As an Organizing Coach, my job is to help my clients create the home they want. They rely on me to help them clear through the clutter of their home and make it work for them instead of them being a slave to it. The hardest part, I’ve found for any client, is knowing where to start. They need to know about the organizing equation.
It might be unique to my experience, but it seems that most of my clients are already organized. It’s not really organizing they need help with. The problem is they have acquired more things than their houses can hold efficiently.
More times than not, I will open their closets or cabinets and almost hear angels sing because they are so organized. The problem is in the abundance of items that don’t fit in those cabinets and closets and are piled everywhere.
In order to help clients, I like to start with the thought process. I like to guide them to look at the priorities they have for their homes.
No pressure, but if you’re still reading this, you probably want to get started on the process of uncluttering your home. Am I right? Let’s do this together!
Let’s start with a few questions to ask yourself:
- What are my goals? To be able to get out of the house in the morning without losing my mind? To have people over for dinner and not be embarrassed by the condition of our home? To pay my bills on time? To finally get a grip on our laundry? Be sure to put this list on your phone or write it on a piece of paper. You’ll be referring back to it later. These goals will show what your priorities are.
- How much time do I have each week to work on these goals? This dedicated time will show how serious you are about accomplishing your goals.
- Am I willing to make some difficult choices to help me get to my goals? This acknowledgment will show how dedicated you are to accomplishing your goals.
So, if you made your goal list, are you willing to do what it takes to reach those goals? How much time will you set aside each week to work on your goals? Are you ready to make the tough decisions you need to see progress made?
Goals + Time + Commitment = Uncluttered Home
So what now?
- Put your list where you can see it. I keep mine in my planner.
- Look at the week ahead and plan how much time you will dedicate to decluttering. Write down what you will do and when you will do it.
- Set yourself up for success. Have all of your supplies ready and plan for some easy meals on the days you will dedicate to work on your goals.
For instance, if I planned to work on my kitchen this week, this is what my schedule might look like without taking off of work or neglecting the rest of my home. Also, I would plan to cook crockpot meals and eat leftovers.
Don’t worry if you can’t work on your goals every day. You are in charge of your schedule, so plan what works best for you. If you can only work on it for 1 hour this next week, then that is better than nothing. Progress is taking one step at a time even if the steps are small. Progress is getting rid of things you don’t use any more to make room for what you do use.
Disclaimer: I am a morning person and I can get a lot of things done before 8:00. Also, Hubs and I are empty nesters so I don’t have any little ones to take care of. When my children were little, I would just do one drawer a day or one shelf of a cabinet. Don’t allow guilt to weigh you down. Make a plan and be disciplined about following through.
Next time, we’ll talk about what to do with those items you don’t use anymore but aren’t sure if you can let them go.
