Use your springtime energy to get organized!

Spring is a time of rejuvenation, regrowth, and rebirth. We can take advantage of our natural spring-time cleaning enthusiasm to tackle long-delayed organizing projects. Here is a 3-step plan to decide which project to do first.

1. Identify your pain points. What are the 4-5 most problematic areas in your home?

2. Rank those areas according to the size of the project, your emotional attachment to it, and the impact it will have.

3. Choose the project that best fits your time and energy. Starting with less emotionally charged areas makes it easier to get going and sets you up to succeed on more difficult projects later.

Here's how it looks for me:

Priority 1: Linen Closet

• 3 hour project

• A few sentimental items but mostly just old sheets

• Medium impact: tossing old sheets would give me room to buy new ones (which are sorely needed!)

Priority 2: Computer files

• Over 8 hour project

• No emotional attachment to work files

• High attachment to photos

• BIG IMPACT! My computer runs slowly because it is too full plus I can't find things.

Priority 3: Childhood memorabilia

• 8 hour project

• High emotional attachment

• Potential for big impact - if I can part with half the stuff, I'll have way more storage for other things? And do I really need all my report cards from 5th grade?

• I'm making this an 8 hour project because I know I will get lost in memories.

Priority 4: Cellar storage

• 8 hour project

• No emotional attachment - this is mostly old paint and chemicals, household tools, etc.

• Moderate impact. Although I do need to get rid of most of the stuff, I don't need the space for anything else right away.

I decided to work on the linen closet first because:

• it's a small project I know I can do in a short time - early success will keep me going!

• it's not a hard project either physically or emotionally

• I can hang things out on the clothesline to get a nice spring scent!
  

I will do the computer files next since I can do that a little at a time and can sit next to an open window while I do the work. By then I should have the fortitude to tackle the memorabilia and all the big memories it will bring up! Realistically I won't have time to get the first 3 projects done by summer. By then, it will be pretty hot in the house so a perfect time to move to the cellar!

Classifying your projects with these 3 features (expected size of project, emotional attachment, and impact) helps you start small and have early success, which encourages you to keep organizing! It also gives you practice with decluttering easy things first so when you get to the harder stuff you know how to do it. Good luck!!

(adapted from When Organizing Isn't Enough: Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life by Julie Morgenstern, 2008)