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.