Conquering Closets

Closet space is something we never seem to have enough of. We can fill our closets to the brim very quickly, and then they become a black hole where items disappear, never to be found again. But organizing your closet can make a big difference in simplifying your life.
When organizing a closet keep in mind that the intended use of the space is storing clothes, nothing else. So take this time to clear out all the stuff that doesn't belong in the space.

The next task is to sort what is left into neat piles of similar items. As an example, gather all your pants, all your shirts, all your jackets, etc. Now you can see what you really have. Do you really need 10 pairs of black pants? Now is the time to be honest with yourself. If you love it, keep it. If it doesn't fit, is worn out, or is out of style, get rid of it.

The next move is to take a step back and look at what you have. Evaluate if the space you have is adequate for what you want to store. Storage systems such as a closet organizer, shoe racks, shelves, or bins may be needed to make the best use of the space.

When that task is accomplished, it is time to put everything into its new home. Storing all items of the same kind together will make it easier to find things in the future. Mission accomplished! Now enjoy your success as you dress with ease tomorrow morning.

Why Organize?

Did you spend any time today looking for something lost? Do you feel as though you never have time to sit down and relax? If this sounds familiar to you, it's time to get organized. Organizing is not going to bring about world peace. It's just going to make your day run more smoothly and maybe save you a little money too.
Organizing is taking what you have and using it in the most efficient manner. You should have things around you that you love and that serve a purpose.

Look around. Are there things you can see that are getting in your way and making it hard for you to function? Why not move them out of your way, way out of the way, like to the curb? Maybe without all that unnecessary clutter you can find what you've been missing and perhaps sit down and put your feet up.

Do you have items in your home that you love, but you are not honoring? Maybe there's a favorite piece of furniture that is covered with clutter? Challenge yourself to clear off that piece, use and enjoy it the way it was meant to be.

It is said that clutter is just unmade decisions. Start today to make some decisions about those things that are getting in your way.

Do you use your garage as a dumping ground? Is it so stuffed with clutter that there is no longer room to park your car?
By setting up activity zones in your garage you will be able to free up space and find items quickly and easily. Some zones you may consider are Gardening, Sports, Workbench, Holiday Decorations, Automotive, Garbage and Recycling. This approach makes it easy for you to find things when you need them and put them back in the right place when you are done.

Cabinets, shelves, hanging hooks and bins will help you to get things up off the ground, safely stored and staying that way. Storing items in your zones is important in order to keep things clean and protected from the weather. You can find storage units made for the garage at many discount and speciality stores. And if you want to be the envy of the neighborhood, you can hire a garage storage company.

By following these tips, you can make the garage another room in your house that you can be proud of.

From one of my organizing idols, Judith Kolberg.

Clutter Statistics
In December, 2009 the National Association of Professional Organizers (http://www.napo.net/) and Office Depot conducted a survey of over 1,023 office workers on the question of "What clutters your workspace?." Their response? 32% said food. Yikes! It's just another indication we are not taking our lunch breaks and instead working at our desks. The same number of respondents reported newspapers and magazines clutter their workspace (so much for virtual reading). 31% have coffee cups nearby (since when is that clutter?), and 28% report "personal hygiene products." Toothpaste? Combs? What could that mean? Hey, whatever it means, it's not a problem if people can get their work done. And that's the point. Disorganization in the form of lost time looking for items, tardiness, and missed deadlines are good reasons to clean up clutter, according to the survey. Get the complete results at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=140162&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1373477&highlight=

Thanks Judith