Organizing “experts” may claim one way is best.  Truth is, it’s what works for YOU. 

We all have different brain types and preferences.  The key is acknowledging your style and stop perseverating about “being behind”.

Do you prefer restoring order a few minutes daily or prefer 4 hours once a month (project-style)? As you read this, your body & mind will viscerally respond with its preference.  Honor that. 

DECIDE which you’ll try and implement that system for 1 month. You can then make a different decision if needed.

TIP: Release yourself of the other option while you’re committing to one.

If I relied on motivation to get me to my exercise class, I’d never show up.  Instead, I make a commitment. I think about my desired outcome, and what steps I’m willing to do to get what I want. 

Experiment using commitment to organize an area of your home or work. 

TIP:  Release the fantasy that you must feel motivated before taking action.

Can you commit to organizing 10 minutes per day? 1 hour per week? 1 weekend per month?

As always, block that time off in your calendar.

I realize this sounds “idealistic”.  Have you tried it though?

I’ve come up with a strategy (for myself) to keep from accumulating clutter.  When buying something, I pretend the price has another zero on it, or is double the price.  Then I ask “Will I pay this price?”  My answer tells me how much I really want the item.

It may be easy to spend $20 for a t-shirt; do you love it enough to pay $200 though?

TIP: Especially apply this method if an item is FREE.  I once told a client “Free = trouble.” Sometimes, our sound reasoning disappears when we see “free.” 

Would you like more energy? Clutter can make you feel lethargic. 

My favorite organizing author, Karen Kingston, writes:

4 CATEGORIES OF CLUTTER:

• Things you don’t use/love.
• Things that are untidy/disorganized.
• Too many things in too small a space.
• Anything unfinished. (Your vitality levels soar when you complete unfinished business.)

Having Clutter Also Can:

• Keep you in the past
• Congest/affect your body
• Encourage procrastination
• Cause disharmony
• Make you feel ashamed/depressed
• Cost you financially
• Distract you from what’s important

TIP: Clear your clutter.  Read Karen’s book or email me for ideas of where to start.

If you are frustrated by your clutter, look around and ask of each item: “Did I intentionally place this here or did it just ‘land here”?  Optimally, everything in your environment is to support you.  One of the best ways to figure out what supports you is to “clear the decks” – remove everything from an area and then put items back one by one, with clarity and intention.  For anything that doesn’t serve you today, give yourself permission to let it go, donate it or find another purposeful home for it.