The secret of Organizing 101…
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The most important steps for lasting organizational success
Don’t worry, wehearters, I am not going to give you 100 steps for how to do anything today. I just have been thinking lately about all of the Organizing 101 how-to lists out there (and I’ve written my share) targeting a particular area of the home or office in the hopes that you will be off and running, and able to just get organized.
I’m thinking we organizers are missing some steps…not very organized of us!
If these so-called Organizing 101 lists are effective, great! But what does effective mean? Reaching the goal? So the closet is cleaned out or the desk is cleared off. Wonderful! But does it stay that way?
To me the measure of effective means long-term, lasting results. I want people to be inspired and to have the knowledge and tools needed to achieve lasting change in their lives. Not to just clean up a few piles, a room or even the garage. But to gain insight into why their piles are piling up, why their space is getting so cluttered. Then to challenge themselves to make real changes that create what they want in their lives, whatever that might be: abundance, creativity, joy, clarity, relaxation, peace, time with love ones…and more.
If you really want to make lasting, life-enhancing change with organizational tools, I have found that it isn’t so much about the “how,” i.e. the 10 steps on how to organize x, y or z (although those steps are important to consider). After 10 years as a professional organizer what I’ve learned is that while these “how” steps are important – what is essential to lasting organizational success are the “why” steps. That brings me to today’s list.
Today’s list is about setting yourself up for lasting success. I would even venture to say it is a bit about organizing your mind for success. So, before you began any Organizing 101 project tackle these last few set up steps first:
10 Steps for Lasting Organizational Success:
91. Decide. Decide you want to make changes that last. If you don’t, then don’t bother starting. It is that important. See Seth Godin’s book The Dip for more on this subject. Godin addresses how to get through the low periods you will inevitably face when en route to your goal and how to tell if it is worth it to you to do so. (If you aren’t familiar with his work it is worth checking him out, his blog is pure genius.)
92. Expert assistance. Prepare to ask for help from experts. Maybe you will need a professional organizer or find reading their blog for tips is enough. Perhaps you will need to call an IT professional to fix your computer or hire a handyman to hang shelves. Whatever is stopping you from moving forward on your plans for world domination, consider bringing in the expert who can help you get unstuck. Do you try to fix the plumbing if it fails or do you call the plumber? Good answer, the pipes are leaking and it is time to make the call!
93. Experiment. Be willing to do things in a different way until you find the organizational solutions that work for you. You may even have to try numerous things until you find what works. This is not a one-size fits all world. Check out books, blogs, seminars, experts, and your own intuition about what feels right. You are a unique individual with unique circumstances. Experiment.
94. Adjust expectations. You are doing things differently and won’t be moving as quickly. You may be disoriented and frustrated at first. It may seem like things are worse before they get better. Be willing to invest the time and effort in yourself now in the way of sleep, healthy food and compassion. Your self will thank you.
95. Invest – slowly. Gradual change is change you can trust. It will be real and lasting if done reasonably over time. Progress is great but the full weekend projects blow us out and then the results leave as quickly as they came. Even small organizing sessions of 15 minutes a day will add up to large shifts over time. That kind of organizational change can be maintained in the long run.
96. Let go. Be willing to let go of what is not working, literally and figuratively. Have a talk with yourself about how you benefit from keeping clutter around or from keeping an over-packed schedule. See if you are willing to let those things go.
97. Slow down. Be open to a new way of scheduling time as well as structuring space. Physical clutter is often a symptom of an over-packed schedule. Cut the clutter from both, and the physical changes you make will be more likely to last.
98. Simple is best. Keep it simple with whatever new systems you look to implement. (i.e. Color coding is usually a bad sign.) You want to have more time for your life, not spend it managing your complicated tickler file.
99. Habituate. Realize this is not a brand new plan to get organized for the short term, but rather a habit you are developing that you will be working on, improving and revising to meet your growing and changing needs for the rest of your life. Bring organizing into each day in some manageable form.
100. Have fun. While organizing or even thinking about it! Re-frame it so it is less of a drag and more about how you take care of you. Really. Find a way. Play music, listen to a podcast, tell yourself jokes, sing, chair dance, throw paper airplanes…find your way – but do it. If not while organizing then afterwards as a reward.
This is your prep list; Organization Steps 91 to 100 is a primer to help your Organization 101 foundation projects last. Drop me a note in the comments and let me know how you do!
I just moved, so I’m definitely keeping these steps in mind when I go through the last few boxes we have to deal with. I’d planned on clearing my day and just tackling it all this weekend, but after reading this article I really think I need to take a much more thoughtful approach.
I love that they are simple and concise; organizing is SO overwhelming but this really does make me feel like I could tackle my mess monster!
