Getting Overwhelmed By A Big Project..

This past week my husband and I had to pack up our condo so we could get it ready to put on the market. Since I am "the professional organizer" I took charge and instantly starting acting like I was my own client and weeded through clothing, pared down items to be put into boxes, etc.

My husband on the other hand, looked at me in the middle of all the chaos and said "Rosey (my nickname & my business name) I am overwhelmed with the clutter! I don't know where to begin because there is so much to do." I told him yes, there was a lot to get done in a short amount of time (we actually had a deadline) but to start small. Don't get overwhelmed by this huge project. Tackle something small and limited.

Below are a few other tips that I passed along to my husband during our organizing project and want to pass along to all of you.

- Tackle something small, like a bathroom drawer. This way, you'll have a sense of accomplishment you'll want to continue.

- Start off any place that will give you a fast payoff. In some parts of the house, like the garage, you can clear away large items in no time. Usually, the older the stash, the more quickly it can be cleared.

- Go for the area that drives you the most crazy. It could be your clothing closet, where you just spent 30 min. looking for your blue suit.

- Forget perfect. Perfectionists often avoid getting organized but the important thing is to start. Get paper into files so you can find a bill when you need it, for example. You can always adjust the system if it isn't working.

- Go on a treasure hunt. Instead of getting rid of junk, decide that you're preserving things you love. The positive act of searching is more effective organizing than the negative act of throwing things away. Define your search, store what you find and throw out the rest.

- Think of the end user. Make lists where you would like your unwanted items to go-whether it is a charity, a secondhand shop or selling them on Ebay. Knowing that what you discard will go to those who need or want, will make letting go of the items easier. It actually gives you PERMISSION to get rid of things. Everyone benefits!