Sandy Huntress asked:


You really wanted it to work this time, you spent your hard-earned money and time in the hopes that THIS would be the one, THE solution to all your organizing problems.

The real problem is, they don’t understand the problem.  It hasn’t been defined properly.  Organizing is not about having the right organizers, nifty baskets, multi-compartment drawers, expandable trays or any of the like.  Organizing is really a way of thinking.  People who think a certain way and have a certain set of habits are naturally organized.  It doesn’t make them better than anyone else, just different.  Some of us are athletic, others good with numbers, and some, well, we’re organized.

The wonderful news is that anyone can learn these new habits and become organized.  It is a skill, and like any other skill, it can be learned.  I just spoke with a woman who not very long ago told me she was hopelessly disorganized.  She told me that not having a home for things, just putting stuff where ever and never being able to find anything was a way of life for her.  Then she bought my book, 16 Secrets of Naturally Organized People and started by putting into practice secret #1: labeling.  She told me she has now become a “labeling fanatic” and is so very excited about the changes already happening (so is her husband, lol.)  I can’t wait to see how she progresses!

There are a few things you should keep in mind when trying to choose an organizing system:

·        First of all, remember that that are hundreds of ways of sorting & organizing available.  Not all of them will suit you; some may be more suitable than others.  It really is more important that you put into practice good principles of organization and let the system follow.

·        When considering which system to try, choose one that sounds appealing to you.  Don’t worry if it’s “perfect,” most won’t be.  The important thing here is to make a decision and start with something.

·        The absolutely most important thing with any organizing system is that you have to stick with it and use it.  Now if you find that that is difficult, then perhaps you need to change your system a bit to suit you better.

·        If the thing is utterly frustrating and you hate it, then please don’t feel like a failure, get rid of it and try something else. 

Remember that the most important component of any organizing system isn’t anything made of wood, paper, metal or plastic, but YOU.  You must consider how you think, how your mind works, how you prefer to manage things, your priorities and your general way of life.  Only then will you be able to develop the perfect organizing system for you.  Even then, you can be constantly working it, making it fit better and better.  It’s a lifelong skill and one definitely worth the care & attention it takes to learn.



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