I consider myself to be an organized person. In fact, it gives me a rush to take a big ‘ol mess and make it look amazing.

Even the most organized people, including myself, have moments where they can’t find things or have paid a late fee on a bill that got tucked away accidentally. I believe most people want help getting it together, but just don’t know where to begin. No one is immune from disorganization –whether it’s a junk drawer or a hidden closet – and everyone has an area that could use some TLC. And if you have children, your chance of having these areas triples.

Most people make goals to become more organized but few people know where to begin. It doesn’t have to feel overwhelming if you tackle your clutter in stages. Today is the first in a series of posts related to home organization.

Here are some tips for getting organized and staying that way.

Step No. 1 – Don’t touch a thing.

It may seem crazy but the first step to getting a grasp on your organizational problem has nothing to do with sorting, alphabetizing, labeling or tossing items. Clutter is as much an emotional issue as it is a physical problem.

You have to figure out why it is that you’re holding on to all of the stuff. For example, many people hold on to items out of fear or loss. Piles of paperwork can symbolize fear of dealing with problems or finances. While an overabundance of toys for children who have outgrown them can really be a sign of a parent’s unwillingness to accept the end of innocence with her children.

Step No. 2 – Imagine for fantasy world.

Picture in your mind how you’d like that area of the house to look in an ideal world. Close your eyes and really try to see it how’d you like it. Whether it’s a toy corner in your living room or the master suite, you need to have a great mental picture to motivate you. Now that you’ve set your goal (that great fantasy image in your mind) you have to take all of the actions necessary to get to it.
In most cases that means letting go of what you’re holding on to now in order to reach the place you really want to be. When you start to feel yourself resisting change or trying to justify holding on to an item remember your goal and stick to it. You can’t continue to carry the past around with you if you want what’s in the future.

Step No. 3 – Sort it Out

Each item in a given space must receive an assignment: fix it, donate it, toss it or relocate it to another area of the house. Whatever items are left should be those items you want to remain in the space. I recommend using big plastic bins or laundry baskets to help you with the sorting process.

Not enough time to dedicate to a whole room? Skip your evening sitcom and allocate 30 minutes to organize one drawer, sort through one stack of papers, or sift through a mystery box in the garage. You’d be surprised how much you can do in such a short amount of time.

Grappling over those last few items? Ask yourself questions these important questions as you evaluate the items.

Is it something I’ve used in the last 12 months? Do I really need it? Do I love it? Can I live without it? Is this item in my mental picture of my fantasy room?

If you answer “no” to one or more of these questions you should seriously consider pitching the item.