Re: How to keep from Drowning in Clutter?

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Posted by Julie Signore on January 22, 2002 at 13:16:18:

In Reply to: How to keep from Drowning in Clutter? posted by C J on January 06, 2002 at 12:18:55:

Aloha Cathy...

My apologies for "not being on the boards" for a while here. Unfortunately, I managed to injure myself in such a way that typing was out of the picture for a while!

First of all let me say that you are not alone!!! There is a staggering population of people that are faced with the same challenges. You see, *organization* is not taught in school & if you grew up in a disorganized home...the skills were not readily or easily learned at a young age.

Add to that the incredible *master schedule* the average family contends with ...& it can get downright overwhelming!

I have always recommended to visitors/clients that we start with the area that is most upsetting in their every day Life. Example: do you use your dining room table for eating or storing paper & *stuff*? Maybe this is the area you want to tackle first?

Start with the area that will bring the most rewarding feeling of accomplishment to you. Hint: It's normally the same space that bugs you the most!

Then locate that living area within this website...use the tips that are stated there for starters. Or visit the "Registered Members" area & download the "Kitchen Organizing Recipe" You will also find that MANY of the principles I use there can easily be modified for any area of the home...closets, bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms etc...

If you get stuck ...post a message on this board & I would be happy to assist!

If you are TOTALLY overwhelmed, you may want to look into hiring a Profesional Organizer to help get you started. Let me know where you live & I can see if there is a PO in your area!

Whatever you do ...start somewhere....designate a 2 hr span (uninterrupted!) to finally make *decisions* about the clutter. You will be amazed at what transpires & how accomplished you will feel...enough to motivate you to move to another area :)

One last hint: When working w/clients, I always tell them that until we find a home for EVERYTHING they need to follow 1 rule....whatever we worked on becomes "sacred space" this means that while dumping habits continue (until everything has a home) they are not allowed to place anything in a space we have already organized. As our sessions continue, the dumping space becomes smaller & sacred space becomes larger. This way we are not re-doing the same areas repeatedly.

Keep me posted! And good luck!!!

Much Aloha,

Julie Signore -
President: The PHOENIX Organizational Consulting Service
CEO: 1,2,3 SORT IT Organizing Solutions -- Innovative Tools
NSA Member, NAPO Member
http://www.123sortit.com

"A dream is a goal without a date...& the only limits to achievement are the bonds of ones belief!"

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Comments:
: Aloha Cathy...

:
: My apologies for "not being on the boards" for a while here. Unfortunately, I managed to injure myself in such a way that typing was out of the picture for a while!

: First of all let me say that you are not alone!!! There is a staggering population of people that are faced with the same challenges. You see, *organization* is not taught in school & if you grew up in a disorganized home...the skills were not readily or easily learned at a young age.

: Add to that the incredible *master schedule* the average family contends with ...& it can get downright overwhelming!

: I have always recommended to visitors/clients that we start with the area that is most upsetting in their every day Life. Example: do you use your dining room table for eating or storing paper & *stuff*? Maybe this is the area you want to tackle first?

: Start with the area that will bring the most rewarding feeling of accomplishment to you. Hint: It's normally the same space that bugs you the most!

: Then locate that living area within this website...use the tips that are stated there for starters. Or visit the "Registered Members" area & download the "Kitchen Organizing Recipe" You will also find that MANY of the principles I use there can easily be modified for any area of the home...closets, bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms etc...

: If you get stuck ...post a message on this board & I would be happy to assist!

: If you are TOTALLY overwhelmed, you may want to look into hiring a Profesional Organizer to help get you started. Let me know where you live & I can see if there is a PO in your area!

: Whatever you do ...start somewhere....designate a 2 hr span (uninterrupted!) to finally make *decisions* about the clutter. You will be amazed at what transpires & how accomplished you will feel...enough to motivate you to move to another area :)

: One last hint: When working w/clients, I always tell them that until we find a home for EVERYTHING they need to follow 1 rule....whatever we worked on becomes "sacred space" this means that while dumping habits continue (until everything has a home) they are not allowed to place anything in a space we have already organized. As our sessions continue, the dumping space becomes smaller & sacred space becomes larger. This way we are not re-doing the same areas repeatedly.

: Keep me posted! And good luck!!!

: Much Aloha,

: Julie Signore -
: President: The PHOENIX Organizational Consulting Service
: CEO: 1,2,3 SORT IT Organizing Solutions -- Innovative Tools
: NSA Member, NAPO Member
: http://www.123sortit.com

: "A dream is a goal without a date...& the only limits to achievement are the bonds of ones belief!"

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