Dive Right In

It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

To contrast with the last post, let's talk about the times when you're ready for a HUGE project. You're done messing around with the odd drawer or shelf. The organizing fever has taken hold, and you've just had enough of the clutter and not being able to find things. Or maybe you've got a deadline coming up that's inspiring you to be ready...something like the in-laws coming to visit for a month, or an upcoming audit, or a move. So where will it be - garage or attic? The kitchen? Your business? 

What steps do you need to take to prepare, and what tools do you need to "dive in" on the big job? Here's my two cents (or nine, as the case may be):

1.  Choose the right amount of time, and set the right expectations. It didn't take two hours for your space to become disorganized, so don't expect to get it all Real Simple-worthy in two hours. I usually tell people to calendar a weekend or a few days off to get a big project completed correctly. If you finish faster, great! Take the extra time to enjoy the space.

2.  Choose the right environment. There's a reason we have "Spring Cleaning" - the weather is usually good for being comfortable, opening the windows, and taking the necessary trips in and out. A 101-degree day in July is probably not best (nor safe) for working in an attic or garage, so be smart about picking your time. 

3.  Think about getting the right kind of assistance. The project goes much faster with extra sets of hands, but be sure you choose your helper(s) carefully. For example, kids can be really helpful in a neutral spot like the garage, but other times they can completely sabotage a project (like in their own rooms!). A friend can be great, unless you get to chatting so much you don't get down to business. It might be a job for a professional organizer - someone who can look at things objectively, offer expert advice, keep you on task and cheerlead you though the boring parts. Which leads me to...

4.  Plan a budget. Are you thinking of hiring a professional organizer? Do you want to have a contractor do a makeover of your master bedroom closet? Even if you're great at do-it-yourself projects you will need to think about the materials you'll need and plan accordingly. 

5.  Make space to sort. You can't purge or make decisions about what you can't see, so you need to have room to spread everything out. Make peace with the fact that you will make a big mess before you clean up the big mess. 

6. Have what you need on hand. Having to stop and go get trash bags or a Sharpie will goof up your organizing rhythm. Keep some water (or coffee!) close by. Gather some boxes or bags for sorting items into what you need to keep vs. what you need to get rid of. That being said...

7.  DON'T go shopping for storage items before you've sorted. Many's the time I have worked with a client and we've ended up with a huge pile of plastic bins or filing supplies that were not needed. Create neat configurations of the items you've sorted (like with like) and take time to assess what kind of storage will work best. Do you want it to be attractive, or just functional? Could you go "shopping in your own home" for storage solutions and save yourself some money? And remember -  measure twice, buy once.

8.  Call ahead to arrange for pickup of donation items. You'll be tired when you're done, and it's nice to not have to think about driving a carload of stuff somewhere. Check out Donation Town (http://www.donationtown.org/) to find a listing of charities that will pick up. You can even schedule the time via the website.

9.  Keep your eye on the prize. Your motivation will no doubt wane (especially when you uncover the fourth box of old VHS tapes), so plan some breaks and remind yourself of how much better you're going to feel when the job is done. The best results come from unwavering commitment to the task at hand. So dive on in - the water feels fine!


"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second."
- William James

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