Look around. Are there still remnants of your holidays cluttering areas of your home or office?
Some of the clutter may be pleasant reminders of good times you had. Some of it is just annoying stuff that is now blocking your progress.
Regardless of why the clutter is there and what it represents, the new year is a perfect time for starting fresh. Here’s how to move forward:
- Decide you are ready for a fresh start with a vision in mind of what “fresh” looks and feels like.
- Schedule an appropriate amount of time to declutter (Be realistic. Most people underestimate how much time is needed to declutter and organize a space. Give it your best guess and then DOUBLE that estimate, to account for interruptions and setbacks)
- Get firm commitments from everyone who is going to help you and block out that time on your calendars.
- Prepare your tools before getting started (.e.g, boxes, bags, bins).
Now, most of you who have worked with me already know about the SPACE formula. This formula will help you cut through the clutter quickly if you stay focused on this method.
- SORT out all of the stuff in a methodical manner by placing like-items into the boxes and bins.
- Once like-items have been sorted into the various boxes and bins — decide what can go away and PURGE. Donate, re-gift, recycle or trash–just get the old stuff out of there, quickly.
- ASSIGN homes for all the items you have decided to keep and deliver these items from the boxes and bins to each individual home. Note: If you have run out of space because you’ve got more items than can fit in their assigned homes then its time to do more purging. Or… find another home for those sets of items.
- Use CONTAINERS that fit the size and weight of the items going into them. The containers must also fit into the shelf or drawer or other space you have chosen for it.
- EQUALIZE your newly organized system by continually Sorting, Purging, Assigning new homes and Containerizing items as your life evolves and transitions.
Remember: Organizing is not a one-time event — It is a process. Like bathing or brushing your teeth, it must be done over and over. The old must go to make room for the fresh and new. Otherwise… we WILL have clutter. It really is that simple.
Jana Hartwell, CPO