In which area of your home and/or life do you want to be more organised? What's holding you back? Often the ‘reasons' we give ourselves, and others, are masking a deeper fear of reaching our goals. Sometimes it's simply a belief in myths that keep us from achieving the home, and lifestyle we want. Let's explore some of these.

1. Too Busy
Think of it like a driving holiday to a new destination. You prepare and pack everything you need, including a map. Packing takes an hour or so. It's a four hour drive. You follow the map, have a break, and arrive at your destination four or so hours later. Without the map how long would your journey take? Setting up the right organising systems may take a little time, initially - but will ultimately save you time as it becomes a road map to achieve your goals.
To Do: Schedule in small chunks of time to set up your initial systems.

2. Buying the right containers
I love a colourful, well designed container as much as the next Organiser, but the items themselves are not what will get you organised. ACTION will get you organised. At some stage you need to make a plan, commit to it and just do it! The containers, shelves and other storage options are the icing on the cake.
To Do: Don't buy any containers until you have de-cluttered and made a plan of exactly what you require.

3. But I have kids
Kids love structure. Give them some. "Tidy your room" needs to be backed up with a system. They need to know where everything belongs. They also need to be able to access it easily and safely. No heavy train sets in the top of the wardrobe.
To Do: Get children involved in the process. Have them make their own colourful labels for each draw, box, cupboard. Make it fun!

4. Organised people are not creative
The human brain contains seven major things at any one time. If you are trying to remember twenty, you do not have the energy nor headspace to be creative. Write it down, schedule it, file it away, but don't clog your brain up with it. Get clarity and energy and see how creative you are!
To Do: Drop the judgment and try it!

5. It doesn't affect anyone else.....
Are you often late? This affects others, and ultimately yourself, because people tire of consistent tardiness. Do you feel stressed due to your level of organization? This affects the people around you. Do you have children? As you know, they learn by example and take learnt habits with them through their life. Are your habits the ones you want your children to have?
To Do: Understand that your actions affect others and decide what you'd like to do about it.

6.It costs too much
Don't buy a thing. In fact if you have recently purchased storage items that you do not yet have a use for - return them now. How much have you just saved?
Let's be very clear here - the process of getting organised is a set of actions taken BY YOU to de-clutter, sort and re-organise what you have. More often than not you will not need to purchase extra containers, as you will create empty ones or discover dual purpose items.
To Do: Stop buying organising tools without a plan. Simple!

Written by Roz Howland and published in HOME lift-out of Cairns Post 13 June 2009