But I’m Organized At Work
One of the things I often hear during my consultations with prospective clients is “I know things are disorganized in my home, but, believe it or not I’m very organized at work.” Well I do believe it. Here’s why.
One of the things I often hear during my consultations with prospective clients is “I know things are disorganized in my home, but, believe it or not I’m very organized at work.” Well I do believe it. Here’s why.
To reliably access what you want, when you want it and to manage quantities, I have written about the showroom vs. stockroom model. I have thought of another way to demonstrate the same concept using the example of something most of are able to keep organized without any effort: the toothbrush.
Last week I did a book review of Marie Kondo's best-selling The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This week I wanted to put one of her recommendations to the test. To energize your closet, she recommends taking 10 minutes to arrange your clothes from left to right in the order of heavy to light. This means longer and darker clothing should hang on the left and then work upward to lighter clothing on the right.
Saturday we celebrate Independence Day and the birth of our country. This country grants us many freedoms, but it’s amazing the barriers we impose on ourselves. I have found organizing to be a great liberator.
The best way to organize what’s MOST important is to start by organizing what’s LESS important. If that seems like it makes no sense, bear with me.
When I first started my organizing business, I called it Breathing Room. Back then I believed that breathing room is a highly desired result from getting organized. I still do. I also believe it is a vital component to organizing systems for both space and time.
The number one mistake people make, when trying to get organized, is to run out and buy containers, before they know exactly what they are containing. It’s certainly tempting. I mean look at that sampling of gorgeous containers picture to the right. They’re like candy. Like any dessert, they should be saved for last.
Can you always find WHAT you want, WHEN you want it? If you can, then it’s a pretty safe bet that you are organized.
There is a time and a place for three ring binders. Simply put, when you need to bind reference material, you should use one and when you don’t need to bind reference material you shouldn’t. So what would be some good examples?
So you’ve bought all these great organizing supplies, done some purging, created a space for everything and everything is in its place, but you still can’t stay organized. What could possibly be missing? The problem is, life doesn’t stand still and neither do your organizing needs. There must be a plan for movement.
I have written a ten part series on closet organizing, but if you’d like to see the best placement practices summarized on one sheet, here it is. This is just for a closet with shelves, from top to bottom, not one with a hanging rod. Before following these, I recommend emptying your closet entirely and purging the excess. When you reload, consider this.