Getting Started
Getting over the hurdles that stand between you and organization can be a big challenge. These resources can help.
10 Quick Clutter-Clearing Projects  Got a few minutes? Use them to get organized! These ten quick and easy projects can help you clear clutter and cultivate calm with just a bit of effort. 15 Quick and Painless Organizing Projects  Reap the benefits of organization without a lot of time and effort with these quick and easy mini-projects. 3 Habits That Can Keep You Safe and Secure  Keep yourself, your family, your identity, and your computer safe and secure by developing these three simple but critical habits. 5 More Quick and Painless Organizing Projects  Organizing projects don�t always need to be large or time-consuming to have a positive impact, as these five prove. 5 Quick Ways to Visually De-Clutter  Getting organized for good takes time. While you´re at it, though, making small, simple, highly visible changes to the space around you is a great way to stay motivated and reap the rewards of your work. Here are five painless ways to change the looks of your space. A Smarter Way to Make Resolutions  This year, before making another set of resolutions that are driven by "should"s and may be hard to stick to, take some time to think about what you really want from the months ahead, and then set your goals accordingly. Are Your Shoulds Keeping You from Getting Organized?  Sometimes the things we think we *should* do get in the way of organization. Here are three common shoulds that can trip you up, and ways to get past them. Choose Quality over Quantity to Get (and Stay) Organized  Choosing to surround yourself with more meaningful, more useful things--rather than simply with more things--makes it easier to bring order and organization into your life. Check out these ideas on how to choose quality over quantity. Dealing with Different Organizing Styles  Do you have a different organizing style from your spouse/partner or co-workers? Not everyone defines organization the same way or has the same organizing goals, and it can be challenging to agree on how to get organized. Here's how to bridge that divide. Deciding Where to Begin  One of the hardest parts of getting organized can often be deciding where to start. Read on for four of my favorite options--one of which is sure to work for you. Develop a Decluttering Mindset  Getting organized for good involves more than just sorting, weeding, and finding places to store stuff. It also requires changing the way you think about the things you allow into your home and your life. Developing Organizing Habits  Once you've gotten yourself organized, maintaining your success depends on developing some simple but important organizing habits. Here's why good habits matter, and how to make them part of your life. Getting Organized Means Taking Risks  Getting organized can sometimes be simple, but it´s rarely easy. One hard truth about organization is that it often requires taking a few risks. Here´s what can happen when we try to make organizing risk-free, and why some risks are worth taking. How to Get Rid of Stuff You're Ready to Part With  I recently set out a challenge: can you get rid of the things that are clogging up, bringing down, or otherwise not adding value to your life? Whether you´ve taken that challenge or just need ideas on what to do with things you´re ready to part with, read on for some donation and disposal ideas. Life Organizers [offsite link] Regardless of what kind of organizing you´re looking to do--from a quick drawer cleanout to a house-wide overhaul--chances are extremely good you´ll find articles, tips, and recommendations on it here. Making Organizing Resolutions that Stick  Each January, the start of the new year and Get Organized Month, millions of us vow to get organized. This year, set yourself up for success with your organizing resolutions by following these three steps. Messie No More [offsite link] Written by Sandra Felton, the creator of Messies Anonymous, this book delves fairly deeply into background issues and root causes of disorganization, but it´s easy to read and to understand. Messies Anonymous [offsite link] Sandra Felton´s Messies Anonymous program is a great way of finding and maintaining the inspiration to clear the clutter from your home and your life. This site features links to MA´s daily newsletter, online support, and books and tapes. My #1 Organizing Tip  Above all else, organizing involves allowing into your life only the things you use, need, love, or find beautiful. Here´s how to determine what those things are, and how to clear out clutter in the process. My #2 Organizing Tip - Keep Things Where You Use Them  A big part of being organized is having easy access to the things you need. It sounds simple, but it can be surprisingly tricky to put into practice. Here´s how to implement one of my favorite organizing tips: keep things close to where you use them. My #3 Organizing Tip - Organizing Doesn't Require Perfection  It´s easy to think that being organized means having a perfectly neat and tidy home, or a desk that never has piles. In reality, though, organization doesn´t mean perfection. Here´s what it does mean, and how to bring effective organization into your life. My #4 Organizing Tip - Organizing Is a Habit  Getting organized isn´t a one-time event: it requires developing a few habits that will stick with you