Last week I started on this organizing kick to help avoid the stress of disorganization. One of the most stressful encounters can be when you get up in the morning and can't find a thing to wear! That's when you know it's either time to go shopping for a new wardrobe because you've outgrown the old one or maybe you just need to do some good ole closet organizing.Let's say you have put on a little weight. That doesn't mean everything you have doesn't fit. However, it does mean you need to organize your closet and get rid of some things. Not only clothes either. Maybe your shoes and purses are no longer in fashion. You need to work through those as well.
First, to organize your closet start by working on different things at a time. Some will say you should empty out the entire closet but let's make it easier. Rather than empty it out and make a bigger mess, start with the floor. Pull out all those shoes, boxes, falling bags and whatever else may be hiding amongst the dust bunnies. Go through those items and dump or give away what's no longer fashionable, can't fit or damaged beyond repair.
Second, tackle your closet shelves one at a time. Backtracking a bit, if you don't have them already, pick up some plastic shoe boxes and/or hat boxes to help you organize items such as purses and hats! Yes, and of course other things that you have hidden away up in the top of your closet. You can hang your purses by size smallest first - if you have hooks
Lastly, it's time to go through your clothes. Pair up shirts, blazers, skirts and pants together that match. This way you won't have as much difficulty finding a complete outfit each morning. Another way is to put all the shirts together on one side of the closet, followed by the blazers, then the pants, then the skirts and dresses (assuming you wear them). It's all about your personal choice. Just make sure you give away or throw away anything you can't fit or haven't worn in at least 6 months. You probably won't ever wear them again.
Send clothing that needs to be repaired (if you still fit it), or cleaned to the cleaners and when you pick them up, always take the plastic off. The chemical residue picked up at the cleaners is not good for you to inhale.
Now, I want to hear from anyone else who has organizing tips. Organizing helps avoid stress. Of course, not major stress but hey. Address the things you can control. Don't just leave it up to fate. You'll have plenty of other things that you can't control. 'Toodles and til next time....
Michelle Howard Smith is a stress and pain relief professional helping individuals to address health from a natural perspective. Subscribe to The Stress Less newsletter to receive information on stress and pain management.
Great tips for organizing the closet! I agree with doing one section at a time. I have had clients pull everything out of the closet at once, then seeing it spread all over the room has been overwhelming; yes, more stressful! I encourage clients to think in terms of zones: the shoe zone, the accessory zone, the clothing zone, etc. As you are working in a zone, pay attention to what works, and don't change it. For those trouble areas, spend some time thinking about how to do it differently. For example, I have posted on my blog how to get around using a dresser if you hate the darn thing!
ReplyDeleteMake Room for Life!
Natalie
Now that sounds useful to me. My dresser always gets cluttered due to rush around every morning. I will have to visit your blog and see your tips for getting around the dresser!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
I still use a dresser too. I like to organize my dresser drawers by clothing type. One drawer for undergarments, another for jeans, another for socks, etc. There are two things that I do to keep my drawers more organized. They are: 1)I don't let them get overfilled. If the drawer has too much bulk, it's time to purge again! And 2) I use drawer organizers in my undergarments and sock drawers. My daughter even has a drawer organizer for her pj's. It helps keep things orderly and easy to identify.
ReplyDeleteAnother tip would be to quickly straighten one drawer per week when you are putting away your laundry. That way, over the course of a month, you have straightened four drawers with very little time & effort spent.
Simplify is my battle cry!
Natalie
Professional Organizer
Those are certainly great tips but what about those of who take a week to put our laundry away? I mean to put "their" :-)
ReplyDeleteThe inside of my drawers are typically clutter free. It's all those darn bottles of perfume and nail polish and skin care products and let's not forget the hair care stuff that accumulates throughout the week!
Sometimes, it isn't always feasible to straighten things daily but more practical to set a time weekly (for me that would be Sat or Sun) to get things in order. Wouldn't you agree?
I'd love to hear comments from others as well. What works for one may work a little differently for others.