How to Avoid Organizing Overwhelm
There are plenty of reasons why people hire professional organizers to help with an organizing project. Some of those reasons include:
They don’t know where to start or where to go next
They don’t know how to tie up loose ends or complete a project
They need to be held accountable or need to commit time/money to accomplishing the project
They don’t have time to do the project
They don’t enjoy organizing and would rather spend time another way
They are overwhelmed by the project and need support
That last reason is a heavy sentiment and one that stops people from finding peace in their homes for a very long time. There are plenty of tasks and projects that overwhelm us each day - but when our home environment is one of them, it can seriously put a damper on our happiness and contentment in the place we call home.
If you want to avoid or lessen the overwhelm you feel when taking on an organizing project at home, I suggest:
Hiring a professional to help. Professional organizers are meant to be a sensible source of support, there to alleviate the stress, remove the unknowns, and guide you through the process from start to finish.
Take on one space or room at a time. Often times when working with clients it makes sense to take on one category of items at a time rather than one room in particular. For example, we would go through ALL clothing at once in drawers, totes, closets, etc. But don’t focus on one category at a time - take it slow and sort through one space at a time. Do one closet, one set of shelves. Small wins will allow you to get comfortable with moving onto bigger and more involved spaces.
Let go of guilt. Get comfortable with the idea that in order for you to find contentment at home, decluttering must happen. We often do not need more space, we need less “stuff”. Deciding what should go and what should stay is hard because someone gave us something, we spent good money on it, or it came in handy that one time. Consider the last time you used something, referenced it or looked at it. Consider how hard it would be to replace the item financially or what your options would be if you needed it again. Let go of the guilt that comes with letting go of something.
Understand the options you have. You don’t have to make a yes or no decision right now. Don’t be so hard and fast when it comes to making decisions when decluttering. Not sure if you should keep an item? Store it out of sight and mark your calendar to retrieve it in the future from the space you put the item. If you didn’t need it or think “where it that item?” - it is safe to say it s not needed!
Pick a corner and just start. Plenty of people put off organizing because it is visually, mentally and physically overwhelming. Don’t overthink it when it comes to where to begin. Pick a corner and work your way around the room. You can do it!
Hopefully these tips can help you jump start your next organizing project!