If you are making big changes in your life, it usually requires a fair bit of discipline and motivation to keep going - whether you’re training for a marathon, quitting smoking, or getting organized. If you are looking to get organized, you will need strong motivation, a willingness to change, and empathy and understanding for yourself.
Organization is a journey, not a destination. You will never be “finished”.
What I mean by this is that you are constantly going to be acquiring items in your life, whether through gifts, weekly shopping, family heirlooms, and memorabilia. It’s just the way life is - it would be impossible in our consumerist society to not acquire physical possessions.
So, with that in mind, know that it is a journey, and that it will not be perfect! Be kind to yourself.
The right motivation.
It’s important to know why you are doing something before you begin. Maybe you are decluttering and getting organized to move to a smaller space. Maybe you are clearing out your basement because you want to renovate and rent it out. Maybe you are clearing out a room that’s currently storage, but that you want to make into your crafting space. Maybe you are just so overwhelmed by the clutter in your space and you just want to make it easier to deal with and feel less stressed out.
Whatever the reason, it is important to keep it top of mind. When you are in the throes of chaos, as you start pulling everything out to declutter, you will need a strong mantra to keep going. It’s easier to get a dumpster and throw everything in it, but it’s better to do it more intentionally so things don’t revert back to how they were.
Scheduling in time to do it.
How does one find the time to get organized? It seems like such an insurmountable task - where do you start?
Start small. Start easy.
Kitchens, for instance, can be an easy place to start because it’s a room you use every day, and there are a lot of items that you use consistently, but also a lot that are passed over every day. In a kitchen you will find food past its best before date, abandoned cooking utensils and appliances, and the “nice” dishes that you never actually pull out.
Whatever area you choose to do, make sure that when you come across something that is going to require more brain power (paperwork or sentimental items), put them aside for later.
If you are having a hard time scheduling time to declutter, start with just 15 mins at a time. You can usually go through one small cupboard in 15 mins, or a couple shelves of a larger cupboard.
Tackle one basket, shelf or box at a time, and set a timer if you want! Pull everything out, sort and declutter as needed. If things need to be relocated, do that when you are finished going through everything. Only keep items that you love, use, and have space to store.
Make it part of your weekly schedule - maybe do 1 small area every day, or 1 room every week for a longer amount of time. Whatever works for you!
Daily habits.
During your decluttering process, and long afterwards, you will need to be disciplined in your daily habits. When you are finished using something, put it back where you found it. If you have time, take a look through a drawer to see if there’s anything that can be decluttered. Make sure that everyone in your household is on board for these changes, and are also motivated to keep things tidy.
You will also need discipline while shopping, as this is the easiest way to start acquiring new stuff.
Remove your auto-filled credit card information on sites where you shop frequently - this extra step of adding your info can act as a deterrent and at least give you pause.
When you pick up anything in the store, really think about it - Do you need this? Will you use it regularly? Do you have room to store it right now?
Challenge yourself to not purchase anything new for 30 days, just to practice saying “no” to yourself. Or if you’re looking at something in a store and want to buy it, take a photo of it and wait 30 days to purchase it. If you are still thinking about that item after 30 days, then buy it! But otherwise, it is likely just an impulse purchase and you don’t need it.
These habits are really hard to break, because they are so ingrained into our daily lives. We see ads everywhere we look, we are constantly told that we need to buy things to improve our lives, and our friends/family talk about items they just purchased. Know that you already have plenty of things already, and buying more stuff won’t solve any problem you have.
But also, be kind to yourself if you mess up - we all make mistakes, and it’s important to acknowledge it and move forward. And return the items if possible!
Recruit help if needed!
And of course, if you need help with any of these steps, you can hire a professional! Professional Organizers are a fabulous resource to keep up the motivation, give you tips and an outside perspective, and be empathetic to your needs.
Get in touch today if you are looking to declutter and get organized!
