get organized in 4 Easy steps

I’m a professional organizer in Katy, TX. I’ve decluttered spaces for as long as I can remember. It comes naturally to me just like drawing, baking, or carpentry comes naturally to someone else. We’re all good at something, right?
 
I’ve never done a blog before so hopefully I won’t bore you and you’ll use this information to start your journey to getting organized.
 
It is a known fact that if we’re not organized, ​we’re more stressed, we waste time looking for stuff, and then we feel frustrated. Maybe you’re looking for your keys, scissors, last month’s electric bill, or maybe you’re just tired of not being able to park your car in your garage during winter. Whatever it may be, that few minutes of stress can lead to anger, feelings of hopelessness, making you late for work or school, and eventually it could lead to health problems. Don’t we need to avoid stress in our lives? Yes, we do!

Let’s Get Organized​
​Organization is when you have a system in place where there’s a spot for all things in your home or office. Once you have this system, your space can still get messy, but it’ll take little or no time to put things back in their designated spots. As you keep refining your system, it will take less and less time to put everything back.

Now, if a system works for me, it doesn’t mean it’ll work for you. This is the reason I get to know my clients and what it is they’re trying to accomplish. Sometimes, they just want to get rid of things they’ve held on to for years and sometimes they want to organize and put a system in place. As I work with my clients, we use all kinds of organizational tools we can get our hands on. Shoe boxes, old Tupperware, leftover bins from another project, etc. Not everyone can afford cute little baskets, bins, and shelves. The point is not always to have a perfect look. Don’t get me wrong, the pretty baskets are awesome but getting organized is much more important than the matching baskets.

1. Pick A Spot, Any Spot
The first thing you need to think about is which space in your home or office do you want to start with. If your kitchen and pantry is where you spend most of your time, then that could be a good place to start. Always start with a small easy space. Small victories and accomplishments are what we’re after. As you get more comfortable organizing, you can move on to a bigger space. One thing to remember throughout this process is to declutter and organize, not just organize the clutter.

As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. Since I’m a Texas resident, I know this all too well. Our homes and apartments are bigger but just because we have the space, it doesn’t mean we need to fill it. It’s okay to have an extra empty drawer or an empty kitchen cabinet. Really, it is!

2. Keep, Donate, Recycle, Trash

Each time you pick up an item, think about when the last time was you used it/wore it, does it still work, could I use this space for something else, etc. We all have emotional attachments to our “stuff”, but if it’s not a family heirloom and you didn’t even know you had some plastic ornament that came hanging on a gift box, then it’s a safe bet you don’t need it.

As you start to trash, recycle, and donate your items you no longer have a need for, it’ll get easier and easier. Two things to remember:
1. Keep the “needs”, not the “wants”.
2. If you feel bad about donating something you paid money for, think of it this way: the money is already spent. Unless it’s something valuable, you can’t get that money back. Let it go!

3. Everything in its Place
Create a space for all the “stuff” you decided to keep. If it belongs in the garage, take it there. If you need to take the holiday decorations to the attic, do it. If you need to get a basket for all your mail, get one. Basically, follow through!
 
4. Maintain It
Finally, as the saying goes “don’t put it down, put it away”. For example, as soon as you check your mail, toss the junk mail into the recycle bin, open the most important mail, and the rest can go into a basket to be looked through at a later time.

​And another good tip to remember is when something comes into the house, then something has to leave the house.
 
I Lack Time, Patience, & Expertise
You just can't get around to doing the work yourself? Not a problem, call a professional! They look at a cluttered space, see its potential, and work their magic! 

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