Getting Started- How to Begin Organizing

Having Trouble Getting Started? You Aren’t Alone!

This blog post sorta made me feel like a fraud as I sat, struggling to get started on this topic. Where do I begin? How do I get started organizing a project and maintain motivation? It’s so easy to distract myself with a little social media. Or, find a dozen unnecessary projects to launch into in an effort to avoid the task at hand. Oh, I’ve been meaning to bathe the cat… PS. Don’t do that, trust me.

My point is, finding the energy to begin organizing can feel like an insurmountable task. Our stuff impacts our mental health. It’s scientifically proven that people who perceive their space as unorganized or cluttered have higher levels of cortisol. This can lead to increased anxiety and a host of other negative health-related issues. Our mess causes stress! Let’s look at a few, simple suggestions to help with clearing the clutter.

How Do You Eat an Elephant?

One bite at a time! Whenever I need incentive to get started with an organizing project I think back to the advice shared by my business mentor. I’ve found that the best way to accomplish something big is to approach it in smaller pieces. Hey, ya gotta start somewhere! I suggest digging into the room or space that causes you the most pain. Face down the detritus demon.

In my experience, when you take on the most difficult rooms first you’ve already accomplished a difficult step. It’s as if the biggest weight has been lifted. Our brains tend to be wired to do more when we give them bite-sized accomplishments. For example, losing 50lbs seems a lofty goal but 5lbs? Manageable! Totally achievable! It’s similar with organizing projects so get a spoon (or shovel) and dig in!

Organizing Strategies to Get You Going!

Listen, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, there’s no “right” way to start organizing. There are plenty of tips out there for getting a messy house under control. Some people work better with help while others prefer to go solo. A “just do it” method may not work for you. You might need plenty of support with clear goals. Or, you could take the “jump right in” approach. It’s really what works for you. That said, here are a few tips that you can use to get those organizing projects started.

Ready. Set. GO!

Dress for Success-I know this sounds obvious but putting on shoes and comfortable clothing helps signal that you mean business. So throw on those yoga pants and limber up with a few deep bends or high kicks. Cleaning up can be very strenuous. Toss a scarf over your hair and slap on your wrist bands. Prepare to get physical, just not Olivia Newton-John style.

Set the Mood-Time to dig out your Walkman (dating myself), CD player, earbuds or wireless speaker. Crank some tunes or an interesting podcast to boost your energy and start off with a positive outlook. Spotify has some lively playlists and engaging podcasts that I enjoy.

Prepare a Toolkit-When I tackle an organizing project, even in my own home, I show up prepared with a few basic tools. I bring along a laundry bin, if by some miracle there’s an empty one, for misplaced items that belong in other rooms. I try to stick to one room at a time and start in one area. A garbage and recycling bag or bin is helpful to keep close at hand. Additionally, I create piles of like items and use labeled boxes to help determine where stuff belongs: KEEP | TOSS | DONATE | SELL/CONSIGN | STORE. Beware the storage bin (AKA Clutter Casket) where things go to die. Bins can be useful for seasonal items and sporting equipment.

“Intuition is the number one tool in the toolbox.”-Matthew Mellon

Clean Sweep-Think of a broom as extra set of hands. If you are looking to get as much stuff picked up off the floor as quickly as possible then use a broom to sweep everything into one or two big piles in each room. You have created workable space with a clutter-free floor. It’s a lot easier to sort things into groups to be put away now that it’s in an accessible pile right in front of you! Not only are you saving your back from repeatedly bending over to pick up objects from a larger area, you have also swept up your floor!

Rock Around the Clock-Pretend the room or space is one big clock. Consider the worst area as 12:00. Begin there and keep organizing in a clockwise pattern. Alternately, you could begin counterclockwise and work your way into the least organized area. If you happen to get pulled away or distracted then you can clearly see where you need to pick up the organizing.

Speaking of clocks, the Pomodoro productivity technique has been around since the 1980’s. Essentially, you set a timer for 25 minutes and work away until it rings. You then take a 3-5 minute break and start again. Each interval is known as a pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer used by the Italian creator of this time management method. After four pomodoros you take a longer 15-30 minute break as a reward. A timer may be useful if you have limited time or require a concise beginning and end for tasks.

Embrace Drop Zones-You may find that drop zones occur naturally in spaces. Don’t fight it, just organize it! It may seem counterintuitive in the battle against clutter to create a place where you leave piles of stuff. However, designating a spot for everyday items prevents your entire home from filling with out of place objects. If your laundry accumulates in a certain spot on your bedroom floor then add a hamper. Paperwork and mail piling up on your kitchen island? Set out a tray to capture it, just be sure to sort through it in a timely manner.

Consider the 80/20 Rule-It’s easy to get stuck when thinking about the sunk cost of stuff. That money is gone and the only value that remains is in the benefit the objects provide you currently. Our stuff doesn’t tend to appreciate. 80% of the time we wear the same 20% of our clothing. 80% of the time kids play with the same 20% of their toys. You get the picture. Once you realize how the 80/20 rule applies to your life, it tends to free you up to edit your space. Basically, you only use 20% of the things you own.

Attack the Flat-Start small for a big impact. Arrow in on flat surfaces like dining room tables, kitchen counter tops and nightstands. Cleared flat surfaces give an instant cleaner visual appearance to a space. Organizing high use surfaces pays off!

Make Snap Decisions-Try not to spend too much time making decisions on what to do with items. If you are looking to declutter ask yourself: Does it work? When was the last time I used it? Do I love it? If it passes this test then put it in the place where it belongs. “Everything in it’s place and a place for everything.” If you are still tortured about a certain object then sleep on it. The decision, sleep on the decision, not the object.

Dust if You Must-When beginning an organizing endeavor, don’t worry too much about deep cleaning as you go. Sure, wipe down any obvious dirty surfaces but try not to get bogged down with the need to scrub. Your focus is dealing with the bulk of the stuff and making your space comfortable and livable.

Still Struggling with Getting Started Organizing?

Not certain how to begin organizing? If you are ready to address the mess but still aren’t confident in your ability to start organizing, an Organizer can help! Getting organized often takes more time than anticipated. Not sure where to begin? If it’s time to ditch the stress then reach out to me at (902) 209-3939 or drop me a line at kelly@sortedaffair.ca. Let’s sort it out together!

Yours in All Things Sorted,

Kelly

Sources & Such

Here’s a link to an article on the impact that clutter has on health: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/well/mind/clutter-stress-procrastination-psychology.html

A few of my favourite “deathy” podcasts available on Spotify:

• Death in the Afternoon
• Sickboy: http://sickboypodcast.com/ (Shout out to Nova Scotian locals Jeremie Saunders, Brian Stever & Taylor MacGillivary)
• The Adventures of Memento Mori
• Crime Junkies
• Mobituaries
• My Favourite Murder