Putting Off Organizing Creates More Problems

NJ Expert Marilyn Shain Labendz saves you time by organizing

YOU are not alone! YOU are not the only one with a huge mess or even a small mess.

Don't beat yourself up. We know that life gets in the way and your schedule is crazy. You're still a good person... you just need some help.

Here's the dilemma: When we start decluttering and re-organizing and we haven't yet set up a new system to avoid having a mess in the first place, we are defeated before we begin.

Heres the solution: Take the time to save time. Set up systems to normalize being organized even before you start your big projects.

Problem #1: The mail

Always have one spot for the daily mail.
Open the daily mail either over your shredder, recycling bin or garbage can.
Have a special box or file system or drawer, labeled "follow up."
Put outgoing mail in the same spot near the door so it gets taken care of in a timely fashion. (I know some people have a tiny note on the door as they leave that says: "Mail? Phone?
You have now eliminated one clutter problem.

Problem #2: Journals, weekly newspapers, magazines.

Find a place to put these items right away, (a nice basket, magazine holders, etc) and tell everyone in the family.
Do NOT leave them on the couch, desk, kitchen counter, etc.
Go through them weekly. If you haven't had the time to read the 3 or 4 that you got this week, then you probably won't find the time to read them with the new ones that arrive next week. Recycle them, share them, donate them. This is a great way to see which you really don't pay attention to or care about as much as you thought. Unsubscribe.
Get some or all of the magazines on line. This eliminates a tremendous amount of clutter and you can keep the magazines as long as you want. On line magazines don't pile up!

Problem #3: No incentive not to procrastinate, (as if not having a mess isn't inspiration enough). You can stay fit by doing things right away!

I live in an 1100 sq. foot apartment. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a small kitchen, and a hallway of closets. I counted that there are 30 steps from the kitchen to my bedroom closets, 25 from the kitchen to the hallway pantry, etc. I tracked my steps during one day at home, putting everything away immediately after taking it out. OVER 1000 steps!