Combining households can be tricky. Many people just jump right in without giving it any thought. We have a few strategies on how to stay sane and not argue (as much) during this huge transition.
Step 1: Define Who
Who will be directly affected as a result of this change? Are there children involved? If there are children involved is there a former spouse and/or partner that should also be involved? If a parent is moving in with an adult child, what family members will be part of the plan and how do you expect the current household to be effected? Or is it a new couple joining forces for the first time? Defining who will help you to clarify expectations you each have for one another during the process.
Step 2: Define What
What has prompted this step to combine households? Is it a major life event, such as a wedding or a death? Defining the “what” for all those involved may take away some of the unnecessary stress. Even small children should be given the respect of open communication. Knowing what is causing this life change will also help you to be more compassionate for one another. Moods may change and arguments may erupt over what seems like nothing, but if you have communicated to everyone involved what is happening there will be an understanding that exists during the process.
Step 3: Define When
Do you have a month, a year or just a few days? This will also impact moods when combining households. Everyone involved must understand why the change is occurring quickly or even why you have a little extra time. A change like this will cause a rush of emotions, especially for children. Be aware of their feelings during the “when,” especially if it needs to be done fast.
Step 4: Define Where
When combining households everyone involved in the process needs to be given the opportunity to weigh the pros and cons of where to go. Do you move to his house or to her house? Does your mother come to live with you or do you need to relocate to live with her? Or do you go an entirely different direction and buy/rent a new home somewhere in the middle?
Step 5: Define How
Will you have movers or will you be doing all of the heavy lifting yourselves? This is another step where you need to define clear expectations. If you will be staying in your current home and you have people moving in with you it is important that everyone know how the home will look with everyone in it.
Remember that while combining households may be a challenge, it is a challenge that may be managed if you are all on the same page.

photo source

Here are some of the great answers we received!

Keeping lists… check each task off as i complete it. – Lindsey C.

My label maker! It helps me keep everything organized! – Tricia M

Hanging wall organizer and each items has its own place and easy to see and not forget – Christine D

A carefully crafted and diligently maintained to-do list! – Dana C

Take 10 minutes each day to pick up and put away items that do not belong in one room of one home. – Ariel F

Always have a place for everything! Baskets, files, drawers….use anything that works for you! – Tiffiny P

Always take things one step at a time.  If you look at the whole picture it can be very overwhelming, but if you break it into smaller tasks things suddenly seem much easier. – Heather W

Try to go through all your mail/paper pile once or twice a week so it doesn’t keep piling up!! – Karen D

Stay on top of it. Don’t let things get piled up because it becomes too overwhelming.  If something isn’t working, fix it so its easier to stay caught up. – Brianne R

Open and sort mail as soon as it comes in the door. Discard any papers not important to save. Envelopes, catalogs, etc. – Hayley F

It would be to go through one room at a time and get rid of by selling donating etc anything not being used or that you didn’t even remember you had and the keep the clutter out of your house! – Katy V.

Thank you ladies for all of your wonderful organizing tips!!  We will be using them on our social media sites in  the coming weeks!!

And  the winner of the Shredder is Katy V.!!

Congratulations!!

In honor of GO Month, Peace Together Spaces is holding our first annual Shred-It Contest. We know how important it is to protect your identity. Anything with personal information contained on it should be shred and we want to help! From now until January 31, 2012 we will be holding our contest and the winner will receive our favorite Fellowes shredder.

Use the Rafflecopter below to track your points.  Make sure to read the directions that are shown when you click +1 DO IT!

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

many with dreams of organized bliss I recommend you start it off small.

If you start with a project that is too large you quickly become overwhelmed. When we feel

overwhelmed we tend to feel defeated and lost which leads us to give up. Giving up is NOT an

option! If you want to be organized in 2012, we will help you do it!

Start with a drawer or a purse. Both of these small spaces are generally fast to finish and there are wonderful tools available to make it fun.

One of my favorite tools to organize a junk drawer is the Everything Organizer from The Container Store. The Everything Organizer comes with compartments that will fit all your junk drawer needs! I love this product so much that this is what I give new neighbors when they move in!

For a purse, The Container Store has a simple Purse Organizer, that will slip right into most purses.

Allow yourself to experience these “smaller” victories and gain that sense of accomplishment

you will need to keep yourself motivated on your organizing goals in 2012. Continue to be

victorious and remember you can get organized in 2012!

Did you know there are about 4,200 professional organizers that belong to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)? It all started in 1983 when a group of women in California met to network about organizing as a profession. NAPO’s goal is to be recognized throughout the world as The Organizing Authority®. There is another organization that some organizers are also members of called the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD). The ICD was started in 2001 as the NSGCD, a group within NAPO. The ICD quickly learned that not all organizers wanted to specialize in the areas they teach about and became their own organization. The ICD’s mission is to “benefit people affected by chronic disorganization and explores, develops and communicates information, organizing techniques and solutions to professional organizers, related professionals and the public”. If you are interested in hiring an organizer or even become one, check out their sites:

·www.NAPO.net

· www.challengingdisorganization.org