Tips How to Organize and Declutter Just About Anything

1. Adopt a Model

If you can't figure out how to organize something, look for a model. For example, if you are trying to organize your books, go to your local libraries. You can also ask some of your friends who have their own private libraries. Then you can adopt a system by trying to pattern yours after these libraries. For CDs, go to your music stores. Likewise, go to an art supply store, a stationery store for good ideas that can apply to other materials. If needed, consider purchasing specialized organizational equipment.

2. Be Creative

Are some items just taking up space or going to waste? Think of new uses for them. For instance, use a photo album for recipes or a spare notebook as a travel diary. Be imaginative. Talk to your friends or borrow related books from the library to assist your creativity.  

3. Devise Your Game Plan

Make your own rules since you know yourself more than anyone. If you need to consult a family member or friends, so but ensure that if you follow other people's suggestions, you understand the implications.   

4. Do What Works for You

Whatever you are comfortable with and it makes sense, do what works for you. If you are not alone, discuss and negotiate the best situation with the others. Go ahead put your kitchen towels in the kitchen cabinet, or make one of your mugs a pencil holder.

5. Get Help

Sometimes you just can't do it all by yourself. Enlist a friend's help with a project which you are not that excited to do but needs to be done. Perhaps you have a service you can offer in return. Make it a trade off. Depending on your budget and the task, you can also hire someone like a student or a professional.

6. Get Rid of Anything Out of Date

Make the habit of setting aside to get rid of anything out of date that is also not collectible. This organizing principle applies not only to perishable food items and prescriptions, but to travel books, calendars, old restaurants and shopping guides, books containing lots of dated materials, including magazines and newspapers.

7. Keep Organization Simple

Many organizing products help save time and streamline activities at home and office, but avoid using so many organizers that you end up also needing to organize them. 

8. Keep Things Close at Hand

Try to store things close to where you are likely to use them. Keep your desk well-stocked with everyday supplies such as pens, paper, and stamps. Keep your bathroom cleaning products in the bathroom. Keep the television remote on or near the television.

9.  Map Things Out

Plan before you start. Whether you are working, traveling or shopping, almost everything takes longer if you don't plan ahead. In life, we need directions at the same time, we need to be flexible when we run into traffic. Besides, planning also prevents foul-ups.

10. More than Once is Fine

You often hear that you should handle any piece of paper only once. This is not necessary true. You may need to re-check a bill, an advertisement or a good article more than once. What's more important is to handle it to a minimum, and that you are still productive if you do it more than once. At any rate, you should still make a conscious effort to do it "now" than "later" to prevent accumulation that results in more tidying up.

11. One Day at a Time

Being organized is an ongoing process. Spend fifteen or so minutes every day completing one high-priority task, and keep at it until it is finished. If you miss one day, make it up the next, but don't let important projects go. Try to put in a little time every day to stay connected to your project and you will finish it in time.

12. Setup Specific Areas for Routine Tasks

Set up a central place for every routine task, be it mailing, preparing breakfast, paying bills, or writing. It could be a drawer for your markers, pens, and stationeries. It could be home utility tools. Design these specific places to suit the tasks. The idea is to keep all necessary resources or tools within easy reach. Keep them easy to use and orderly.

13. Use a To-Do List

Lists are basic as a way of expanding our memory capacity. As soon as you are sure of something that needs to be done, either write it down or do it at once. By writing it down, you increase the chances that you will follow-through. It also frees your mind to think of other important things. 

14. Visualize your Mental Checklist

If you need to go out, whether an hour errand or longer, before you go, take a moment to visualize your errand or trip and anticipate what you will need – it could be your deposit slip, your key for the car, your map for the trip, your money, and so on.