Excuses, excuses,
excuses. We all have them, and sometimes we can't seem to hurdle past
them. But when it comes to organizing and clearing clutter, every
excuse can be overcome with determination and a strategy. Recognizing
which excuses are preventing you from enjoying a simpler,
clutter-free lifestyle is the first step to conquering them. So here
are some of the most common excuses for not getting or staying
organized – Which ones do you repeat on a regular basis?
I don't have time
If your schedule
is packed all day every day with work, volunteer, and family
activities, it's easy to let your surroundings get as chaotic as your
life. But the truth is, by staying organized you'll actually spend
far less time looking for things around the house, tracking down
important pieces of mail, and catching up on missed appointments and
bill payments. So stop thinking of organizing as a time waster and
start thinking of it as an investment that gains interest – The
more you put in, the more you get out.
I don't have space
If you have a
small house, you might get frustrated by the lack of space and throw
your hands up altogether. Maybe you're waiting until you make more
money and can move into a bigger house or apartment. But why not
start now? Organizing and de-cluttering will actually create more
space you can enjoy on a daily basis. Consider implenting vertical
storage options or other creative strategies to reclaim your home.
I don't know where to start
If you're feeling
overwhelmed at the sheer amount of things you have or how messy
everything has become, you might be tempted to procrastinate. But the
best way to get over this feeling is to begin de-cluttering in
increments. Breaking a large project into small tasks will make it
feel more manageable. And as you slowly chip away, you'll start to
see progress – Which will motivate you to keep going. Also consider
writing a to-do list to help you stay on task.
I don't have the money
You don't need
fancy storage products to get organized. Simply start by re-purposing
what you already have – Baskets, jars, boxes, and chests can all
function as alternative containers. Better yet, de-clutter as much
as possible and donate it to a local charity. Or sell it online or
through a garage sale and earn some cash. Either way, the less stuff
you own, the less you'll have to keep track of – and the less time
you'll spend dealing with missed payments and late fees because you
couldn't find or keep up with your bills, as well as duplicate
purchases for things you forgot you had. That means more time, and of
course, more money.
It doesn't work for me
If
you're distracted and have trouble sticking to organizational
systems, you probably just haven't found the right one that works for
you yet. Take your unique personality and lifestyle into account to
develop habits and systems that are intuitive for you. Finding a
system and developing habits doesn't mean organizing won't take any
effort anymore, but it does mean it will make more sense to you than
other methods and habits. You can discover what works for you through
trial and error, or with the help
of a professional organizer.
I'm a perfectionist
Maybe you don't
want to begin organizing until you know you can complete something
100 percent, or until you have a full week off so you can devote all
your energy to the task. But life tends to keep moving fast, and
getting something 100 percent completed with 100 percent of your
energy and zero interruptions often just isn't realistic. That's why
it helps to view organization as a constant, ongoing process. Instead
of spending an entire week on a project, find time to tackle small
tasks each day. Make a list of your priorities, focus on what you can
do, and stop stressing about all the things you can't.
I have kids who don't cooperate
If your kids don't
respect your efforts to keep the house clean and clutter-free, set
some clear expectations and boundaries. If they're old enough, give
them a 10-15 minute task to complete every day, so they feel like
they're working together with you toward the goal. These tasks will
also help them develop good habits and life skills in the long run.
I don't want to let go of things
Maybe you have
anxieties about wasting money by getting rid of something you'll need
later, or you're saving something for a craft project. But if you
haven't used the item in a year or longer, you're better off letting
it go and freeing up space. Likewise, if you feel guilty about
throwing away something you received as a gift, but it's been
collecting dust bunnies, let it go. A gift is meant to be a blessing,
not a burden.
Do
you any other excuses that aren't on this list? How do you overcome
them? Share your tips on Facebook
and Twitter!
