Getting organized is such a common goal, that it must be up there with ‘losing weight’ as one of the biggest New Year’s resolutions. So many people seem to lose the momentum and the will to keep working towards the goal of getting more organized. In reality, the hardest part of de-cluttering is getting started, which means making a plan and sticking to it. Too many people begin to haphazardly throw things away without ever making a dent in the big picture.
The best way to get started with organizing is to pick one small area to begin with. Get that one area thoroughly cleaned out and organized. This can be something as small as a certain kitchen junk drawer. After you have done that, moving on to a slightly larger project will be less daunting. You will feel much better once you see some progress being made. Another common mistake that people make when they are trying to de-clutter is that they buy a bunch of random organizational tools that don’t fit their needs or lifestyle. Before you go and purchase anything to organize things, you will need to know what you need, what you plan to store and possibly even some measurements for the area that the items will be stored. Once you have a plan you can get started with cleaning out the small area. Sort through everything, throwing away all items that are obviously trash and keeping those items that are frequently/regularly used and/or on display. You should also have a pile for things to sell or donate. These will be things that are still in good working order, but that you do not regularly use.
When you are sorting keep your goal in mind that your goal is to de-clutter, to get rid of things that are ‘weighing you down’. You can decide how to get rid of unwanted stuff, whether by selling it or donating to a charity. Either way, you will be allowing someone else to enjoy items that you don’t use anymore. Be honest in your assessment of whether or not you use an item. This can be difficult to do but, again, keep your eye on the goal. If you find that you are having trouble staying motivated, remember why you set out to get organized in the first place, and think about how good it will feel to be able to find things and to be more efficient. You do not have to set out to do a huge home organization overhaul. You are more likely to stick with it if you set aside small amounts of time regularly to work on getting organized.
See original: Help! I’m Buried in Stuff! How to Organize
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