Guidelines to Help You Organize
Reasons to make the Change:
- To find things when I need them {quickly}.
- To feel as though I’m being a good steward of my time.
- To have a general sense of peace and calm.
- To view my home as a haven of rest that I enjoy living in and opening up to others.
Write Everything Down:
Don’t try to rely on your memory to recall when that appointment is. Always write down what you want to remember. I carry a small notebook with me throughout the day and record appointments, and any information pertinent to my success. I try to record even random thoughts and bits of information that I know would be helpful to recall later. Sometimes what I record is just an idea but many turn out to be valuable. I try to revisit all my entries on a daily basis and record in my calendar or use elsewhere.
2. Keep Flat Surfaces Clear:
Flat surfaces can be a magnet It is amazing how one item on a surface like a counter-top, dining table, or workspace, will only attract more. Designate those areas as ‘no dumping’ zones”, unless there is a valid use for that item on a regular basis. Try regularly to bring your family on board with this idea. It will make everyone happier.
3. Find ‘A Place for Everything’
It is possible to have a junk drawer that is organized too. In fact, it is imperative to have an orderly junk drawer for finding oddball items that are useful. Instead, create a defined space (with small containers or dividers) for everything. Having a “home” for all items in your home eliminates the struggle with clutter build-up. This is simply because there is not a clear designated place where things belong. Assign a home for every single item. You will benefit by being able to find items quickly and more than this, you won’t spend your money buying duplicates.
4. Never Leave a Room Empty Handed
When leaving or walking through a room pick up as you go, centralize and then move the item to its home when next heading that way. Easy enough to do. Just stay aware of what you see and promise yourself to follow-through with relocating the out of place items to their home.
5. File, Don’t Pile
Set up a mail sorting system somewhere in your home or office. This space will serve to hold all the bills, mail, and other paper related information that come in daily. Set aside a specific time each day to file documents in your take action space, file cabinet, shred or throw away. If you do this you will only need to file monthly.
6. Purge & Declutter Often
Keep only what is beautiful and/or useful in your home. When you are limited in storage space there is no need to accumulate more without letting go of some items. A good rule to live by is “One In, One Out”. Especially take a hard look at items that are duplicates, broken and have become obsolete.
7. Make a Plan
Make a plan or old habits will sneak back into your routines Systems and routines save time and anxiety in your life. Lists help to keep you on track and are the external reminder of what needs to get done. There is peace of mind when clutter is gone and life seems not quite a heavy and difficult.