ForkBytes

Note: this piece first appeared in the April 2008 issue of Clark Wellness ForkBytes.

Spring has sprung! After a long winter, green shoots peeking up through the dirt, blooms on the trees, and warm air are all welcome sights. Even the traditional April showers are exciting to see — because we know they will bring more beautiful flowers in just a few weeks.

Spring is the perfect time to cleanse both your body and your home. Clearing away toxins and clearing away clutter are similar processes with similar results. After a good cleanse (of the body or of a clothes closet), you will feel rejuvenated, energized, and proud of your achievement!

Since spring is such a wonderful season for home organizational projects, we’ve decided to focus on “environmental cleansing” in this month’s issue. Harness spring’s energy and clean out a space using our tips below!

Tips for Organizing a Space

When you’re staring at a huge pile of papers, debris, and just stuff around your house, trying to tackle the clutter and create an organized space can seem daunting. These tips will help you see the project through from conception to completion!

1. Carve out time. Getting organized has such a positive impact on your life that it’s worth setting aside time so you can really focus and do it right. Mark down a date in your calendar and commit to it!

2. Take it slow. Start with a very small area, such as a desk drawer or small coat closet. Breaking the project down into steps will make it much more manageable.

3. Visualize. What do you want your space to be? If you were starting from scratch, how would your ideal space function and look? Jot your ideas down on paper. This is no time for the limitations of practicality — dream big! Even if you can’t do exactly what you envision, allowing yourself some unrestricted daydreaming will help you unleash your creativity as well as help you define your goals for your space.

4. Get rid of trash. If there is quite a lot of stuff to sort through, it can be helpful to make an initial pass in which you get rid of just trash, paper to recycle, etc. Once these items are gone, you can see what you have left to sort.

5. Set up a system that makes sense to you and is a pleasure to use. For example, I recently made a revolutionary change in my filing cabinet by alphabetizing all my files (rather than sorting them by categories: banking, medical, taxes, home, etc.). I also switched my file folders so I have all the tabs on the left side. I used to feel a sense of dread whenever I had to shove something in my files, but now, when I open my file cabinet, I do a little victory dance! The key is making your stuff visible, accessible, and visually appealing.

6. Be realistic when setting up your space. Are you really going to open a box with a lid to put a paperclip away, or are you going to end up with piles of paper clips all over your desk? Perhaps an open cup or bin is a better choice for you. Choose organizational tools and items that not only really appeal to you and make you excited to use them, but also are realistic for how you tend to handle the items you use.

7. Celebrate! When your space is complete, it will save you time, reduce your stress, and be a joy to use.