Need a little help
getting
organized? In our last post on de-cluttering,
professional
organizer and Swapsity member Jeremy
Greer helped us shed some light on the psychology
of clutter. Now Jeremy is back to share his top 10 tips
for getting
organized this spring!
Tip #1: Instead of organizing an
entire
room, take on smaller projects within that room. Make a
goal to
organize one room this month and another room next
month. Remember,
organizing is a process.
Tip #2: Shelve the
perfectionism. If you
don’t get your organizing project just right the
first time,
that’s okay. It will only get better with each
draft.
Tip #3: Do you suffer from
“it was so
expensive” syndrome? Save yourself the grief.
Yes, maybe it
was too much but why punish yourself for it every time
you see that
item? Get rid of it, forgive yourself and move on.
Tip #4: Keep it simple. Pretend
you are
organizing for an 8-year-old. Design your space to fit
their every
need. This will help you to achieve a simple and
organized
home.
Tip #5: Have a clutter buddy on
call or hire
an organizer for the de-clutter process. It is
important to have
someone challenge you, ask questions and hold you
accountable for
your decisions.
Tip #6: Break often. Organizing
is intense
and requires focus, which tires us quickly. Be sure to
take breaks
and recharge. This also helps you return to your
project with a
different perspective.
Tip #7: Keep an eye out for the
“I may
use it or wear it someday” syndrome. With that as
your hold,
you could be re-organizing the same items for a
lifetime.
Tip #8: Use the one in, one out
rule,
especially after you have taken the time to de-clutter
and organize
your space. This will keep your newly organized room
looking trim.
If you add something to the room, let something else
go.
Tip #9: Before the de-cluttering
process
begins, choose a charity or a friend you would like to
give your
items to.
Tip #10: Remember this: the more
you own,
the more responsibilities you have.
Things take time to manage no matter if they are free,
new or used.
By reducing to only the things you love and need you
are rewarding
yourself with time.
If you’re wondering what to do with your unwanted
items, remember you can turn them into services or
things you
need by trading them on Swapsity.
Happy organizing!
