There’s something in the air. I’m not quite sure what it is but recently I’ve been having lots of conversations with people who feel they don’t have time to get organized. Do you feel this way, too?
If you’re overwhelmed by clutter and aren’t sure where to get started on your organizing journey, this can so often lead to paralysis. It feels like it’s going to take forever to clear out all that clutter, and quite frankly you don’t have forever. It feels like a hopeless battle so you don’t get started.
Now it’s not because you don’t want to do something about the clutter. And it’s not because you’re lazy. (So please, quit telling yourself that!) It’s because it feels like whatever you do it won’t be enough. It will hardly scratch the surface.
If you’ve taken any of my online workshops or worked with me via coaching then you know my go-to strategy for getting organized (and staying organized, for that matter) is to declutter or organize for fifteen minutes a day. But if you’re faced with a lot of clutter you might hear that advice and think “What’s the point? Fifteen minutes may work for other people, but it isn’t going to make any noticeable difference in my home. I need to do more.”
Well…yes, you will need to do more. (We all will.) Fifteen minutes of organizing in any home won’t get the job done forever. But when you’re feeling overwhelmed by your clutter the goal isn’t to get the job done…it is to get the job started! Take your mind off of finishing and put it on getting started. Don’t worry that you don’t know all the steps to get to a clutter free home. Pick one step…and do that one thing for fifteen minutes that will move you toward that vision of a peaceful and organized home.
Here’s something else to consider that you may not have before: your home got cluttered in small bits of time, too. It didn’t get this way in a single day…it built up slowly over time. So it’s reasonable then, that small organizing sessions over a period of time will help you work your way back to where you want to be.
So don’t worry if it feels like fifteen minutes won’t make a difference—it will make a difference. You may have to trust me on this one, but even if you can’t see a difference after fifteen minutes, you will feel it! You will feel different when you get up off that chair and start taking action. And every single minute you spend heading in the direction of that organized home will make a difference! Every single step you take forward…moves you one step closer to where you want to be.
I know you’re busy…but do you think you can find fifteen minutes this weekend to get started? You’re much more likely to be able to find fifteen minutes in a day to start making progress on your organizing projects than you will be to find an hour…or even four hours! Right?
So think of it this way: no matter how you slice it, four hours of organizing is made up of sixteen 15-minute blocks of time. You could wait to find sixteen continuous blocks of 15 minutes (a solid four hours) or you could find fifteen minutes right now. And then…maybe you’ll feel so energized that you’ll starting looking for another fifteen minute block of time, maybe tonight before bed. And then…you’re feeling so great that you decide to spend fifteen minutes tomorrow morning before the day starts…so you can do just a little bit more. (See how it works?) And in time after a few of these fifteen minute sessions…you won’t just feel different but things will start looking different, too!
Let me know if you give this a try today or this weekend, or please share if you’re already a believer in the fifteen minute approach. I would love to hear from you. Have a wonderful weekend!
P.S. As I was writing this post, I got this an email that said this: I purchased and downloaded your “help, where do I start” booklet. Read it. Started yesterday with a large load of stuff from my kitchen. Honestly it was a bit crazy how much I was able to get rid of in 30 minutes. Tackling another 15 minutes in the kitchen today and then moving onto the bathroom.
It really does work, my friends. I hope you’ll try it for yourself…today.
Your statement, “the goal isn’t to get the job done… it’s to get the job started” really resonated with me – thanks!
So funny I read this today. I just did this exact thing today. I am hoping to keep the momentum going over the next few days and tackle some of the little projects hanging around. Thanks, Aby!
I was just thinking how funny it was that this post came up today as well. For the last few weeks my kitchen counter has been plagued with so much clutter (which it isn’t normally) and I just couldn’t find the motivation to tackle it. So, finally, a few days ago, as I was heading to another room another rule finally surfaced in my brain (never leave a room empty handed!) and I decided to just remove one or two things on my way past. I did this over a few days and, honestly, my kitchen counter was back to being tidy in no time at all and with very little ‘extra’ effort. Great reminder! Now I have the motivation to tackle other decluttering and organising jobs I have been putting off. Love heading into winter all organised!
I’ve recently thought about time and how I manage it! Each day, I complain about not having enough time. Yet, I spend time on pointless things that bring no benefit! I will give the 15minute suggestion a shot!! I have a loud, obnoxious timer on my phone. Usually my 15 minutes turns into 30 minutes and I get more done!
I’m also a firm believer of using untapped time, time that can be used for another purpose. For example, cleaning or organizing during commercials.
Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for your comments! And thanks Catherine for the reminder to never leave a room empty handed. That is a huge help, too! I also love the suggestion to fit things in during commercials. Laundry is a great one to fit in during commercials, too!
~ Aby
I love the 15 min approach …. (but I use 20 mins – just found that worked better for me)
I use a timer – and divide my ‘hour’ into three … two lots of ‘work’ and one lot of ‘pleasure’ (internet, dancing, something fun !!)
Thanks for your comment Kathryn! So nice to hear from you. 🙂 ~ Aby
It’s amazing how much you can get done in small bursts of time…and starting is the hardest part of the process!
I’ve developed the same habit of picking something up when I leave the room. Also I love my little timer. My 15 minutes often stretches to 20, so I get a bit more done and feel a lot happier after that.
I discovered that my timer actually “beeps” every five minutes, which is fun because I gives me a sense of moving forward and motivation.
Thanks as it helps to reread your words. I started with 15 minutes in my cabinet full of lunch containers. Amazing what I found–my 7th grader’s Bob the Builder lunchbox buried in the back. Like they say, you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time. Looking forward to my next 15 minutes of found time.
I have encountered the same issue with potential clients in the last few months. Everyone wants to get organized but they do not feel they have the time or attention to devote to the organizing process. I also agree with you, allocating 15 minutes every day or 15 minutes (twice a day), can get you started in becoming organized. 15 minutes = go through and sort your mail while watching TV. 15 minutes = sort your junk drawer, 15 minutes = sort your emails in appropriate folders that came in today. Thank you for sharing.
Excellent advice 😉 I find once I get going the reward of what I have accomplished calls me back to keep going!
I do believe and love the 15 minute rule. So many different things can get done in this short time. It’s great for other areas in my life as well. Hoping my kids will carry on this good habit when they leave home.
My prospective on cleaning or organizing is somewhat like yours.
I figure if I need to get something done, I might as well get to it immediately, rather then later.
The longer you wait, the more it will pile up and the more you will have to do at the end.