Gaining a sense of organization requires the same thought process as losing weight. They require the same hard work, commitments, and dedication to achieving goals. The payoff in both aspects is similar. The person who gets organized sheds pounds just like the person who has cleared the pantry of empty calories. There are binges when taking the steps needed to get organized as well as tiny successes. There is also a starting point, that first step when the clutter is cleared and hope can be felt.

So, step one. Drop the fat.

Gather four cardboard boxes for trash, donations, yard sale items, and shredding. First, prune the financial command center of the house, whether an office or a simple filing cabinet. This space is the pulse of a person's control. Organize the bills and throw away the waste. This gives off a sense of accomplishment and the energy needed to continue. The order of progress doesn't matter after this task. However, always start with paper, then clothes, then everything else. Neatly stacked paperwork represents control and getting the clothes off the floor automatically gives a room a lift. The rest will fall into place. But be careful. Don't throw away schoolwork or important job files. Make a list of items needed to help keep organized, i.e., office supplies. And for women, don't forget to organize purses with the same concepts. Put those credit cards in the slots of the wallet.

Step two. Tone.

Become a paperless machine. Contact creditors, banks, and utility companies to request electronic statements. Set up electronic files. Then economize space. Use shelving to clear tables and desks. For documents that have no choice than to be hard copy, use binders with document protectors for separate subjects. Or, purchase portable accordion files and label accordingly. This adds mobility. Whatever choice, just remember that all high-functioning homes have some type of domestic clerical area. Make one.

Clean out two private spaces, such as closets, dedicated to laundry. Use one for dirty clothes and one for clean clothes. Do not use these as crutches to let clothes pile up. They serve the purpose of keeping the laundry in one place until such time as it can be washed, folded, and put away. For the closet with dirty clothes, fill a cup with water and add a couple teaspoons of bleach, and place it on the shelf above the coat rack. It will neutralize any odor from the dirty clothes. Don't forget to pick up some closet sorters if needed and vacuum the closets. It's a good feeling. Call the charity of choice to haul away the donated goods. Shred the confidential waste. Throw away the garbage. Plan that yard sale.

Step three. Keep healthy.

Place a receptacle at the main entrance to the home. If this is the living room, then use a decorated container. Drop the junk mail at the door and place the important mail in the clerical area. Get on a washing schedule. Assess priorities. Don't take on too much. Children don't have to be in five sports at a time, etc. Find ways to cut time to devote more to organizing. Learn how to cook quick meals. Getting organized will take work, but feeling in control is worth the effort.

In closing, be reasonable. Nobody needs a pristine house with disheveled organizational priorities. The canned goods do not have to be lined up in even rows.

Learn more about this author, Krymzen Hall.
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