Paralyzed by Clutter? 4 simple ideas to get yourself started
By Barb Eimer
Getting organized is a little like going to the dentist. It’s painful in the beginning, but in the end, you are glad you did it. To further the analogy, you might even be in a bit of trouble if you keep putting it off.
Many people look at the chaos in their homes and panic. Where do you start when so many areas need help?
There are several ways to go about this, and organizing is definitely not one size fits all. The key to getting started is to pick projects that you can finish in an hour or less.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
Here are four ideas you can start that will give you some momentum:
Idea 1: Organize and clean your car
I love starting with your car because usually you can do this in less than an hour, and you will come away with a huge sense of accomplishment. Plus, because you are in your car every day, you get what feels like a big bang for your buck. In the organizing world, we call this low hanging fruit!
While I try not to go too crazy with gadgets, there are a few things that are worth the money. When my kids were little, I had an over the seat organizer for wipes, coloring books, and snacks. I also bought thin organizing pocket type things with the very unattractive name of “car seat gap fillers.” These kept my phone (and pens and credit cards and twenty-dollar bills!) from falling into the crack between the seat and the console. Worth. Every. Penny!
Because I shop at Aldi’s, I keep collapsible picnic baskets in my Jeep, and these are amazing as well. You can use them for just about anything. Foldable plastic crates from Costco are also a game changer!
My point is that you are in your car a lot and it’s worth a bit of money to try to keep that space as clean and organized as you can. Try to take a handful of things into the house every time you exit the car so that it isn’t overrun with takeout napkins or week-old French fries. (And, yes, I realize this last tip is totally worthless if you have small kids as all you can take when leaving the car is one of them!)
Idea 2: Organize Your Entryway
For most people, the entrance is the mudroom or the front hallway. There is something about first impressions and if yours is “Oh crap, my house is a disaster” then that feeling is hard to shake, even if other rooms are relatively clutter-free.
We have a miniscule entrance and I still have a cute metal envelope-style mailbox hanging on the wall for sunglasses, gloves, outgoing mail, etc. We also hang our keys on Command hooks, so they are immediately accessible. Behind the door is a cute and functional wall mounted coat rack that serves as our coat closet.
Remember that the only hard and fast rule in organizing is that everything must have a home. That’s how The Container Store stays in business! Everyone knows that things look better when gathered in a basket or a bin. If you have a coat closet, use the shelf above the hanging rod for several stacks of bins. Don’t put your kids’ things here because they won’t be able to reach them. But they are great for your winter gear or extra purses or (if you don’t have a garage) sports equipment.
Now, I will admit that you can still have chaos nestled in a pretty bin, so it isn’t the end-all, but I have been known to use the bin solution when I have stuff scattered all over and company is coming. Just sayin’!
If you have kids, your organizational system must work for them. If the hook for their backpack is too high, they won’t use it. If they need a stool to get to their cubby, it’s useless. Make it easy for your kids to participate even if the storage solutions you come up with aren’t magazine worthy. (True confessions: We had a giant laundry basket in our front hall closet when my kids were little. It wasn’t beautiful, but everyone knew that’s where shoes belonged. And it worked!)
Idea 3: Declutter a cupboard or a drawer
Again, this is a project that you can finish in one sitting, and it gets the proverbial organizing ball rolling. Try to do one drawer a day or three a week. Set realistic goals that can be accomplished in twenty minutes. If you want to start small, do something that can be accomplished while watching a movie on Netflix.
Take that huge pile of unmatched socks or pull out your kitchen junk drawer and sort away. If you organize for twenty minutes each day, in a month’s time you will have put in 10 hours. That’s enough to make a real difference in any space!
Another thing I’m always telling people (in a super-loving way, of course!) is that your house didn’t get cluttered in a day and it’s not going to get decluttered in a day. I know it can be hard to get motivated if you are working alone, but that’s why professional organizers exist!
Yes, this is my freebie tip for the day. At absolutely no cost to you, I’m adding an extra dose of wisdom! And that’s… if all else fails…
Idea 4: Call in reinforcements
Whether you hire a professional organizer, or bribe your sister or your best friend, sometimes the biggest barrier is just tackling the space alone. So get help and make it as much fun as you can. Have achievable goals and treat yourself once those goals are met. You will be surprised how much you can get done in several hours with a helper or two.
Hiring Malinda is a great idea because you have an expert in your corner, to share the work and to keep you accountable. It’s a win/win!
Fellow professional organizer (and friend and mentor), Barb Eimer, has graciously agreed to be a guest blogger for me! You can learn more about Barb here.