OK, I’m a little compulsive when it comes to order in my home, but not ALWAYS.  Sometimes, I have to fool myself into getting things done.  For example, yesterday I wanted a salad for lunch but that was too much work. But then I thought that if I needed 5 minutes to warm up the chicken, then maybe I could throw a few things in a bowl for a salad while I waited. In the end, the chicken took longer to heat than the salad to make!  The bonus also turned out to be that I had too much salad for one meal- so I saved the rest for later!

I’m tricking myself all the time to get things done. Sometimes it just takes a little push to get me started. Before I get too tired at night and collapse on the couch, I take one more lap downstairs to throw the recycling into the blue bucket there. It’s these incremental steps every day, every week that help me get things done and stay on top of my organizing.  Don’t think that my house is in perfect order either – I do have a husband who has different ideas and timing when it comes to getting things done.  Sometimes you have to be patient, even with yourself when it doesn’t come together immediately. For example, I was just in the kitchen to have a quick bite before I started to work on a computer project. I was very tempted to throw the dishes in the dishwasher and clear the sink but decided that my computer project was more important and the dishes could wait. I have to be careful not to let the little things get in the way of the bigger things I want to get done!

Pacing yourself is also a good way to get organized and breaking down the job into time increments or categories, can make it more manageable.  For example, set yourself a timer for 15 minutes and see how well you can clean out the utility drawer in the kitchen. It’s a manageable goal that will give you some satisfaction.  If you’re doing the front hall closet, choose the category of coats and go through what you have. Decide what’s to stay and what can go.  If this goes well and you have the energy, than tackle the baskets of gloves, scarves and hats next! If you don’t want to stop, then do the floor of the closet and make sure it’s vacuumed. After that, close the door even if there were cobwebs in the corners – you can get them next time!

There’s a balance to being organized and being compulsive or worse, a perfectionist.  Ironically it’s the perfectionists who are most often overwhelmed and end up with the most clutter.  You can have the best taste and most money in the world, but if you can’t make a decision on what goes where and what goes out, than all your beautiful things end up in piles that look like junk.  Do yourself a favor in this New Year and learn to trick yourself into getting organized and then having a home you can enjoy.  Happy Organizing!