Index
Organizing Links
Practical Organizing Tips |
Organizing Links
Organizing Tips from the
National Association of Professional
Organizers (NAPO)
National Study Group on Chronic
Disorganization (NSGCD)
NSGCD Clutter Hoarding Scale (this
is a PDF file which you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view.
If you don't have this program, download it for free
here)
Quick Organizing Tips, and other organizing articles at Suite101
"Getting Organized? It's Your Choice", by Judy Brown |
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Practical Organizing Tips and Ideas
Identify your excuses
Here
are some common reasons people have difficulty getting organized.
Which of these statements do you identify with?
*I don’t want to start a project if I can’t finish it.
*The kids/husband will just mess it up as soon as I get it clean.
*All my projects are intertwined, and I don’t know where to start.
*I’m
comfortable – at least I know where everything is, even if no one else
does.
*I’m just not an organized person.
*I’ve tried organizing before and it didn’t work/I couldn’t maintain
it.
*Organizing systems and tools are too expensive.
*I used to be organized, but I just don’t have time anymore (kids,
job, etc.).
*I love all my things and I don’t want to get rid of anything.
*I could put everything in its place, but I just don’t have enough
room to have places for everything.
Commit to making a change
and decide to start now
Whatever your reasons have been for not getting organized or staying
organized in the past, you can make a change, even if you only have 5
minutes a day. Stop telling yourself you’ll get organized when you
have more time, more money, or more motivation. Start now!
Don’t buy anything yet
Don’t
buy any storage containers, shelves, drawer organizers, etc., until
you’ve already done some sorting and know how much storage space you
actually need (if any) for the items you’re going to keep. You’ll
probably be able to use storage bins or shelves that you already
have. If you do need to buy new storage, you’ll know exactly what you
need.
DO buy some large trash bags, if you don’t have some already. You’ll
use these for collecting trash (of course) and items to donate.
But before you roll up your sleeves and start sorting, do some
brainstorming.
Define your vision for
the space
Think
of three words that describe how you want your space to look
and feel. You can write these words on a large poster board
and put them up in the room, or create you can even create a “vision
board” with inspirational pictures and words. Your vision will be
your reference point to keep you on track as you work on getting
organized.
Set limits and boundaries
This
is the key to organization. We’re all limited by time, space, money,
or ability. Sometimes limits are frustrating, but they can also be
empowering if you make them work for you. Your house is a finite
space - it’s only as big as it is. Maybe remodeling or adding space
is within your budget. If so, that’s great! But adding more space
won’t magically make you organized.
To get organized, you have to change your habits. You have to set
limits for yourself, and then respect those limits by changing your
behavior.
What does that mean? Here’s an example. Perhaps your vision for your
kitchen is that it be a place to prepare and enjoy food and to spend
time together as a family, but instead your kitchen counters are
overflowing with paperwork. This means you’re not respecting your
vision for the space, or the limitations of the space.
Set a boundary by designating an inbox or basket for incoming paper.
Then, respect that limit by dealing with the paperwork as soon as (or
before!) the inbox overflows. In the past, you might have blown right
past the limit and let the paperwork overflow and take over the
kitchen. Now, you’re going to start a new habit. The limit (the
borders of the inbox) is your reminder to do something different
(sort, purge, file).
You can apply this principle to much more than paperwork. It does get
tricky when you start sorting sentimental items and it's not as easy
to make decisions. We all have emotional attachments to our stuff, so
we tell ourselves that we can fit more into a space than it will
realistically hold. Clutter results.
However, as organizers, we won't just come in and make you throw
things away. What we will do is challenge you to stick to your
own vision about what you want from your home and your life.
Letting go of things that don’t contribute to your ideal life is an
important part of getting organized, but it’s also ok to keep things
that have meaning to you, even if you don’t use them every day. We'll
help you define what you really want from your everyday living spaces,
and then we'll help you make that a reality.
Ask yourself if each item
contributes toward your vision for your space
Your
vision words are your guideline. If you want to use your living room
for family relaxation and watching TV, then it’s probably not the
right place for your sewing machine.
On a smaller scale, ask yourself if items you’re hanging onto are
making your life easier, or harder? Are all those magazines you’re
saving to read “someday” really bringing you any joy or satisfaction?
Or are they just getting in your way and making you feel guilty?
Decide what you want from the stuff you’re keeping (enjoyment,
information, comfort), and if you’re not getting whatever it is that
you want, consider letting the item go.
You CAN make a difference
in a few minutes a day
If you
don’t have a large chunk of time to set aside for an organizing
marathon, that’s ok. You can still tackle clutter. It will take a
while though, so you have to keep up your motivation. Tackle small,
unemotional projects first to create energy. Start with an area that
you will really notice a difference in, like the kitchen or family
room, rather than the attic. That way you’ll be able to enjoy the
results of your hard work and you’ll have more motivation and energy
for the less visible projects. Starting with an area you
don't have an emotional attachment to, like the pantry, is also a good
idea. Save the hard stuff, like children's artwork or childhood
keepsakes, for later when you've built up your organizing muscles.
Use a timer
Take the time you have to work on decluttering – even if it’s only 15
minutes – and set a timer for HALF the time. Sort until the timer
goes off. Then set the timer again for the second half. Now put away
everything that you sorted. This way, you’ll avoid leaving piles of
sorted papers or objects that ultimately get swept back into the big
pile, undoing all your hard work. If the things you’re sorting don’t
have a home yet, take them to the room where they will ultimately
live.
(This method often works better for stuff than for paper, although it
can work well for large categories of paper things – for example,
sorting into categories of magazines, bills to pay, school papers,
receipts, etc.)
You may have heard the “only handle it once” rule. This is a great
idea, but not always practical. Don’t let it be an excuse that keeps
you from action. Sometimes you may have to handle something twice or
three times (or more!) in the process of getting organized. This is
much better than never handling it at all and having it sit in the
same spot for years.
Involve the whole family
If
you share your space with others, get their input. What is their
vision for the space? It’s important that everyone be on the same
page, or you’ll have a hard time maintaining it. And, recruit their
help in getting organized. Everyone who uses the space bears some
responsibility for getting it neat and keeping it that way. Even
small children can start to learn good organizing habits. And yes,
even messy teens and husbands can be reformed. Of course, this is
easier said than done! The key is having shared goals, understanding
of basic organizing principles, and a commitment to change habits, one
little bit at a time.
If your family really doesn’t want to get on board, don’t force the
issue – there's no point in expending your valuable energy trying to
make others make a change they’re not ready for. Focus on the areas
you can control. As your family members see the changes you make,
they may warm up to the idea of decluttering their own spaces and
shared spaces. |
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Organization is
simple, but not easy.
Our job is to encourage and support you.
If you'd like some help implementing
these ideas, contact us today! |
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