Home Organizing - Taking it One Step at a Time- by Ceil Petrucelli
This is a great time of year to clear out your clutter, eliminate a lot of accumulated “stuff,” and free up a lot of space in your home. Clearing out your junk can be an incredible freeing experience -- but where do you start? It can sometimes seem overwhelming when you’re first confronted with that overflowing closet, overstuffed drawers, or a garage that has so much stuff stored in it that there isn’t room for your car!
But before you get started on “de-cluttering” or getting things organized, you should take a look at the bigger picture first and formulate a plan of attack. Here are a few rules of thumb to follow when you begin the process.
1. Start with the area that is giving you the most “pain” or “angst.” Which area of your home or office is bugging you the most? If you find yourself saying day after day, “I can’t find anything in my closet” or “My kitchen cabinets are a disaster” or “My office looks like a bomb went off” -- that’ll give you a major clue where to begin.
2. Have a plan of attack. Make a list of all the areas that you’d like to work on, in order of priority. Be sure to include a deadline to complete each project. This will help you to focus, set some goals, and keep the bigger picture in mind as you work your way through. It’s also easier to stay on track when you have a list with a deadline written down. Also, there’s a greater sense of satisfaction and completion when you start crossing things off your “to do” list.
3. Limit your scope. Tackle one small area at a time - start with a drawer, a shelf, a closet, a small section of your kitchen or bedroom. Don’t attempt to clean out the entire place at once. Chances are, you’ll get overwhelmed, overloaded, and frustrated and will want to give up on the entire project before you can finish.
4. Plan to set aside time each week (or each day if you’re really ambitious!) to work on a different area. Set a time limit. Once you get started, you’ll be surprised at how quickly it goes. It’s really amazing what you can get accomplished once you “get in the groove.”
5. Work systematically and with purpose. Do your best to move through your home or office in a systematic way, finishing one area at a time before you start another. Avoid hopping from one task to the next if possible. There is nothing more frustrating (and emotionally draining) to be surrounded by a bunch of half-finished projects. It’ll be even more difficult down the road to pick up where you left off or find things if you’ve only organized half your closet or half your files and the other half is still a wreck.
6. Find the organizing style that suits you best. Different strokes for different folks. Each person has a unique style and personality, and organizing isn’t any different. Some people work best if they empty an entire storage area before organizing it. Others find that method too overwhelming and choose to tackle their clutter one item at a time. Sometimes, it’s a combination of both, depending on the circumstances. You need to decide for yourself which method works best for you. There is no “right” way -- only what’s right for you.
7. Get some help! If you can recruit some “organizing assistants” to assist you -- do it! This is a big job and it’ll go a lot faster if you have some help. Consider asking your family members, friends, or even your neighbors. You can barter - I’ll help you if you help me. Then you can have a neighborhood tag sale and sell all your unwanted stuff later! Or, you can consider hiring a professional organizer who can remain objective and can keep you on track.
8. Be kind to yourself! Cut yourself some slack! This is hard work - not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. Don’t get frustrated with yourself if you can’t tackle everything on your “to do” list in a weekend! Don’t drive yourself until you drop - clearing out clutter doesn’t have to be painful. Just work at your own pace. Set some goals and time limits - maybe 15 or 30 minutes to start. Then once you get started, plan for longer sessions. Usually 4-6 hours for each session is the maximum I suggest to my House Therapy clients.
9. Reward yourself. Every time you finish a particularly challenging task, reward yourself with something that makes you feel good about yourself. Even adults need to get “gold stars” for their accomplishments. Don’t go out and buy something - reward yourself with a cup of tea, a half hour to take a walk, indulge in a bubble bath or a manicure or pedicure, make a healthy snack for yourself from some fresh fruit and yogurt. Take an hour to read a few chapters in a good book or read a book to your kids or grandkids.
These are just a few tips to get you started. For more ideas, there are lots of on-line resources, magazines, and books available -- not to mention all the home improvement shows on TV!
Ceil Petrucelli is an interior designer, decorator, and home organizing consultant based in Bennington, VT and is the owner of Ceil Petrucelli Interiors and The House Therapist. She can be reached at ceilpetrucelli@comcast.net or her website www.ceilpetrucelliinteriors.com
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