Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Reducing closet clutter



The closet might just be the hardest place to reduce clutter in the home. So often, we find ourselves using closets as the one space in the home that we allow a little chaos. Whether we use it as the space to keep unfolded laundry or to tuck away things that we forgot to clean up before having guests over, closets don’t always get the de-cluttering treatment they deserve. Here are a few ways to reduce closet clutter and in turn, reduce the stress it might be causing.
GROUPING THINGS 
The easiest way to keep your closet organized is to have a grouping system. You may not be someone who color coordinates your closet, but you can group work shirts together, and casual pants, etc. in a way that will make it easier to find and easier to put away.
SHELVING THAT MAKES SENSE
Your current shelving set up might not be ideal for you. Take the time to group and sort your clothes an see what you may be missing. Maybe you need less shelving as a way to make space for more hanging clothes, or more shelving for folded pants.
ORGANIZATION BASED ON USE
If you have a walk in closet, you can make your life easier by storing what you use frequently closest to the entrance. If you don’t store seasonal clothing, this will help greatly in making sure the season in use is always the most accessible.
UNIFORMITY IS KEY
The satisfaction of an aesthetically pleasing closet can help you to keep things de-cluttered. Get matching hangers, and invest in matching organizing bins or shoe boxes if your closet needs those items.
Maria Zendejas & Team 805 443-7383

Benefits of having a home gym




Exercise is a key part of staying healthy. Every aspect of our lives are impacted by our health, so doing the little things to ensure you stay in shape aids in your overall health. While exercise is important, many of us lead busy lives. Having your own workout space in your home can help you stay active without sacrificing your time. Here are a few benefits to turning that extra room or extra space in the garage into a home gym: 
No Commute Necessary
If you work outside the home, the last thing you may want to do is add more time to your daily commute with a trip to the gym. Instead of spending 2 hours of your time to get an hour long workout, you can enjoy a quick outfit change at home and a 30-second walk to your home gym.
No Closed Signs
Maybe you work late some nights. Maybe you are a morning person and prefer to workout before the sun rises. With a home gym, you no longer have to worry about restrictive gym hours. This is also helpful in creating a routine that you are able to stick to!
No Lines, No Strangers
While many gyms do their best to keep their exercise equipment clean, others leave it up to their clients to wipe down machines after use. If you aren’t a big fan of using sweaty equipment that may or may not be cleaned regularly, a home gym might be just what you need. The best part is, you will never have to wait in line to use a sweaty squat rack again!
No Limits
Do you love cardio machines? Maybe you prefer to run outdoors but love lifting? If you prefer to be able to customize your gym, a home gym allows you that freedom. You won’t need to buy any more than you will use, which makes your home gym a great investment.

And if you're ready to move into a home that offers plenty of space for your very own gym, send us an email and we will start searching for the perfect home. We can be reached at lupezendejas@aol.com

Quarantine Spring Cleaning




There’s a good chance you’re spending more time at home than you are used to. Whether you had travel plans change, or you are now working remotely from home, or you are on a ‘shelter-in-place’ order from your local government, you probably have some extra time on your hands. Now is the best time to get ahead on spring cleaning so when things are looking up, you won’t have to worry about clutter or chaos at home! 
Take advantage of this extra time. While a large project can seem daunting, added stress is unnecessary. Taking on a project like spring cleaning step by step can help it feel doable. Make a list of what you want to take care of, section by section. For example:
-Backyard - sweep patio, clean furniture, update light fixtures
-Kitchen - deep clean floors, clean out fridge and pantry, organize freezer items
Once you’ve made a step by step list for each part of your home, you can create a to-do list for the members of your house and spread the items out over the next week or two. 
This is also a great time to get rid of clutter. If you are spending more time in your house than usual, it may become more obvious what is clutter and what is necessary. Take time on one of your first days home to deem items as “clutter” and store them away. If you didn’t miss them over that week, you know it is time to toss or donate them when you can leave your house again.
As you continue to clean, you may be concerned about a shortage of cleaning products. Even if the shelves are running low on Lysol, you can create your own DIY disinfectant. A popular combination includes rubbing alcohol, essential oils, and water. You can also use vinegar and dish soap to clean glass!
Lastly, make it fun. Open the windows if the sun is shining and play your favorite music. Being stuck inside doesn’t have to feel so terrible.

And remember if you've been Thinking of Selling, give us a call or send us an email to discuss today's marketing strategy and pricing. Maria Zendejas & Team 805-443-7383 and lupezendejas@aol.com

Creating A Productive Atmosphere While You #STAYHOME




In countless homes across the country and the world, there has been a major shift to working from home - even for students. If you are working from home and trying to manage your children being home and doing school work, you may be at a loss when it comes to ensuring productivity. With a television across the room and no boss or teacher hovering, distraction comes easily.  Here are some tips to create a space that enables productivity!
1. Light up your space!
Letting in as much natural light as possible to your at-home work space is the first step to making a better place to get things done. Your body works best with natural light because of circadian rhythms, which tell your brain to be awake and productive when natural light is around you. Natural light will help you feel alert and the vitamin D you will get from opening those windows will help boost your immune system.
2. Add minimalist decor!
You don’t want to crowd your work space, but it is important to decorate your space in a way that you will enjoy. Having a clean, organized space with a few quirks that will make you smile - like a favorite photo.  Make sure any items you will need, like pens and highlighters, are within reach, so you are more motivated to stay put!
3. Make your work space only a work space.
It is important to train your brain to differentiate when it is time to work and when it is not. When we drive to work or school, it is natural for us to switch into ‘working’ mode, but when we work from home, it is hard to get into that mode. By only sitting in your work space when it is time to get things done, you will train your brain to be more productive when you are in that space.
4. Manage your cell phone use.
While you may need your phone to make work calls or check in with your teacher, it is important to set boundaries and stick to them. If you find yourself constantly wanting to scroll through social media instead of getting work done, try download an app that will limit your social media access each hour. If you don’t need your phone for work or school, try keeping it in a box across the room.