17 Organizing Tips for My Organizing Challenge

Look at it this way: your mind is at its clearest when your environment is clear, which is why, for instance, it's good feng shui to make your bed every day. Having my bed made is like having a nice hotel room, even if I go there only to sleep. Somewhere in my mind, conscious or otherwise, I carry that soothing image throughout the day. A neat bedroom means one less thing to clutter my brain.

When I told my 27-year-old daughter she should join my Organizing Challenge, she cried "Yes!" and then said I sounded like Oprah. No doubt, the stash of Oprah shows on my TiVo has influenced me. (Even my TiVo is cluttered!) In fact, you'll see some tips below from Oprah's organizing guru, Peter Walsh.

One of the things I worry about most is keeping up with the mail. Sometimes, when I'm really busy with work or family, the piles accumulate. A few months ago, it had gotten so bad, that I splurged on an early birthday present to myself and called my organizer, Stephanie Schur, to come to D.C. and spend a couple of days with me.

Stephanie referred to my piles, my troublesome drawers and random accumulations in baskets and on counters as "pockets." The idea is to attack these "pockets" one at a time.

• To begin, I'll make a list of my pockets and other areas I want to organize, and number them in order of priority. I'll also star ones that I can fit into 5, 10 or 15 minute slots; on days when I can't carve out a solid half hour, I plan to meet my 30-minute goal with a couple of smaller chunks of time.
• If there's an area where I can see quick results in short order, I'll start there for inspiration. Something like moving a few big pieces out of the family room. Otherwise, I'll start with an area that bothers me most.
• While sorting mail, newspapers, catalogues, files, etc., I like to watch a TV show, one that will allow me to double task. It's an opportunity to catch up on my recorded Oprah shows or to watch an old movie. Sometimes I listen to NPR or show tunes while organizing. This helps me look forward to my de-cluttering sessions.
• A file cart on wheels allows me to move easily from one room to another. In this file box, I keep hanging files with papers I'm currently working on, but I also reserve space the box it for papers I want to organize, which I then transfer to more permanent files.
• For everyday use I keep an attractive rattan file box (with lid) near the kitchen trash can, since the kitchen is where I sort my mail, most of which I throw into the recycling bin. I know how to shop online, so I don't really need catalogues. You can unsubscribe on the Website Catalogue Choice. Any stray catalogues that do appear in the mail, I force myself to throw in the trash without opening them, most of the time.
• In the rattan file box, I keep four folders for taxes: business expenses, donations, accountant and book receipts. I put relevant receipts, account statements, etc. in the appropriate folders. In each folder, I also keep a page of the expenses along with a running total. This really simplifies my life when it's time to do my taxes. Among other things, I also keep folders for medical and travel documents in the rattan file box.
• A few mantras help when I'm organizing:

              "Throw or give it away; I can always get another if I need it 'someday'."

              "I'm going to throw away old newspapers, because I can look up these articles online."

              "Mom would be glad I'm giving away the sweater she gave me; she'd be thrilled I'm tackling my closet."

              "Think how much someone else will appreciate these sweaters I no longer wear."

              "Less is more—if I display too many pretty things, I can't appreciate any of them."

• Some of us have "junk closets," in my case one filled with old suitcases and tote bags. On the day I worked with my organizer Stephanie, she said we had to first take everything out of the closet. Then I sorted what I wanted to give or throw away, which reduced the collection by more than half. Afterwards, I swept the floor then fit everything I was keeping neatly back into the closet. We did the same thing with a bathroom drawer containing hotel shampoos, etc. that got stuck every time I tried to open the drawer.
• Rather than weeding out stuff you don't want, sometimes it helps to pull from a drawer or closet things you do want. Then get rid of what remains.
• One way to control clutter is to buy less, everything from a new canned soup that looks interesting to a new scarf you don't need. I have come to value "space real estate" in my home, such as shelves and drawers, more than anything new I could buy.
• I have too many knick-knacks. Stephanie suggests rotating them, so throughout the year I'll get to see everything, just not all at once. This helps me appreciate what I have on display rather than it all being one big chaotic blur. Ditto framed photos and paintings.
• For my birthday present from my daughters, I'm asking them to clear stuff out of their bedrooms and make that space presentable.  Not sure about odds of this actually happening.
• I motivate myself to keep things organized and weed files by remembering how bad it feels when piles get out of hand and how good it feels after I sort things out. I like to think of the de-cluttering process as meditation.
• Tips from Oprah's guru, Peter Walsh:

            Fill two trash bags each day. One with items to give away and one with stuff to throw away.

            Don't get "distracted with a trip down memory lane." Stay on task.                          

           "Touch each item once, make a decision and move on."

            Finish the job. After you sort things into three piles—keep, give, throw—put everything away before you end. 

• Tip From Stephanie Winston, author of Getting Organized:

              Break complex tasks into manageable units. 

Stay tuned; next week I'll let you know how it went for me. In the meanwhile, let me hear how it's going for you.

Check out some of my other Home Goes Strong organizing articles:

FINDING ZEN IN THE CONTAINER STORE & ORGANIZING CHALLENGE

A MOVING EXPERIENCE WITH A PERSONAL ORGANIZER