Achieving Organizing Progress with Systems & Celebrations
No matter how fast you want, need, or can get your home organized, taking time to declutter, celebrate progress, and create solid systems along the way can make the journey more fun and the results more sustainable.
When organizing homes and small businesses, we focus on three phases: Declutter, Organize, Celebrate. Here are some thoughts to help you get the most out of each of these phases.
Decluttering is the foundation, because you don’t want to spend time organizing items that you no longer want or need. Some spaces need very little decluttering and some need quite a bit, so consider whether doing all the decluttering first or breaking it into smaller more manageable amounts feels better to you. And by feels better, I also mean making sure you don’t fill your kitchen table and bed with stuff that you can’t get to in the allotted time and therefore have no place to eat dinner or sleep! When you see us emptying entire pantries or closets, it’s because we have decades of experience and know how to restore order in the time allotted. Start small and tidy up one area before decluttering the next. Create a system for your decluttering so you can efficiently decide, contain and remove unwanted items.
Organizing is the most customizable, because of your unique space, lifestyle and stressors. And you and your family members may have different needs, different learning styles, different heights, etc. So, creating systems that work for each of you at this phase in your lives is key. Starting with available spaces - both the quantity and the quality of each cabinet, closet, and drawer, allocate areas that will best serve the functions needed. Adding organizing bins, labels, rotation schedules and chore charts can be helpful. And placing decor, family photos or other items that add beauty to the space will make you WANT to be there long enough to put items back where they belong.
Celebrating can mean a quick high five when a client releases unused items to make room for items she loves, an excited cheer for a big donation decision, or taking a moment to enjoy progress. After a project is complete, or to help a project be complete, celebration can be hosting a small gathering (in your now beautifully organized space) to distribute family heirlooms. Or it can mean celebrating by finding special ways to share cherished photos. These moments of celebration can be deeply meaningful and allow you to declutter your home and either gift items to family members or realize that they don’t really want them and it’s okay to let them go.
Remember, life is a journey and while we are on it we will always have material objects. So enjoy the process and celebrate your successes!
If you need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out for help. Visit pinkyjackson.com to schedule a free assessment. We would love to help you with our Onsite Organizing services if you are in the Louisville, KY area or our Virtual Organizing services if you are more remote or prefer to work online.
Pinky Jackson is an Organizing Expert and Decluttering Specialist. She and her team organize homes & offices in Louisville, KY. For more information about Pinky’s pricing & services or to schedule your free assessment, go to pinkyjackson.com
Photo: Minh Pham @minhphamdesign
