Continued from the February Getting It Together newsletter

How to Avoid the Top 10 Organizing Mistakes

Include everyone involved.  Mom, Dad, and the teenage son were all involved.  Several mini-conferences occurred during the day to decide the keep/donate/toss status.  When sister’s items came into question, they were set aside so she could review them when she came home from school. Begin with the end in mind.  Wanting a home gym is a better goal than just “wanting it to be better”.  Possible eBay profits makes releasing dozens of unwatched video tapes much easier.  Charity tax deductions are worth money in pocket, while an unused sewing machine only takes up floor space. Set realistic timeframes.  Families are busy!  Set aside a couple of hours to pitch in and get it done.  An all-day affair is likely to be too daunting and never get scheduled! Organize before shopping.  By uncovering several pieces of unused furniture and storage items, we can use what we have before investing in new items.  Even better, we don’t purchase things without a purpose, so we don’t add storage items to the clutter! Be focused.  The family didn’t leave the room, take phone calls, entertain a visitor, or get side tracked with memories.  Because they were accountable, they made decisions on a room full of stuff in just a few hours.  Honor the memories.  When family items surfaced, we decided if they were really memories or just stuff, if they were just hand-me-downs, if they would be more valuable to another family member, or if we could enjoy them in the main part of the house.  By thinking about them in the context of their life today, they determined what memories truly belonged in storage. Handle photos with a plan.  Family photos going back two or three generations took up two closets and several large storage bins.  Rather than continuing to stockpile, this family is gathering their photos together, and has resolved to start sharing the ancestral records with their extended family.  By gathering the rest together, they are beginning to set limits on how much they want to store. Call in help when needed.  Was it fate?  A year after Mom researched a professional organizer, Dad found the same professional organizer on his own on an online search.  They realized this was their time to have someone help them achieve their goals for their home. Assigning a place for things.  From just a pile of stuff in The Dungeon, we determined there were at least eleven purposes going on in the room.  By creating space for each of these purposes, we’ll be able to contain the stuff-creep that is likely to happen if we don’t have a plan.  Have a maintenance plan.  They know that if it looks attractive, they’ll use the space more.  If there are zones for different storage, they’ll limit themselves to keeping only certain items.  And if they have a clear, safe space, they’ll all benefit with a new home gym.  They’re on their way to getting and staying organized!