Real Life Solutions

Here is the link to Part 1 of this series

Let’s face it; it’s often easier to give up our efforts to get organized than it is to jump over the hurdles. But the hurdles don’t have to defeat us. We can overcome each and every one and succeed in this journey to getting organized. The hurdles can be conquered. Join us as we tackle a few of the hurdles to organizing that we all face.

6. Too much stuff: You are not alone with this condition. Our culture is one that encourages the collection and consumption of much stuff. The trouble with stuff is the amount of upkeep and time it requires. There are only so many things we can use in a given day. For clothing alone, the average person wears 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. Take an honest look at what you actually wear for all of your activities. The excess can be donated. Work suits that you no longer need can be donated to organizations that make them available to women trying to get started in the workplace. You can also sell your items on consignment. This same process works for just about all of the stuff we have.

7: Perfection: Do you suffer from perfectionism? Many of us do. This hurdle can be difficult to overcome, but not impossible. We are under the delusion that we have to have or do everything perfectly. When we can’t we don’t start, or don’t finish. We know that realistically we can’t be perfect. Give yourself a break and give yourself permission to do `good enough’. There is nothing good about trying to be perfect. It only paralyzes us. Good enough is good enough! Think how much more relaxed you will feel when you no longer put unrealistic expectations on yourself. Start small and enjoy the freedom.

8. It was a gift: What is it about gifts that makes us think we have to keep whatever is given to us? Sometimes we keep items out of respect and love for the giver. Sometimes we keep items out of guilt, whether or not it is something we love and use. This is another one that requires a change in our way of thinking. A gift is something given with no strings attached. The receiver is under no obligation to keep any gift they don’t love or use. If you are holding on to something because it is tied to the memory of the person, give yourself permission to get rid of the item but not the memory of the person who gave it to you. Getting rid of the item doesn’t remove the memory from your heart. Give yourself permission to lose the clutter and cherish the memory.

9. Not enough time: Many of us think that if we don’t have hours of time to devote to organizing, then we don’t have enough time ‘period’. While it would be wonderful to have hours at a time to devote to organizing, the reality is that our time is in short supply. Don’t let the apparent lack of time discourage you from organizing. Everyone can spare 15 minutes here and there. It may be hard to believe, but you can accomplish a lot of organizing and decluttering 15 minutes at a time–especially when it’s a focused effort without interruptions, coupled with an ‘I CAN’ attitude.

10. Transition storage-Where do I put it?: When our homes are already disorganized and overstuffed it’s difficult at best to figure out where to put items we want to keep, items we want to donate and items we want to sell. Let’s tackle sale items first. Are you having a garage sale? Designate an area in your garage to store garage sale items. Make sure you set a date for your sale. It’s much easier to work with a specific goal in mind. If you are donating or selling on consignment, put the items in your car at the end of your session and drop them off at least once a week. For those items you are keeping, designate a place in your home for transitional storage and use only that space. It might be a challenge for a little while, but just picture how great things will look when you finish. You can do this!

Finally Organized – Finally Free -  An amazing collection of 2,175 ideas, tips and techniques for organizing your home, your clutter, your time, your schedule, your money, your paper, your family and much more!