Small Steps to Organizing Success
Take care of bite-size projects, and your home's big picture will be an organized dream before you know it
Beth Zeigler
May 16, 2012
Even though I'm not a teacher in the traditional sense, I love assigning clients homework — tasks I'm confident they can do without me present — during the organizing process. I do this for a few reasons, but my main objective is to process as many items as I can with clients during a session. Homework gives us a better chance of smooth sailing without distractions. Read on to see what items you might set aside as homework the next time you're organizing a room.
Rooms and Closets
Organizing an entire room or closet might take more time than you bargained for. To break the project up, set aside tasks that can be tackled while you're watching TV or listening to music.
Trying on clothes. It's tough to keep focus if you alternate between sorting piles by category and trying on clothes for size. Set aside clothing you need to try on and deal with it later, which could mean today or next week.
Untangling necklaces and bracelets. This is best done with a needle under good lighting.
Testing out batteries. Even though you may think it will only take a second, this activity is a minefield of unforeseen distractions. You'll probably need time to hunt down your rarely used battery charger to check levels.
Expert tip: Keep your to-do list close by so that you can jot down all the items that will need attention at a later time.
Organizing an entire room or closet might take more time than you bargained for. To break the project up, set aside tasks that can be tackled while you're watching TV or listening to music.
Trying on clothes. It's tough to keep focus if you alternate between sorting piles by category and trying on clothes for size. Set aside clothing you need to try on and deal with it later, which could mean today or next week.
Untangling necklaces and bracelets. This is best done with a needle under good lighting.
Testing out batteries. Even though you may think it will only take a second, this activity is a minefield of unforeseen distractions. You'll probably need time to hunt down your rarely used battery charger to check levels.
Expert tip: Keep your to-do list close by so that you can jot down all the items that will need attention at a later time.
Disks, Cables and Paperwork
Leave the following tasks for when you're in front of your computer: burning music CDs to iTunes and checking the content of unlabeled CDs. These are easy background tasks while you're surfing the Web.
Perform triage on cables and wires when you want to feel instant gratification. In my book there's nothing as satisfying as untangling a bag full of cords and figuring out which cord belongs to which piece of equipment.
Scanning photos and paperwork is a separate project for a later time. Include it on the to-do list and keep moving.
Expert tip: Hold off on shredding individual documents, as this chore goes best with prime-time TV.
Leave the following tasks for when you're in front of your computer: burning music CDs to iTunes and checking the content of unlabeled CDs. These are easy background tasks while you're surfing the Web.
Perform triage on cables and wires when you want to feel instant gratification. In my book there's nothing as satisfying as untangling a bag full of cords and figuring out which cord belongs to which piece of equipment.
Scanning photos and paperwork is a separate project for a later time. Include it on the to-do list and keep moving.
Expert tip: Hold off on shredding individual documents, as this chore goes best with prime-time TV.
Sorting Discards
Resist the temptation to post unwanted items on Craigslist and eBay as soon as you come across them. Once you're done organizing for the day, place them in a spot where they're out of the way and make a note to tackle this task later.
Expert tip: Wait to return items to their homes until after you're finished organizing. Returning individual items to various rooms can become a time-consuming distraction.
Resist the temptation to post unwanted items on Craigslist and eBay as soon as you come across them. Once you're done organizing for the day, place them in a spot where they're out of the way and make a note to tackle this task later.
Expert tip: Wait to return items to their homes until after you're finished organizing. Returning individual items to various rooms can become a time-consuming distraction.
Organizing Recipes
You've been collecting magazine tear sheets of recipes for years — the only problem is, they're strewn all over the house. As you organize, you're bound to uncover recipes and cooking magazines. Gather them as you go, but save organizing and filing them for a rainy day.
Expert tip: Use a binder and clear sheet protectors with tabs to keep your custom collection searchable.
You've been collecting magazine tear sheets of recipes for years — the only problem is, they're strewn all over the house. As you organize, you're bound to uncover recipes and cooking magazines. Gather them as you go, but save organizing and filing them for a rainy day.
Expert tip: Use a binder and clear sheet protectors with tabs to keep your custom collection searchable.
Sorting Through Old Journals and Photos
No matter how tempting it is to go down memory lane, set these aside and savor them slowly as reading material instead of devouring them as you find them.
Expert tip: Turn off the phone while you're organizing so you're not distracted by texts, email and calls.
No matter how tempting it is to go down memory lane, set these aside and savor them slowly as reading material instead of devouring them as you find them.
Expert tip: Turn off the phone while you're organizing so you're not distracted by texts, email and calls.
Bottom line: If the organizing process daunts you, try assigning yourself homework so that you are able to get more accomplished — which may just inspire you to finish.
Tell us: What's on your organizing homework list? Share below!
Tell us: What's on your organizing homework list? Share below!
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Forever on the web..... ? This thread pops up in my notifications from a "like" , and I read my comments , now six years old. Know what? Nothing has changed, and I'd not change a word I wrote .
The single biggest key to getting and staying organized, is a REDUCTION in the amount of crap to be organized , and the simplest possible method employed in "organizing" said crap!. This applies to every category of goods you own, from undies to paper to spices, to who knows what else. .
Example? In this business, there is a phenomenal amount of sampling . A single multi room project , one house, can generate enough clutter to drive one mad. Fabric, wood stain samples, a bit of tile, fabric memo's , notes, floor plans, and the list goes on. My answer is not glamorous, or cute. One large canvas tote for that home, and two gallon zip lock bags. Master bedroom? Inside that tote is a zip lock and all for that room is in that baggie. Easy to find, I can see through the bag, it needs not even a label. The tote is portable, can go to the site, get tossed in the car, and is esy to tote back into the office. In a hurry? Toss it in, and it's easy to re sort later in the day. I'm a neat freak, but I also know my limits.
After just finishing a huge reno for a client addicted to every method on earth for getting her life in some order? I remain astounded at the way the methods dissolve to BECOME the clutter. Do not fall into the trap. That trap is buying your way to a method that becomes more clutter. Bins, baskets, folders, tiny bulletin boards, more baskets, colorful stickers, matching notebooks , doo dads, pencil cups, pads, clipboards, more bins and baskets.
I say this as the back to school aisles are yet again loaded with this junk. .................the office supply, the grocery, the discount stores , the big box. Take a pass. Just take a pass. It's a death trap. Get back in the car, go home, and find stuff to be RID of. Forever. My bet is you find all the bins and whatever's you will EVER need.
Lordy Lordy. Lordy.......................almost a year later and I stand by every word. Again! The more things change, the more they remain same. Go home. Get OUT of the store. Throw it out .Donate . Don't BUY. You're at the check out reading this?? Put it back and go the heck home. I'm sure you have a trash can..............: )
AND
It has a "place" PUT it there
"Now" is a good word.
"Later" is not a good word
"Later" means clutter multiplied by the amount of time in the delay between now and later.
I just solved a complex problem with four key words. You only need three of the words : ) Put..., place, and now. Need one more? P.U.R.G.E LOL