PROCESS: a series of actions used to produce something or reach a goal.
Before we get into the action steps let’s define the goal. A common organizing goal is to produce a clutter free space with a system designed specifically for your needs and the space involved in order to reduce chaos and confusion in your home and in your life. Less chaos and confusion = more time for the things that really matter.
Getting organized means freeing up time and money to spend on the things that really matter….spirituality, emotional well-being, physical health and loving relationships.
Now for the action steps. I have created a simple acronym to help you to achieve your goal. By following the PROCESS steps below anyone can conquer any space. The point to remember is that organizing is a PROCESS, one that may need to be repeated periodically to get your space working for you as effectively as possible. As your needs change, you may find your current system isn’t working for you any longer and that’s when you need to simply go through the PROCESS again but this time you may get away with only having to do a couple of the steps. Do not get discouraged if your system doesn’t work for you the first time. Expect it. The only way to know if something is going to work out for you is to actually use the system for awhile. Time will tell. If the chaos and confusion didn’t subside then try again. It will get easier once you become more familiar with what works for you and what doesn’t. I generally need to go through the PROCESS whenever I purchase something that won’t fit into my designated areas (like when I go garage saleing and come home with all sorts of things I just had to have…did I tell you I have trouble passing up a bargain….lol).
Here are the steps:
Plan of attack – which area(s) do you want to address – make a list – evaluate present system, what is working, what isn’t working, devise new system
Remove items – start from a clean slate – empty the space
Organize into piles – like with like – donate/toss/sell/keep/relocate
Containerize – find storage solutions and designate a space for items being kept
Evaluate plan – how is your system working for you – what needs to be modified
Solve/simplify anything that isn’t working
Smile, relax and enjoy your hard work!
So what do you think? Do you think you can make it work for you?
Christina says
All right this sounds good. I am going to give it a try. My biggest problem is I get emotionally attached to everything and then I can’t seem to part with the stuff.
org junkie says
Ahh yes, the emotional attachment. I will have to address that in a post soon. Seems to be a common problem. Laura
Tess says
My mom bought my sister and I a book when we were kids, wish I could remember the title, but basically it went through how to clean your room and showed 3 boxes, and steps like what you have described. We loved it, and I still use the same process today.
Amazingly, I used to be a packrat but now cannot stand clutter AT ALL, and my sister used to be a neatfreak and her house is way more cluttered than her room ever was. weird.
Sandra says
Laura, you inspire me to be more organized, so I’m going to give this a try and see how it happens. I’m like Christina though, I get too attached to everything, and when it’s time to get rid of it I feel like I’m getting rid of a piece of me….how dumb I know, but it’s a real problem for me.
Thanks for a great post 🙂
Annie says
I’m with them on the emotional attachment, next time you come over I’ll show you the things I’d love to get rid of and you tell me how. Funny thing is they aren’t things I got from my Mum…those I keep regardless.
Honey says
I am going to try this too. I go through phases of being great about purging things we don’t *really* need but I have to remember to do that every time I bring something home. Like someone said it’s hard to let things go. (especially if it might be needed later). I took my baker’s rack out of the kitchen this year to put in a play kitchen. This works MUCH better for us all. I do have less space for kitchen stuff, and thought about saving all those gadgets and even the bakers rack for when it will fit again. You see, it matches my table. But then I thought that I don’t Love the look of the baker’s rack, and maybe I’ll want to live without one indefinitly, and should I need one again, I can get one then. Why take up space storing it somewhere adding to the clutter when someone else can enjoy it?! 🙂 Thanks for the steps! These reminders are what I need.
Julie Julie Bo Boolie says
You rock! That’s a great plan.. I’m gonna have to remember that one!
mom of 2 says
I love the acronym!! As the others I have some emotional attachments to stuff, but I think my nature is to throw things away. I’m constantly getting rid of stuff!! I think I find it easier to throw things away than to organize them…sometimes it is a problem when I need whatever it is that I have thrown away! I’ll have to give your way a try!!
momrn2 says
Is this one of those things that is easier said than done? It sounds so very easy…. now to the doing…
Thanks for sharing a way to break it into steps!
Jen says
Loved this…makes me want to go get organized…if I could only get up from the recliner.
Jen
Jenmomof4 says
Sounds great. I just need to get off my duff and get started. I had a burst of cleaning/organizing last week and redid my pantry, medicine cabinent and my drawer in my bathroom. Its a start. With 4 kids it gets kind of crazy when I am the only one doing the cleaning. Thanks.
Jennifer
maggie says
AAAwesome Blog. I’m going to bookmark yeah and take some tips
Anonymous says
I just wanted to say that I am new to the blog scene and your blog was the first that I saw. Your before and after pictures are wonderful. You have really inspired me to work on my own house.
org junkie says
Dear Anonymous, thank you so much for leaving a comment…I do so appreciate it when people take the time to say hello! I’m so glad you like my blog. I don’t ever want to come across as a know it all but just as someone who has an “addiction” that they love to share!
Jules says
You know I didn’t think I was going to participate in the challenge until I read this post. I was feeling very overwhelmed by one space that really NEEDS to be transformed for my daughter and myself. Now you have given me the hope that by tackling it in steps I can do it. So count me in 🙂