Is “get organized” one of your goals for this year, but does organizing your entire home and life seem overwhelming? I suggest starting with something manageable and developing new habits around purchasing “stuff.” No matter how much decluttering and physical organizing you do, continuing to buy more stuff will thwart your efforts.
S.P.A.C.E.
The S.P.A.C.E. system that many professional organizers use was created by Julie Morgenstern many years ago. The acronym stands for Sort, Purge, Assign a Home, Containerize, and Equalize. The idea is that you start each organizing project at S and end with E. The word equalize is one that few people know and understand. The philosophy is that after you edit your possessions and store them in proper containers, you equalize. This means whenever you bring a new item into that space, you remove something “old.” It’s fairly simple, but you may still struggle with implementation, especially if the volume of incoming “stuff” is significant. In fact, we visit many clients several times a year to help them maintain equilibrium.
Dig Deeper
Let’s dig deeper and look at how new items come into your home in the first place. If you follow me on social media, you know that I’m interested in The Minimalists and the tiny house movement. I am not suggesting that any of us need to be that extreme, but I believe that having less and buying less makes life simpler and staying organized much easier.
As you can imagine, as a Professional Organizer, the people I work with buy too much “stuff” and then hire us to help them declutter. If I counted the cost of the clothes, food, and toys that we drop off to charity, it would be tens of thousands of dollars. Choosing to embrace a minimalist existence allows us to leave a smaller environmental footprint by consuming fewer resources. This choice can motivate you to form new habits around purchasing.
New Habits – Ask the Questions
It’s time to develop new habits. When you’re caught in the excitement of a new purchase, stop for a brief moment. Ask yourself, “Could I live without this item?” Or, as The Minimalists suggest, “Does this thing add value to my life?” Then, instead of buying a bunch of new clothes you don’t need, you can spend your money on installing a new closet unit. As a result, you will enjoy the clothes you already have. Or instead of buying bins to store your stuff, give the excess to someone in need. You can use the money you save for that kitchen renovation you’re dreaming about!
What are some new habits you might consider this year?