A place for everything......and everything in it's place! We've all heard this phrase, but have you really thought about it? It's the secret to organizing EVERY facet of your life! Today we will talk about deciding which things you want or need to keep, before deciding how to organize them. Of course, you can organize first, and then purge, but that is an incredible waste of time, energy and money.
Years ago I took a time management class and the "take-away" was this: When the space around you is organized, taking control of your time is much easier. Your life becomes calmer, your mind clearer and suddenly you find time to do the things you want to do (we'll talk about the difference between "find" time and "make" time later!)
Time wasters include:
Looking for "lost" keys, phones, items of clothing, important papers and files, telephone numbers, etc.
Moving things from one place to another, instead of putting them away.
Not putting the right things in "temporary storage" (i.e. closets, kitchen cabinets, dresser drawers, etc.) vs. "long-term storage" (i.e. attics, basements, garages, off-site units, etc.).
Not being willing or able to regularly purge.
Not cleaning on a daily basis (it's much easier to wipe a stove off after every time you use it instead of trying to scrub off built-up grease two months later.
Procrastination with organizing paperwork (i.e. "touch it once" and deal with it)
A place for everything, and everything in it's place means this:
You only have 2 options for organizing your belongings -
1. get rid of items that you don't have room to properly store; or
2. create (buy, build or rent) more space to properly store the items you care about.
Those are your only two choices for an organized space. Let that sink in for a minute. Toss it around some. Talk to those you live with. Then decide which path you will take. For most people, they will do both!
Which one are you? I Need to Purge: I have too many items but enough storage. I Need More Storage: I plan to keep my items but need more storage. I Need to Purge and Create More Storage: I have too many items and need more storage. With help, you can "knock out" your organization problems! Our fight plan has three phases: Phase I - Stop the Bleeding Phase II - From this Day Forward Phase III - Reduce the Past You need to decide which one you are (need more space or need less stuff) and then learn what to do with that knowledge!
Take Away: Make a LIST (from what you learned yesterday) of what you want/need to keep and where it currently resides. Let's talk purge tomorrow! READ ALL 31 DAYS!
About the Author:
L. Sidney Irving is the owner of Sidco Properties, a real estate company dedicated to educating and assisting those that want to buy or sell a home, Sidney loves to organize herself and those around her because she believes that an organized space brings peace and fosters creativity. May the power of organization be with you!
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