Organize + Energize: 5 Ways To Stay Focused During Your Organizing Project

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Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Kristin MacRae, GoLocalPDX Organizing Expert

How many times have you started an organizing project and 3 hours later found yourself in a bigger mess than when you started? Most organizing projects take longer than expected or never get finished because people can’t stay on task for very long. There are many distractions that hinder their productivity during this time. Before you begin your project, think about what derails you and throws you off track. 

Here are 5 ways to stay focused and on task. 

Disconnect. Before you begin your project, you need to do a bunch of things. Turn off the TV, don’t answer your phone, don’t check your email, and if you have kids, try to get them taken care of during this time.  You’ll be amazed at how much you will accomplish when you disconnect.

Don’t leave the area.  Bring a big bin with you to this room or make categories of items that need to be transferred to different areas of the home. Once you have completed your project, you can transfer everything to its designated spot.

Create a “Maybe” pile. Don't spend too much time deciding whether to keep something. If you can't decide, put it in a maybe pile and look at it when you have completed decluttering. You may find that when you are through, the” maybe” pile will be tossed or donated. 

Don’t get stuck. If you are organizing paper, try not to read magazine or newspaper articles.  Tear out articles that are important to you and move on. If it’s sentimental items you’re going through, tackle the project and reminisce later.

Don’t involve too many people. Sometimes it’s best to tackle this project alone or with another person. If you involve too many people, the chances of you getting distracted and losing focus will be very high. Once people begin in conversations, they stop working, they get distracted, and the projects take twice as long. 

Don’t forget to set a time limit for your project. Work in increments of 2-3 hours. Any more than 3 hours and you will begin to get tired, cranky, hungry, and you will definitely begin to lose focus. Notice how you feel after you tackle your project without distractions. I guarantee your project will take you half the time. You will have finished with more energy. You will be motivated and energized to continue and move forward with other projects.

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to begin. She is also available for organizing workshops.

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