Getting Organized - Common Errors and Assumptions

Getting organized seems to be a mantra these days. Everyone is wanting to get organized and asking "How to get organized?" There are entire stores devoted to selling fancy containers and gadgets to help you get organized and even professional organizers to help you do it!

So what seems to be the problem? With all the interest in organizing you would think that mostly everyone would have their stuff organized by now!

Not so! Here are the common errors and assumptions that prevent people from achieving organized living.

• procrastination - not assigning importance to the ongoing task of decisions or assuming that a delay in managing the processes of daily life is harmless. It is not! Every delayed decision about where to place something or where to file a piece of paper creates potential clutter.
• buying organizing products that are pretty to look at and trendy - never purchase products without assessing your needs. You will end up with a supply of pretty baskets and bins that you cannot use and end up with a garage sale of your organizing products!
• Keep everything just in case - just in case of what? If you have not put it to use, worn it, or otherwise used it within 6 months chances are you never will. Donate it, throw it away, or recyle!
• Do not start any organizing projects because it is too overwhelming - start small..........Break the big project down into smaller projects like one drawer of your dresser, or only one drawer of the filing cabinet, or only one file folder. If that is what it takes to get started, then do it . The point is to get started even if you have to start small!
• improper storage of delicate items - some items that you want to keep should not be stored, they should be archived. Archiving means that they need to be stored under specific conditions that will preserve them. Paper, fabrics, and photographs can all be affected by moisture, sunlight and acids. Keeping such items in cardboard boxes for example can ruin them! Even the cedar in a cedar chest can stain delicate fabrics. If you want to keep an item as a special memory then give it the respect it deserves and take the time to research how to archive the item in a way that will make it last. Keep your memories safe!
• improper disposal of environmentally dangerous substances - just because you want to get rid of it does not mean it should be thrown in the trash. Anything that is still has chemicals like insecticides, paint, solvents, cleaners etc should be taken to a specialized depot that handles such products so they are kept out of the environment. Same goes for batteries. If you do not where that special depot is in your community call up the city hall or the administrative authority for your area.
• throwing everything awaygetting organized does not mean that you are not allowed to keep anything! The purging process is a process of decision making that requires attention to specific questions so that you make sure you are only throwing away things that are not needed, wanted, or useful to you in your life.
• denying your own ability to keep your life organized - unless you have a real barrier to your organizing abilities like attention deficit disorder (adhd), or a psychiatric illness that affects your ability to organize your thoughts, you can learn how to get organized. It simply requires a positive attitude and a belief that an organized life is a better life that will bring benefits to you and those around you.