“Oh, I’ll need to make this one call.” or “Let me just wash the dishes and I’ll start.” These were some of my excuses when it came to writing this post. For some reason or another, I didn’t seem to find the right start and postponed and postponed and postponed writing.

For many of my clients, the thought of getting organised is overwhelming. How many times have I heard them say: “I just don’t know where to start.” Starting is actually easier than you think:

• Chose the most important room in your apartment or house or room which irritates you the most.
• What’s your vision? How do you want the room or area to look like afterwards? How do you want it to make you feel? Write down your goal, even if it’s on a post it note for now and put it in a place where you can see it. The bathroom mirror is a fabulous location. It’s private (you may not want your friends and family to see it) and yet visible for you.
• Break it down. Similar to acquiring a company or planning a wedding, you’d create smaller activities within the bigger project. If your goal is to organise your entire house, do one room at a time. In the living room, you can divide it further: Sort your DVD collection one time and the next time, you’ll review your books.
• Set realistic time frames. Your house hasn’t become cluttered in one day. What makes you think you need to get organised within a day? Now, how much time do you want to give yourself for the overall project? Some people set themselves challenges like organising their house within 52 weeks. Is this something for you?
• Once you know your overall time frame, set a timer for each activity. You can get easily distracted, reminiscing the good, old times when looking pictures you’ve just re-discovered. Use the timer as a tool to help you stay focused, regardless whether it’s for 15 or 60 minutes.
• Address visible areas first. Having pushed your excuses aside, being energised and feeling confident to tackle the clutter, focus on the areas where you can see the positive changes immediately. Have you thought of taking before and after pictures? They’re a great way to track and remind you of your progress.
• Make decisions when going through your stuff and categories your belongings:
  • Items I use and keep. These will need to be given a home and will be organised.
  • To be binned (e.g. broken, stained, torn items)
  • Donations or give aways
  • To be sold (e.g. online, in a second hand shop or at a flea market)
  • An indecisive container. These items will be reviewed after 3 or 6 months. If you haven’t used them by then, you won’t need them and they can be given away or sold.
• Label everything. Putting a label with the name on the outside of a folder or box helps you identify the contents so much quicker.  If you have a label maker, that’s great. You can also use notes attached with Scotch tape.
• Identify your system going forward. Don’t dwell on previous attempts and look forward into an organised future. Maintain your new system by taking a few minutes every day and put things back to their home.

Are you ready to start? Or prefer some help? A Professional Organiser like me will support you making your dreams become a reality. Wait are you waiting for?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Agni