Where do you start?

I recently read an article by Aby Garvey, a fellow Professional Organizer. I agree with her about where to start. You actually start at the end. Here is what I mean:

Define your end result.

Get as clear and specific as possible about your vision for your space and what you want to create. Pull out a notebook or a three-ring binder and assign each room to be organized its own page in the notebook. For each room, answer these questions:

• What's bugging you about the space?

• Are there things in the room that don't belong?

• When you're done, how will the space look?

• When you're done, how will the space feel?

• When you're done, how will the space function?

If you're trying to maintain, tackle one space at a time while maintaining order in the spaces you've already completed.

Whether you're just starting, or trying to maintain, start by defining the end result. What do you want to keep, where do you want to keep it, and what will your rooms be like when you're done? Then go through each space and do an initial sort and edit, without digging too deep. Basically, get rid of the surface clutter and move things to where they will ultimately live (especially if they will ultimately live away from your home). This will give you breathing room and motivation to do the deeper purging. Once you've done the deep purge and have things where you want them, buy your containers. There is definitely a bit of moving things from point A to point B in organizing. The key is to decide where you want point B to be before you start the process. This keeps you always moving in the direction of your desired end result.

Thanks Aby for the GREAT advice!