Ten Simple Tips To Purge and Organize with Balance

It’s summer, when days are long and natural light floods into your living space.

Does your living space appreciate the sunshine? Or does it glare with excess clutter and overflowing chaos?

If the clutter wins, then summer is the perfect time to get organized.

But where do you begin?

Here are 10 simple tips to help you proceed in a productive way. And the keyword to remember between clutter and clean is balance.

1. Pinpoint the pain.

The first step may be the hardest, so to initiate the process, identify areas that cause the most grief and annoyance. Start there, but don’t get stuck there.

2. It’s not all or nothing.

Getting organized and bringing order to your space does not mean everything has to go. Don’t get overwhelmed before you begin. This is where balance lives: in between all and nothing.

3. Lose the guilt.

Just because someone special gave it does not mean you have to keep it. Make gentle decisions to clear the cobwebs and cherish the memories instead.

4. Share the joy.

Eliminate items you no longer need by giving them to someone in need. You’ll deliver joy, and your special things can live on — just not with you.

5. Do good.

If you don’t know someone specific who needs your items, then donate to a charity thrift shop that supports a worthy cause.

6. Just do it.

Procrastination doesn’t help; it only delays the clutter-free days ahead. Shine a new light into areas you’ve been too busy to deal with.

7. Pencil it in.

No time? Schedule an organizing day on your calendar and then keep your appointment with yourself. You deserve a space you love, so balance your schedule with time for you.

8. Be mindful and present.

Organizing can be very therapeutic. Pressing through the process allows you to become more in touch with yourself, with what you love, and with where you are in life right now. This is balance.

9. Be encouraged.

Anything is possible. It’s possible to create order in your living space and your life, and to create a sense of serenity in your surroundings.

10. Be smart.

Still stuck? Don’t settle. Get help when you need it. Professional organizers possess the skills, tools, and experience to help you begin, see you through the process, and cheer you to the finish line.

One definition of balance is a condition in which different elements are in the correct proportions. When you bring balance to your living space, you’ll love the results.

Dina Taylor, owner of Easily Organized in Dallas, works with clients in Texas and Florida.