Where to Start…Again?

A common question most people have about organizing is:

WHERE TO BEGIN?

I found myself asking that question numerous times a few years ago as we made the decision to get organized, declutter, and live with less. As I see a pile of papers accumulating on our kitchen counter, I again ask myself “where to begin.”

No matter what “level” you may be at when it comes to being organized, remember that really the only person is matters to is YOU (unless you are living with other family members who constantly harp on you about the disorganization). In most cases though, the disorganization will most bother you, more than anyone else. Why? Because you have started to ask the question “where to begin.”

6 Simple Steps on Where to Begin:
(start by taking one room at a time)

1. What IS working in this room? What do you appreciate about it?

• Why go into organizing with a negative perspective – start with a positive! Think about what IS good, working, and orderly about the space.

2. What do you NOT appreciate about the room?

• The reason you are choosing to organize is because you see there is disorganization – what about the room isn’t orderly, organized, or working for the space you have it in?

3. What is holding you back from organizing this room?

• This is a deeper question, but THINK about this question – why isn’t this room organized? What is keeping it from being organized?

4. What are the essentials?

• The fun part – starting to sort. Put aside all of the necessary items – the items you use on a regular basis. All of the other items go in a pile.

5. Purge, reduce, recycle all the items you have in the non-essentials pile.

6. Find a place for EVERYTHING else.

• This is an ESSENTIAL step in the organizing process. If something does not have a home, that is the beginning for more disorganization down the road. Find a “home” for everything and make sure it goes home when it is used!

Organizing begins with baby steps. Do not let an area overwhelm you (maybe it’s too late!) When you keep a positive perspective on what you are trying to do (create order in the chaos), it is much easier to accomplish a task!

Start taking those baby steps today!