Why Fall is a great time to Organize your Home
Hiking one of my favorite local trails today, I could see much farther into the woods than usual. Leaves are falling, so space is opening up. There are trees I didn’t know were back there; it is easier to spot the wildlife; and I can see further along the trail.
As I continue along, I see that up ahead a tree has fallen and the trail is blocked. It doesn’t even occur to me to stop or turn back. I am confident I can work around it. As I approach the fallen tree, I do indeed see several solutions. I pause, feeling grateful for my love of hiking, my time on many different trails, and my physical fitness. And I realize that I love organizing for the same reasons - it allows me to help others who encounter obstacles along their path.
One of my first steps in organizing is helping clients face those obstacles so they can let go of items that no longer fit them, their lifestyle, or their goals. Much like trees let go of their leaves to conserve resources, letting go of clothes you don’t wear, housewares you don’t use, and books you will never read means you will never again have to clean, sift through or put away those items. You won’t have to look at them and agonize over why you bought them, where you can put them, or whether the person who gave them to you would be offended if you gave them away. By letting go of excess items, you are saving your physical, mental and emotional energy.
And, you can see more clearly into the “woods” of your home. You find missing items (often some real treasures!) and you make space for your items to breathe. This makes it easier to create a beautfiul, organized home. With the clutter of past months cleared, you will then be able to prepare for the cold, dark months ahead.
Another reason trees let their leaves fall away is to prepare for winter. So as to not to be blown over by winter storms, trees focus on their roots and their core and let the rest fall away. This reminds me of what winter holidays often look like - weather brings us inside and we focus more on home and family. Whether you have been at home more due to COVID or you will be more at home more during the winter months, fall is a very good time to get organized.
And when you come upon an obstacle, like that tree blocking your path, approach it with courage and determination. Look around and see what your options are. Can you easily step over it? Take your time to climb over it? Crawl under it? Walk around it? Clear another path to get on the other side of it? These are all things I do when organizing homes, and I guess I have the forest to thank for it.
Pinky Jackson is a Professional Organizer who loves to move obstacles out of the way for her clients. She and her team organize homes in the Louisville, Kentucky region as well as all other locations via Virtual Organizing Services. Pinky offers complimentary consultations via pinkyjackson.com
