SeanFromCanada's Blog

When I think about organization, I get excited. I love placing pieces together and categorizing the cluttered. It brings a calm to me as I wade into chaos and leave behind order.

1. The first step to organizing something is to create buckets.

Call them categories, boxes, groups or places – the point is to create some physical delineation between the many objects to be organized. Then start placing the pieces. You may notice – or even fear – that you’ve labelled the categories incorrectly…that doesn’t matter. Organization is a process, and by simply starting somewhere, you will evolve into finding the right names (and number) of buckets.

2. Once you start separating your items into each category, you’ll start to view the traits of each item…what’s similar and what’s different?

If you place two or three items together, does the nature of the category change? You’ll see this works the same for organizing a closet as it does for sorting out a troubled friendship. As I say, this is a process and it evolves as you view the characteristics of each group as it forms. Be patient, observant and open to new discoveries.

3. Somewhere in the midst of grouping your items, a magical thing happens…a system forms.

Sometimes it happens quickly and obviously, and other times it’s a subtle evolution into a process. But it happens. You pick up a piece, assess its qualities, and process it into a category almost automatically. The piece fits and it feels right immediately. Does it have sleeves? Is it funny? Will it soak up water? Whatever the questions are, you know how the answers define its group. Now you’re organizing!

4. One last observation about organization (for this piece anyway).

What should and shouldn’t be organized? There is no easy answer to this question, and obviously this is just one of the billion things that makes each person unique. The only guidance I can provide is to ask yourself if you – and your ‘constituents’ – are benefiting from current state of organization something is in? Honestly? Be aware of the impact of disorganization…the inefficiency, the frustration, the loss…

Is there something you want to organize?