When I say, “I’m organized.” What image pops into your head?

As a professional organizer I am called in to help create systems, de-clutter and “organize” a variety of spaces.

I have been in homes that would qualify for hoarders. Often the owners think I can transform a lifetime of accumulation into a Pottery Barn catalog picture in a matter of days.

I have also been in homes where the owner is more organized than I am. I know how quickly I work, and wonder if we will even fill the 5 hours I am there.

Everyone has their own picture of what organization looks like.

I am enjoying following Money Saving Mom’s spring cleaning challenge. Today I just vaccuumed my kids rooms because I had deep cleaned them two days ago.

Organization is a continuum.

Just like your weight, the amount of debt you are comfortable having and the number of children perfect for your family. Organization is a continuum. There is no one right answer.

Crystal is such an amazing example of living a frugal and clutter free life. I strive to be more like her in these aspects every day, but I’m not there yet.

And that’s ok.

You are an individual. I have never organized any client’s room the same way twice. I do not have a blanket “kitchen organization” idea because everyone has different kitchen supplies and needs.

A gluten free family’s kitchen, whose child has food sensitivities, will look different from a family that does not have those food constraints.

Organization is about YOU.

How do you function best? What systems work for you?

Here are my 3 Home Organization Stages.

1. Overwhelmed
2. Looking for Systems & Routines
3. Maintenance & Repair

I am usually bouncing between stages 2 and 3. These stages are not static. And you can be in different stages in different rooms in your home. So let’s take the master closet as an example.

I like to use the master closet as an example because only you, or maybe you and a spouse are in that space. So kids “undoing” what you just did usually don’t apply here.

Overwhelmed

In stage one, you often don’t know where to begin. I am getting that fearful sweaty feeling just thinking about the first step in tackling an untamed closet.

Your goal?

#1 Just to purge as much as you can. What do you know doesn’t fit? What is over 10 years old? Get rid of it.

#2 Find the floor.

Looking for systems and routines

In stage two, you have a better idea of what you have, but it might not be “organized” so you can find it when you want it.

#1 Continue to purge as much as you can.

When I personally organized my master closet, I went through each of these stages. The first year was a massive purging. The second year I purged more and created systems. The third year I still found 2 HUGE trash bags worth of stuff to purge!

#2 Create Zones, and buy organizers. This is the fun part {for me!} Think about your closet in zones. Not just clothes and shoes, but what kind of clothes? Work – dressy – workout – casual – winter – summer –etc.

Then take time to look on Pinterest, in magazines, on blogs and in stores to find a system that will work for you.

Maintenance and Repair

When you are in the final stage of organization, doing this Spring Cleaning Challenge will help you keep all areas of your house fresh and eliminate the clutter that has accumulated in the past 3-6 months.

As you progress through the stages of life you will need to continue to tweak and sometimes revamp your organization solutions and systems.

Organization is never “done”

Just like cleaning, maintaining your weight and paying bills. You can create systems, but you’re never “done”.

Understanding that can actually be freeing. I know it was for me. For a long time I was striving to get “done” and then I could…

I am learning to not strive for perfection, but for peace. It’s a process.

Where are you in that process?