Five Steps to Get Rid Clutter and Organize Your Home
2812
Self Improvement > Organizing
Mar 1, 2007
Greg Payette
Five Steps to Get Rid Clutter and Organize Your Home
A pact, according to Dictionary.com is "a formal agreement...such as one between nations."
Well, I want you to have A-Pact with your clutter. Although this turns into more of a battle (that you win)...it's a great way to remember the steps to organization.
Here's what it means and how it works ...
A-->ASK
Ask yourself what you want out of the room or area you're going to organize. What are the goals of the room? What are you shooting for by getting organized?
And the thing is, you want to dig a little deep into how you want to benefit. This will help you get motivated and work towards the final goal.
For instance, if you're going to start the process of organizing paperwork in your home office, the question is "why do I want to organize this space?"
The answer could be "I don't ever want to have a late bill again" or "I want to find any document in less than two minutes."
Once you've answered the question, then move onto step 2...
P--->PILE
What you do in this step is pile "like" items together.
In your closet, you make a pile of all your shirts.
Another pile of all your pants...
Or let's say we're in your home office (or wherever you do keep paperwork.)
Start with your file drawer, or grab a pile if that's what you've got for a "filing system."
Put each piece of paper in "like" files. For example, all the insurance paperwork will go together. All of your 401K paperwork goes in another. All medical expenses from the present year in another.
A--->ANALYZE
Next you go through the piles and break them down even more, this time into two piles of "treasure" or "trash."
I like to assign each category with treasure or trash so there's no in between. No room for "I'm going to decide on this later."
No, decide right there and then if it's either staying or going.
No in between.
Now the thing is, the trash doesn't necessarily mean it's going to the garbage.
That step comes next... and remember the saying, one man's trash (or junk) is another man's treasure.
next...
C--->CASH-IN
This is where you go through the "trash" and break it down once more, deciding what can be donated, what can be sold, and what's going to the dumpster.
Next step is where you get organized...
T--->TIDY UP!
This is where, once you've gotten all the "trash" out of the area, you organize the items you've decided to keep.
Tidy up, put it back in an ordered, organized fashion.
When you're organizing, always keep like items together whether on a shelf, in drawers or in any other type of storage you're using.
Have items you use more frequently be more accessible and within reach, too.
So there you go...
Have A-PACT with your clutter today, okay? Greg Payette is the founder of DiscoverOrganization.com and created a simple, step by step system for organizing your home and getting rid of clutter and cut stress out of your home. Visit DiscoverOrganization.com for more information and to sign up for a Free Home Organizing Mini Course
Well, I want you to have A-Pact with your clutter. Although this turns into more of a battle (that you win)...it's a great way to remember the steps to organization.
Here's what it means and how it works ...
A-->ASK
Ask yourself what you want out of the room or area you're going to organize. What are the goals of the room? What are you shooting for by getting organized?
And the thing is, you want to dig a little deep into how you want to benefit. This will help you get motivated and work towards the final goal.
For instance, if you're going to start the process of organizing paperwork in your home office, the question is "why do I want to organize this space?"
The answer could be "I don't ever want to have a late bill again" or "I want to find any document in less than two minutes."
Once you've answered the question, then move onto step 2...
P--->PILE
What you do in this step is pile "like" items together.
In your closet, you make a pile of all your shirts.
Another pile of all your pants...
Or let's say we're in your home office (or wherever you do keep paperwork.)
Start with your file drawer, or grab a pile if that's what you've got for a "filing system."
Put each piece of paper in "like" files. For example, all the insurance paperwork will go together. All of your 401K paperwork goes in another. All medical expenses from the present year in another.
A--->ANALYZE
Next you go through the piles and break them down even more, this time into two piles of "treasure" or "trash."
I like to assign each category with treasure or trash so there's no in between. No room for "I'm going to decide on this later."
No, decide right there and then if it's either staying or going.
No in between.
Now the thing is, the trash doesn't necessarily mean it's going to the garbage.
That step comes next... and remember the saying, one man's trash (or junk) is another man's treasure.
next...
C--->CASH-IN
This is where you go through the "trash" and break it down once more, deciding what can be donated, what can be sold, and what's going to the dumpster.
Next step is where you get organized...
T--->TIDY UP!
This is where, once you've gotten all the "trash" out of the area, you organize the items you've decided to keep.
Tidy up, put it back in an ordered, organized fashion.
When you're organizing, always keep like items together whether on a shelf, in drawers or in any other type of storage you're using.
Have items you use more frequently be more accessible and within reach, too.
So there you go...
Have A-PACT with your clutter today, okay? Greg Payette is the founder of DiscoverOrganization.com and created a simple, step by step system for organizing your home and getting rid of clutter and cut stress out of your home. Visit DiscoverOrganization.com for more information and to sign up for a Free Home Organizing Mini Course
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
Let's be honest. Nobody likes rules. But the thing is, if you're serious about home organization, then there are some specific rules you'll want to follow. You'll see how much easier organization will be by
Category:
A lot of people ask me if it's really worth hiring a professional zer or if you're better off doing it yourself. Both are valuable options, but either way you should understand the specific steps and strategies to having a more
Category:
The most common problem most people have with getting rid of clutter and getting organized is not knowing how to begin or where to get started. So it gets put off until...later. Of course, the reasons are usually decent.
Category:
You know what the real problem i with getting organized? We have too much tuff! I'm willing to bet you have ome thing you (or omeone you live with) keep without having a good enough reaon. So why DO we keep
Category:
I've spoken to quite a few people over the years who say they have very nice clothes they love but the don't wear them anymore. But my question is this: If you value something so much...then don't you think you should be wearing
Category:
A pact, according to Dictionary.com is "a formal agreement...such as one between nations." Well, I want you to have A-Pact with your clutter. Although this turns into more of a battle (that you win)...it's a great way to remember the
Category:
Some people have so much clutter and so much stuff all over the place, they think all it's going to take is some fancy storage system they have in the home improvement store and everything will be fine. A few shelves here and a few more
Category:
There's a little misinformation about home organization and getting organized I need to clear up. These are the myths of home organization... ===== Myth #1: You have to be born organized to live organized,
Category:
First off, you need to know organizing your home is different for you than it is for someone else. Some folks don't have a lot of clutter and junk but need to know how to maintain organization and have a place for their
Category:
Other links at Self Improvement > Organizing
It's great when the family gets together, but you know that it'll be much greater if all family members can get to know each other and share the family history. Much interest had been given to genealogic researches in the past years, but still, the
Category:
One of the best ways to put more balance in your life is to get rid of clutter. I sincerely believe that a cluttered house or office just creates disorder in your mind, not to mention the guilt you feel about how you should be spending your time
Category:
There's a little misinformation about home organization and getting organized I need to clear up. These are the myths of home organization... ===== Myth #1: You have to be born organized to live organized,
Category:
First off, you need to know organizing your home is different for you than it is for someone else. Some folks don't have a lot of clutter and junk but need to know how to maintain organization and have a place for their
Category:
Let's be honest. Nobody likes rules. But the thing is, if you're serious about home organization, then there are some specific rules you'll want to follow. You'll see how much easier organization will be by
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68228
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
