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Remember The Basics Of Getting Your Life And Space Organized


How To OrganizeIn just a few months I will need to renew my certification as a Professional Organizer.

Yes, there really is a three-hour test, requirements and hoops to jump through to get certified!

You might think that the test involves how to sort, toss, organize, containerize and create labels.  And, although those topics are fun, the test is more about the psychology behind getting and staying organized forever and how to work with different personality types.

Lately, I’ve been helping many new and established business owners with their marketing and technology but as I work with them, I observe that the root cause for most blocks in their business or stress in their life is how they organize their time and environment around them.

So let’s get back to basics!

Here I’ll share seven foundational organizing concepts for your time and the space around you.

1.  Recognize The Source Of the Clutter –  There are several reasons why clutter shows up in your life but the most common source is a major life event.  Life events like:  a marriage or divorce, a death in the family, moving, a new job, a new baby,  new puppy, empty nesting, etc., tend to cause clutter even if you are normally a pretty organized person. Have you had a major lifestyle shift lately?

2.  Discover What Type of Organizing Personality You Have – If you don’t know your organizing personality type you are likely to set up a system that won’t work for you long term.  There are many organizing personality types but here are the main three, which of the following sentences do you identify with?  Which “type” do you think I am?  I’d love for you to guess in the comments below!
“If the system works, that is good enough for me, nothing fancy needed.”
“Out of sight, out of mind – if I don’t see it, it doesn’t get done.”
“Everything has to work flawlessly, and if it isn’t “pretty” I’ll never use it.”
Now that we know how you tick, we can create the perfect system for you!

3.  Have ONE Trusted Planning System For Notes, To-dos, and Appointments – Whether electronic,  paper or a combination of both it is the system that matters.  These three functions are more related than you may think.  For example, often when you take notes in a meeting there are to-dos and action items jotted down quickly.  It is a good idea to bump your to-dos up next your appointment schedule so as to not overbook yourself.  And, it is always a good idea to have your planning system available and nearby when you are doing an organizing project.  Organizing projects always uncover notes, appointments and to-dos as you go through the area you are de-cluttering.

4.  Get Everything Off the Floor and Surfaces As Much As Possible – Keeping things off the floor and surfaces is a good idea for several reasons.  One, it is so much easier to clean when surfaces and the floor are clear.  Two, if your surfaces and floor are covered you are most likely not using your vertical space to the fullest potential.  Three, remember clutter attracts clutter.  You are less likely to say to yourself “I’ll just leave this here for now” if the surface is clean and clear.

5.  Do Not Sort and Purge at the Same Time You Organize – The action of sorting and purging uses a completely different part of your brain than setting up an organized system.  Plus, it is better to sort and get rid of as much as you can before you try to organize it.  Why would you go to the trouble of organizing things you are trashing, selling or donating?

6.  Label Liberally! – Just because you are excited and motivated now to get organized doesn’t mean that in a few weeks when you have a bad day you’ll be able to keep up your organizing energy.  Label liberally so that your motivated self can support your “worn out” self later.  Also, you’ve spend good time and money to get organized.  You don’t want your family to ruin your system!  Labeling helps your family stick to the “rules” and helps them to put things back where they belong.  You are less likely to put something in the wrong place if there is a label on the shelf or bin looking right at you.  Plus, it just looks so nice when you open your cabinet and see all those neat labels! 🙂

7.  Know the Difference Between “Getting Organized” and “Staying Organized” – Organizing is not a one time event.  You have to constantly maintain everything that is flowing in and out of your life.  To help prevent you from falling off the organizing wagon you’ll have to establish a routine and maybe even some new habits.  It may look like work at first, but it is so much easier and you save so much time in the long run.  You’ll also find that your mental clutter and stress fades when you have a clear environment and space in your schedule.  Plus, you deserve to live in an amazing space all the time, not just when you expect visitors to you home or office!

I hope you found it inspiring and refreshing to get back to the basics of organizing!  If so, please share and leave a comment below.  I’d love to hear which area of your space you’d like to tackle first to take control back in your life!

And, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for help with your situation.

Read more posts by Erica Duran.

 

JenningsWire.com is created by National Publicity Firm, Annie Jennings PR that specializes in providing book marketing strategies to self-published and traditionally published authors. Annie Jennings PR books authors, speakers and experts on major top city radio talk shows that broadcast to the heart of the market, on local, regionally syndicated and national TV shows and on influential online media and in prestigious print magazines and newspapers.