How to Get Your “Space” Organized
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Getting organized is not merely a theoretical exercise. Sure, you need to think about goals and create plans, but after that, you need to organize your space(s). You space could be your office, your home, garage, the inside of your car, etc. It’s the physical area that is often cluttered and overrun.
The tough question is often, “where do I begin?” That depends on your situation and personal style. There are two ways you can approach organized your space:
Pick the most difficult area to organize – if you’re driven, with lots of energy and particularly bothered by problem area, tackle that first. If you office looks like a tornado blew through, schedule a couple of days to get things cleared up. By tackling the most difficult area first, each subsequent challenge gets simpler.
Pick the easiest area to organize – If the size of the job overwhelms you and prevents you from starting, pick something small and easy. Start with the top of your desk, then organize a book shelf. Next, bring your filing up-to-date. By breaking the job into small pieces, you’re less likely to be overwhelmed and before you know it, your office will be organized.
Get rid of the clutter
Out of Clutter, Find Simplicity.
From Discord, Find Harmony.
In the Middle of Difficulty Lies Opportunity. —Albert Einstein (Three Rules of Work)
Everybody deals with clutter at some time or another. You don’t have to hold on to it forever. Free up space and simplify your life by decluttering.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I love it?
- Do I need it?
- Is it essential?
- Does it enhance my life?
Sort your things into 3 piles
- Keep
- Give
- Toss
Are you cleaning your workspace? Read: 10 Tips to Help Keep Your Desk Clean.
Are you a pack rat? Here’s some tips to help break the hoarding habit.
1) Take Inventory
Take a tour of the space you are organizing and take inventory all of your stuff. Look in cabinets, closets, bookshelves, storage containers, the garage, etc. Do you have things you haven’t used in a year or more? Ask yourself, will I use that item again? If the answer is maybe, get rid of it. Call The Salvation Army, recycle it or pass it on to someone who can use it.
2) Share your information
I save books and magazines long after I’ve read them. I find one article I’d like to reference in the future and I hang onto the whole magazine.
If you’re like that, tear out the article, recipe, instructions, etc. and file it in an organized system. I’m going one step further by scanning any such material and storing it electronically, which eliminates the paper altogether.
Recycle those that you don’t plan on reading or using again. Donate them to a local charity, a school, hospital or retirement home, where others can enjoy and learn from your books.
3) Don’t become the Pickle-Jar Guy
Do you know someone who has a garage filled with empty jars because they are going to use them someday? Empty containers make great storage, but how many do you need? If you have more than five or six empty containers stuck in a cabinet or closet collecting dust, add it to the recycling.
4) Ask the key question
‘Is my life going to change if I get rid of this thing?’ Almost always, the answer is, No.
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- Revitalizing Your Home Office (cathystucker.com)
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I have so become the pickle jar guy . . .
Organization has been the bane of my productivity, since I can never seem to justify having so much stuff, yet can’t justify getting rid of it either. These tips today will help a lot.