Do you have a few organizing goals you want to achieve, but don’t know where to start?
Clutter is exhausting and overwhelming to deal with. Ignoring and trying to maneuver around clutter is as equally exhausting as trying to tackle it. Having organizing goals is great, but how do you actually achieve those goals?
Achieve your organizing goals one bite at a time.
Remember that there’s only one way to eat an elephant – one bite at a time. An overwhelming task is so much easier to swallow, so to speak, if you break it down into tiny bite-sized pieces and know that you do not have to do it all at once. You are allowed to take your time.
Maybe you have the BIG goal of decluttering and organizing your entire home. That’s a great organizing goal. It’s also a great BIG organizing goal, and could be way too daunting. Start by focusing on one space at a time and back into that BIG goal. In addition, break it down even further; while you are working on that one single space focus on one step of the organizing process at a time.
As one of my clients recently pointed out to me, “small hinges swing big gates.” When you take one small action step toward your goal you’ll start noticing bigger, faster results with less effort as time goes on. Man, I love knowing that. Don’t you?
Achieve your organizing goals by knowing YOU CAN DO IT.
Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can or think you cannot, you are right.” There is such genius truth to this statement. If you set an organizing goal (or any life goal for that matter) and immediately tell yourself, “There’s no way I can do this.” Guess what? You’ve already defeated yourself. You have set yourself up for failure. Flip that negative self-talk on it’s head!
Go to a mirror, look yourself in the eyes and say, “I’ve got this. This is my home, and I am in control of the clutter. Clutter is not in control of me.” Then give yourself a high five and get to work. Who cares if you feel silly. You’re about to crush your goals!
Achieve your organizing goals by having a support system.
Reaching your goals (any goals) is sometimes easier when you have support. I highly suggest checking out the Loving Your Home Club. It might be the best way to get all your organizing and decluttering goals accomplished. Bouncing ideas off of other members and using Club resources can be invaluable. The Club supports women who are ready to make things happen.
Where to start…
There are 3 different approaches you can take when trying to decide where to start decluttering.
- You can try starting with the spot that bothers you the most. Once you get the most annoying clutter taken care of the rest will usually fall way more easily.
- However, if it ALL really bothers you and this advice isn’t helpful then start with your personal space; your bedroom. Your bedroom is probably the first room you see when you open your eyes in the morning and the last room you see when you close your eyes at night. Make that space the best space in your house! It sets the tone for your mood (whether you realize it or not).
- You could also start in the heart of your home: The Kitchen. It’s amazing what a cleaned out refrigerator can do for your momentum.
When to finish…
Keep yourself accountable and on track by making sure your organizing plan has a realistic timeline attached to it. Put it on the calendar and hold yourself accountable to that “finish date.” Make sure you give yourself enough time to complete the project, but don’t make it so far out that you begin to procrastinate. Once you dive in, you’ll know if your finish date is realistic.
If you are ready to start Loving Your Home, join the Club!