Have you ever not answered the phone because you couldn’t find it? While searching for the Valentine’s Day centerpiece, have you stumbled over the Christmas wrap purchased at an after-holiday sale two years ago? Ever gone out to dinner because there wasn’t one clean dish in the house?
Getting organized is like dieting. We know how to do it and love the results. The problem is getting started.
A while ago, we redecorated our kitchen, and in the process, we emptied every cupboard and drawer. When the work was complete, I decided to put things away only as I used them. I quickly realized why it was such a problem to keep the kitchen neat and tidy. We just had too much stuff, and much of it had not been used in years. Getting rid of what we don’t use left so much more space to organize the essentials.
Face it. If you don’t have enough closet, drawer, and storage space to comfortably handle your possessions, you probably own too many things. Give away, pare down, and let your rooms appear serene, controlled, and well kept.
The Grocery Bag Method
You might like to try my grocery bag method for instant results. This works best at about 8 p.m., when you are at your wit’s end over the endless clutter. Take one large brown paper grocery bag (or more, if necessary). Fill it with the stacks of extraneous papers, magazines, and mail: your basic clutter. Clear every horizontal surface. The purpose is not to throw anything away, just to get it out of sight until you have time to go through and separate, sort, and file. At least, this is what you tell yourself.The Salami Method
My preferred way to get organized is the “salami method.” It goes like this: You wouldn’t think of eating an entire salami in one sitting, would you? You would eat it in slices over some period of time. It’s the same with getting organized. Just start with one thing, one room, one closet. Tomorrow is another day, another drawer, another attic. Soon, you'll be in control.There couldn’t be a better time to start than now. Take a risk—clean out your purse or briefcase. If you have a closet to dig out, start shoveling. Have a salami to tackle? Start slicing.