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Fulfill Your Resolution for an Organized New Year

By Kathy Jenkins, Professional Organizer, Come To Order 

Should old acquaintance be forgot… no – and neither should your New Year’s resolution to get organized. Resolutions are so easy to make as you sip champagne and kiss your loved one, but then the harsh reality of a fast-paced life hits you. But don’t give up on those resolutions so fast. Try to remember the reason for making it in the first place and then use some of these ideas to strengthen your resolve: 

First and foremost, let your spouse, significant other, family or roommate know that you are going to begin to take the necessary steps to getting and staying organized. Ask for their support and cooperation as you point out the many benefits to being organized (saving money, saving time and less stress). But remember, even if you don’t get their buy-in immediately, you should press forward and lead by example. 

So where to begin…pick the area of your house that stresses you the most. Maybe it is your kitchen, where your family expects you to make a decent meal every night while surrounded by back-packs, school paraphernalia, mail and the like. Or, maybe it is the closet that you swear is haunted because every time you open the door something comes flying out at you.  

No matter the space, start small and work your way up. There is a saying “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”. You tackle organizing the same way! Break your project into small manageable tasks. Assess what you need to do and then list the steps. You will feel a sense of accomplishment with every task you complete. 

Decide how much time you will work on organizing. If it is not your strong point, then I suggest you start small. Set a timer for 15 and work till you hear the ding. If you feel up to it, reset it and work some more, otherwise save it for your next 15 minute block. As you become more comfortable, you can ditch the timer in favor of your favorite CD. 

Take breaks when you feel overwhelmed or just plain tired. Organizing can be not only physically draining, but emotionally as well. Therefore give yourself permission to take a break when you feel frustrated or exhausted – watch TV, read a book, have a cup of coffee. When you come back to the project you will be refreshed and ready to tackle the next task of your project. 

If time and paper are your organizational challenges, then start with goals, a calendar, and a tickler and filing system. As you set your goals, make sure they take priority when scheduling activities on your calendar. The calendar will keep you on track with your commitments, birthdays, events, etc. Make sure you keep it in a place that is accessible by the whole family. You want to get everyone in the habit of using it. The tickler and filing systems are to help you regain and maintain control of all the paper in your life.  

Finally, remember the three D’s: delegate, don’t get discouraged and don’t forget to celebrate. Delegate those tasks that are so unpleasant you just know you will never do them or those that will keep you from reaching your goals. Don’t get discouraged when you look around after an organizing session and it doesn’t look like much has been done. The bottom line is that you are doing something and in time all of your hard work will shine through. Most importantly, don’t forget to celebrate. Organizing is hard work and you deserve to reward yourself for a job well done. 

Now raise you glass and make a toast with me, “Here’s to a New Year filled with more time, more money and less stress – here’s to your organized New Year!”  

© 2006, Kathy Jenkins, Come To Order

Kathy Jenkins is a Residential Professional Organizer, Student Organizer, Certified Family Manager Coach, Writer and Speaker based in Richmond, Virginia. She is a member of NAPO, NSGCD and ABWA and is dedicated to helping her clients simplify their lives by reducing clutter, organizing their homes and offices, and managing their time. Kathy especially enjoys working with kids and their families to help them learn good organizational skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.