Are you lacking the energy or skills to keep your home organized? Maybe you don’t have the time to complete everything on your lengthy list, so you don’t bother to begin.
Perfectionism is closely related to procrastination and could stifle your progress. The following practical tips can help you change undesirable habits that contribute to chaos in your home and life.
Before you start your organizing project, find out the reason for doing it. Do you experience negative emotions, such as anger, frustration or shame? Use those negative feelings as your motivation to get started.
The organizing plan starts with a decision. Where to start and what tools do you need to finish the job?
There is no right or wrong way to organize; it's only what works for you. Plan a step-by-step process. Begin with the floor, clearing away the clutter and letting go of the things you no longer need.
Prepare a few boxes for donation, sale or keeping. Try to deliver the donations as soon as you finish. When selling, consider your time. Is it worth selling to earn a few dollars?
Set up rules. If it doesn’t fit, it’s old, unfixable, feels unpleasant or is associated with a negative feeling, let it go.
Possession represents a variety of things to us. Memories, positive and negative. As you sort through your belongings, ask yourself if they stir up positive, happy or warm feelings. Or if seeing and touching them triggers negative emotions, such as guilt or regret.
Respect your memories. What is the advantage of keeping memories in dusty boxes? Think of ways you can display or use them. For instance, a keepsake box is a great way to display items that evoke positive feelings. This will allow you to reminisce whenever you want.
Don’t forget to declutter your walls. Remove everything and put back only what you love and is relevant to your life now. This goes for bookcases and other horizontal surfaces. Update pictures of your children and grandchildren. Display their favourites.
When organizing a room, you need to think about the activities you do in that room. Is it going to be a guest room, craft room, office or playroom for your children? Then add the things you like and need to make the space functional and beautiful.
Change your beliefs and habits before going shopping. If you think, “It’s a great deal, I can’t pass it up,” start believing that it’s only a good deal if you need it, have room for it and are going to use it.
Are you buying an item as a backup, just in case you need another one? If so, believe that you can get it when you need it or get something else that will work just as well.
Don’t fall for those so-called “freebies.” Free items are rarely “free” and cost you big in terms of clutter, disorganization and money.
The less stuff you have, the easier it will be to become and stay organized.
Transformational life coach Ranka Burzan owns a professional organizing company in the qathet region and has written several books on reducing clutter. For more information, email [email protected].
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