Thanks Jennifer!!
@jpal, thank you, thank you for these fantastic tips you’ve been sharing with us! I’m moving soon and have every intention of ridding unnecessary clutter. FINALLY.
Your organizational guides are going to get me through it!
Wow Alyssa! Moving is one of the toughest organizational jobs on town! Glad you are deciding to go a bit easier on yourself … Good luck with it and keep me posted on your progress! I am interested to hear how you do and what steps and tools help the most along the way.
Kari – good luck with your upcoming move! It is such a great help to get rid of clutter prior to a move so I wish you the best – stay in touch and let me know if you have questions along the way. I’m always happy to be a resource!
@jpal, your #96 (let go) is my biggest stumbling block in a literal way. I get emotionally attached to things I’ll never use or wear again, and it’s hard to give them up even though I know I’m being silly!
Your list is really inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing your helpful tips and getting me motivated to purge!
@jpal, this post literally could not have come at a better time. Thank you!
I am in the midst of cleaning out my spare bedroom/office/storage room and it is incredibly overwhelming. Yesterday my boyfriend and I worked on it from morning till night and, by the end of it, I found I was much more willing to “let go” of certain things and put them in the donation pile, versus how unwilling I was when we first started tackling this project. Everything was, “Oh no, I cannot part with THAT” and then 10 hours later it was, “Screw it. Get rid of it.” Haha!
And I completely agree with everything you said about having fun. When we started out yesterday, we didn’t have any music on. But by lunchtime, I decided to turn on an 80s radio station and it made ALL the difference in our moods. How can you not have fun clearing out old boxes of photos while listening to “Hungry like the Wolf”? :)
I was reading these steps and thinking that these aren’t just organizing steps, these are design steps, work steps and life steps. Watch out Mr. Chopra, there’s a new spiritualist in town!
@turboterp I so understand getting attached to things! I don’t actually think it is silly – we live so intimately with our objects, clothing especially, that we develop relationships with them. It is understandable that it can be hard to let go. It can help to have an understanding of this dynamic …and realize too – as you said – sometimes relationships have to come to an end.
@nouveaucheap Music makes all the difference! Anything from the Go Go’s will give me a lift! ha! It is so great to hear your experience… my clients will agree that once they get going it is easier.
This helps to illustrate my philosophy that organizing is a muscle that you can learn to flex … like working out it gets easier the more you flex! You are so strong – look at those organizing biceps! Hot mama!
@sherrishera uh oh … just like an English major to read between the lines! Sherri has unveiled my evil (yet spiritual plan) to take over the universe under the guise of organizing…duh duh duuuhhhh ;)
Jennifer I so need you in my life :) I try and try to stay organized and I just can’t stay that way. I am one of those that really wants to be organized and then my old sloppy ways come back. I am going to print up your tips and try my hardest to change.
It can be hard to stay on track – I so understand Tiffany! Little changes over time go a long way…even just a few minutes a day of organizing – a 20 minute session – similar to a 20 minute walk …I’ve found it is a little like staying in shape. We can’t do yesterday’s exercising today. We can just do today’s workout today and there is also not really any getting ahead…we just have to work out reasonably and consistently every day to stay in good shape. Same with staying organized. A reasonable amount of effort each day and we are on track.
Thank you for going over this subject in such a way that we just may get it to sink in and act on it @jpal! I finally got around to reading your post tonight, and am so glad I did! I have lots of clutter around me, and I really don’t like it. I’ll let you know how I progress over the next few weeks and months.. I will also be looking at Seth Godin’s site. Thanks again! :)
I think I would benefit from an outsider’s help in order to ‘let go’…I need Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear to be ruthless with all the vintage gowns I will never wear, but can not part with!
@jpal, will you come over? ha ha!
Thanks for the motivational post!
@irene I’ll be looking forward to hearing your progress…glad the tips helped! Let me know what you think of Godin.
I have to admit I have a brain crush on Seth Godin. I covet his intelligence. His messaging consistently makes that small “but I’m just a mere mortal” shrinking part of me straighten up and want to stand in the best part of me. At All Times. It isn’t a motivational – you know you can! (Which I find annoying.) It is a realistic – hey, we are better than this. Just, be better.
@glamazon56 I love how you think…I’ll call Stacy and Clinton and we’ll all come over with champagne! Painless process! ;-)
@jpal, you bet! I did look late last night at Seth’s blog and liked what I saw.. I will keep you posted on how I’m doing.. I know it will be a work in progress! :) Little by little.
So great to hear it Irene! Ah, yes… always a work in progress.
Hey! Who brought that stack of old magazines into my living room? ;-)