Do you have 10 minutes? You can get organized!
Organizing doesn’t have to be an hours long commitment. You don’t have to dedicate an entire Saturday to decluttering and organizing your pantry, you don’t even need to carve out an hour of time if it’s just not in the cards. Tackling an organizing project in small increments can help with overwhelm and create small wins that go a long way when it comes to peace of mind. There are many people that struggle with figuring out where to start when they’re faced with clutter. They may look at a problem area and their brain immediately says, “NOPE!” but when you look at it through a smaller lens, you can actually break through that barrier and begin making progress.
Pick A Spot, Any Spot
Ideally, you might want to aim for a high impact spot in your home. Somewhere that sees a lot of traffic and where clutter tends to really pile up. The kitchen junk drawer is an example that comes to mind. If the bedroom, for instance, is a problem area start with something like the dresser but only one drawer within that dresser. The idea is to focus on one portion at a time.
Take A “Before” Photo
Before you dive in, take a quick photo of your target area. Once you’ve completed your 10 minutes you’ll have a visual on the progress you’ve made. This can be particularly effective for those who feel like they’re not accomplishing much in increments. Use it as motivation for the next 10 minute round of organizing.
Start Easy
Make the easy decisions first. Get rid of obvious garbage, toss out expired or broken items. You may be surprised how the space will already start to look better. Handling these small decisions can build momentum and make harder decisions less intimidating.
Set A Timer
The purpose of this 10 minutes is to focus on the task at hand, not wondering how much time has passed. Setting a timer removes that distraction from your mind so you can give your undivided attention to decision making. Once that timer goes off, stop. Of course, if you have more time to spare and want to keep going , by all means. The main takeaway is to show that you CAN get things done in a short amount of time.
Keep Sorting Simple
No need to overcomplicate the process. While sorting your belongings, aim for no more than 3 categories. “Keep” for the items that you want to hang onto and belong in the space you’re currently working on. “Move” for the items that live somewhere else. “Let Go” for the items that are no longer serving a purpose for you.
If 10 minutes feels manageable but tackling the bigger projects still feels overwhelming, that's where a professional organizer can help. Orderly Arrangements offers judgment-free organizing support for Chicago homes, from small projects to larger decluttering and organization goals.
