The Secrets to Staying Organized

So you have finally gotten your closet organized. Your family room is no longer cluttered and you are feeling pretty pleased with yourself. Then a few weeks pass and you look around and things are not as organized as they used to be. What happened? You were so committed to living in organized surroundings and now you are slipping back to clutter central.

Something isn’t working. Is it you or is it the system?

Sad to say, there are no magic secrets to staying organized, but there are a few guidelines that help.

Assess what is not working for you. Is it the system that is taking too much time and effort? Is it a lack of unity among family members in maintaining the system? Is it failure to take time to maintain the system? Once you have an idea of the obstacle, you can take measures to correct it.

Pick a system that fits your lifestyle. If you are better at dumping than you are at filing, use containers that conceal the jumble that you dump. If you are not going to keep books in alphabetical order by author, place them according to height, an easier and less time-consuming alternative. If it is important for you to have to-do items where you can see them, seek alternatives that allow them to be in view but contained in an attractive way.

Have a designated place for all your possessions. Even if the towels are not always neatly stacked, you will know they are on the third shelf of the linen closet. That is not beautiful organization, but you can still put your hands on a towel when you need one. Additionally, other family members do not have to rummage to find what they are looking for, creating more disorder in the process. Once you have decided on a home for the objects, enforce it with yourself and others.

Schedule time to keep things organized. Some things our clients have shared that work for them are:

Everyone picks up things that are out of place before they go to bed each night.
A reward is given each Sunday to the family member who has the fewest things out of place. Schedule fifteen minutes everyday to tackle an area that is sliding back to chaos. If there is no area to rescue, do something you enjoy.

Realize that sometimes life happens and things get a little out of control. In that case, just start again. One of our clients was looking forward to creating beautiful things in her newly organized office and craft space. Then her sister got sick and required help with her recovery, her father died and she brought many things from her childhood into the space. Then a flood filled the basement and she saved some possessions by moving them to any space available. Is it any wonder that her space became disorganized? The good news was that it took much less time to get it back in order because we already had a blueprint for how she wanted to use the space and where things were stored. It was then a matter of finding designated space for the excess items in the room. So when you have to start again, you never start from zero because you learn something from your first effort.

So the “secrets” to staying organized are: pick a system that fits your lifestyle, schedule time to maintain it and, if clutter happens, learn from your first attempt and try again.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

The Clutter Whisperer

I’ve got clutter and I must clean up!

It started when I got a virus on New Years Eve that lingered for three weeks. When I recovered, I was washed out and easily tired. There was no time to take care of the little things as I caught up with clients, did speaking engagements and checked on a sick mother. The mail went unsorted, dirty clothes piled up and the detritus of living went unattended. In other words, clutter happened. It happened in the way clutter usually happens. Some life event prevented me from performing usual routines that keep me organized.

While I was sick, the only thing that did not hurt was my eyeballs, so I watched television programs I seldom see. On one of them, I became acquainted with Cesar Milan, known as The Dog Whisperer. The psychology he uses to rehabilitate aggressive, scared, lazy, or compulsive dogs struck me as relevant to organizing. During one feverish period I even fancied myself as a “ clutter whisperer” taming piles of unruly items into organized spaces that stayed that way.

The reality is that much of the psychology Milan applies to rehabilitating dogs can be applied to getting organized. In fact, he says he rehabilitates dogs and trains people. That is a true statement for organizers. We rehabilitate spaces but educate and train clients in organizing techniques. There are some other parallels I found interesting. Milan advocates a three-step process of exercise, discipline and affection. My philosophy for organizing is get started, stay focused, and celebrate the successes. Sounds similar to me.

Milan also advocates setting rules, maintaining boundaries and recognizing limitations. All are important concepts in organizing, especially when organizing for groups like families or office staff.

The more I think about it, “clutter whisperer” is a good title. Although clutter is inanimate, it often takes on a life of its own. It causes us no end of trouble and we invest it with a whole host of emotions.

So try a little “Whisper” psychology and see if it tames your mess. Mine is almost back in order. One more day of focused discipline should do it. Then it will be time to celebrate with a little treat for myself. Maybe I will watch the Dog Whisperer.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net