Start Organizing in 4 Easy Steps

Spring is in the air! And what typically follows, with longer days and budding trees, is the overwhelming sense of needing to get things in order. All of a sudden your closet screams for structure, you’re thankful the cupboards have doors, and stacks of paper just keep piling up. When we look at our house the tasks seem daunting and impossible. We may even criticize ourselves which only paralyzes us and prevents us from getting started. If you’re having a hard time finding the best way to start, you aren’t alone. I encourage you to work your way through your emotions, maybe write down some desired outcomes, break your home into manageable spaces, roll up your sleeves and start small.

Step 1: Make an Appointment with Yourself

The things we accomplish every day rely on a schedule... investor meeting at 10:00am, soccer practice at 5:00pm, dance at 7:00pm, in-laws visiting for the weekend. We make our day happen by allocating time for the things that keep us moving. If achieving order in your home matters to you then schedule it like you would a dentist appointment. Maybe you set aside 30 minutes after the kids go to bed to declutter a nightstand drawer, the pantry, or the bathroom cupboards. Whichever you decide, make an appointment with yourself and show up! It’s an extension of your self-care.

Step 2: Set the Stage

It’s important to brighten up the space you’re working in. Turn on the lights, light a candle, open the windows, find a playlist that gets you in the groove. Your home is an extension of you and organizing is an extension of self-care, so go all out to make it work the best way for you to get the job done! Additionally, prepare where you’ll be putting the items you would like to donate or toss by setting up bins in the room.

Step 3: Make it Fun

You don’t have to do this alone! In fact, having someone help you will not only make the process more enjoyable but it will also keep you accountable. Plus, having another opinion about the things to let go of or keep make the organizing journey more comforting.

Step 4: We Must Declutter

If you’ve seen my videos and read my how-to guides, you will know that decluttering is ALWAYS the first step (after the three above are set). If we don't take the time to go through the items in our home prior to organizing them we only end up shifting things around. If you’ve set out to organize the pantry, ask yourself if the food that’s in there is being utilized. Are there expired items? If you’re going through your closet, are there dresses you haven’t worn in years? It’s time to create the space needed to feel ease.

Any fitness trainer will tell you that the hardest part of working out is getting to the gym. No one ever said, “I regret that workout." Likewise, you’ll never look at your organized dresser and say “I regret doing this!” Starting any new project comes with its challenges, but you can move through these challenges by writing down a list of desired outcomes and then setting a 60 minute timer, and keep yourself in the zone and away from distractions. Your future self will thank you!