Getting and Staying Organized in 2010!

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2010!

New Years Resolutions are everywhere… Look anywhere, TV, newspaper, internet… People are talking about the New Year, starting fresh, starting over, getting better… It can be very  inspiring..  However, I would like to ask how many of you have had the same New Year Resolution over and over again..  How many of you started strong on your new goal and then by the end of January it was a distant memory?

What I want to offer you are tips on not only how to get organized, but how to stay organized.. And tell you a little bit of what to expect when you are in the process of getting organized!  It’s not always what people think….

1.  What does organization look like to you? It does not have to be perfect with everything in baskets.  It can be as simple as putting all of the coats in one closet, rather than having them spread out throughout the house.  The basic principal of organization is For Everything There is a Place, if you know where that place is and are able to return the items to their home then you are staying organized.  Basic definition of organization: If you are happy in your space, you can find your things, then you are well organized! Set your goals to be realistic to your lifestyle!

2. Embrace the mess – It will get messy!  Try not to focus too much on what it looks like during the process and just know there is an end in sight. Messes mean progress!  You are one step closer to your goal.

3. Get the family involved- In order for your system to work, everyone in the family needs to know where things are, and what is expected of them. Especially if you have children, have a family meeting and give a tour of your new system.  Better yet, involve them in developing the system in the first place.  The more ownership they have the more likely they will be to want to maintain it as well.  Make it a priority in your home to live an organized life.

4. Avoid multi tasking – Our society has taught us that multi-tasking is this great skill to have.   In organizing – not so much!  Work on one space at a time!  It is too easy to feel you are not accomplishing your goals if you have several spaces being redone at the same time. Start, Finish, Move On.

5.  Clean up everyday- Take 15 minutes everyday to clean up, whether it is in the morning or night, it’s up to you, just get it done!  Even little bits at a time will help maintain your system.

6.  Do a major purge every 6 months- Every 6 months, go around room to room and get rid of anything you are no longer using or need.  If you do this twice a year you are eliminating any chance of holding onto any unnecessary clutter.  It also won’t seem so overwhelming, when you are doing this on a consistent basis, you won’t have as much to carry out each time.

No doubt the start of the New Year is a great time to make a change… But you have to be committed and put in the hard work! Being organized is a choice we make everyday!  Habits are hard to break, and habits can be hard to form! Start small, and be patient!  At the end you will take back your time, your space, and your control!

Happy Organizing!