 Do you consider your stuff to be more important than you are? I hope not! That is how many Hoarders feel. I am often asked about Hoarders and hoarding. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), Hoarding is a Psychological Disorder. APA describes Hoarding as people who excessively save items that others may view as worthless. They have persistent difficulty getting rid of are parting with possessions, leading to clutter that disrupts their ability to use their space to live and work in.
The APA lists these symptoms: Specific symptoms for a hoarding diagnosis include:
The Institute for Challenging Disorganization is another good resource to educate yourself about Hoarding. Check out or download their Clutter-Hoarding Scale. Simple Solution Organizing works with chronically disorganized clients. We do not work with Hoarders. There are Professional Organizers that specialize in this discipline. There is a big difference between being disorganized, chronic disorganization, being a Collector and being a Hoarder. Many people casually say, “I’m a Hoarder” and they definitely are not. See below a couple of photos that I pulled off the internet. 1 is a photo of a Hoarding situation and 1 is a photo of a Collector. I am a Podcast Junkie and recently listened to a Savvy PSYCHOLOGIST episode: How to Help Someone with Hoarding Disorder. Podcast #269. It has a lot of helpful information that can help Hoarders and families of Hoarders. Elaine Birchall with Birchall Consulting, is the Expert on the episode listed above. There are a lot of great resources to help people who are struggling with Hoarding. Finding a Psychologist who specializes in Hoarding is highly recommended. Adele Gross Simple Solution Organizing LLC Adele@simplesolutionorganizing.com 706-714-1314
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Downsizing and Professional Organizing Here are some photos of some Simple Solution Organizing LLC most recent project to motivate you to let go. When we let go of stuff we don't need anymore and items we rarely use we open our space for items we do need. It's also nice to have open spaces without anything on them. Cutter free shelves with just a few items are peaceful shelves.
Call us when you are ready to get rid of stuff...we can help. Adele Tusson-Gross 706-714-1314 Adele@simplesolutionorganizing.com Downsizing Client: Before photo has my Assistant Dorothy. The garage/storage room had shelving units in the center which made it very difficult to maneuver. After an open space with items stored on the perimeter. Her house is going on the market this week. She is very happy to have gone through all of her items BEFORE moving them to her new home. She donated a lot and Simple Solution Organizing is having a MaxSold online Auction to sell the rest. We make things happen. We say yes! It is possible to downsize from a 4 bedroom 2.5 bath to a 2 bedroom 1 bath. If that is your goal and your dream then Simple Solution Organizing LLC will help you get there.  I hope you and your family are safe. We are all living with the risk of potentially catching this horrific virus. This is a very sad reality for everyone living on our planet. Many people have lost their jobs and lost loved ones, due to the virus and some have committed suicide. Many young people are depressed because they have limited social interactions. No school, no work, no visiting with friends. I am glad my son’s job at Rush, a Trampoline Park, re-opened yesterday, May 28, 2020. I’m nervous about it but I think the risk of mental illness for many of our youth is worth re-opening with strict protections. It is a risk…everything is a risk!
My husband, Karl, is a Professional Golfer/Manager. Hard Labor Creek Golf Course did not close during the shut-down. Who would have guessed that a Golf Course would be considered a necessary business….not me. It did provide a welcome retreat for many people stuck at home. The Golf Course had record revenue. They closed the Golf Shop and people had to check-in through a window. Simple Solution Organizing is working with clients again. We were only working remotely in March and April. Our clients have the Downsizing bug; another side effect of quarantine. People want to live in spaces with less clutter…less meaningless stuff. We can live with less, we can thrive with less. This quarantine has taught many of us valuable lessons. My truth: I can get by with a pair of good tennis shoes, work-out clothing, sunblock, robust coffee, computer, internet, and take-out. I would love to hear your truth and how things have changed for you. What have you learned during this time? Please shoot me an email or comment on my Social Media post. Organizing Tip: I finished going through card memorabilia. I had 4 cute photo boxes of cards and letters that people sent me through my lifetime. I now have 3 cute photo boxes. I highly recommend going through old memorabilia. It was so much fun! I have not laughed that hard in a long time. I read some of the funnies letters and cards. The most hilarious cards were the ones that my sister had given me that my mom had saved that I sent her. My mom died when she was just 51 years old. I’m so glad I have these meaningful…priceless, memories of my past. This is why we keep them, to read them and enjoy them. This is why we should keep anything. Be Safe & Stay Well, Adele Gross Chief Executive Organizer Simple Solution Organizing LLC simplesolutionorganizing.com adele@simplesolutionorganizing.com 706-714-1314  RedFin.com recently asked Adele Tusson-Gross, Chief Executive Organizer at Simple Solution Organizing, to contribute to their article, Small House Space Saving Solutions.
The article included 22 best tips from recognized organizing professionals regarding how to make the most of living in small spaces by making it look and feel more spacious, The tips from these professionals emphasized maximizing space while making your home more conducive to your lifestyle. While most of us are homebound due to Covid-19 stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders, many are finding themselves up close and personal with the short-comings of their living space. Living with your family or roommates on a 24/7 basis for an extended time in shared space in these circumstances can reveal the desire and need to purge and organize your home, home office or study area for students to make it more comfortable, enjoyable and efficient now and in the future, Please see if any of the 22 tips in the article inspire you to make the most of your time at home right now to tackle these projects. Tip 23: If you need help or inspiration for making your space more functional and enjoyable, Adele is available for Virtual Office Organizing Sessions via Zoom, or FaceTime. Simple Solution Organizing https://www.simplesolutionorganizing.com Call 706-714-1314 or email.
This is a very troubling time. I personally am struggling with Anxiety about the Coronavirus. Thinking a lot about me or someone in my family contracting it. My husband is still working at his job at Hard Labor Creek Golf Course. It is a State run golf course. It’s a little shocking to consider golf as a necessary business. I’m also afraid that I could be asymptomatic with the virus and could give it to someone else. So many things to be worried about. All I can do is be very careful, hope, and pray for the best outcome. Here is my list of COVID-19 Necessities: Supplies: I was fortunate that I had a large supply of Toilet Paper, Hand Sanitizer and Paper Towels stocked up. I did not need to rush out and buy these items because I already had them. The photos in this post are my personal stash of supplies. I was not preparing for the worst, I was just being prepared for life in general. I keep hand sanitizer in my car, purse, work bag and extra supply at home to replenish. Masks and gloves: I had these items because I use them occasionally on Downsizing projects. Now, I use my gloves when getting gasoline. I’m using a mask and gloves at the Grocery Store (I look fabulous) and Post Office. I think you will agree…It’s surreal. Social distancing: is definitely a necessity and for a lot of people very hard to comply with. I recommend using Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, Houseparty and/or Google Hangouts to spend virtual time with friends and family. I have attended 2 Zoom and 1 FaceTime parties in the past couple of weeks. It’s an emotional life saver. Finding Purpose in the storm: People who are quarantined are diving into projects like never before. Projects provide a purpose and can distract us from the current events. We can get lost in a project, feel accomplished, and feel like we have some control over something. My projects are listening to NAPO, National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, conference videos on a variety of topics like Virtual Organizing and Technology. NAPO is offering some videos to their members free of charge in response to COVID-19. I’m also taking the online course The Science of Well Being offered by Yale through Coursera. I’m fortunate to have a few clients that I am working with during this time for Daily Money Management services. Bills still have to be paid, credit card, banking, insurance and investment statements still need to be reviewed. I am working remotely and keeping my distance. Be Safe & Stay Well, Adele Gross Chief Executive Organizer Simple Solution Organizing LLC |
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