“I can’t organize today because…”
These kinds of statements don’t surprise me anymore. After almost 20 years of helping people get organized, I have heard them all.
Before you start organizing your home, it helps if you organize your thoughts and beliefs about your belongings. If you believe less is more, the organizing process will be easier and long-lasting.
Here are seven common excuses why we avoid organizing:
I don’t know where to start
The only incorrect answer is not starting at all. Being organized is a way of life, just like brushing your teeth or combing your hair. It is an ongoing process that will help change your life and the way you see it, so you can start anywhere.
I’m homeschooling my kids
Great! Give them a chore they can easily do. Being a part of the family requires some commitment with many rewards. Organizing, cleaning and taking care of the home you live in are valuable life lessons they can carry with them through life.
I can’t afford it
Organizing requires no expense to get started. Get garbage bags, recycling bags and a couple of boxes from the grocery store. Pick up a project and get started. Avoid spending any money before you purge the things not needed.
It takes too long
If you have just five minutes, you can begin to organize. One example, go through your filing cabinet and pull out five files you don’t need anymore. It can be expired warranties that are not in effect any longer, old receipts, or tax records over seven years old.
It’s too overwhelming
Start small and steady. You can break your organizing project into small manageable actions. Instead of cleaning out your whole closet at once, choose to sort your purses or shoes. Then the following day, you can start with a different category.
I like all of my things
Very often we are so restrained by emotions we fail to recognize the things that are not useful to us anymore. Consider sharing your real thoughts with a friend or professional regarding your resistance to the purging phase. It might become much easier to part with it.
By getting rid of the item, we are not getting rid of the pleasant memories. Permit yourself to free yourself of things that are not contributing to your happiness.
I’m afraid of not being perfect
Organizing is never about doing things perfectly, it’s about aiming for function and productivity. The only way you can do wrong is not to do it.
As you work through the piles, you will find that organizing is just common sense. Ability to adapt and make changes as you implement your organizing system is an important part of the process.
Take care of your home and your home will take care of you.
Life coach Ranka Burzan owns a professional organizing company based in the qathet region and has written several books on reducing clutter and becoming more organized. For information, go to solutionsorganizing.com.
