How to get organized? Follow these PROCESS steps….

I’m re-publishing this post for all my new readers and of course any of my long time readers that might need a refresher!! It works for any space big or small and it’s easy to remember!!

PROCESS: a series of actions used to produce something or reach a goal.

When organizing a space it is helpful to follow a series of tasks or actions. This will enable you to keep on track and 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 and money for the things that really matter such as….spirituality, emotional well-being, physical health and loving relationships.

“Organizing is the gateway to your higher goal, such as to be able to get out the door faster in the morning or to be able to invite friends over with ease. Once you look beyond the piles and know why you want to get organized, you are suddenly motivated.”

Professional Organizer, Julie Morgenstern

I have created a simple acronym to allow you to break down your organizing project into simple, straightforward steps that will help you stick to your plan and achieve optimal organizing results.

By following the PROCESS steps below anyone can conquer any space of any size. The steps allow you to do one or all at a time depending on the time you have available for the task.

The point to remember, in order prevent discouragement, is that organizing is a ongoing 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 that you need to simply go through the PROCESS steps 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 and practice these new routines. Be disciplined in giving yourself at least three weeks to develop new habits. Time will tell. If the chaos and confusion don’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 new that doesn’t fit into my designated areas.

Habit: an action or behavior pattern that is regular, repetitive, and often unconscious

Here are the PROCESS steps:

Plan of attack – plan your project – which area(s) do you want to address – make a list – evaluate present system, what is working, what isn’t working, devise new system – determine budget – develop timeline

Remove items – start from a clean slate – empty the space completely – remove then sort & purge

Organize into piles – donate/toss/sell/keep/relocate – sort like with like – purge excess – the more you purge the less you have to find a home

Containerize – find storage solutions – containers establish limits and boundaries – designate a space for items being kept – consolidate

Evaluate plan – how is your system working for you – are you able to work your system? What needs to be modified? A good system should be easy to maintain

Solve/simplify anything that isn’t working for you – revise accordingly

Smile, relax and enjoy your hard work!

Try it out and let me know if it works for you!