Sort and Purge in 3 Easy Steps
When it comes to organizing a space, you know you’ve got stuff that needs to go. But you’re not quite sure the best way to approach figuring out what stays and what goes.
This video lays out guidelines for Sorting and Purging any space or area.
Step #1: Set a timer. This will give you focus and will provide an “end” to your organizing session. I don’t recommend going any longer than 3 hours in any given area. And if you’re dealing with a lot of paperwork and documents, you might want to dial that back to just a few hours.
Step #2: Get into decision making mode. You have clutter because you’ve been avoiding making decisions. Reflect right now on all the places you have clutter. Your Email Inbox. Your dining room table. Your car. Under your desk. All of this clutter represents decisions that need to be made. Once you begin making decisions, you begin to get rid of clutter!
Step #3: Have the right containers available. You’re going to need 3 or 4 containers.
• One for Garbage. This is for broken items, games missing pieces, you know what I’m talking about.
• The 2nd container will be your Donation container. Make this something sturdy like a large box. I suggest you remove it from your home at the end of your organizing session and immediately put it in your vehicle so you can drop it off somewhere for donation.
• The 3rd container will be for anything that can be recycled.
• And the 4th container is going to be something like a box or laundry basket. This is going to be for items that you plan to keep but they belong elsewhere in your house. The last thing you want to do is get sidetracked by taking something downstairs or out to the garage which will only sideline you from your real project – sorting and purging! At the end of your organizing session, pick up this basket and begin to put things away elsewhere.
These Productivity Pointers are posted frequently here on our OrganizedAudrey channel.
Audrey Thomas, CSP, is the founder of Organized Audrey and is an author and international speaker.
Related Links:
http://www.OrganizedAudrey.com
http://www.OrganizedAudrey.com/resources
Organizing Fundamentals Video Series: • Organizing Fundamentals