In the New Year it’s not uncommon for many people to make resolutions, and even less uncommon for people to forget them come March! The trick to a great resolution and positive lifestyle change is dedication and a bit of help from an expert. With the rise in popularity of television shows such as A&E’s Hoarders, people who live in clutter are having the spotlight shone on them – and their messy homes!
While most of us do not live under such extreme conditions, it’s good to keep an eye on clutter and stop it before it gets out of control. For those of us hoping to be better organized in 2010, here are some great tips and tricks on getting and keeping your home in order
T – TINY FIRST– start small – start with a desk drawer or the car – you will be amazed at how good you feel when the task is finished and how much easier your life is – this will motivate you to keep going with organizing goals
A – ASSISTANCE – If you struggle to get motivated, ask a friend. Say - "If you help me clean out my garage, I will help you organize your kitchen." Always make organizing fun – put on some music – dance – sing – enjoy – or else you will despise the thought of it and never fully complete your goals
K – KEEP IT SIMPLE – Like items always stay with like items – if everything has its own place then it is more likely to be put back into its place when you are finished – this will keep you organized throughout the year
E – ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS – Make sure the area that you are organizing is free of distractions – try going into the office on a Saturday morning to organize your area – a little sacrifice is well worth the payoff
I – ITEMIZE – write down anything that comes to your mind of how you would envision your life as perfectly organized – then start forming those thoughts into manageable tasks & lists – one goal at a time
T – TIME – having a large organization goal doesn’t mean you have to book days, weeks, or even months of your time to accomplish the goal – start small – do a little bit each day, or weekend. If you plan too much you will get frustrated and never finish the task
E – ENGAGEMENT – Make the time to stay organized – schedule the date – write it down – if you had an appointment with the doctor or a business meeting you would keep it - on this date you can purge/re-organize/put away – this will keep things from piling up in the future
A – ADVICE – For most people organizing is the last thing they want to do with their spare time – or the thought of it is just too overwhelming – where do I start? That is where a professional organizer comes in – there are personal concierge services and professional organizers located in almost every city
S – SUPPLIES – have all your supplies ready to go – garbage bags, labels, permanent markers, bins, tape, baskets – if everything is at your finger tips you will not have an excuse to get sidetracked
Y - YOU – It is all about you – adopt your own system - Learn tricks from family, friends, professionals, and even television show – but adapt your own systems of organizing – if it comes directly from you, you are more likely to keep up with it
Take It Easy
