SOCIETY, EVENTS & OTHER GOOD CAUSES
We always try to get motivated about this time of year, one organizational guru told The Tribune recently.
Get rid of the old clothes, dust behind the sofa, wash those windows. It makes us feel better. It’s rejuvenating.
But many times, we avoid the big organizing projects and then the next thing we know, it’s time to go back to school in the fall.
This spring let the organizing take on a new meaning. Look those bigger clean up tasks square in the eye. When complete, not only will it reduce your stress level as you head into summer but you will find yourself more energized.
Here are some tips to get you started on this spring’s organization:
*Getting started: Pick an area of your house that hinders your energy or productivity. Often this is your “home base” in the kitchen or home office. Maybe it’s your hall closet or that cluttered play room.
*Don’t procrastinate – you can do it. There are plenty of excuses for why we are disorganized (I don’t have time! I can’t afford it! I’m a natural slob!). If you start small with one area, you can avoid getting overwhelmed.
*Pull things out of the space you are organizing and make categories of the items. You are likely to realize that many of these categories could function better in a separate space or that they belong somewhere else in your house. Why are my old photos in the utensil drawer in the kitchen?. As you go through the clutter, keep building on the piles or categories. When you get the space empty or cabinet open, you can realize what things can fit on which shelves or drawers.
*Determine what goes and what stays. Does this belong in my newly organized space? Can this be recycled or go to the trash? Can I donate or sell? Does it go to storage in the garage, basement or offsite?
*Contain things. Containers really work. We recommend square, clear ones if you really want to find things. It’s easy to repurpose other containers too. Purchase containers after you have figured out what all you need to store and where. Measure your piles and determine which size containers work with your piles and your storage area.
*A place for everything and everything in its place. The mantra really works. If you designate a home for your car keys, your school paperwork, your outstanding bills, then you know where they go and you get rid of that never-ending pile by the front door.
*Label. Mark your containers with labels of the contents. It’s one thing to make a place for everything and store those unused things in the garage. But you have to know what you have put where. So label your boxes so that your things don’t go into a black hole.
*Declutter daily – Make it a part of your routine. When you’re on hold with the airline, go through your desk drawer and pull out those old receipts and other unnecessary items; categorize and put back all the rest.
*Have fun. Organize with your partner or a friend. Turn on the music. You can catch up while working and take advantage of a different perspective since people see spaces differently.
Tina Zarifes & Annie Rosenberger are the co-founders of buddha in the closet. They can be reached at: tina@buddhainthecloset and annie@buddahinthecloset.