What to Keep, What to Throw Away: Decision Making as You Organize

Posted by: Barbara Boone in Untagged  on May 5, 2009  

Barbara Boone

I was working with a client in her home office. We were surveying what we had already accomplished and deciding what to do next when I picked up an object from the top shelf of her bookcase. I said, "What are you going to do with this?" She looked at me and smiled, knowing that her answer was important to our organizing tasks. She said, "I really like the colors, they are so bright and cheery." "But do you use it?"  I asked. I knew the answer before she did.

That conversation prompted me to show her a guide for making decisions as you are organizing. See the article below to find out how to make decisions.

What to Keep, What to Throw Away: Tips for Decision Making as You Organize

 

Clutter is postponed decision making. I see this all of the time with my clients. They don't know what to do with papers, objects, old supplies, etc. One of the many hats I wear as an organizer is that of organizing coach. I never tell clients that they have to get rid of or keep anything. That decision is up to them. My role is to ask questions that will make decisions easier for them to make as we organize.

Difficulty with this process slows down the organizing. Here are four tips to guide you in the decision making process.

  • If you love it and use it,  KEEP IT.
  • If you don't love it and don't use it, TRASH IT.
  • If you don't love it, but use it, DISCUSS IT WITH AN ORGANIZER OR SOMEONE ELSE.
  • If you don't use it, but love it, DISCUSS IT WITH AN ORGANIZER OR SOMEONE ELSE.

The first two tips are easy to apply. The second two require more thought and discussion. I also recommend that if you are going to get rid of something that still has value, consider donating it instead of trashing it. "Someone else's junk is another's treasure." If you can't make a quick decision, put it in a pile marked, DECIDE LATER, so that you don't slow down the organizing process. Then when you are finished the sorting process, work with the decide later pile. These tips will help you work through the organizing process more quickly. For other information on organizing, visit my website at http://www.bzbeeorganizing.com.

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