This newsletter almost became a combined September/October newsletter, but I was able to finalize it and send it just before September ended. I'm not sure about you, but September just flew by for me, especially with quite a bit of travel! September also marks the start of the academic year. While I am not directly impacted by the start of the school year, I have plenty of family and friends who have returned to school and are making their way through this new school year. There is something special about a fresh start this time of year that is so invigorating to me. I will be carrying that “fresh start” feeling into October, when my husband and I plan to take on a large organizing project—our basement.
As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, I was planning on seeing August’s Blue Moon in the backcountry of Glacier National Park. While I didn’t technically see the Blue Moon due to a storm, my husband and I did enjoy the bright light of the nearly-full moon a few days earlier as well as a night later, which was when I captured the picture below.
Ironically, my favorite personal organization story this month was not so much organizing in my home but rather about organizing to be away from home—organizing gear and supplies for our annual backpacking adventure in Glacier National Park.
The more I think about it, the Honeybee & Chickadee Stages of Organizing can be applied to so many situations, including this one! The cyclical nature lends itself to constant adjustment and improvement. With backpacking, we always learn something that we can apply in a future trip. And, because the backpacking trips are infrequent (once a year), I take notes immediately after we return when the thoughts are fresh.
This practice really helps me with the evaluate stage. With an updated list and notes from prior years, I start gathering supplies. Gear for backpacking includes backpack, headlamps, map, GPS device, tent, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, clothing, extra layers, food and drink mixes, toiletries and medication, my diabetes supplies, emergency items, and personal items. Keeping in mind that we’ll be carrying EVERYTHING we bring, I quickly move on to the declutter stage and decide what items don’t make the cut. Can we do without certain items? Can any items serve more than one function? What did we take and use last year? After careful consideration, I remove all unneeded items, and begin to sort all remaining items, arranging into categories so we can efficiently pack what we need into our packs.
As we pack, we organize where it makes sense because there is a method to properly packing a backpack. For general travel, packing cubes are a MUST for me, but not for backpacking. As an example, when packing a suitcase, I typically pack all socks and underwear in a small packing cube, but with backpacking, it’s best if all those small articles of clothing fill small gaps throughout the pack for a more stable carry. Finally, we optimize a bit before getting to the trailhead, and then again daily when packing before backpacking to our next campground.
In the photo below, I'm wearing the fruits of my organizing labor as a soundly-packed 44-pound pack on our way up to Gunsight Pass.
It typically takes many hours of planning and packing prior to a backpacking trip, especially with needing to pack all sorts of diabetes supplies, medication, and extra food (for more information about backpacking as a Type 1 Diabetic, you can read an article I wrote a few years ago called "Hiking with Needles"). However, all that planning and prep work pays off—we always feel well-prepared for whatever nature brings our way!
And, upon our return, I go through all the stages of organizing again to put everything back so it's ready again for the next hike or backpacking trip. If there's an area of your home you need organized, try applying the Stages of Organization to your trouble spot!
This year’s trip was rather different than prior year’s backpacking trips. We planned a 5-day/4-night backpacking trip across the heart of Glacier National Park. While the adventure started out in a typical enough fashion, an incredible storm pummeled the mountains we were in with a lot of rain over a 36 hour period along with foggy and overcast conditions. What had been dry or nearly dry creek beds turned into raging streams racing down the mountain…that we had to cross despite the knee- and thigh-high torrents several feet wide. Luckily Sperry Chalet’s Dining Hall had hot food, hot chocolate, and a roaring fire to help us warm up and dry off. Through the kindness of strangers, we were further reinvigorated with a stay at the chalet before making our way down toward Lake McDonald and the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
I have been helping clients with the evaluate stage a lot lately, which is great! I believe this is one of the most important steps toward being functionally organized. Really reflecting about how you use an area of your home as well as envisioning how you would like to use that area of your home can help to shed light on problem areas and can help to guide you on your organizing journey. Clients using Honeybee & Chickadee’s Begin with the End in Mind workbook appreciate the guidance and gentle nudging to get their thoughts out of their heads and into words on a physical or digital page.
During workbook reviews, clients share with me their most challenging areas and I provide feedback and ideas for next steps. Prior to the session, each client takes time to complete their workbook. During the session, the client tells me about the area of their home that they chose to focus on and describes their vision for the space. Through photos, videos, or a live walk-through, I see the space, ask clarifying questions, and provide both feedback on their vision for their space, as well as additional ideas and suggested next steps. Clients find this workbook review to be the brainstorming and accountability session they need to move from ideas to concrete action. It makes me so happy to be able to help people move from disorganized chaos to functional organization.
I hope my success in organizing for a backpacking adventure and my clients’ success taking the time and mental energy to focus on the evaluate stage both help to invigorate you toward getting functionally organized in your own home. Go ahead and try applying Honeybee & Chickadee's Stages of Organization to an organization project you're working on, and let me know how it's going by replying to this email.
If you're ready to take the first step toward being functionally organized, start with downloading the Begin with the End in Mind workbook, which you can download from my homepage (link is about halfway down).
If you’re looking for accountability, I can help! Honeybee & Chickadee offers a variety of services, from the above-mentioned workbook review, to targeted coaching, to packages designed to help you with all the stages of organization. Simply fill out the form on my website's Contact page to get started.
Let's strive to "bee" more organized, together!
Sincerely,
Founder, Honeybee & Chickadee
I'm Melissa! I am a professional organizer, vacation rental manager, and writer. I am an ISFJ and Obliger trying to figure out my Enneagram Type. I enjoy crafting, documenting memories, and observing nature. Whenever possible, I am enjoying the beauty of the Hudson River Valley in New York, the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, or the mountains in and around Glacier National Park in Montana with my husband and partner in life, Will.
I consider myself incredibly lucky that you've signed up to receive my newsletter, and I sincerely home you enjoy it. Each month, I plan on providing a quick update about my business, Honeybee & Chickadee, and what organizing is going on in my life. I'll also be sharing how I'm helping clients in their home, and of course, tips that will help you to organize your own home. I welcome any feedback you might have, so don't hesitate to reach out!
Need more help?
If you're ready to minimize the chaos through functional organizing, please reach out so I can help you. Consider the Begin with the End in Mind Workbook Review for starters. This 60-minute video call is a discussion and review of your completed (or nearly completed) workbook. Contact me for more information or to get scheduled. I would love to be your sounding board and provide some initial feedback and some recommendations with next steps during the call.
Looking for additional customized help? I specialize in functional home organizing customized for you. My method boasts an actionable plan and targeted coaching, guiding you through all the steps of organizing a space. To get started, simply schedule a 15-minute Introductory Call below.
Schedule a Call