over time, and that will allow you to make organization part of your everyday life. Here´s how to get organized to last. My #5 Organizing Tip - Focus More on Why than on How  Here´s the last in a series of tips focusing on what´s behind getting organized and what to keep in mind as you bring order to your space. This week, read why it´s helpful to focus more on the *why* of organizing than the *how*. Organizing 101  Regardless of whether you´re organizing things, space, or time, the basic steps involved are the same. Here´s an overview of how to work through the organizing process. Organizing and  There's plenty you can do to care for the earth and our environment and to reduce waste. But what happens when concern about being "green" leads to holding onto things that just cause clutter and stress? Read on for an overview of "green guilt," why it's not helpful, and how to avoid it. Organizing Basics--Deciding Where Things Go  Mastering some simple organizing basics makes bringing order to your life easier and more effective. This article, the first in an occasional series, focuses on how to decide where things should go. Organizing vs. Decluttering  Faced with an out-of-control hall closet, kitchen drawer, desktop, or calendar? You might think, "I need to get organized!" Before trying to put systems in place, though, there's a critical step you need to take: decluttering. Here's why. Organizing Words of Wisdom  "Every possession is a responsibility." These few words say so much, and offer useful guidance to help determine what things deserve a space in your home and your life. Here´s how to tap into the power of this wisdom. Overcoming Organizing Obstacles : Beat Unrealistic Expectations  As you get organized, chances are you´ll run into an obstacle somewhere along the way. In this article (part 1 of 2), you´ll find some ideas on how to deal with those obstacles when they arise and how to keep moving forward. Overcoming Organizing Obstacles : Start Small and Chart Your Progress  Unrealistic expectations aren´t the only things that can keep us from succeeding with our organizing projects. Part 2 of this article offers tips and encouragement for getting beyond the other obstacles that get in our way. Reconsidering Storage Units  Are you spending more on storing your stuff each month than you're spending on yourself? Could the money you spend on storage go to better uses? Does the stuff you have in storage really deserve to be in your life? If you rent a storage unit, now is a great time to reconsider whether you need it. Rethinking New Year's Resolutions  Forget those big, grand, utterly unachievable New Year´s resolutions; this year, you really can reach your goals and make the changes you want to make. These three steps will set you on the right path. Set Yourself Up for Organizing Success this Year  A new year means a new opportunity to bring the benefits of organization to your home, office, family, and life. Get yourself on the path toward a more enjoyable, less stressful year by creating smart, achievable organizing goals for 2008. Here�s how. Setting SMART Organizing Goals  Setting goals is a good way to set yourself up for organizing success--and setting SMART goals is even better. Here´s what makes a goal SMART, along with questions to ask yourself when you´re ready to give your own goals a boost. Show Your Stuff Some Tough Love  Most of us know we have more stuff than we really need or use, but it can be difficult to part with it. Here are three of the most common excuses for holding onto things, as well as ways to get beyond them and show your stuff some tough love. The Results of Our Organizing Challenge  The results are in! The recent organizing challenge I set forth inspired many of you to reconsider the things you allow to remain in your life. Here are some examples of things that got the heave-ho, as well as some lessons learned from the challenge. Using Before and After Pictures to Get Organized  You´ve probably seen "before and after" pictures on home makeover TV shows or in magazine articles, but did you know that they can also be useful for simple organizing projects? Read on to learn more. What Causes Clutter?  Clearing clutter helps bring calm, order, and control to your home and your life. But before you can effectively tackle your clutter, it's important to know what causes it. Here are four of the most common reasons clutter builds up; you might be surprised by what they are! What Makes an Effective Organizing System?  There's much more to any organizing system than containers and labels. Here are the parts that need to be in place for an organizing system to work effectively, and why they're important. Why Does Organizing Take So Long?  Organizing projects, large or small, often take longer than we might imagine they should. Here are some explanations as to why, as well as tips on making the most efficient use of the time you do devote to getting organized. Worthwhile Organizing Investments  You don´t need to spend lots of money to get organized, but making a few smart investments can help make the organizing process easier, more enjoyable, and more efficient. Here are four smart ways to invest. Links marked with the [offsite link] designation point to websites not associated with BellaOnline.com. BellaOnline.com is not responsible for the material found there.
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