Use the two minute rule.
If you can do a task in two minutes or less, do it right then. Don’t put off little things until later. Hang up a jacket instead of draping it over a chair. Wash a glass and put it away or put it in the dishwasher instead of leaving it out. RSVP to an invitation. Make a hair appointment, and more.
Eighteen minute blocks of time.
It is unrealistic to think that you will have a huge block of time to organize something. Instead of quantity go for quality and break up a large task into small blocks of time. Dive into a closet even if you only have eighteen minutes. You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish – a top shelf, the first twenty hanging garments, half the shoes. Do this at least once a week because a short, dedicated, focused block of time is powerful.
Put items away ready to use.
If something needs repair or cleaning, do not put it away. If a shirt needs a button or a blanket needs cleaning, do t before you put it away. This way it will be ready to use when you need it.
Sort into piles.
When faced with a bunch of stuff to go through start by making piles of like items. Once you have like piles you can see how much of what you have. You can then sort each item into keep, toss, donate, pass along, and maybe piles.
The maybe pile.
These are the items you are not sure you want to part with. Toss them in a pile and revisit them later. Limit yourself to one laundry basket-sized container. When the container nears capacity, pull out some of the maybe items and make a decision about whatever you pull out.
If you are still undecided put the maybe items in a box. Tape the box shut, write the contents on the outside, and pick a date six to twelve months in the future. Write the date on that box and if by that time you have not had to go to the box to get something you can let the entire box go. To ensure that this tip works, do not open the box when this date rolls around. Just let it go.
More Organizing Tips
1. Accept the fact that things are out of place and cluttered.
Create
a plan to conquer the clutter for good. Spend your time and energy
doing something about it instead of being overwhelmed and not dong
anything.
2. Gather your tools to conquer the clutter.
Include
– a large tote bag, laundry baskets, small and large Ziploc bags, trash
bags, a tape measure, timer, label maker with extra labels, notebook,
pen, sticky notes, permanent marker, empty boxes, and a list of
charities or people to give to.
3. Take a house tour.
Have
a notebook and pen with you. Start at your front door. Jot down things
you would change or where you spot clutter, even in the closets. Some
of things you spot may not be changed immediately, but at least you are
aware of them and can make future plans for them.
4. Create a master plan.
Where
would you like to begin? Perhaps you will do one room or spot at a
time. Give yourself a timeframe. Be realistic even if it might take a
year.
5. Attack visible clutter first.
It will give you instant gratification.
6. Target the top three hot spots.
Which areas bug you the most? OR Where will you get some immediate gratification? OR Which spots cause some contention between you and those with whom you live?
7. Fast shopping!
Decide not to buy anything until you get organized. You certainly do not need more clutter.
8. Do not do marathon sessions.
Remember,
an elephant is eaten one bite at a time. Work in small blocks of time.
Then clear your head. Take a break and go back to it.
Overcoming Clutter
Look
over the list below and identify the three biggest reasons that you hang on
to clutter. Determine what steps you are going to take to overcome
clutter in your life.
The
true test of whether a space is organized or not is if it functions
when you need it.
If you cannot find something in a minute or less, the
space does not work.
Determine
what type of organizational style you have.
Do you leave things out so
you don’t forget about them? Do you contain things and leave them out?
Or do you shove things into a closet or cabinet? Make a choice to stop
doing what has not been working.
Identify what is important to you and what will give you easy access to it.
Keep things you use or love.
If you don’t need or use it, or it doesn’t bring you joy, get rid of it. It’s just clutter.
Any
item relating to an incomplete task is clutter.
For example, I took a
sewing class, but never finished the garment because of a sewing
mistake I made. I always intended to fix it or use the material for
something else. I never did, but it stayed with me for years.
Put like
items together.
When
things are all mixed up and not put together according to categories,
it becomes clutter, because it makes things hard to find. Tools go with tools, serving utensils with serving
utensils, cords with cords, etc….
Put things
away as soon as possible.
Often,
clutter is simply a postponed decision. I am guilty of this. Don’t put it off, or it will become clutter.
Give some things away.
When
you have too much of something and do not have any more space (can’t
shut a drawer or a closet), go through it and give some things away.
Someone else could use it.
Ask yourself, “Is it still good to
me?”
Something
may “still be good,” but you have to ask yourself, “Is it still good to
me?” It could be furniture, clothes, an egg container from your
refrigerator, or just about anything. If it’s not “good” or useful to
you, give it away or throw it away.
Think
before you buy.
Ask yourself, “Where will I put this? Will I use it
right away?” If you do not know the answer or if the answer is “No,” do
not buy it. You will just have to find a place to store it.
Don’t
buy things just because they are on sale.
A good deal is not a good
deal, if you have to find a place to store it and do not have the room.
Create a timeline.
f
you think you might need an item someday, put a time limit on how long
you will keep it. When you reach the deadline, give it away completely
or let someone borrow it until you need it back.
Give...Give...Give!
Sometimes,
when you clean out an area, you find something you “really love.”
However, if you “really loved” it, you would have been using it and
would not have forgotten about it. Give it away to someone who will
“really love” it, use it, and take care of it.
Immediately organize.
Don’t
allow yourself to “just put this over here, for now.” It will end up
staying there! Go through the pile immediately and decide what to do
with it, even if company is on the way.
Just
because it is “a collectible” doesn’t mean you should hold on to it.
I
used to have a collection of Precious Moments figurines. (I didn’t
purposely collect them – people gave them to me.) I kept them simply
because they were “collectibles,” and I stored them in a cabinet for
all to see. As a result, people thought I collected them, and I kept
receiving more! One day, I realized that someone else probably wanted
them more than I did – so I gave them away.
Concerning mementos:
Store them in something that will protect them – keep them in a safe place.
Items
in need of repair:
Make a rule that something should be repaired in a
decent amount of time. If it isn’t repaired by the deadline, throw it
away.
Holding on to items
for the future:
Perhaps you think you might have a garage sale. My
husband held on to old car magazines, because he wanted to show them to
our grandchildren someday. We had those few boxes of magazines for
years, while our son was growing up. Finally, I suggested to my husband
that he could show our grandchildren pictures of old cars online and
asked if I could throw away the boxes.
“It
was free.”
Free does not mean you will use it. Think about how many of
these “free” items you already have. Do you really need it?
“I
can’t get rid of it; I paid good money for it.”
No matter what you paid
for an item, if you don’t use it, it is a waste. Give it away. It
becomes a great seed to sow.
“Someday
it’ll be worth something.”
The value of an object is a perceived value.
To make any money, you will have to find someone who has the same
perception about the item as you do. Sell it online now or give it to
someone.
“It was a gift.”
If you do not like or will not use a gift that was given to you, pass
it along. God provides seed to the sower! You may be the conduit that
God can use to get it to someone who should have it.
Most
of the above suggestions were taken from 1000 Best, Quick, and Easy
Organizing Secrets. Written by Jamie Novak. Published by Source Books,
Inc.
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