There is something about the spring air that motivates even the worst procrastinators to dust off the cleaning supplies and begin organizing their home or office space. However, once the yearly ritual begins, many people can describe how they feel in one word, "Overwhelmed!"
That's because they think being "organized" means being rigid, sterile, or perfect. Not me. My style is more Rachael Ray than Martha Stewart. I define organized as being able to find what you need, when you need it.
It isn't rocket science. Organizing just means having a place for everything and making sure everything is in its place.
Clearing physical clutter clears the clutter in the mind. Spring is all about renewal, so there's no better time to reorganize your home and reinvigorate yourself. My new handbook, Clutter, Chaos & the Cure, offers a range of tipsfrom guidelines for knowing when to throw out important papers to maximizing kitchen space. Here are five tips for simplifying spring organizing:
1. Start with small tasks so you can indulge in the victory of completion. Most people feel defeated before they start, so this mindset is going to keep you motivated.
2. Give your things a home at the point of their use. Think about your toothbrush. You never misplace it because its home is where you use it. The same concept should be applied to just about everything else in your space.
3. Group "like" things together. It allows you to keep inventory of what you do have so you don't end up with 17 black turtlenecks or 67 AA batteries.
4. Don't put tall things in front of short things and don't put big things on top of little things. Most people are visual; if they don't see something, it doesn't exist.
5. Remember, organizing is an ongoing process. Once you've done the initial work of creating a place for everything, don't sabotage your progress by falling back into old habits. Try to return each item to its designated spot as soon as you can.
Before attempting to implement the tips, most clients of my business commonly present me with the same two roadblocks. The first is concern about the amount of time it will take to complete the organizing project. My answer is, "You think you don't have time to get organized, but you must get organized in order to have time."
The other hurdle involves mustering up the courage to say "goodbye" to things accumulated over a number of years. "I never saw a hearse pulling a U-Haul," I point out. Many people tend to think of organizing only in terms of physical spacelike closets, pantries, and papersbut it also has an emotional and mental side. These people don't own their stuff. Their stuff owns them. Bringing themselves to donate or discard an item of sentimental value takes a certain amount of self-reflection.
Once a person is armed with knowledge of how to organize, and begins the process, he or she should keep the system easy. This makes it more likely that he or she will incorporate organizing into his or her daily routine. And that is where the real payoff comes into play. Keep your life organized, and you'll find more energy and clarity in every day. More importantly, next year, you can spend your time enjoying all spring has to offer instead of cleaning!
Rosemary Chieppo of Born to Organize has written the book Clutter, Chaos & the Cure. To contact her, visit www.borntoorganize.com.Originally published April 01, 2008For more ideas, tips, and tools for better meetings and events,
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