An organized home or office can help you save money, save time, and even lower your daily stress level. When you are organized, it is easier to focus on important tasks and find everyday items that tend to get misplaced. Simply getting your stuff together will make you feel content and accomplished.

Even the most disorganized area can be reassembled into a manageable living or workspace. It is very easy to allow disorganization to continue month after month because we feel overwhelmed. Do not give up. Anyone can reduce the clutter and conquer chaos by following a few simple steps.

* Identify the trouble spots.

Where does clutter collect and chaos control? In our homes, where we enter tends to be a receiving area for shoes, outerwear, bags, sports equipment, and many miscellaneous items. If this area is nearest the kitchen, chances are there is an overflow that spills onto the countertops and even into the eating area.

Take an objective look at your home or office space. Is there an overflowing stack of mail, newspapers, and catalogs on the kitchen counter? Has your desk become the receptacle for every memo and piece of paper generated in your office? If you have to lean with your full body weight to close a closet door, it needs to be de-cluttered. If your file cabinet drawers will only close an inch, you have found a trouble spot.

* Know the purpose of your space.

Sometimes a room or an area becomes a dropping ground for every miscellaneous item owned. If a room is to be used for a specific purpose, declare that purpose and clear out all items not related to the purpose.

* Learn when to keep, store, or donate/sell.

When dealing with an area completely overrun by clutter, remove each item and sort everything into three piles. The Keep pile should only contain things directly related to the purpose of the room or space. The Store pile is for items that you want to save but are not related to room's purpose. The Donate/Sell pile is for items that you are permanently removing from your home or office. Donate these to charity or sell at garage sales or online.

* 10 minutes a day, makes the clutter go away.

If you can stay ahead of the clutter, you can avoid disorganization. Spend ten minutes daily to organize your in-box before you leave work. At home and in the office, eliminate piles by trashing old magazines and catalogs, filing paycheck or bill paperwork, and shredding old documents. Scan needed documents to the computer to reduce excess paper clutter. Shred out-of-date files and label new ones.

In addition, do not be afraid to throw things away. If you take care of clutter a little every day, it will not build up and become overwhelming disorganization.

The secret to organization is not about buying the newest bins or filing system. It is not about hiring a personal organizer or spending your entire week's vacation to do the job yourself. The secret to organization is learning there is no perfect or right way to be organized. Organization is a personal thing. It is not easy but taking it one step at a time, you can become organized and you will be able to de-stress. You can also take pride in knowing exactly where you placed your car keys.

Learn more about this author, Barb Hopkins.
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