Organizing 101

My dear friend sent me these helpful tips on organizing. With her permission I share them with you.

Organizing 101: Simplify…Simplify…Simplify

1. Prior to de-cluttering and organizing your house, begin by talking to "the author of order" – GOD. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help. Pray that you will be able to bless your family by simplifying your life and also bless others with your excess (i.e. giving to others).
2. Adopt the philosophy that "less really is better". The less you have the less you have to maintain, clean, organize, and put back into its place later.
3. Determine what you will keep, give away or throw away! If you haven’t used something in 6 months, you probably don’t need it any longer and can then determine if it is trash or treasure for someone else. If you are struggling with getting rid of something, use the value approach. Evaluate the item based on the dollar value and assess what it would cost to buy in the event that later you determined that you needed it. If the value is nominal and could be easily replaced, simply get rid of it and don’t look back. Chances are…you will never miss it.
4. Remember that EVERYTHING has its own place in the house. This will help you big time in the future. No more searching and searching for anything – a huge time saver. Also, by getting the entire household involved, everyone can find and replace things themselves!!
5. When you start a project (or a room to organize), pull everything off the shelves and put into the middle of the floor. Not only does this give you perspective on what you have and the excess, you will also have a chance to clean in spots you never knew existed.
6. Remember that it is OK (and actually better) to NOT use all your shelves, storage bins and closets. Don’t justify keeping something just because there is "space". Even though it is in a box, it could still be clutter and something unnecessary to keep.
7. Once a room is completed and organized discipline yourself to keep things in their place. This may be some hard work initially, but if you continue to do it, it will become a habit. You will become very efficient in picking up your house in the future.
8. Celebrate the "little" victories along the way. Each completed room is one room closer to an organized home. Take before and after pictures so you can share your "recovery" someday with someone who may be in the exact shoes (or house) you are in right now.
9. Remember "with God all things are possible!"