Getting Organized: What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do First

A woman getting organised in the home and dancing with her mopYour home feels chaotic and disorganised, but you just don’t know where to begin. You can’t even bear to look at the clutter, it’s so overwhelming. And yet you do … nothing. As if leaving it will make it go away. You’d rather do anything but clear the place up. Suddenly everything else seems more important:

‘I’ll start by clearing up the newspapers. Mmm that looks an interesting article from the Sunday supplement three weeks ago; don’t think I’ve read it yet. I’ll quickly skim through it before I throw it out …’

‘I’m really tired this evening, I just need to sit down and watch some TV. I have to be in the right frame of mind, I’ll start tomorrow.’

‘It’s going to take ages to get this place sorted out and I just don’t have the time. I’ve got so much on right now’

Yet, you know that you would be so much happier with a more organised and neat home. How do you overcome that hurdle?

Firstly, realise that if your place is really in serious disarray, it isn’t going to be sorted in an instant. But don’t get downhearted about it.

Start somewhere – anywhere – for just five minutes. Right now. For example the laundry or the dishes. Set a timer and begin by tackling that overflowing basket of clothes or sink piled with dirty dishes. You won’t get through it all, but you will make a dent. Really go for it, and you might be quite surprised what you can do in five minutes.

Your five minutes are up. Feel a sense of achievement and satisfaction. And now that you have the momentum going, why not carry on and finish just this one task?

OK stop now! I know you’re on a role and could just keep going for half the night sorting the place out. But then you’re going to feel exhausted. Tomorrow you’re going to feel like you’ve done too much, you’ll give yourself a break, things will slide … And it will feel overwhelming all over again.

It’s all about maintenance. So from now on you’re going to make sure that no matter what, you’re going to keep this first task up to date. Each day spend at least ten minutes making sure that the dishes are washed or the laundry put a way (or whichever task you chose as your priority). Each day try to add an additional task to tackle, using the same method.

Fairly soon, you’ll come to a point where your whole place is straightened up. Within a few days it will become a habit and by blocking just a small amount of time each day, you’ll be able to maintain it.

‘The longest journey starts with a single step.’

Just take that first step.