I’m an organization junkie. That doesn’t mean that everything is in it’s place in my house. Just wait till you see… While I’m terrible at keeping things organized I do like order. I like looking for systems that will keep me organized and make things as easy and automatic as possible.
Over the years I have read countless books and magazine articles about getting organized. With all of the information on the topic I’ve taken in I should have the cleanest, most organized house in the state, or at least on the street. I don’t. Most organizing articles I’ve read have told me that a country cute basket and $5 plastic shoe organizer will solve my organizing problems. They didn’t. And most books I’ve read are full of charts and schedules and new ways to label files that I couldn’t keep up with. BUT, there are areas of my house and my life that are more organized and work better because of things I’ve learned in those books and magazines and there is a difference in the way my house looks today compared to my house 10 years ago. The ideas that have made the biggest difference in my home can be broken down into 2 categories – getting rid of stuff and working with your (and your family’s) natural tendencies.
GETTING RID OF STUFF
I have a love/hate relationship with stuff. I feel claustrophobic around too much stuff. I like clean surfaces, open spaces and order. Unfortunately I really like gadgets and tools, too. I like to have just the right thing available when I need it. Partly because I’m lazy and the right tool can make any task easier, and partly because I’m a perfectionist and the right tool can ensure that things are done RIGHT. I do think I chose the right name for this blog, don’t you?
I also like books. I really like books. And magazines. And choices. I like lots of choices because what if I’m not in the mood for the king sized pillow and want to use my standard sized pillow? And I’m a “I might need it some day and what if it’s not made any more or I can’t afford to buy another one” kind of girl, too. Do you see my problem?
I have 2 books that make me want to get rid of everything I own and sleep in a cardboard box. I read them every couple of years when I’m feeling overwhelmed with my stuff. I never really get rid of everything I should but things get a little better each time, and when I decide I can live without something I’m usually able to keep it, and it’s kind, out of my house forever.
Clutter’s Last Stand by Don Asslett is a classic.
He tells you not only why clutter makes life harder, but he’ll give you permission to get rid of certain things, like books. Have I mentioned I love books? I love looking at them, and reading them, I love the way the feel and I love the way they smell. I really love books. It feels so wrong to throw books away. All that smooth paper and black ink, the binding, the pretty cover… I try to give books away whenever possible but sometimes a book just isn’t worth passing on – like a 2005 Writer’s Market, or a 2000 guide to DisneyLand… If anyone’s going to need those, they’re better off getting the updated version than getting my outdated one. When I get done reading this book I’m itching to get rid of EVERYTHING!
My other favorite get-rid-of-all-the-junk book is It’s All Too Much by Peter Walsh.
He talks about what hanging onto things costs us, too, but what I love most about this book is that he breaks the process of decluttering into non-scary chunks, like The Trash Bag Tango. Every day spend 10 minutes going through your house with 2 bags – one for garbage and one for items to give away. You can do this with a third bag for items to sell, but me? I would just end up with a huge pile of “to sell” clutter so I give it away or throw it away. That’s not so hard, right? Imagine how much better your house would look after just a week of this.
I’ll share my favorite organizing books in a future post AND I’ll show you some before and after pictures of my house. Don’t worry, I’ll warn you first so if you have a weak stomach you can skip those posts. While you’re waiting, run to the library and get these books. They really are great motivators.
