Once you picked your first organizing project - you just need to break it down into smaller projects:
1. take out everything from that first drawer, shelf or box you are organizing
2. start grouping things:
- things you no longer need and can throw out right away
- things that should be stored somewhere else
- things that will be going back to the space that you are organizing
3. if needed, get space dividers like baskets or small boxes that may help you keep that space organized going forward
4. put back whatever you decided is staying
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
So you want to get organized - now what?
The clutter around you has taken its toll, but this year will be different. You will get organized! You will clear out that guest bedroom that turned into a place to dump all your extra stuff. Did you decide you will keep your files and receipts in order so you won’t have to worry about sorting through them when you need them?
We all get very brave and ambitious at the beginning of every year - it's almost like we were given a chance to start things over, start fresh. Things will be so much better this time around.
So why aren't all people organized? Because getting organized can indeed be a very daunting task. I find myself sometimes standing in front of my closet - which, mind you, is very neatly organized - but just seeing how much stuff is in it makes me sigh. For a moment I feel overwhelmed and distressed. Luckily, I naturally have no problem starting organizing projects. For most people however, organizing is anything but natural, and even just an idea of what needs to be done is just too much to handle.
So what is one to do? Organizing is all about breaking your task in small pieces. Be fair to yourself and set reasonable expectations. Organizing a closet, for example, will likely take at least two hours. Why don't you start by giving yourself just ten minutes a day to do it? Then these 2 hours won't seem so bad.
I believe that the hardest part of organizing is just getting started. Knowing and understanding that the job is big and overwhelming will keep you from starting. But knowing that you don't have to do it all at once, will help you realize that maybe it's not so bad.
So don't be afraid. Start small. Organize one drawer of your wardrobe today. Pick one day to simply look through your phone bills. Go through just that one box of photos today.
You didn't finish it all in one day? Don't despair. Continue tomorrow. After a few days, when you see the bottom of your desk for the first time in years you will be the one smiling and you will realize just how much work you have done!
I can help set you on the right track by giving you professional advice that will help you tackle small and big organizing projects.
We all get very brave and ambitious at the beginning of every year - it's almost like we were given a chance to start things over, start fresh. Things will be so much better this time around.
So why aren't all people organized? Because getting organized can indeed be a very daunting task. I find myself sometimes standing in front of my closet - which, mind you, is very neatly organized - but just seeing how much stuff is in it makes me sigh. For a moment I feel overwhelmed and distressed. Luckily, I naturally have no problem starting organizing projects. For most people however, organizing is anything but natural, and even just an idea of what needs to be done is just too much to handle.
So what is one to do? Organizing is all about breaking your task in small pieces. Be fair to yourself and set reasonable expectations. Organizing a closet, for example, will likely take at least two hours. Why don't you start by giving yourself just ten minutes a day to do it? Then these 2 hours won't seem so bad.
I believe that the hardest part of organizing is just getting started. Knowing and understanding that the job is big and overwhelming will keep you from starting. But knowing that you don't have to do it all at once, will help you realize that maybe it's not so bad.
So don't be afraid. Start small. Organize one drawer of your wardrobe today. Pick one day to simply look through your phone bills. Go through just that one box of photos today.
You didn't finish it all in one day? Don't despair. Continue tomorrow. After a few days, when you see the bottom of your desk for the first time in years you will be the one smiling and you will realize just how much work you have done!
I can help set you on the right track by giving you professional advice that will help you tackle small and big organizing projects.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Welcome and Happy New 2009!
I wanted to welcome you all to my blog and wish you a happy new year!
January being the month of new year's resolutions, it's also a perfect month to start many organizing projects to get your home and office in order. What are some of the things you could do in January? With a new year starting, get rid of many documents, files and receipts that you no longer need. For instance, you need to keep 7 years worth of tax related documents. Now that we are in 2009, and you will be filling your 2008 taxes, you no longer need to keep those tax documents for 2000 and below. Cable, phone, hydro bills? Keep account information, but not years worth of bill statements. Expired warranties, receipts for items you no longer own? These are all documents you no longer need to pile up all over your home. But be careful, in the world of identity theft, make sure you shred all documents that may contain any personal information.
Give yourself some time on a daily basis to go through different documents and receipts that you have been collecting over the years and start removing those you no longer need. To go a step further, start labeling and filing documents for the new year - preparing yourself for easier management of all your finances and daily tasks. This is something that a professional organizer can help you with. It would give you a great, clean and organized start to a new year!
January being the month of new year's resolutions, it's also a perfect month to start many organizing projects to get your home and office in order. What are some of the things you could do in January? With a new year starting, get rid of many documents, files and receipts that you no longer need. For instance, you need to keep 7 years worth of tax related documents. Now that we are in 2009, and you will be filling your 2008 taxes, you no longer need to keep those tax documents for 2000 and below. Cable, phone, hydro bills? Keep account information, but not years worth of bill statements. Expired warranties, receipts for items you no longer own? These are all documents you no longer need to pile up all over your home. But be careful, in the world of identity theft, make sure you shred all documents that may contain any personal information.
Give yourself some time on a daily basis to go through different documents and receipts that you have been collecting over the years and start removing those you no longer need. To go a step further, start labeling and filing documents for the new year - preparing yourself for easier management of all your finances and daily tasks. This is something that a professional organizer can help you with. It would give you a great, clean and organized start to a new year!
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