Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t know where to start? Frustrated with multiple spaces? Don’t have enough time? One of the most common things that new clients share with me is that they are overwhelmed and that they don’t have time. They don’t know where to start. So, I would like to share some organizing basics with all of you to help you get started and help you keep going.
#1. Start small. Why, you ask? Because you will have early success and will want to keep going. Start with a coat closet or an entry way or a desktop. Starting small keeps the task at hand manageable. Starting small helps take away the overwhelm. Starting small doesn’t take a long time.
#2. Set aside time that you’d like to accomplish your task. This requires you to make it a priority. Put it on your calendar like you would an appointment with your doctor. Make yourself a priority. Give yourself the opportunity to succeed. Making time for what you want to do and not just what you have to do.
#3. Stay on task, don’t allow distractions. Your email can wait. Keep your phone silent and only respond in the event of an emergency. This will help you manage your time better and stay focused so you can get more accomplished in less time.
#4. Letting go is a part of the process of organizing. If you aren’t ready to let it go then hold on to it, put a date on it. Put a reminder on your phone that in 6 months you’d like to revisit this item and see if you are ready then. If you aren’t ready to let it go because you don’t know where to take it, then search your area to find a great organization that needs your items, a women’s shelter, or a center that cares for families with children in the hospital. There are so many organizations doing great things in your local area. Take some time to research. Maybe you are ready to let it go but want to have a memory of it, take a photo of the item or moment or memory.
#5. Use items you already have, to help you bring order to your space. If you don’t have it, then buy it because you need it - once you have processed what you are keeping and letting go. Overbuying is something that can be easy to do. You get excited about organizing a space and you want to buy, buy, buy. Resist the urge to buy first.
#6. Keep it simple. Make manageable categories. This will help you make quicker decisions. When you have less categories to manage you can be more decisive. Typical categories include, Keep, Donate, Trash, Recycle. We sometimes get bogged down in the details, make it easier on yourself and you’ll have more success.
#7. Reach out for help if you need it. Whether it’s a friend, family member or professional, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Two brains on a project are better than one. Someone helping could give you a different perspective, additional ideas, or be an extra set of hands to execute your dream space.
Sometimes starting is the hardest part.
Sometimes staying with the project is the hardest part.
Sometimes finishing is the hardest part.
Whether you are dealing with starting, working through your projects, or finishing we want you to feel equipped to address it. Keep it small, make time and space, stay focused, let go, use what you have, keep it simple, ask for help when you need it. Be encouraged, you are not alone. You have got this and when you don’t, we have got you!