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.

Organize Those Drawers

A simple way to organize your drawers is to use dividers of some kind.

You don't have to go out and buy something fancy. Get creative and look for things you already have.

In my desk drawers I've used boxes and lids from card sets to create general areas. Then inside those areas I've used small glasses to hold an assortment of items. Looks nice and makes it easy to find things.

In my stationery drawer I've used a variety of boxes that I had hanging around. I just looked for something that was the size I needed. Some boxes I cut down to fit in the drawer. Nothing fancy, but it keeps the drawer neat and tidy.

Just find something simple to create a divider system that works for the items in your drawers.

Use What You Love & Enjoy

When you are looking for containers and items to get yourself organized, choose things that you enjoy and that give you pleasure.

For example, I collect glassware because it's something I enjoy. So I created a personal desk organizer from a square glass baking dish, a smaller square baking dish which works perfectly for post-it pads, and several crystal glasses that make great pencil holders for all the odds and sorts that I use frequently.

Remember the Tickle File I told you about in a previous post? Mine sits in this lovely ornamental lidded box on the edge of my desk where all the today items are right at the front where I can see them and easily reach them.
So what gives you pleasure? What would you enjoy using on a daily basis?

After all, if you are going to be using and looking at something everyday, why not make it something that gives you pleasure?