Donna Smallin - Organizing Plain & Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Solutions to Your Everyday Clutter Challenges

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Edited by Dianne M. Cutillo and Marie A. Salter

Copyedited by Shannon Donovan

Cover text design by Wendy Palitz

Text layout and production by Susan Bernier

Production assistance by Jennifer Jepson Smith

Indexed by Nan Badgett/Wordability

2002 by Donna Marie Smallin

Ebook production by Kristy L. MacWilliams

Ebook version 1.0

September 1, 2019

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Smallin, Donna, 1960

Organizing plain & simple / Donna Smallin.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-58017-448-0 (alk. paper)

1. Home economics. 2. Time management. 3. Storage in the home. 4. Organization. I. Title: Organizing plain and simple. II. Title.

TX147.S6224 2002

640dc21 2002001586

For my mother-in-law, Audrey Smallin,
organizer extraordinaire

Life is short. Whats that got to do with getting organized? Everything. I believe that the whole point of getting organized is to create more time, space, and energy in your life for the people and things that matter most to you.

You can spend precious minutes and hours every day looking for things you know are around here somewhere, or you can find a place for everything so you always know exactly where to look. You can go through life in catch-up mode, with high levels of frustration and stress, or you can learn how to simplify daily living with the organizational systems and tools described in this book.

When I tell people that I have written several books about uncluttering and organizing ones home and life, they invariably ask whether I am super-organized. Well, I may be super-organized by some standards, but I like to think of myself as simply organized. By that I mean that I am as organized as I need to be. I could spend all day organizing, but instead I choose to spend only as much time as necessary to keep my life running smoothly.

Heres my secret: Dont make organizing difficult; keep it plain and simple. Find simple strategies, systems, and tools that work for you, and then use them regularly.

This may come as a surprise, but there is no one right way to get organized. Thats why, in this book, I have presented many different solutions to the most common organizational challenges, so you can choose the one that appeals most to you; you might even try a variation of an idea. If a technique works for you, its the perfect solution. If it doesnt work for you, try something different.

One of the aspects I find most rewarding about the process of organizing is that it helps you figure out whats most important to you. And knowing this can help to simplify your life. Organizing also brings with it a certain freedom. With less clutter to weigh you down, you have more time to pursue the things that bring you the greatest happiness and satisfaction. I wish you well!

Note: The Internet is a wonderful source of information on organizing. For this reason, I have referenced a number of websites throughout this book. Wherever possible, I have tried to include non-Web alternatives as well.

In writing this book, I have had the honor and privilege of meeting dozens of organizing experts who readily contributed proven tips, strategies, and solutions. I am very grateful for their support, encouragement, and inspiration. I thank my research assistant, Danielle Francois, who helped me to get started on this huge organization project by setting up interviews, doing research, and handling lots of little details. I owe my husband, Terry, many hugs and kisses for helping me finish this book by running errands, doing grocery shopping, putting dinner on the table, and even decorating the house for the holidays (beautifully, I might add!). Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the patience and guidance of my editor, Dianne Cutillo, who really knows how to work with writers.

So, you want to get organized. Well, theres no better time than today to get started. After all, the sooner you start, the sooner youll achieve your goal. But simply wanting to get organized wont make it happen. You have to make it happen by choosing to begin and then taking that all-important first step.

Getting started is often the most difficult part of getting organized. You may not know where or how to begin, but you can learn these things. More important is belief in yourself. Believe that with patience, perseverance, and a little know-how, you can accomplish anything. Choose to get organized and soon youll enjoy the benefits of a simpler life. Organizing requires you to think about whats most important to you what you really love and want and to make decisions based on that knowledge. It can change your life for the better. So go ahead and take that first step.

Chapter 1

First Things First

Ask yourself why you want to get organized. Whats in it for you? How did you come to your current disorganized state? Scrutinizing your relationship to clutter and disorganization is the first step toward getting organized. The more you understand about that relationship and your role in it the more successful you will be at bringing about lasting change. So dont skip this step!

The Rewards of Organization

The benefits of being organized go far beyond having an uncluttered home or being able to find things. Being organized can add hours to your day and days to your month because being organized saves time. The more organized you get, the more time you have to spend on the things in life that give you the greatest joy. And youll reap physical, emotional, and financial rewards, too.

Disorganization creates unnecessary stress, and too much stress over a prolonged period can lead to serious health problems. And just think of the energy you waste each day searching for things. Getting organized can help increase your energy level and decrease your stress level.

If you have an abundance of clutter in your home, frequently miss appointments, or pay bills late, your self-esteem can really take a beating. Even low levels of disorganization can make you feel out of control and create feelings of dissatisfaction with yourself and your life. Good organizational systems, in contrast, instill confidence in yourself and your abilities.