Getting Started is the Hardest Part of Organizing

When clients call me in desperation, I hear things like "I don't know where to begin" and "I am overwhelmed." Once clutter gets out of control, it can be a little more than we can handle and that is why I started my business. I wanted to be able to help people live life to the fullest and hated seeing them paralyzed by their clutter. .

One bit of advise I have for tackling an overwhelming task is to just get started and then it all begins to look clearer. Don't over-complicate the task, but just do what you can. I like to encourage clients to get started by grabbing a trash bag and collecting anything they can quickly identify as trash - junk mail, newspapers, old magazines, fast food containers, broken items, etc. Then, grab another bag or box if fragile items and collect things that you no longer need to donate. Put that bag directly in your car and drive to the nearest donation center. Just doing those two simple tasks can create space and make organizing the things you are keeping easier. It begins to look clearer when the excess clutter is removed.

Each time you hit a road block, take a deep breath, relax and work your way through the road block - don't give up. If you continue to get hung up, that is when you need the help of a professional organizer. We have been able to organize a space in 4 hours that a client has struggled with for years. When a project is more than we can do our on own, we need someone to come beside us and enable us to accomplish our goals. We would be honored to be that person.

Holding onto Treasures

What are you holding onto that is hard to let go of?

I recently visited my parents in Orlando while at a conference. I was staying in my childhood room and in the closet was a box labeled "Cathy's Horses" (my mom is more organized than I am). I asked her why she still had those and she said "because they are yours and they are worth something." As sweet as she was to store them for me, I hated that she was feeling responsible for my things. After all, I am encouraging her to simplify!

I didn't think they were worth much, but I decided to check it out. I went on eBay and there were tons of Breyer Horses out there, most of which were not selling and if they did sell it was for a couple of dollars. I decided to take a picture, ask my daughter if she wanted anymore (she has picked out some for herself in the past) and put them in a box to donate. I took them straight to the donation center along with some other things my mom and I had sorted out while I was there.

It was sad getting rid of that collection that I loved so much. However, I did not need them any longer and I just imagined a little girl who loves horses like I did as a child walking in the thrift store excited about the treasure she had found. They are much better in her hands than in my mom's closet.

What are you holding onto that you need to let go of. Think it's worth something? Check it out to see if it is. If it is, you may want to sell it and pocket the cash while it is still worth something. If not, you may be discouraged but at least now you know. If you no longer want it, pass it along to someone who will enjoy it.