Get Unpuzzled About Organizing

One of the most common reasons people hire us is because they are overwhelmed by their clutter, want to get organized and don't know where to start. Since organizing is a learned skill which isn't usually taught in school, it isn't surprising that people have difficulty starting the task of organizing. I recently found the following quote from Michelle Passoff: "You will know you are doing things right when you approach your clutter as you might a challenging jigsaw puzzle - with a sense of wonder of how it will ever get done, a clear picture of the end result, and a spirit of adventure." Did you catch that?

• Wonder how it will get done. People approach puzzles differently. Some put together the outside edges first while others prefer to start by grouping the pieces by color. Still others just pick up pieces and try to match them together. These strategies aren't right or wrong, just different. So as you tackle your organizing project, decide on a strategy. You may want to organize one room of your house each month. Maybe you'll start by decluttering each room. This includes permanently deleting items that are no longer needed as well as moving items which don't belong in that space to a more appropriate room.
• Clear picture of the end result. In solving puzzles, some people like to have the picture of the completed puzzle handy so they can refer to it often. Other people look at the picture carefully in the beginning and then don't look at it again. They like the extra challenge. Regardless of your preference, you have an idea of the end result. You have a picture. The same is true in organizing. You need to have a clear picture of the end result you are looking for.
• Spirit of adventure. Maybe you are an archeologist on a dig. As you discover pieces of your past, you have to decide which pieces are important enough to be displayed in the "museum of you." Guess what, museums don't display all pieces found. They have to make choices about which pieces to keep and display. Maybe you are a "clutter sweeper" (instead of a chimney sweeper) and you will remove all clutter that clogs your path to a simpler, more functional lifestyle. Maybe you are the disc jockey and you use music to help you decide which organizing task you will choose next. It doesn't matter what you use for motivation; creating a sense of adventure will help make the task more fun.

What is the best way for you to get unpuzzled about organizing? I wish you success in completing your organizing puzzle. If you get stuck, feel free to contact us.