A professional organizer will ask a client a handful of questions to help them part with their belongings. We realize that some items are harder to part with than others and we'd like to suggest a different route...
First off, let's look at some familiar questions that we might ask ourselves regarding a belonging when we're deciding if we should keep it or let it go.
- Do you love the item?
- Is this a duplicate item?
- Is the item damaged or broken?
- Does this item fulfill an essential need
- Do you use the item on a regular enough basis to keep it?
While these questions are a great tool for individuals during the organizing process, we have come up with a different way to look at our belongings. Before you start any organizing project, ask yourself, what do you want the space to look like? How will the space function? At this initial stage you will come up with an organizing phrase. A phrase such as "streamlined zone" or "classic workstation" gives the project and the unorganized individual more focus when making tough decisions on belongings. For our phrase, we like to use an adjective paired with a noun but feel free to create an entire sentence or use just one word for inspiration. Imagine that your phrase is "uncluttered zone"--do you think that any items not serving an efficient and functional purpose will make the cut? And by all means, tell friends your organizing phrase. When they check in to see how the project is going, you'll find that it holds you accountable--which is half the battle with organizing.
What is your organizing phrase?
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