Awesome Organising Package: the inside story

From time to time we all get inundated with clutter. We may have systems in place, but we get off track. Sometimes events beyond our control can put us behind. Like flooding! Which was the case for our Awesome Organising package winner, Margaret Vale. She had been flooded twice in as many months. Here are the steps we used to get her place back in order. Whether it's flooding or some other reason you have fallen behind, you too can use these steps to get back in order:

Step 1 - Plan
We looked though the whole house together and decided on a target area: the spare room.
We talked about its current use, desired use and what was needed to get it there. It's purpose was part guest room, part storage room. So we created an action plan and got straight to work.

Step 2 - De-clutter
First thing was a clear floor policy. A good place to start in any room. So we started by looking at the bigger items.
Were they needed, used, loved? If they weren't, they fitted into the other four piles we made:
• chuck
• donate
• live elsewhere in the house
• smaller items to sort through when more time is available. *Paperwork and small items always take time to sort through, so make sure you allocate yourself enough time to do so

Step 3 - Access
Once we knew what was to remain in the room, we arranged it for easy access:
• Infrequently needed items in deep cupboards or high up
• Doonas and winter clothes vacuum packed
• Regularly used items in the front of cupboards or shelves
• Use of vertical space inside cupboards

Step 4 - Finish
Although we had achieved a lot, there was still some work needed to get it right. So we made a list of the jobs left to do. Not just any list. We broke every job down into do-able chunks. This is an excellent tip for anyone wanting to de-clutter and get in order. Break it down. Instead of saying ‘today I'm going to organise this whole room' say ‘today I'm going to spend 30 minutes de-cluttering the top shelf of the bookcase'. Much more realistic. Easier to achieve. And as you achieve these small goals you will feel inspired to do more. And so the cycle goes.
Thirty uninterrupted minutes per day is all that most of us need.

Published in HOME Magazine, Cairns Post 9th May 2009