Five tips from a professional organiser for the mid-term
The first time I heard the word "interregnum", I laughed a little. Now, having changed 17 times, I'm not laughing anymore, but I'm not horrified either. I think this is a pretty good thing. How did it come to this? Is it possible to do a seasonal change in one go and painlessly?! I think you can, but it requires planning, discipline and repetition. Here are five tips from a professional organiser for the interim period:
1. Book a seasonal change and seasonal laundry into your calendar
The first tip is to identify the workload honestly. Much of a primary parent's time is spent on vague meta-work that is simply not recognised by the parent themselves, let alone by others involved.
The implementation of the seasonal change is such an invisible meta work of the worst kind. If your home is in a state of flux anyway, with things moving around and levels filling up, digging out the interim storage for an inventory doesn't help matters at all. On the contrary.
For comfort and balance, you can mark this real, even hour- and day-long, chore on your calendar. If you have several children, a busy schedule or a home in transition - book a whole weekend, even two. In this case, you won't be responsible for the grocery shopping or transport to and from activities - someone else will have to take care of the rest of the running costs.
Please also allow time for washing and drying the previous season's rigs and for storing them. In general, it is not unusual to spend 3-4 hours of uninterrupted working time on last season's clothes and shoes, even over several days.
Finland has four seasons, which in a family with children means at best three different sets of outdoor clothing and shoes, which rarely survive from one season to the next due to the growth of the same user. So siblings can save some pretty pristine clothing for each other, but there is no guarantee that the sizes will match when the season comes around.
The second tip is actually a classic one from the Finnish trade union organisers' trainer. Anne te Velde-Luoman from Tamer of chaos (2010):
2. Take stock of your rig, i.e. make an inventory
Knowing your assets is the basis of asset management. Schedule an inventory time for yourself: do you need an hour or 15 minutes to find out what sizes of seasonal clothes you already own? Inventory accessories and shoes at the same time, OR if the task feels hopelessly overwhelming, inventory one wearer's outfit or one category at a time.
Set a timer, even for just 15 minutes, and concentrate. Try writing down what you need to buy and what you have, so that you have the right information to hand if you need to go shopping.
Who writes here?
The blog is written by a marketing pro-turned-professional-organiser, a mother of three, Henna Paakinaho from Pirkanmaa, Finland. I have strong track record managing both home and demanding career in busy years. Through Ruuhkaton I help my clients to focus on their everyday life instead of unnecessary stuff. Nice to have you here!
Personally, I still find this tip difficult, even though we already have our stuff sorted and organised, and I know where everything is. It's just hard to implement in all the rush and I find that I don't like doing this.
However, like Anne, I urge you to start here instead of going shopping, as double and unnecessary shopping is one of the biggest causes of congestion.
The third tip concerns one of my favourite themes. Especially now, with inflation and the general economic malaise, one of the best family wellness activities is planning your finances.
For relatively large purchases in relation to a normal monthly budget: plan your shopping list and budget and stick to them!
3. Make a shopping list and stick to it
Once you have completed the inventory, make a purchase list. Now you know what you're missing: ask friends, go straight to the flea market, check Vinted, Tori and Emmy's, or go shopping to pick up what you're missing.
Usually there is also something "other nice", but I challenge you now: don't buy it!
Put that other nice one on your wish list instead, and if your budget allows and your mind still wants it 30 days from now, you can buy it. Then it's more likely to come in handy.
This is a good starting point for the fourth tip: When your mind wants to, fuck it!
4. Wait for when you feel like getting an advance or doubles
Don't buy in advance. I know this is a double-edged sword, but I'm still leaning more towards procrastination than perseverance.
Children grow up unpredictably and their tastes change according to fashion, no matter how much of a classic dresser they are. In addition, the small storage space can be quickly overwhelmed if you buy in advance or buy the same things. This also quickly hits the wallet, even if the original intention was to save by anticipating.
If you're absolutely sure about the size of your tops for the coming winter in the June sales, then by all means buy. Especially if you have the space. However, my own experience is that even a procrastinator can find what they're looking for at the same price.
I admit that you may have to put in more time at times, although you do spend time in the summer even when you're hanging out with your topcoats. Plus, time and effort goes back into rolling clothes around at home, as they always take up a lot of our time just being in the closet. You can read about the quiet to-do list in Ruuhkattoman's previous article.
Many needs disappear when you wait a while. The mind plays tricks, especially when everything is marketed to us, every second.
So let's delay buying things that are not necessary right now. You'll thank yourself when the rush is over.
5. Immediately list the unnecessary items for sale or recycling
One of the biggest challenges is getting the items to be removed out the door. Make sure you have the mental capacity and time to do this. Tap the items that cross the threshold immediately on the virtual marketplace for sale. Pack up and take the items for recycling to your car or transport them to their destination immediately.
This is worth taking the time and attention to do. The satisfaction of the arrangement comes only when you get the goods on their way. If left unattended, they can also block the hallway, for example. You don't really need that in the meantime.
This is one of the most difficult steps, but very necessary both to calendar and to implement.
Bonus: Get a trade union organiser to help you change seasons
There are several hundred trade union organisers working in Finland who have the tricks and tools to make the changeover go smoothly, so bonus advice: get a trade union organiser to help you!
If you need tailored organisational help in Pirkanmaa for your home, I'm happy to help. I am a trained professional organiser Henna Paakinaho and organise homes via my company Ruuhkaton arki .
I offer free consultation and a satisfaction guarantee for my work. Call 044 324 9483 or send me a message henna@ruuhkaton.fi
Find organisers in your area From the Finnish Trade Union Organisers' website.
The work of a professional organiser is deductible, so if you feel that your own lane is not enough, there is help available! You can get a household allowance for your work as a professional organiser (find out more). tax authorities website).
What thoughts does the interim period evoke in you? If you found these tips helpful, be sure to share the article and subscribe to the newsletter, and you will hear about updates to the blog, among other things.
