NEXT AVENUE SPECIAL SECTION
To Get Organized, Stand Up to Your Stuff By Lisa Kanarek
During my 15 years as a professional organizer, I worked with clients who dreaded sorting through closets overflowing with ill-fitting clothing and file cabinets groaning under the weight of outdated documents. I knew they could sort through boxes and clear out garages on their own. Still, they sought direction and moral support when their confidence continued to shrink along with their storage space. Without someone beside them to provide guidance, they were convinced the piles would continue to grow. There are other options besides relying on someone to work with you in person. Instead, you can schedule one-on-one online sessions with an organizing professional in a different state or country, learn streamlining strategies through YouTube videos and tune into organizing shows for inspiration. Start with Baby Steps Organizing your home in one day is not only unrealistic but an overwhelming project. Cas Aarssen, host of HGTV’s “Hot Mess House,” suggests taking a large trash bag and setting a five- minute timer. Within that time, challenge yourself to gather 21 items you no longer use. Don't be surprised if, after five minutes, you're motivated to keep going. Treat your organizing sessions like any other appointment and block out a specific time — a three-to-four-hour segment is reasonable. Use boxes labeled Keep, Donate and Recycle, and a bag for trash. This system makes the process simple and can minimize distractions. Otherwise, the minute
you leave one room to return something to another, you'll likely lose focus and your motivation to continue your organizing project.
Don't Be Bullied By What You Own "I would love for people to see decluttering and organization as part of self-care and self-growth," says Aarssen. By going through your belongings, you're standing up to things in your home that you're only keeping out of guilt and shame.
"Every time you look at clothes that don't fit, they're telling you that you need to lose weight," she says. "They're bullying you."
This applies to other items you may not use: your treadmill, weights, and anything else making you feel you're not enough.
Read more stories like this on NextAvenue.org.
20
MAY 2023
NEXTAVENUE.ORG
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