Kristen Ziegler, Owner of Minima.
In today’s consumer-driven world, many of us seem to be acquiring more and more stuff constantly. From Amazon deliveries to local shopping trips, we often seem to accumulate items at a much faster pace than we are getting rid of them but a local Richmond business is here to help.
Founded in 2010 by Kristen Ziegler, Minima offers organizing and redesign services for the home, workspace, move, or renovation. Ziegler draws on her background as an architect to create spaces that are both beautiful and functional, and while she herself is a minimalist, she does not expect her clients to be.
“The word minima is a calculus term that references the smallest value on a function curve. In organizing, we see minima as each client’s desired point on the organization curve. It’s a different place for everyone,” said Ziegler.
Minima, voted Best Organizer by Richmond Home Magazine for eight years, offers hands-on or virtual services and is perfect for busy moms, empty nesters who need extra hands, those with ADHD, busy professionals – or simply those who are just overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Projects can include anything from unpacking after a move, to organizing the kitchen pantry, or even developing a plan to make sense of photos and papers.
Kristen and her team offer commercial and residential services and offer three tips below for getting your space, whether home or at work, in tip-top shape:
1. Establish your vision; the “why” for getting organized. This could be to improve your work/life balance, to be a better boss, to meet your deadlines. Understanding your why will help you stay motivated to get and keep things organized.
2. Assess your time management. Organizing your time is just as important as organizing your space. Keep your to-dos and scheduled events in one location (Kristen recommends Google Calendar). Put time estimates next to each task so they become objective versus emotional. Block out one to two of your peak focus hours each day for deep work so your time doesn’t get eaten up by quick or emergent tasks.
3. Declutter before you organize. Gather like items together one group at a time; office supplies, electronics, paperwork, etc. Identify which items to keep or give away based on your needs. Organizing is much simpler when there’s no excess, and it’s easier to maintain. In a crunch for time? Delegate this task if your time is limited. You can also hire a professional organizer to help, and it’s a business expense!
