you begin.
4. Schedule time to do it. If it’s “Urgent,” schedule a specific date and time on your calendar. If it’s “Can Do Later,” start a To Do list and write it down, then assign a loose deadline for getting it done, like one week from today. Putting it on paper will act as a backup so you don’t have to remember it and will clear that mental space for more important things.
5. Start small. Break large or overwhelming tasks into smaller segments to make them manageable to fit your timeframe or emotional state.
6. Do it anyway. Even if your plan isn’t perfect or you’re feeling emotional, just get started. It’ll get easier once you dig in because the “mental dead weight” will be lifted and any negativity will dissipate.
7. Celebrate. Making “fun” part of the process will make you more eager to tackle the next task.

Sometimes just having a clear mind, a quick plan, and taking small steps can cause great relief and encourage us to continue making progress.

Lost your cel? Try this website: www.wheresmycellphone.com. Enter your phone number, and in seconds your phone will ring so you can follow the sound and find your phone. Very helpful!

In an effort to declutter your home and keep harmful items out of our landfills, Fox 50 is sponsoring an “E-cycling” event this Saturday June 27th from 10am-2pm in 3 locations around the triangle. And best of all…it’s totally FREE!!!

According to their website, they’ll be there rain or shine—in the parking lots of three Best Buy locations:

Durham – Renaissance Center
(7001 Fayetteville Rd, Durham, NC 27713)

North Raleigh – Capital Blvd.
(6101 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27616)

Cary – Crossroads Plaza
(237 Crossroads Blvd, Cary, NC 27518)

You won’t even have to get out of your car! Volunteers will unload your electronic items including the following:

• Computer Monitors – CRTs
• Tape Players
• Printed Circuit Boards
• Computer Monitors – Flat Panel
• CD Players
• UPS (personal & network)
• Televisions – CRTs
• Telephones
• Routers
• Televisions – Flat Screen
• Cell Phones
• Resistors Capacitors
• Desktop Computers
• Fax Machines
• Diodes
• Laptop Computers
• Electronic Games
• Terminals
• Keyboards
• Power & Network Cables
• Rechargeable Batteries
• Mice
• Network Hubs
• Peripherals
• Printers
• Switching boxes
• Military Equipment
• Scanners
• Controllers
• Medical Equipment
• Copy Machines
• Modems
• Telecommunications
• VCRs
• Docking Stations
• Commercial Equipment
• Stereos
• CD Roms
• Office Equipment
• Radios
• Hard Drives
• Banking Equipment
• Mainframes

They will not accept washers, dryers, refrigerators, car batteries, light bulbs, AC units, manifested hazardous waste, radioactive waste and/or biohazardous waste.
Visit their website for more info.

Or see my other blog posts for Where to Recycle Old Gadets and Where to Donate Strange Items.

I’m a big fan of earthy colors, and here are some of my favorite colors and some general tips when picking just the right shade…

My favorite taupes & tans: Laura Ashley “Taupe 3″ at Lowe’s, “Cafe Au Lait” from Restoration Hardware, Seaside Retreat’s “Beachnut” at Lowe’s, Laura Ashley “Stone 2″ at Lowe’s, Ralph Lauren’s “Wave of Grain” at Home Depot, “Macadamia” SW6142 from Sherman Williams, and for a darker shade, “Cappucino” from Restoration Hardware.

My favorite greenish-bluish-gray: Seaside Retreat’s “Silver Sea” at Lowe’s. I love this color — it’s more green during the day, and more blue at night. Great for a spa bathroom, or soothing bedroom color, or home office. Another more icy-blue alternative (if you’re doing the blue/chocolate brown thing) is “Palladium Blue” by Benjamin Moore.

My favorite “zen greenish-gray”: Seaside Retreat’s “Stonecastle” at Lowe’s looks like a gray on the swatch, and will shock you that you just painted a room dark gray while it’s wet on the wall. However, once it dries, it’s the most perfect zen grayish stone green color and is a perfect “green neutral” for a Master bedroom, or a spa bathroom. Want a darker tone? Try “Rope” by Eddie Bauer at Lowe’s.

My favorite red: Laura Ashley “Russet 5″ at Lowe’s- very dramatic, very nice red. Takes 3 coats (like any red) but gets lots of wows! Great in a country style or very modern home.

