S.I.M.P.L.Y. Organized in Six Steps (pt 1 of 6)

Simply Organized has an easy to remember 6-step system to help you organize your space. Whether the space is as small as you purse or as vast as a large family room, the steps are the same. When we work with you individually, we use these same 6 steps along with creative ideas and simple solutions that are put in place uniquely for you, so that once you have your more organized space and your less stressed life, you can be free to live.

S.I.M.P.L.Y Organized is all you have to remember! This simple acronym will help you remember the 6-step process to help you organize any space.

S – Start with a Purpose

This first step is really two parts: START and PURPOSE.

Often times, the hardest part about overcoming your clutter is actually starting the process. Some people feel that the job is just too big and they don’t even know where to begin. They don’t want to get started by themselves and get lost in the jungle of possessions.

Others believe that they don’t really have the time to dedicate to a project that large. After all, they look around and feel like nothing is in order. They feel like it would take forever to sort through all of their belongings. Still others are waiting for more information. I like to call this dilemma ‘analysis paralysis’. This is when someone is still gathering information. They want to know everything they can before they begin the process. I mean e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g there is to know and feel confident before they wade through their clutter.

Since you are still reading, that must mean that you are probably feeling pretty overwhelmed. You have lived this way so long that you have learned to visually ignore the mess and go on with life. However, it is taking a toll on you and costing you money. You would think that just starting would be the simple part, but it can be the most challenging part to overcome. If those are some of your thoughts then take heart…there is a solution. I can help!

This is the first of six easy-to-follow steps that will teach you how to organize any space in your home. After this series of posts, I will walk you through the process of using these steps to accomplish two smaller projects, which will take you less than 90 min. each.

Begin by reading this series of posts. Next the two follow-up posts will be your two sample assignments to choose from. Do one or both. It will take time to get comfortable with the process, but I will walk right beside you the whole way.

So now that we have overcome the START part of this step by providing solutions to your fears and obstacles, lets move onto the PURPOSE part of this step. You must have a purpose for the space you will be working with. The purpose will dictate every other step.

You decide the purpose.

If it is a linen closet…will you use it for linens? How about a craft storage area or maybe you will remove the door and put a desk inside and use it as a mini office. Just because it’s a ‘linen’ closet doesn’t mean you have to use it for that purpose.

You decide the purpose.

Does your bookshelf hold books? Maybe you want to place baskets of toys or art supplies on it instead. Or maybe you will display your grandmother’s china on it. Just because it is a bookcase doesn’t mean it has to hold books.

You decide the purpose.

Perhaps you have plenty of space for food items in your kitchen and so you decide to use your small pantry as a school hub. This will house all of your kids back packs, art and school supplies, paperwork in-coming and out-going related to school, and a school calendar. This is their last stop before they head out the door for school and their first stop when they arrive back home. Just because it is a pantry doesn’t mean you have to use it for that.

You decide the purpose.

Once you decide the purpose of your space, the best way to keep that purpose in mind is to write it down. You are likely to make some changes later, but write it down anyway. If you are a list maker then feel free to make a list of all the tasks you want to do in this space. If you are more right-brained then draw a rough sketch of what you have in mind for the space.

Another option is to create a mind map of the different words or phrases that come to mind when you think of that space. The way this step is completed isn’t important. The important part is that it is completed.

Once you have a purpose, in some WRITTEN form…in your brain doesn’t count…you have to write it down, then you have completed the first step of your journey of being free to live.