Getting Organized

Start the New Year with a clean slate- this is the start of a series of articles that will help you to organize your time, your emotions and your things so that you can start this year off on the right foot. No one wants to feel bogged down with clutter or overwhelmed with choices. However many of us end up in a daze when we try to tackle organization on our own. Little known fact: Life Coaches are great organizers! (Its a skill like any other that can be learned and built up over time, but Life Coaches make it their business to know!) So here are a few strategies to have you feeling like an organizing guru in no time:

1. Start small. Don’t try to tackle all of the areas in your life at once. Decide which area needs the most focus. Is it your physical space? Your emotional baggage? Your time management? You may find that once you tackle the most pressing issue the other ones follow suit. For example if you are feeling happy and well emotionally chances are you won’t have such heavy attachment to things and if your space is clean and tidy you are more likely to reach for that calendar and organize your time. Whatever feels most urgent is going to give you the greatest sense of control once achieved, so take a moment and really imagine life with less clutter/ more time/ mental clarity and then decide which direction to take steps in to feel more organized. For the purposes of this article we are going to start with physical clutter/organization. You can read on or wait for the later articles and start there.
2. If you’ve decided your physical space is the thing most needing your organizational attention you probably have a few problem areas in mind, whether its your kitchen counters or your closet we all have that one (or two) areas in our home that tend to collect clutter. For me its my kitchen table, its right by the door so often ends up with coats, bags, whatever we need for tomorrow etc. (Definitely not anything that belongs on a kitchen table) For this type of clutter the best offense is a good defense. Designate hangers for coats and bags, a basket for tomorrow’s essentials and practice, practice, practice, until you develop a new habit of (gasp!) hanging up your coat in the closet.
3. If your clutter is of the more permanent type (see my closet) then it is going to be a bit of a bigger task because first you are going to have to go through all of the items and get rid of some. This can be a difficult task for many, especially when the items hold sentimental value or are things you ‘might use’. In this type of situation it can be helpful to build an image of what your closet or cluttered space might look and feel like if it was clean and organized. You can even look up some inspiration online. Imagine the space, imagine finding everything easily and not having to dig through tons of stuff to find that other shoe. Imagine the pretty rows of neatly organized clothing and objects. Feel the deeply satisfying, calm feeling you would get having this area well-organized. Picture entertaining without a second thought. (Not that the house needs to be spotless to have friends over, but you may be more eager to invite them if you know your cabinets aren’t spilling out onto the floor) You may even surprise yourself with some of the things that are easy to part with when faced with the choice between more space and more stuff.
4. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day and your home won’t be organized in a day either. Its best to block off some time, in the morning if possible (when you haven’t come down with decision fatigue)to sort through everything and decide what stays. What stays should be able to easily fit within the area you are de-cluttering. You may move some things to other parts of the house if that is appropriate (maybe you found sporting goods in your closet that really belong in the garage), but be careful not to just move the clutter around and really find a place for every item. Items with a home are more likely to get put away after use.
5. If you find yourself running out of places to put things it may be time to take a more critical look at the things you are saving, or even things that are taking up space in other places. Sometimes you think you’re just clearing off the coffee table until you realize you need to go through and recycle/shred old papers, and then get a new folder, and then give those old audio-books on the shelf to Good Will (who has a CD player anymore?) I guess what I’m saying is that organizing is a process and its okay if its not done in one straight shot. Taking the long route will oftentimes end up in a more balanced place.
6. Don’t be afraid to let go of things. I don’t think anyone has ever said on their deathbed ‘gee I wish I had more things’, but they may have wished they’d enjoyed their time more and sometimes having a peaceful home is part of that. Stuff can equal stress. (Getting dressed in the morning, finding things, cleaning up) Less stuff equals less stress. No more running late because your car keys are at the bottom of a never-ending pile of junk. No more searching for that hat or scarf in the giant bin of them. Save only your favorite things, things that you use often and that are made well. Also keep a critical eye when buying new things. Ask yourself if you will really use the item and if it will survive wear and tear. Thinking this way will also make your home more environmentally friendly. (See my wonderful friend Jen’s blog on our disposable culture http://www.jenfedrizzi.com/blog-1/ if you need inspiration!)

Remember that it may not be easy to get organized but the result will be a more satisfying and less-stressful way of life. If you’re having trouble getting started or staying motivated, think of hiring a professional organizer or a coach to help you through the process. Sometimes a little support, accountability and strategy are what you need to organize your dream living space.

Best wishes!

Laura

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