It’s official: January is the month to get organized as declared by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), the organizing authority. “Getting organized” has consistently been among the top three New Year’s Resolutions and we have lots of support from retailers to achieve this annual goal. We see advertising everywhere for special products to organize our over-abundance of “things.”
Why is “getting organized” consistently a New Year’s resolution? Because clutter and chaos affects us both physically and mentally. We seek balance and control in our busy lives and our clutter saps us of energy, causing undue stress and creating feelings of being overwhelmed.
Since 1970, even though there has been a decline in family size:
1. The average home has increased almost 40 percent (from around 1,500 square
feet to 2,300 square feet)
2. The average disorganized person has more than 3,000 documents at home.
3. Too much “stuff” in the average American’s home reportedly creates an esti
mated 40 percent more housework.
There are “hidden” costs of clutter: that bigger house to store more stuff costs more in heating and cooling bills, general upkeep, bigger mortgages and higher taxes. There is also the cost of time spent buying this extra stuff, using up valuable space for storage and time tending to the “stuff.”
The primary problem is we often don’t distinguish between what we need and what we want. We have a perceived standard of living that we strive to achieve regardless of the monetary and hidden costs. Today, in the name of “Instant Gratification,” there is in excess of 100 times more stuff available to buy than there was 10 years ago.
How do you begin to organize your life? By changing your mindset about everything you buy from today forward. You must first stop that flood of incoming stuff before you can tackle what you already have. Before any purchase ask yourself:
1. Is this necessary? Do I need it or just want it?
2. What is this item really costing me?
3. Can I afford it (financially, emotionally, mentally)?
Work on this first step for at least a month. After reducing the incoming flood to a manageable trickle, then you can start working on the clutter you already have.
Barbara Ricketts is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and member of The National Association of Professional Organizers. If you need professional assistance to get organized, contact her at MessDoctor@Mac.com or call 661-263-0124.