Mapping

Author : Claire Keeling
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment. – BuddhaOverwhelmed?One of the most common things a professional organizer hears from their clients is, "I was really motivated and got started [organizing], but I just got too overwhelmed and stopped". The client will reveal to the organizer about the occasion(s) that they were suddenly motivated to clear out their clutter and get organized. Extremely energized, they purchased a number of containers and then rolled their sleeves up and started digging through their piles. Time elapses and something always happens. The process stops. The client decided that the job may have been too big, that it's not any fun, or it is just more than they could handle right now. The items either stayed where they were on the floor, or they were put back into their boxes and the light was turned off in the room. The client was left with self-doubt and felt defeat about their organizing abilities.Why does this seem to happen? We have found that it's not because people are generally lazy, or unmotivated. It is because organizing projects are not started with a plan of action, a map. We look to maps for directions when we don't know where we're going. We would never travel to a new city in our cars without some direction. Then, why are we so hard on ourselves when we fail at organizing before taking the time to map out a plan?Sort It Out challenges you to decide on an organizing task that you are going to tackle, small or large, the size is up to you. Are you heading into your garage? Are you ready to go through your gardening supplies/books and get some order? Do you need to go through your medicine closet and sort and purge makeup, sunscreen, etc? Does your storage room need some help? After you've made the decision, then start with a map before you begin.There are different types of maps that you can choose from. Mind mapping is a combination of "brainstorming" and note taking. With this method, a large number of concepts can quickly be produced in a simple and fun way. Making a list or chart is another type of map you can utilize. Other options for mapping include drawing a picture or creating a collage of your space and your plan, writing your vision of the space, or writing a description of your top three priorities.How to BeginGrouping like items together (sorting) is the first phase in the process. After things have been sorted, then you are ready to make decisions regarding each item. What are you keeping? What needs to be thrown away or given away? Once the sorting/purging is done, you need to assign a home to those items that are left. Where is the best place for the items? Will the items fit into the assigned space? Most of the time, common sense prevails in these decisions.Many people enjoy this last step of getting containerized. Unfortunately, eager organizers purchase containers without knowing what will go inside them. They get excited about organizing and purchase a variety of different containers without having a plan. This time, you've got your map and your measurements in hand when you are shopping. There are so many wonderful container choices available in all colors, shapes and sizes. Make sure you measure items that will go in a container to be certain that you buy the appropriate size. Once you have purchased the appropriate container and lid, don't forget to put a label on each container. Make sure that you leave space around your containers in case your items need to "grow".Once you have finished your project, step back and enjoy what you have accomplished. You did it! You began with a map that gave you direction, you followed through by sorting, purging, and assigning your items a home, and you finished by containerizing. Simplifying your life by letting go of clutter and items that you no longer love and need is an ongoing process. Take it slow and keep going.2005 All Rights ReservedClaire Keeling and her partner Lori Bickel are the co-owners of Sort It Out, Inc. Sort It Out helps companies become more productive, one employee at a time. For more information contact them at http://www.sortitoutduo.com
Keyword : get organized, organizing, professional organizer, clutter