Where Do You Start?

If you are overwhelmed at disorganization around you, the best advice is to start in a small area first.  It may be a kitchen drawer or one shelf in a bookcase, but making it organized  will give you a sense of accomplishment and the motivation to move on to other areas.

Another approach may be to tackle the area that irritates you most.  If it is stack of papers on the kitchen counter, getting those sorted and off that surface will give you added counter space as well as peace of mind.

Regardless of the approach, doing something will start you on your way.

What is Being Organized?

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in some ways, being organized means different things to different people.  Even professional organizers differ in the way they define and characterize being organized.  Regardless of the definitions, being organized is a positive thing just as being disorganized has negative connotations.

It is true each of us will have our own organizing styles just as we have individual personalities and preferences.  But there are some common threads that characterize organized spaces.

1.  They have items arranged so they are not overcrowded.  There are not too many items in the space and each can be accessed easily. 
2.  Similar items are grouped together.  We call it "like with like". 
3.  Items are contained so they remain in their designeated space without falling out or wandering into other spaces.
4.  Items are placed where they are used.  The more frequently they are used, the closer they should be.
5.  Every item has a permanent, specific home.  Nothing else is put in that space so it can always be found and always be returned to its home.

In organized spaces, any item can be found withing a minute, cleaning is easier and spaces have a sense of calm and peace.  We live in a universe with orderly systems all around us and I believe we can never be truly content until our personal spaces are orderly too.

Picture Perfect Places

Have you ever thought, where do I begin to organize this room? If so, you might want to consider taking pictures of that space.

Using your camera, take shots from several views so that none of the details in the room are missed. Depending on the type of camera you use, print the pictures so you can study the elements in the room. I think you will be amazed at the items you see on paper.

Many of the things in the room that you hardly noticed before will now appear to have more significance. This is because we get so used to seeing some things that they become like background wallpaper. We hardly notice them.

This is particularly true of clutter or extra "stuff" that takes away from the attractiveness of the space. The picture reveals this in a way our eyes will miss or take for granted.

To organize the space, begin removing those clutter items. Pay close attention to things that are on the floor, the items stacked on tables or other surfaces, and the amount of space around the furnishings. To create a room that appears organized and spacious, you may need to rearrange some of the furniture or eliminate a few pieces.

After your initial organizing session, take more pictures from the same views and compare the before and after shots. You may be pleasantly surprised. If not, keep trying until the room is picture perfect. And let me know if I can help you with it.