This Year, Staying Motivated To Get Organized Is Half The Battle
Is getting organized is something you want to tackle?
getty Do you have the motivation to get organized? It’s the start of a new year, some say the start of a new decade, and one where many made more resolutions than before.
Often, people focus on getting organized during this time of year. In fact, the month of January is called Get Organized month by the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Specialists (NAPO).
So, is getting organized your resolution for 2021?
If getting organized is your resolution, think about why you want to do this. Because it's always easier to tackle something difficult or to change a behavior when you understand your reasons why.
Here are 7 questions to ask if you want the motivation to get organized.
1. What do you want to organize?
There are many different things to organize.
Do you want to organize your space? Maybe you need to define how you use your rooms and then determine the kinds of things that will stay in the room.
Are you using the rooms in your home differently now? Do some rooms serve multiple purposes?
Keep the things that support the activities that happen in that room. Consider reorganizing or repurposing your furniture.
Sometimes, you can use a piece of furniture differently in another room.
I moved a chest of drawers out of a bedroom and into the family room. Now, I use it to hold my wrapping and tissue paper, gift bags, ribbon, and tape.
If the way you use your rooms is working, the problem may be that your space is crammed too full of stuff. Ask yourself if removing the clutter will do the trick.
Organize your belongings — including paper files — by keeping what you use and love and either selling, donating, or recycling, shredding, and tossing the remainder.
Perhaps you want to organize the way in which you spend your time. This involves taking a close look at your routines and habits.
You know you can never really save time, but you can maximize what you accomplish in the time you have available by streamlining your routines and creating a better flow in your day.
Doing this will make you more productive, and it will feel as if you are truly saving time!
2. How will you know when you're done?
The answer to this question depends on what you've decided you want to organize. Creating new routines and habits to make the best use of your time can take time.
Current research found that it’s best to focus on changing one habit at a time and it takes about six weeks for a new habit to become ingrained.
Decide which habit to work on first, second, and so on. Be gentle with yourself, as this will take time. Practice your new habit, mindfully.
The more you can practice, the sooner the habit will become ingrained.
3. What are the measurable results you want to achieve?
Do you want to get organized to save money? People save money when they don’t go out and buy something they already have but can’t find.
This includes shopping from your pantry before going to the grocery store.
Know what you have in your home or at least, be confident that you know where to look to find out what you have in stock.
Having an organized home can bring about a sense of peace and calm to you and your family. This reduces the feelings of stress, overwhelm, and anxiety.
Also, when you have less stuff to take care of, you can spend more time doing the things you want to do.
These are all measurable results. Which of these appeals to you?
4. Who else will benefit from this organizing project?
Think about who else in your family or household will benefit from your resolution to get organized.
Take a minute or two to write down the impact this will have on the way they operate in the home.
Do you want to involve them in the organizing process?
5. Why do you want to do this now?
Has something happened that makes it important to begin this organizing journey now?
Are you just fed up with the disarray in your home, your schedule, or your life, and now is as good a time as any to start?
6. How will you accomplish this goal?
If organizing a space is your goal, consider creating a scope and sequence project plan. Break the project down into small, measurable steps of action. Think about what needs to happen first.
You may want to reach out to a decorator, painter, carpenter, or another skilled professional to complete certain steps along the way.
A professional organizer can guide you as you reduce the clutter in your home, create new routines, or organize how you spend your time.
7. Do you have a deadline?
Is getting organized something you want to do as a lifestyle change? If this is the case, it is an ongoing journey, something that will be with you forever.
If you’re organizing a space, you may want to have it completed by the end of January or February, or some other arbitrary date based on what else is happening in your life.
Saying that your New Year’s resolution is getting organized is one thing. It’s easy to say. The next step is to take action.
Answer the questions above, determine your reasons for getting organized, and then set a course of action for yourself.
Diane N. Quintana is a Certified Professional Organizer® owner of DNQ Solutions, LLC and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize in Atlanta, Georgia. Diane specializes in residential and home-office organizing and working with people affected by ADD, hoarding challenges, and chronic disorganization. Please contact Diane for a free 30-minute phone consultation.