Popular Myths about Getting Organized

Procrastination is the enemy of organization. Procrastination or resistance to getting and staying organized may stem from some popular myths about getting organized. Before you even attempt to eliminate the clutter, be sure you have eliminated so of the false thinking based on popular myths about organizing. Here are a few popular myths you may want to discard along with the contents of your junk drawer.

• To get organized once and for all I just need to find the one perfect and best organizing strategy/storage materials/system. When it comes to organizing solutions, one size does not fit all. Your organizing system should take your unique preferences, habits and lifestyle into consideration. Ultimately it's easier to stick with an organizing system designed around you than to try to conform to some elses system.
• Getting organized is a major undertaking that requires a major overhaul in how I handle my stuff. You don't have to get rid of everything at once to get organized. For example, you could set a donation bag by the front door and put one item a day or a few items a week in the bag. Eventually the bag will be full and ready for a trip to the thrift store. Repeat the process often enough and soon your space will be free of unwanted items.
• Once I have properly organized a space I can relax and forget about it. Unfortunately getting rid of old stuff does not prevent new stuff from coming into your home. Whether it's controlling clutter, or keeping your closet in perfect order, organizing is an ongoing process that requires regular maintenance. The good news is that once you have done the hard work of organizing a space, all you have to do is maintain the systems you have put into place.
• Every space in my home from my closets to my junk drawer needs to be perfectly organized. The purpose if getting organized is not to create the "perfect" home but to eliminate pain. If not finding your keys before you run out the door causes you to feel stressed and potentially run late for important engagements, then solving that issue by always putting your keys in the same easily accessible place solves that pain. On the other hand, if rummaging around your junk drawer to find batteries doesn't happen often and doesn't bother you, don't bother organizing your junk drawer if you don't want to.
• I need to set aside a huge chunk of time to dedicate to larger organizing projects. Over time even small changes can add up impressive results. Imagine taking just a few minutes a day to get rid unwanted items or put things in their proper place. After a month of working on an organizing project for just a few minutes a day you will have spent hours on getting organized.