Getting organized is an old favorite among New Year’s resolutions. Big plans to get the garage cleaned out, bring order to the laundry room, plan a month of healthy menus and match every plastic food container to its corresponding lid top lists of many well-intentioned resolvers. A couple of Saturdays are spent sorting and cleaning and by the end of January the car is no closer to having a spot in the garage than it was on January 1 and the family is eating the same old, same old as the year before.
There are many reasons for why this happens and a big culprit is biting off more than you can chew. Being organized is a process and it is easy to get overwhelmed and just give up. Find a system that works for you. What worked for your friend or sister won’t necessarily work for you too. Personality, work style and environmental influences will affect what methods will suit you best. There are an almost infinite number of books out there that will walk you through a systematic approach to decluttering and getting organized. A few popular books I’ve heard talked about recently are listed below.
Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley
Organize Now! by Jennifer Ford Berry
Unstuff Your Life by Andrew Mellen
If you still feel like you’re beating your head against a wall consider hiring a professional organizer. Sometimes seeing the issues through new eyes makes a big difference and just like other professionals you hire (real estate agents included!) they are experts in their field and can help guide you through what can be an overwhelming process. The National Association of Professional Organizers has an easy-to-use directory to help you find a local professional organizer who specializes in your areas of need.
Remember, living an organized life is a process, not something you achieve in one day and are done. Good luck!