Are You Ready To Organize?

Are you ready to organize?  I get calls from potential clients, and they want to know more about what I do and how I can help.  The first thing we do is walk thru a series of questions to figure out if they are ready to get started.  Sometimes, that answer is “no”.  So, how do you know if you’re ready to organize?  Let’s first talk about what “organized” means:

ORGANIZED =The ability to find most anything you need in five minutes or less.

That’s all it means: can you put your hands on most anything you need in five minutes or less?  If the answer is “yes”, you might be organized.  If the answer is “no”, you might have some room for improvement. Here’s some questions to think over if you’re the latter:

* Why do you want to get organized?  What’s your motivation? Do you want to get organized out of your own?  Or is a family member or significant other politely (or not so politely) encouraging you to do so?  If you’re doing it out of your own wish, you’re on the right track.

* What are your expectations? Do you expect your home office to look like a magazine layout?  What do you want your space to look, feel, smell or sound like?

* What’s your budget and when can you start? If you’re going to do an overhaul of your home office, you’re going to need some cash and time to do it.  The bigger your plans, the more cash you need.  (You can get very creative, so don’t let this put you off if you only have half your monthly coffee budget to spare.)

* Have you tried things in the past that haven’t worked?  Why do you think that is? Lots of us have a shelf full of organizing books, and that’s perfectly OK.  There is a pretty common theme among them, and it can take reading one or two of them before it begins to sink in.  (I understand, really I do!)  If you’ve tried to get organized in the past and been less successful than you’d hoped, don’t get too down on yourself.  There’s lots of reasons why, and if you can pin down your reason you’ll be ahead of the game.

My advice: Start when you’re ready, and before it’s too late.

Don’t wait until you lose your job or forget to pay a bill, but also be sure you’re ready.  Take small little steps toward organization.  I love quick tips, because they are a great way to get started.  So, use the quick tips on the cover of almost every lifestyle and shelter magazine on the shelf.  Little bits of information can help you get and stay moving a little at a time.

Above all, take it easy on yourself.  If you’re not ready, own up to that and be OK with it.  Make sure you’re getting the important stuff done, and if you’re not,  ask for help.  I’m willing to bet you’ve got a friend or someone you know that can and will help you out!  You can do it!

(photo by mandj98 on flickr)