My favorite yellow: For a real yellow that’s definitely yellow but soft enough to live with and nothing like an obnoxious stoplight, I like “Crane Cottage Yellow” from the National Trust Historic Paint Colors line at Lowe’s.

My favorite neutral yellow: National Trust Historic Paint color “Belle Grove Buff” at Lowe’s.

My favorite “french” blue: Seaside Retreat’s “Seaside Villa” at Lowe’s for a blue that’s bold without being a harsh or “Carolina” blue.

My favorite off-white: Seaside Retreat’s “Magnolia Spray” at Lowe’s. It’s got a touch of pink to it, but looks fantastic with espresso dark woods, white trim, and neutral flooring. If you like a more yellowish off-white, I like Ralph Lauren’s “Sail Cloth”.

Which brand of paint do I like? You may notice most of my paint recommendations come from Lowe’s or Walmart and not Home Depot. Not a slam at Home Depot, but I can’t stand the Behr brand paint they carry. It’s too thin so it takes too many coats for my “let’s get this done” nature. I love Lowe’s Valspar paint, and I also love the Walmart Colorplace brand. It’s rumored to actually be generic Sherman Williams at 1/3rd the price — so at $12/gallon, everyone can afford to spruce up the place! My only issue with the Colorplace paint is that their latex paints get a bit “latexy” so if you’re using painter’s tape, pull it off when the paint is about 75% dry, so it doesn’t ruin the clean edge.

Painting tips for picking the right shade:

• Always paint color samples on your wall instead of holding up fan decks or paper swatches. Color can vary greatly depending on what color’s underneath it, whether or not you’re priming, the wall texture, etc. And what looks like the perfect taupe on a 2 inch swatch can be a grayish-green when it coats a whole wall.
• Paint samples on multiple walls. What looked good on a side wall may not look so great when it’s on your focal wall. You want the main focal wall to be the perfect shade when you’re trying paints out. It’s amazing how the same color can appear completely different (too dark, too light, too yellow, too green) depending on the room’s natural light and furniture placement. This tip is especially important in paints with a grayish base (taupes, grays, some greens & blues).
• Look at your sample in both daylight and at nighttime. It may look great during the day but too dreary at night. If that’s the case, use my next (and favorite) tip:
• Try a percentage of the pigmentation. For example, if you like a color in the can but think it dries too dark on the wall, ask for a paint sample of the original color at 75% pigmentation. It’ll have more white in it so when it dries it’s a little lighter. I like this better than the old rule of “if you like a color, go up 2 shade on the swatch card.”

Happy painting!

Procrastination is a nasty beast that can suck all our time away, and fill us with guilt and shame, and even prevent us from doing things we enjoy because we feel that unless we “finish our chores first” we can’t go play.

So here’s the good news: Procrastination is something totally under our control, and can do a lot about to see immediate results. Here are four things you can do right now to get you on the road to conquering procrastination:

1. Use the “2 minute rule.” If it takes less than 2 minutes to complete….do it now!
2. Use a timer. Here are 3 great ways to use it:
• Time yourself as you do a task and to see how long it actually takes (usually a lot less than you think, so it won’t be so overwhelming next time!)
• Set it for 15-20 minutes and stop when it dings. This will keep your “chores” to a manageable limit and prevent burnout.
• Race yourself. If a task seems daunting, set a timer for 15 minutes and “speed organize.” Basically race yourself to get through it quickly.
3. Enlist help:
• Get a “body double.” Call one of your friends and ask if they’ll sit with you while you sort mail, go through a box, etc. It makes the time go faster and you’ll feel like there’s someone holding you accountable. And if they bring over a craft or organzing project also, you’ll both get stuff done!
• Ask. This one can be difficult to get used to, but ask friends or family to help out with chores, or pitch in on a big project. My mom always said, “Many hands make light work.”
• Delegate. Sometimes it’s necessary to hand out chores to your family members, or ask a friend to pick something up for you if they’re already headed that way, or hire someone who specializes in it. Just because something needs to get done doesn’t mean YOU have to be the one to do it. Especially if it’s something you really don’t enjoy.

4. Reward yourself. After every task, do something small to celebrate (take a quick walk, call a friend, have some tea, watch your favorite TV show, hang a picture in your newly organized room, etc.) It’ll keep you movtivated for the next time!

Try these out and I’d love to hear which ones worked best for you!