 |
 There
is something about the approach of spring air that motivates
even the worst procrastinators to dust off the cleaning supplies
and begin organizing their home or office space. However,
once the yearly ritual begins, many people can describe how
they feel in one word: overwhelmed.
“That’s because they think being ‘organized’
means being rigid, sterile or perfect,” explains organizing
guru Rosemary Chieppo, author of the handbook Clutter,
Chaos & the Cure. Chieppo, who says her style “is
more Rachael Ray than Martha Stewart,” defines organized
as being able to find what you need, when you need it.
“It ain’t rocket science,” Chieppo defiantly
proclaims. “Organizing just means having a place for
everything and making sure everything is in its place.”
Chieppo’s unconventional approach stresses that clearing
physical clutter clears the clutter in the mind, “Spring
is all about renewal, so there’s no better time to reorganize
your home and reinvigorate yourself.” Although her handbook
ranges from guidelines for knowing when to throw out important
papers to maximizing kitchen space, Chieppo offers the following
five general tips for simplifying spring organizing when the
“must-do-mood” hits:
| 1. |
Start with small tasks so you can indulge
in the victory of completion. “Most people feel defeated
before they start, so this mindset is going to keep you
motivated.” |
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| 2. |
Give your things a home at the point of
their use. “Think toothbrush. You never misplace
it because its home is where you use it. The same concept
should be applied to just about everything else in your
space.” |
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| 3. |
Group like things together. “It allows
you to keep inventory of what you do have so you don’t
end up with 17 black turtlenecks or 67 AA batteries!” |
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| 4. |
Don’t put tall things in front of short
things and don’t put big things on top of little
things. “Most people are visual; if they don’t
see something, it may as well not exist.” |
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| 5. |
Remember, organizing is an ongoing process.
“Once you’ve done the initial work of creating
a place for everything, don’t sabotage your progress
by falling back into old habits. Try to return each item
to its designated spot as soon as you can.” |
Before attempting to implement the tips, most clients of
Chieppo’s business, Born to Organize, commonly present
her with the same two roadblocks. The first is concern about
the amount of time it will take to complete the organizing
project; to which she replies, “You think you donít
have time to get organized, but you must get organized in
order to have time.”
The other hurdle involves mustering up the courage to say
goodbye to things accumulated over a number of years. “I
never saw a hearse pulling a U-Haul,” Chieppo jokingly
points out. She says that many people tend to think of organizing
only in terms of physical space like closets, pantries and
papers, but that it also has an emotional and mental side.
“They don’t own their stuff. Their stuff owns them.
Bringing themselves to donate or discard an item of sentimental
value takes a certain amount of self-reflection.”
Once a person is armed with knowledge of how to organize and
begins the process, Chieppo teaches that the easier the system,
the more likely they are to incorporate organizing into their
daily routine. And that, she contends, is where the real payoff
comes into play, “Keep your life organized,” she
says, “and you’ll find more energy and clarity in
every day. More importantly, next year, you can spend your
time enjoying all spring has to offer instead of cleaning!”
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WINNER
- Website of the Year 
