At one time or another, everyone will organize something. In theory, it sounds like a pretty simple thing to do. But it’s actually not so easy, especially if your intentions are to restore order to a really disorganized space.
First, you must make the real distinction between merely “straightening up,” and the methodical process of emptying a space entirely. Huge difference. It’s far simpler a task to just skim the surface of a drawer or clear a section of the floor, than to thoroughly deconstruct a complete space and re-organize it. I’m talking about space-altering organization. Yep, that kind of organizing is another animal indeed.
If you’ve reached that point that you can no longer find anything in your cluttered spaces, it might be time to consider a space make-over. But before you toy with the idea of being more organized, you might first consider these ABC’s prior to undertaking any of the spaces in your home. This will help you put thought to action.
- “A”- Assess: Take a look around and see if you can identify the trouble spots. What is not working for you? Where does the bulk of your clutter seem to land? How long has it been like this? Has any specific life event contributed to this neglected mess?
- “B”- Be the Change: Consider your options. We can all agree that if you don’t change the way you think about things, then essential nothing will really ever change. Implementing new organization to your life could be a game changer. So ask yourself, are you ready to make significant changes in your life and what are the consequences of remaining disorganized?
- “C”- Commit: Once you’ve decide to change your old habits, you must committo the actual process. Junk in drawers, clothing piles in closets, paper towers on desktops, or cluttered counter tops are not going to miraculously vanish by themselves. You must do the work. In order to tackle the project, you must schedule it to happen. Think about how much time you will need to carve out of your day or weekend to begin the process. The challenge is, of course, to stay committed until the task is completed.
The next step is how to begin. Where do you start? What to keep or toss? When do you pause? No matter which room or small space you choose, (or whether it be things or paper), the basic principles of organizing are the same. They are easy to comprehend but are often difficult to execute by yourself. Here’s the simplified and very abridged version.
- Bundle “like” items with “like” items to evaluate the inventory. Eliminate overabundance.
- Sort items you want to keep into categories.
- Toss the broken or unusable into trash or recycle.
- Donate those items that no longer serve a purpose in your life.
- Then and only then, decide how you want to store and containerize your wanted items for easier retrieval.
If you become overwhelmed with this method and get stuck in the decision-making process, you will most likely lose the drive to continue. Very often, because it is so difficult to measure what is too much, or discern how much sentimental clutter to let go of, you don’t let any of it go.
Don’t feel the need to go it alone. Seek out a Professional Organizer who has the expertise to guide and provide you with the strategies to help complete the process. Trust in the organizing process because it works. But don’t underestimate it either, it can be daunting.
So before you begin, get your ABC’s in place, and perhaps a trained professional can coach you the rest of the way through. A simple solution for a not so simple task. If only it could be as easy as 1-2-3.
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