#8 Homeward Bound -- Decision Making (Organization 101)

 #8 Homeward Bound -- Decision Making (Organization 101)

 Organized pantry

Welcome to Organization 101:

Decision Making

 

The biggest excuse for not organizing our homes is usually different than we claim. It’s not limits on our time, skills, budget, energy, space, or other resources. It’s decision making.

Decision Making

 

Choosing how to begin, how to proceed, and especially what to keep, what to discard, what to gift or give away, what to donate, and what to repurpose can hamper us. 

First decision:

 

When I start an organization project the first decision I make is to ask myself, “Will I be honest?” rather than, “Is it possible to  tame this wild area with my limited resources?” I know I can tame anything I put my mind to, but honestly, it's more important to ask myself if I will be honest with myself, and will I be honest about my belongings?  

I’ve never had enough resources. Knowing this, I start a project with just one question—will I be honest? And that question leads to other questions: 

1.) Am I willing to take on the responsibility of organizing this space?

2.) Am I willing to incorporate good organizational skills?

3.) Will I put in more than minimal effort?

4.) After I organize, will I hold myself accountable for the space and items?

Once I choose to be 100% honest—decision made—I’m ready to begin because all of the other choices I’ll make hinge on how I answer the first one. 

Honesty paves the way for success

I look at it this way: Honesty, or integrity, involves realizing there is a problem area, then owning up to the responsibility for at least a portion of the space, it's care, and the items in it. 

Honesty doesn’t mean I have to do the work alone, but allows me to gather helpers if needed, whether it's a professional or family members. Sometimes I gather ideas to help. Seeing what others do and how they solve issues similar to mine is a great resource.

Honesty gives power to see a task through to completion and continue caring for the space and items afterward. 

Once the first decision is made—the decision to be honest—and the decision to be honest has led to the next four questions involving responsibility, effort, and accountability, there is a second decision to make. 

Second decision:

The second decision is to create a plan to conquer the chaos. It's like charting out how you'll proceed from Point A to Point B without suffering any casualties along the way. You don't want to kill off enthusiasm or any other positive vibes, or lose hope, or feel you're incapable of reaching Point B. 

Have you noticed there’s no wishing away chaos? I haven’t discovered a magic wand yet, although I really want to! Make a plan that transforms your wishing into reality.

Most plans anticipate unforeseen hazards, so include ideas to help you handle possible obstacles you might encounter. For me that might mean having lots of Dr. Pepper on hand, working while little ones nap, stocking up on chocolate in advance, or have a music playlist ready.

Charting how you'll gain victory is also like mapping out a vacation. You know the destination, what to pack, sights you'll see, and how much money you'll need—all in advance. It's helps you mentally work through the tough issues and considering options before beginning. Visualizing steps needed for success boosts confidence. 

Third decision:

The third decision is to bring four essential cohorts on board. When these four assistants join your group it guarantees success. Allow me introduce to you:

Miss Want N. Need 

She is nosy and asks all kinds of questions in a snooty, or picky, or secretive, or demanding voice, asking, “Honestly Honey, do you really want or need that?” You’ll throw your hands up in the air many times and say, “No!” or “Duh, yes!”

Mrs. Gift O. Give 

This cohort jumps in the moment you say “Yes!” and suggests you really don’t want or need it, but someone else probably does. She mixes humanity and compassion into the equation. She reminds you the last time the item was pulled out was over 13 years ago, and way back then it didn’t function well and you weren’t overjoyed with the results. “Why not donate it now?” she asks. “It will show both kindness to yourself and someone else.” (BTW, she's a delight to work with!)

 

Mr. Toss 

While you're hesitating over Mrs. Give’s suggestion, Mr. Toss jumps forward. “Just get rid of it,” he demands. “See that dent? Have you noticed how faded it is? It’s out of style, for heaven’s sake! And the edge is chipped. It’s too decrepit for anyone to want.” He’s a pro at pointing out things you’ve become blind to. He adds rationale and justification into the mix, and often he’s completely right.

Ms. R. R. Repurpose

Your fourth friend and fellow warrior has waited patiently for her turn to pipe up. She’s wily and clever, and although she has an opinion, her ideas are not always the best. Listen to her anyway—at least somewhat. She floods your mind with ideas when she asks about things Mr. Toss thinks he’s taken under his control. As Mr. Toss' items fall into his waste basket she whispers, “Can it be reused, recycled or repurposed?” She fills your mind with heroic concepts of saving the world, creating, and reshaping the future. She plants in your head visions of paint, a good scrubbing, or remaking. She’s a pro at sneaking in ideas of patching and repairing. Be honest with yourself when her voice seems to be winning. Remember, she is convincing and clever, but frequently wrong. In fact, she’s often the reason you’re facing this battle in the first place! If her presence becomes too annoying or overbearing, kick her out for a while until she promises to be more honest if you allow her back in. Remember, you’re in charge, not her.

