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Before beginning an organization project, determine what your objective will be. Start with the project that means the most to you, such as a closet or a certain room.
EVERYTHING IN ITS SPOT
7 WAYS TO START GETTING ORGANIZED
Becoming more organized is a popu- lar resolution each new year. How- ever, like many resolutions, peo- ple’s commitment to being more
organized tends to wane as February arrives. Being unorganized can adversely affect productivity, state of mind, motivation and even happiness. Sixty-seven percent of people surveyed in an Alpha Phi Quarter- ly study believed they could save up to 30 minutes a day if they were more organized. And a Huffington Post survey determined that worrying about a home not being clean enough or organized enough is the fifth most
common stress trigger for Americans. Getting and staying organized requires commitment. Having some handy tips at the ready to facilitate the process can make
things go more smoothly.
1Determine what organization means to you. Being organized might mean one thing to you and something else en-
tirely to someone else. Some may put form before function. Others may be interested in the aesthetics of a neat-looking space.
Once you have a handle on what being or- ganized entails to you, you can get to work.
Start with what motivates you most. Perhaps this is a room in the home
that has become overrun with clutter. Or maybe it’s getting finances organized so you can save for a dream vacation. When you accomplish your biggest goal, the seem- ingly smaller ones may seem less difficult.
3Declutter your mind. Think of a busy mind as a computer that has that turning hourglass or spinning col-
or-wheel icon when it’s stuck on a process. Every application stalls because the com- puter cannot do everything at once. The same thing can happen in the brain. Sit down and make a to-do list of what’s on your mind. Then start prioritizing tasks. This will do wonders to clear your head.
4Create deadlines for yourself. An open-ended timeline to get things done may promote procrastination. Deadlines may provide motivation.
5Avoid distractions. Try to remove as many distractions as possible. When working on a chore, hire a
baby sitter to look after the children, or step away from social media so you can focus on the task at hand. Interruptions only slow you down.
6Think before you acquire. Once you are organized, you may have chal- lenges fitting new items into the mix.
If you’re getting ready to purchase some- thing new, carefully consider its usefulness and determine in advance where it will go and whether you have the space.
7Be accountable to another. Having help getting organized can mean delegating certain tasks or enlisting
someone to check in with you to see if you’re on target. Embrace this system of checks and balances. Becoming organized is a process, but once you get the hang of it, it can be easy to stay organized.
— Courtesy of MetroCreative
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To help cut down on clutter, it’s a good idea to think before buying a new item. Consider the item’s usefulness, and determine whether or not you have the space.