Organize + Energize: 5 Reasons You Can't Get Organized
Kristin MacRae, GoLocalProv Organizing Expert
Organize + Energize: 5 Reasons You Can't Get Organized
Here are the top answers that were received:
Get started and can’t seem to finish. The biggest reason most organizing projects fail is because people get distracted and lose focus. There are numerous reasons why they can’t stay on task. The phone may ring, they hear something fascinating on the TV, they feel the need to check social media, they receive a text, they leave the room they are working in, they may have ADD, and the list goes on and on. Some projects are very overwhelming to most people. They get halfway through their project and shut down because they get stressed, overwhelmed, or they get tired.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDidn’t have a good system. The system looked great in the beginning and now nobody in the household is following the system and the system has fallen apart. When you get organized, it’s not just about using pretty containers and making things look pretty. Once you remove everything from the space and declutter, and categorize, take a step back and look at your empty space. Think about how you utilize the items that you are placing back into the space. It’s all about functionality and being able to maximize the space. Really think about your system. Re-visit your space in a few months. If the system is broken; don’t continue to work with it. Create a better system based on how you functioned these past few months.
Systems were too difficult. Keep it simple. The systems don’t have to be elaborate. The simpler the system, the easier it will be to maintain. The more complicated the system, the more likely it is to fail. If it’s your child you are working with to get organized, incorporate them into the process. Ask them how they want to function. You may be surprised that they will know the answer to that question.
My family didn’t follow the systems. If you are creating organized systems in an area that the entire family utilizes, you have to get everybody on board with the system. You can’t create a system and assume everybody will be able to follow it if they haven’t been informed. Once your systems are created, walk your family through the system. Follow up every month for a few months until the systems are learned and everybody is in a routine. Once they learn the system, it’s a matter of putting things back where they belong.
Realization that the skill set wasn’t there. You were able to declutter and categorize, but then you got stuck. Many people get overwhelmed and shut down at this point. You may not have the organizational skill set, and that’s ok. That’s why there are professionals to help transfer that skill set to you.
If you are relating to this article, you are not alone. Many people struggle with all of the above. Work on limiting your distractions and staying focused. Create easy to follow systems that can be maintained by everybody in your home. Re-visit your systems and if they aren’t working, tweak them to make them work better for you. If you are lacking the skill set, bring in a professional to get you to the next level.
5 Organizing Blunders
Not planning ahead
Getting organized is a process and you have to have a plan on how to conquer your project. You can’t tear apart an entire room all at once. You need to break the project down into small pieces. Plan to tackle your project in 3-hour increments. If you work longer than 3 hours at a time, you are setting yourself up for burnout. Plan ahead to try to avoid distractions and stay focused.
Click here for more tips on how to avoid distractions.
Purchasing the incorrect supplies
I know you are excited to get organized, but don’t rush out to the store and purchase products just because you like the way they look. Get organized first. Figure out what you need to contain, and then purchase your container to match the items you need it to hold.
Click here for more on choosing the right container.
Not letting others know about your system
Once you set up the organized system, you have to get everybody in your home on board. Show them the systems and how you are going to function with this system going forward. Label everything if you must, so everybody gets in the habit of putting items away. Remember, the simpler the system, the easier it’s going to be to maintain.
Need help creating those systems? Go here.
Not maximizing your space
Use every inch of space and use it well. Take everything out of the area you are organizing. You can’t get a clear visual of the space if it is filled with clutter. Shifting items around is not going to work.
Here are more tips on maximizing your space.
Repeatedly clearing spaces
You are creating more work for yourself if you continue to clear spaces once a month. Create a system and allow everything in your home to have its own place, and you will never have to clear a space again.
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.
