Do You Suffer from Cobbler’s Children Syndrome?
October 19, 2010
The word “cobbler” comes from a bygone era and quickly conjures up visions of Charles Dickens and not so much modern times. But the fact of the matter is — despite living in the 21st century — you may suffer from Cobbler’s Children Syndrome (CCS) all the same.
Simply put, CCS describes a situation where a cobbler spends so much time repairing shoes for all the villagers, that he has neither the time nor inclination to do the same for his own family. As a result, his children have the worse shoes of all the children in the village.
Now, I doubt YOU are a cobbler in the strict sense of the word, but the irony of this syndrome can play out in many situations. Continue Reading
Should I Keep These Clothes?
October 18, 2010
The space you could save in your closet from unworn clothes!
People so often have such a hard time getting rid of clothing. Here are the most common reasons I hear, along with my recommendation:
• “I want to keep these until I lose 10 pounds” – If you are holding on to smaller sizes for when you lose that weight, donate it. When you lose the weight, treat yourself to some new clothes that are in style.
• “I’ve recently lost weight, and I don’t want to get rid of the larger sizes in case I gain it back” – If you have lost weight, do NOT keep your larger sizes “just in case” you gain it back. You are making it way too easy to put the weight back on.
• “I like it, but I need to get it fixed” – If it is in need of repair, set it aside to remind you to get it fixed. Whether it is a button you need to sew on, a hem that needs adjusting, or a zipper that needs replacing, you are unlikely to remember if it is tucked away in your closet.
• “I really like it, but I don’t wear it often” – Ask yourself why. Is it too scratchy? Is it too hot? Are the sleeves to short? Is it just not very flattering on you? Whatever the reason, you are not likely to pick it out in the future, so go ahead and donate it.
• “I don’t have anything to match it” – If you really like the item, then pull it out of your closet to remind you to go shopping for something to wear with it.
Here’s the bottom line: if you aren’t going to wear it for whatever reason, get it out of your closet and let someone else enjoy it. You will make more room for the clothes you love!
– Donna Lindley, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Rochester Hills, MI-based Organize Your World, Inc.
For storage & organization ideas visit Organize-It.
College Entrepreneurs Develop Hip, New Organizer
October 14, 2010
This week, I was contacted by a very inspiring group of college students from Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts who have developed Accessibles, a hip, new way to organize notebooks and planners.
Rui Wang, one of the students in this group of budding entrepreneurs, explained that, “We noticed that lots of people store their thoughts chronologically and subsequently made etched-metal monthly tabs to let you control how you organize…” Continue Reading