Starting an Organizing Project

Okay, you've decided which of your organizing projects to start with. Now what?

Step One
Find yourself four boxes or containers to work with. Then label the boxes as follows:

• Trash - to throw away
• Recycle - to give away
• Store - to put away
• Use - anything you currently need or use

Step Two
Next, remove everything from the area that you want to organize. As you do that, make a choice about each item you remove - is it garbage, something to recycle or give away, something that you want to store somewhere or is it something you need access to now and/or frequently? Then place it in the appropriate box.

Step Three
Now deal with each of the boxes.

• Send the Trash Box stuff to the trash.
• For the Recycle Box, decide where or how to recycle this. Do you want to donate it somewhere? Are there certain items that you want to give to someone specific? Label or mark the boxes or items accordingly and leave them by the door to take with you when you leave.
• With the items in the Store Box, first take any items that already have a storage place in your office or home and put them away there. For any reamining items, decide on a place for them. If needed, find appropriate boxes or containers for them and then place them in their storage "home".
• Finally, with the Use Box, place the items in the place you are most likely to use them. Remember that the items you use most frequently should be placed as close as possible to where they can be easily accessed.