Thursday, May 21, 2009

Organizing 101

As a former "messie girl" turned "organizing enthusiast", I know first hand how living a life filled with clutter can affect you, your family, & your home! Because my passion is helping other women Create Welcoming Homes, I'd like to start a series called:
Organizing 101 ~
"A Place For Everything, and Everything In It's Place"
I grew up with the 2 neatest, most organized parents who ever existed. How I was so messy as a teenager was beyond them! Even as a young wife and mom, I struggled with keeping control of the clutter in my home. It's not that I didn't have a CLEAN house. Oh, I cleaned and scrubbed, washed and folded, dusted and mopped......it's just that I had these little piles....piles of clutter! It's not that I was a "pack rat" either, although I had certainly married one which didn't help. My problem came from being un-organized!
Do you relate? Feel overwhelmed by the clutter in your home? I'd like to share what I have learned through the years here with you!! :)
photos from Google images

Clutter can be a result of several things:

1) Procrastinating ~ not taking care of things immediately or in a timely manner. This can include waiting to go through the mail, not putting laundry away, & tossing papers in a pile "for later".

2) Trying to "do it all", all by yourself. Let me tell you now, it just can't be done! You need the help of EVERY family member!

3) Feeling overwhelmed ~ You're so overwhelmed by it all that you figure adding one more thing to the pile won't matter. Or, you get so overwhelmed that instead of taking action, you do the opposite and "freeze up", unable to even start a small project.

4) Being a perfectionist! It's true! You feel you have to have the time or energy or space or special bins and labels to "do the job right". You end up thinking, "Without these things, why bother?" And when you do start a clutter cleaning project, you drag everything out & make an even bigger mess than there was to begin with trying to do a job "perfectly"! Then you get sidetracked or overwhelmed, and are stuck.

5) Holding on to objects for the wrong reasons.

Clutter Results In:

1) Drained Energy ~ It literally feels like you are being dragged down. It sucks the Peace out of your life.

2) Drained Time ~ Your family wastes precious time looking for keys, library books, a pair of shoes, even the chocolate chips! Time better spent feeling at peace, spent together, spent actually doing something productive with what you are looking for!

3) Drained Bank Account ~ You'll end up spending more $$ if you know you HAVE an item and can't find it, or FORGET you have an item and purchase a duplicate.

4) Children who may end up living their lives with disorganized habits as well. Habits that could affect schoolwork, family time, and in the future, jobs and home lives. {*in my opinion, if nothing else will get you to stick to keeping out the clutter, this thought should!}

Are you feeling overwhelmed by clutter? Do you have a certain area in your home that tends to collect the clutter? Do you want to know how to organize a specific place in your home?

Share it in the comments! And I'll do my best to address these things in this series!!

Next time, I'll share "How To Get Started!" :)

24 comments:

Naturally Jules said...

Oh, what a timely post! Just last night I was telling my husband that this weekend we need to spend a few hours a day cleaning up the garage, attic and daughters room (moved out to college) Where would you suggest we start. I can see each of us in your example of why clutter begins!

Shannon said...

Can't wait for this series! I love organizing. :)

Jenny said...

Ohhhh!!Perfect timing! Kids clothes!!! My sister gives me clothes for the future for Kyle and now I have SOOOOO much stuff!! And craft areas! Mine is the pits!

Noel said...

I simply cannot function in clutter! So every year I start in one room, declutter, reorganize and then keep it that way once it's done. The hard part is knowing where to start!

Kim said...

Stacey what a great idea for a post and how sweet you are to share your know-how with us. I think being more organized is something we can all benefit from. I consider myself to be very efficient and organized, but I still try to be a perfectionist, do it all by myself and I'm a procrastinator - so I broke three of your rules right there - HA! I will stay tuned for more. Btw, we must be distant relatives because I thought MY parents were the most organized people EVER!

kw said...

Love it! I am decluttering now so this is PERFECT!! I am working on...our clothes, homeschool supplies, my sewing stuff, and the attic. My dream is to have everything in my attic organized into bins and labeled. I *heart* my label maker.

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Oh, Stacey, I am so glad you posted about this! I get soooo frustrated by clutter. I have two little ones (3 years and 16 months), and between their stuff, our stuff, and no time to get it all picked up, I go crazy! :) The worst area is our bedroom. I just shut the door and don't go back in until it's time for bed. :(

Rachel said...

Stacey, are you spying on me??? Really, this series couldn't have come at a better time. I can't wait to read more. I struggle with our playroom, where to put things in the kitchen and keeping my "surfaces" clear of clutter. Love to see what you have to say about those areas...

~Rachel

southerninspiration said...

Hey did you sneak into my house and take a pic of my daughter's room???? that's what her desk looks like! And mine is only a tad bit better. I NEED this series! I am guilty of all of the above reasons for not being organized!! I need an organized wife!!! :)

suzanne

Andi said...

Oh my goodness! I can't wait to read what you have to say about getting organized. I need all the help I can get. Luv your blog!

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

The worst spots for me are the "public" spots...where shoes, mail, and other randomness gathers. I try to create specific places for everything, but we are bursting at the seams in our house and I am nearly out of space!
Carrie

duchess said...

Great post - I think our clutter/disorganization issues stem from #2.
(That doesn't sound right but you know what I mean.)

DairyQueen said...

I must need this...a friend sent me a link to this post :) Seriously, I am working on my clutter ~ I need to streamline our lives so we can be efficient with our schooling and life in general!

Lisa said...

You are so right! Can't wait for your tips!

Kasey said...

Clutter drives me crazy! My worst spot is in the kitchen by our phone. I put a basket there to contain the pens, notepads, mail, etc., but it's overflowing now. I have 3 huge piles now. I'm afraid if I put it in a drawer, I'll forget about it when I need it. Help!

Melanie said...

Can't wait for this!!!! I need help and I am not afraid to admit it!!!! :)

Globetrotting Cacti said...

Just been put onto your blog by Naturally Jules - what perfect timing. Have 9 week old twins and I am feeling the need to declutter the house (did not realise how much room baby things took up!). Looking forward to following your blog - thanks for sharing.

Administrator said...

I really really need help finding a place for everything, and putting everything in it's place!!!!

I need someone to tell me where stuff goes! I mean that. Tell me. That is my wish for you.

I mean, I know where to put the forks and knives, cause I have one of those little plastic trays in the drawer with the shapes cut out. I ALWAYS know where to find a fork. Because I ALWAYS put it in the fork shaped spot.

Now how can I make that system work for everything else?

All the books say, "put things where they make sense for you..." and then I think about the "perfect" spot.. and well, I am sure you know the rest.. it ends up on the counter.. or jammed in a drawer, or on the garage floor...

the garage is the worst....

Naturally Jules said...

Thanks for popping over and giving me much needed guidance as to where to start first ~ to the garage we go!

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

Good tips. I have been seriously procrastinating on getting organized and this is just the extra push I needed! Thanks for sharing.

WhisperWood Cottage said...

Love the "model" in the first photo!

Amy

Tami (Pixeltrash) said...

I hate clutter. I look forward to reading what you have to say. My tip? Go through closets once a month with a big garbage bag for Salvation Army. Take out anything that doesn't fit or hasn't been worn in a while. I LOVE doing that. Also, each year I participate in a 12-Days-of-Christmas Swap and shop my craft room. It is a great way to get rid of stuff you've had for a while. While I'm preparing for that? I put together a box of craft stuff for my nieces to play with.

Megan @ Megity's Handmade said...

I swear, you must be know exactly what my life feels like right now. I answered YES! to every question!

{darlene} said...

these are great organizing posts! very inspiring. Oh, and feel better soon!