Whether you have made it your New Year’s resolution to become more organized or are simply trying to incorporate all of the new Christmas gifts into your home, de-cluttering and organizing can be challenging for even the most orderly individual. In fact, the idea of delving into piles of sports equipment, closets full of outgrown clothing, mounds of toys and stacks of mail, school papers and magazines can be so daunting that many people choose to ignore it and leave it for another day. For those of you opting to start the new year off with a bang by reclaiming your space through de-cluttering and organizing, we offer some suggestions for taking on the project, maintaining the results of your hard work and including your family in the process.
STEP 1: DE-CLUTTER
De-cluttering could potentially be one of the most rigorous household chores. Ann Hursh, a Mechanicsburg resident and owner of Love Your Space!, recommends working in small increments of time as to not become completely overwhelmed. “Don’t set yourself up for failure from the start,” says Hursh. “Choose one task and focus on it.” In fact, the cold weather months are a great time to spend 15-30 minutes a day on a dedicated area, such as a drawer, closet, room or even the corner of a room.
“The most common issue I see when I work with clients is that they just buy and have too much stuff,” explains Hursh, a professional organizer. “When you de-clutter, you have to prioritize between what you need and what you don’t. Be honest. You may have spent good money, but do you really need it?” A simple way to de-clutter is to use three bins labeled “Keep,” “Give Away” and “Trash.” If a questionable item has not been used in over a year, the general rule is to get rid of it. Keep in mind, friends love hand-me-downs for those youngsters that quickly grow out of everything.
Once you have your clutter sorted, take action. Do not leave those bins sitting around. Walk the Trash bin right to the curb and drive those Give Away items to local donation centers immediately.
STEP 2: ORGANIZE
Once you have successfully de-cluttered, you are ready to move on to the next step in the process: organizing. Organization comes in various forms and you should focus on the function of the area within which you are working. “Think of the top three purposes you want a room, closet or area to serve,” recommends Jennifer Graf of Camp Hill, a consultant for Clever Container. “Have a system for everything that comes in your house, such as mail, shoes and coats.”
While keeping the purpose in mind, remember that the needs may vary depending on the ages of your children, time of year and extracurricular activities. “Have a central command center for your most commonly used items,” suggests Hursh. “Use this area for things such as school supplies, important papers, sports equipment, hats, gloves and scarves.”
Another crucial step in the organization process is managing your family’s schedule. Take some time to investigate various methods for maintaining schedules. Does your organizational style work better using a binder, purse-size planner or a large calendar for the entire family? For the technology-savvy parent, try using a tailored family homepage through Web sites such as www.fircle.com or www.FamJama.com. Maintain the family schedule, pertinent information, chore charts, grocery lists and more with remote access using a family homepage.
STEP 3: INCORPORATE THE FAMILY
Including the members of your household, regardless of their ages, in the de-cluttering and organization process is a great way to not only maintain your results, but to promote teamwork and responsibility. Hold a family meeting to discuss your expectations for each person and clearly post them for all to see. Take 15 minutes a day and turn clean-up into a simple family game by placing a large tub or laundry basket in the middle of a room. Set a timer and have everyone pick up and toss toys, shoes, magazines and other various items into the basket before the timer runs out. Have everyone help to place the items in their proper locations.
Be a role model and maintain consistency. “If your children see that you take the time to hang your coat in the closet, put your shoes away and keep your desk clean, they will be more inclined to model that behavior,” explains Graf. Most importantly, for the success of your newly organized household, always praise and encourage your family for helping to keep everything tidy and continue to promote
good behavior.
“Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither were your piles,” states Graf. Take it one step, or one stack, at a time and be realistic with your expectations. Although it may seem overwhelming initially, your sense of satisfaction with the end result will be worth it. And who knows? Maybe you will find your missing earring or that long lost Elmo doll.
Alicia K. Shaffer is a local freelance writer, mother of one and lives in Mechanicsburg.