5 Tips for Organizing Anything

As a Professional Organizer, these are the most common complaints I hear from my clients when they are organizing:

I don't know where to start!

I know firsthand how overwhelming the piles of paper, assorted belongings and jumbled mess around you can be. The task seems overwhelming and stressful. Do you feel like you don’t even know where to start? As daunting as it is, you just have to begin and that can be the hardest part. You may want to consider hiring a professional organizer or recruiting a friend to work with in the beginning. This will help you get started and two hands are better than one.

I'm so overwhelmed!

For many, as they work through a room they will be distracted as they see items that need attention. Taking time to run something to another room, pay a bill or fit in other tasks, like finishing up a load of laundry can really hinder your progress. As you work and come across one distraction after another, it can be hard to stay on task.

It doesn't look like I did anything!

During the organizing process, it often looks worse before it gets better. There are piles of this and that, things we don’t quite know what to do with, paperwork, donation items and others. By following these decluttering tips, you can work through each area to completion.

1. Set a timer

Choose one room or a small area at a time. A single cupboard, drawer or counter is a perfect size. Set a timer for 30-45 minutes. Focused time blocks will help you accomplish more and make sure you take breaks to keep energy up. Once the timer rings, take a few minutes at the end of your session for wrapping up. More on this below.

2. Gather your tools

Be prepared with containers like boxes or bins to use for sorting. Download our organizing cards to attach to your containers. Trash, Recycle, Donate and Different Room are the most used categories. Go ahead and trash or recycle anything that is broken or of no use. Donate any items you no longer need, multiples you want to pair down and items you no longer use. Put all the items that belong in another room in a basket and set aside for now.

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3. Work your way around the room

Start in one corner and work your way around the room. Pull everything out so you can see what you have and sort per the categories that apply to you. Use the containers mentioned above to keep things from getting jumbled up. Clean the area while it’s clear before replacing items.

4. Stay focused

Stay focused on the area or room you are in and continue, cleaning each cleared area as you go. Don’t stop and take things to other rooms, just add them to the Different Room container. Set aside time-consuming tasks, like paperwork for a later date. This will keep you from getting tired or overwhelmed. Our goal is to focus and complete small areas at a time.

5. Wrap up

Wrap up by taking all the items in the Different Room container into the other rooms and put them away at end of your session. Take out the trash, recycle and put donations into your car or schedule time for them to get picked up. If you have any items to return, repair or sell, add these to your to-do list and designate a place to keep them until you can take care of them.

Apply these tips as you move from room to room and get your home organized. The ultimate goal is to find a home for everything and only keep things that you need and love. This way as you go forward straightening up will be quick and painless. Start small and reward yourself for all your hard work. You deserve it! You will love your space and the feeling of accomplishment as you get more organized.

Need some help getting started or expert professional organizer advice? Click here to learn more about our services for everyone, no matter where you live: Virtual Online Coaching.

Do you have any tips and tricks you use? I’d love for you to share them at [email protected].