When the battle begins—when you’re in the trenches—actually, when you’re facing the drawer, or closet, or garage, or bedroom, or other space, grab your cohorts, wave your battle plan in front of their discerning noses to remind them of their part, and begin. 

Beginning!

 

First, sort—

Pick up every single item one at a time. (Unless it’s a group item like a box of Legos, or bin filled with poker chips, or a bag of money. Money? We wish, right? Treat the whole box, bin or bag as one item if possible.) With the item in hand, turn and face your friends as you display it for their scrutiny, and say, “Have at it!” Turn them loose on all decision making. Let them take charge. Give them full control. Except—be careful with Ms. Repurpose, unless you have well-developed DIY skills or massive amounts of creativity, time and commitment. Otherwise, she can spiral out of control. She’ll suggest more boxes, higher stacks, additional shelving, a storage unit, hidden places under the bed or behind the china cupboard, and a better labeling system. That girl can get crazy at times! Keep your eye on her and reign her in, or put her in time out if necessary. She can undermine a well-rehearsed plan in seconds!

Second, separate—

One technique I use, and most organizers use, is to assign zones, corners, a a type of holding pen before you even start what some call sorting or purging. It’s kind of like playing chess. If you win a piece you take it off the board and put in a specific area out of play. Assign each of your friends an area to set up their own style of holding pen for the prisoners they clam in your War on Chaos and Clutter. The holding pen may be a box or bag, the end of your bed or another area in the immediate vicinity. Physical containment is best for all items, except those won by Miss Want N. Need. (You can imagine why. Mr. Toss risks losing all of his winnings unless he can cart them out in a garbage bag.)

Once the main battle is over and all items have been critiqued and their final destination is proclaimed, it’s time to clean up the area and breathe new life into it.

Organize

First: Clean up. Haul the trash to the dumpster, say your final farewells with flourish, toss overboard, and close the lid. That part is easy, really.

Second: Place the give or donate boxes and bags in the trunk of your car so they’re ready to deliver. Predetermine when that drop off will be made and stick with the date and time you've chosen. 

Once the garbage can lid is down and the car trunk is closed, return to the area you're cleaning. Now you only face two piles, and both are keepers. Some are to keep as-is, and some are for repurposing.

Third. Inspect the keeper piles.

 

As is keepers: There usually are two of these piles. The first pile consists of all the items you'll replace in the area you've just purged. Put them away first because you want the space and items usable again as quickly as possible.(More on this in an upcoming post.) The second keeper pile contains items that wandered away from their home and need help getting back. You'll recognize them—a bowl and spoon in the bathroom, dirty socks under the bed, a hammer on top of the bookcase (for nine months?!?). Take care of these items next. 

Repurpose keepers: Invite your 4 favorite companions to join you again and turn them loose to sort and purge a second time all the items Ms. R. R. Repurpose originally claimed. Let them have another go at the scratch and dent, broken and stained, bent and chipped items. Grant them brutal honesty and ask them to be very decisive. 

Remember, you’re claiming territory in your heart and soul over clutter, not just within your house. You want victory over chaos and clutter. You want convenience, peace and joy. Remember who you are and your preferences. If a chair has a broken leg, are you really going to repair it? Do you actually have the tools, time, experience, and other resources? Same goes with the sweater you haven't worn in seven years. You've got the idea.

 Finally...

In all of your decision making, be honest without over-thinking. Keep the questions you ask yourself simple, because the answers are too. Make decisions quickly because most of them are less complicated than they seem. 

All of these questions and steps require heart-felt honesty from the mind and soul. 

No battle is won or lost without a lot of decisions being made before the fight begins, No house is built before a plan is drawn up, permits are obtained, the foundation is prepared and the materials and crew are on site. The same goes with organizing—mental effort and decision making is involved more than we often realize, and there are specific steps that are taken for success, just as you take certain steps to bake a cake, throw a surprise party, or borrow money to buy a new car. 

If organizing is challenging to you, start with a small project using the essential questions I’ve shared that only you can correctly answer. Future posts will add more skills you can hone that promise great results . 

Until then, Happy organizing!

During sorting and purging to organize a bathroom drawer. 

This is the ugly and messy part of a project.

After a massive effort to sort, purge, combine and organize

an office and family room area, 

this is an example of what a finished project looks like. 

**Quick review of  Organization 101: Decision Making

• Choose honesty
• Create a plan
• Invite 4 friends to help make decisions 
• Follow through and triumph!