A professional organizer says the best way to begin organizing is letting go of unnecessary items, de-cluttering the home and the mind.
Local Organizer Beth Ruck said organizing can give someone a fresh start, getting rid of items that did not serve them in the previous year. Ruck said letting go of items they received or bought and do not use is an essential part of the process. Ruck said thinking about possessions and shopping habits can help keep clutter out of the home.
“You’re happy, you’re only keeping those things that you really love or you use often,” Ruck said. “And you’re not holding onto things you think you have to be holding onto.”
Ruck said it is important for people to identify what parts of their homes bother them the most. Ruck said once identified, start small, beginning with one area or section. Ruck said clothes or dishes are good areas to begin when organizing a home.
Ruck said a common mistake people make is trying to find the right container to put items into, thinking they will be organized. Ruck said people must let go of access items that do not serve a purpose in order to maintain an available space.
“They hold onto things that they don’t use, or they think they might need it someday, but someday is just not a day of the week,” Ruck said.
Ruck said she often works with people to let go of items, asking what will happen if they let it go and if they can easily replace it or borrow it.
Ruck said when people know where there belongings are they can free the mind to do other activities and worry less about one thing, like where they placed household items. Ruck said people can abandon any items that have not served them in the previous year.
“It also helps if they can let go of things that maybe they’ve gotten as a gift and they feel guilty about getting rid of it, but I’m sure that was not the intent when someone gave you the gift, to make you feel guilty,” Ruck said. “So you can be thankful for the gift, but if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle, then you can bless someone else with it.”