Top Ten Organizing Tips
(used 1/06/04 for 11:00 news on ABC)
It’s the new year. What better time to get your life in order? The average person loses approximately 2 weeks per year looking for "stuff."
There are three things to consider:
The situation is not hopeless. You are not alone. There are others like you and they have been
helped.
You do not have to be paralyzed by your environment. You do not have to be overwhelmed with
the organizing process.
Believe it or not, there are a few simple steps that can simplify your life.
Top Ten Organizing Tips:
1. If it takes 10 minutes, or less, do it right away. Keep the paper flowing to its final destination.
2. Determine what sabotages your productivity on a daily basis? Is it incoming mail? Is it family demands? Is it finding a space for everything? Once you understand the problem, you can devise a solution.
3. Schedule uninterrupted time on your calendar to spend towards organization. Make an appointment with yourself.
4. If you are organizing your closet, be realistic about the amount of time you can spend on the project; i.e., you must schedule time to take everything out of the closet, sort, remove, reorganize, and replace. A rule of thumb is if you haven't worn something in a year, get rid of it.
5. Don't go from room to room when you are organizing. Stay focused.
6. It takes 21 days to form a new habit. Focus on one good habit at a time. It can be as simple as creating a spot for your car keys and always putting them back in that spot when not in use.
7. In the kitchen, find similar items (small appliances, baking tools, platters, glassware, etc.) and group the items together. It makes them easier to find when needed.
8. You need to know what you have to contain BEFORE you buy the containers.
9. Remember that when you purchase one item, it should replace another. One in - one out.
10. Assign A Place For Everything, and put everything back in its place. It's a great habit to develop and a way to keep up with your overall organizing plan.
