Organize + Energize: Overwhelmed? You’re Not Alone
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Tuesday, November 01, 2016
Kristin MacRae, GoLocalWorcester Organizing Expert
I speak to many people when I’m out presenting and they all have something in common. They’re all overwhelmed. You want to get organized, but just the thought of tackling an entire room makes you stressed and anxious. You would rather be doing anything else at that moment. You continue to make piles and ignore the chaos because it’s easier to function that way instead of actually tackling it.
This feeling of overwhelm spills over to other areas of your life because the visual and mental clutter will stick with you. It’s a distraction and nothing gets done because you can’t seem to stay focused. We all know what happens when we’re distracted: We decrease our productivity. Disorganization causes one big snowball effect. It’s no wonder people are overwhelmed.
When people are overwhelmed they tend to waste energy. They get stuck and get busy but not productive. Take a minute to step away from the situation and breathe. Before you start bouncing around your home or office, take a minute to empty your mind. Plan your next move and waste less energy.
How do you get rid of this feeling of overwhelm? You have to start with small projects. If your entire home or office is disorganized, you can’t think about the whole picture. You have to break the project down into small pieces. Take a look at your disorganized spaces. Write down all the areas you want to tackle and then break them down into even smaller areas.
How long should you spend on a project?
Limit your project to 3 hours. Any longer than 3 hours and you’ll become overwhelmed, stressed, hungry, mentally drained and lose focus. Start fresh the next day or take a break and come back to it later in the day. You’ll have a better outlook and will be refreshed and your mind will be clear to think about developing your organizing systems.
Working with your hands for just a short while will help clear mental clutter. What are you waiting for? Make a plan to tackle one area this week. Make a mental note of how you feel when you’re done. Make it a priority. If your project isn’t a priority, it’s never going to get done.
Being organized is something we can control. There are so many other outside forces that cause overwhelm and stress in our lives. Get this under control and let disorganization be one less thing that adds to your stress.
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. 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.
Related Slideshow: Organizing Products For Your Closet
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Flip flop organizer
How many flip flops do you own? Are they thrown all over the closet floor? How long does it take you to find a match to one of them? Bed Bath and Beyond has a $9.99 flip flop organizer that holds 6 pairs of flip flops and hangs nicely in your closet. This is a must-have if you have more than 5 pairs of flip flops. I’ve purchased these for my clients and they work great!
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Scarf organizer
You love your scarves, but it takes you forever to locate one and you have to throw 5 around to find the one you are searching for. Use a scarf organizer and you will be able to see all your scarves and find them at a moment’s notice. Bed Bath and Beyond has a few different types of scarf organizers, including this one for $9.99.
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Belt organizer
How are you storing your belts? Are they in a tangled mess? Purchase a belt organizer for a cheap solution—they can be as inexpensive as $6.99 from the Container Store.
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Tie organizer
Keep your ties organized and hanging on a tie rack, or keep then rolled in a drawer organizer. Whichever way you choose to organize them, treat them with care. To take care of both your belts and your ties in one fell swoop, check out this organizer from the Container Store.
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Drawer organizer
This is a must for your underwear, socks, bras, nylons, etc. Drawer organizers will help to maximize space in your closet. You won’t believe the amount of space you will have once you contain these items in drawer organizers!
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Jewelry organizer
Are you always trying to detangle your necklaces? Think about how you grab your jewelry and then purchase an organizing system according to how you function. Before you purchase your container, take inventory of what you own and purchase accordingly.
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Shoe rack
Did you know people who didn’t own shoe racks were 7 times more likely to show up late for an event? Are your shoes in piles on the floor? Get them off the floor and contain them in a shoe rack. There are many options out there, like this one from Bed Bath and Beyond. Choose the shoe rack that is going to fit what you need to hold and fit in the space you are working with.
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Hangers
Are you hanging your clothes on the wire hangers from the dry cleaner? Those hangers will ruin your clothes. Get rid of them and store your clothes on the hanger of your choice, but be consistent and stick with one type of hanger.
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Handbags
How are you storing your handbags? Are they stored all over your closet? Are they in bins or crumpled up on the floor? It’s time to organize your bags. There are many options depending on the space you are working with. You can stand them up on a shelf, you can hang them, or if they are small, you can store them in a canvas bin. The choice is yours. Think about how you function and develop a system from there.
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Baseball cap organizer
How many baseball caps do you own? How are they organized in your closet now, and how long does it take you to find one? The Container Store (pictured here), Bed Bath and Beyond, and other stores sell this baseball cap organizer. I have a few clients that have purchased them and they love them!
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Function over flash
There are many variations on these products. Choose the product that is right for you. There are some organizing products I would never use, but other people might choose to use them. Choose the one that is going to be the most efficient and productive product for you and your family. Don’t choose a product because it’s pretty, choose it based on functionality. Search online for different products before you rush out and purchase a product. You may find that one store is more expensive than another. Don’t forget if you are going to Bed Bath and Beyond to use their 20% off coupons. If you don’t want to purchase these items, get creative and re-purpose items around the home, or make your own!
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Kristin MacRae
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.
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