Is There Such a Thing As Being “Ready” to Organize?

Summer activities are in full swing. Tennis is one of my favorites to watch, even though I’m a lousy player. One thing I remember being taught back when I took lessons is to return to my “ready position” between each shot. As I recall, the rationale was that by returning to the middle of the court with my knees slightly bent and my racket in the middle of my body, I would maximize my chances of being able to return the ball when it next came over the net. Being ready would make me able to respond well and play my best. Since I’m always connecting real life to organizing, I found myself wondering, “Is there such a thing as being “ready” to organize?”

I certainly know that there are times and circumstances that make us feel like we are not ready to tackle an organizing project, such as:

• When we feel overwhelmed.
• When we feel stuck.
• When we don’t know where or how to begin.
• When other family members are either pressuring or undermining us.
• When we don’t feel well (physically and/or emotionally).
• When there is a lot going on in other aspects of our lives.
• When other priorities are sapping our time and energy.
• When we are embarrassed or ashamed of our situation.

There are lots of other reasons as well. Nevertheless, as with most aspects of life, if we procrastinate dealing with a difficult situation, it is likely to get worse, not better. At the same time, moving forward on a project requires energy, motivation, and commitment. Much as a painter preps a room before he actually begins painting, we can take steps to help us be “ready” to organize.

If you aren’t ready to actually start sorting drawers, closets, and boxes, maybe the first step is to simply to get into the organizing “ready position.” Here are a few steps I recommend:

Clarify Your “Why”

Clarifying your “why” is a very important first step. A tennis player gets into the ready position so that he/she can return the ball well, win the point, and ultimately win the match.

You might be surprised to realize that there can be many answers to the question, “Why do I want to organize this space, and especially why now?” For instance, maybe you have a new baby on the way, so you want to declutter and organize a room to be a nursery. Alternatively, maybe you want to downsize, so you want to go through your whole house and identify what you want to take with you, and then figure out how to best remove the rest. Maybe your home is too full to be safe, and/or you need to improve flow. Perhaps you need to find something you’ve misplaced, and organizing a space is the only way to find it.

The reason why clarifying our “why” is so important is because it gives us a guideline for making decisions. For example, the need to set up a room for the baby may be greater than your desire to keep an old, comfy chair. I always talk about the “why” with clients during my consultation, encouraging them to be as specific as possible.

Cast a Vision

I imagine that tennis players, especially those who are truly committed, have a vision for a successful match. Maybe they envision themselves standing on a podium, holding a trophy, or hearing the roar of a crowd.

When it comes to organizing, I often ask clients, “If you could wave a magic wand, and this project were complete, what would you see?” I don’t expect them to tell me exactly what systems will be employed, or where items will be placed, but rather, what is the big, finished picture? This is such a helpful way for me and my clients to envision where we are headed. Asking this question can help you move beyond the potentially stressful process and focus instead on the dream result. I love this question because it helps me understand how a person hopes to feel and function in their space.

Additionally, one tip I got at a recent meeting of Minimal Quest – the monthly virtual meetup I lead with two other professional organizers – is to consider making a drawing. This can be as simple as a pencil sketch on a napkin or as sophisticated as a 3-D virtual plan. This is especially helpful if multiple people will be involved in the project, keeping all parties working in the same direction.

Define the Project Boundaries

Every time I’ve watched tennis the players have been on a court. The court has lines that limit where the game will be played. Depending on what part of the game they are in, players may stand in the forecourt, behind the baseline, or up against the net. During a tournament, a player may compete on multiple courts in a venue, but during a game, they stick to one, clearly defined court.

This can be helpful when getting “ready” to organize. Yes, you may feel that your whole house is a chaotic disaster. However, you can’t work in every room at once. The rooms and their contents are all connected, and professionals like me can help guide the process for a unified end result. Nevertheless, I don’t suggest you try and organize the kitchen and attic at the same time. Instead, decide where you will begin your efforts, and draw mental boundaries around this space.

Having a clearly defined work area will keep you from getting discouraged by the lack of progress in other spaces. It also eases planning, purchasing, and decision-making. Once you finish one “match,” you can go back to the top of this list and begin again somewhere else.

Make A Plan

Tennis players don’t just show up on the court and make up the rules as they go. Instead, they agree to a set of rules they will follow as the match progresses. Some moves are acceptable, others are not. The rulebook keeps the game from getting out of control.

Getting “ready” to organize should include the same approach. Take a few moments to note any guidelines that are important to you. This may include where you will work, how long you will work (you can set a timer!), how you will work through the space, whether you will play music, whether you will check your phone, etc. Once you set your guidelines, do not allow your emotions to steer you away from them.

You can also feel more “ready” by making a few broad decisions in advance. For instance, maybe you recently lost a loved one and you aren’t ready to review his/her belongings, so these items will simply be boxed up, labeled, and set aside. It could be that you have decided to give up a previous hobby, so all supplies for this hobby will be gathered and donated. When working with clients, we often put all the photos we come across into one location so they can be dealt with in a future photo organizing project. One important guideline is to stay in your area of focus. It can be tempting to run and put things away in other rooms, but this can distract you and sabotage your progress. Keep these “elsewhere” items together and then walk around and put them back when you are finished.

Another action you can take to help you feel ready to get organized is to select in advance the charity for your donations. You can also identify resources for hauling away heavy items, selling high-value items, shredding sensitive paperwork, etc. Professional organizers have contacts for all of these services, so don’t worry if you don’t know where to begin. Knowing in advance where unwanted items will go can reduce the stress you might feel about letting go.

Have the Right Equipment

Tennis players are lucky to require very little equipment to be ready to play: the right clothing, a racquet, and fresh balls. Fortunately, being “ready” to organize also doesn’t require that you spend a lot of money. Commonly helpful supplies include trash bags (clear/white for donations, black for trash), a clear and flat surface for reviewing items, bags or boxes to hold donations, Post-its, and a Sharpie. It also helps to dress comfortably, and to consider the climate where you will be working. If it is hot, you might want a fan or AC unit nearby. If it is cold, be sure to bundle up. Spaces like attics and garages are ideally suited for work in the spring and fall, but if you don’t have that luxury, make sure to dress accordingly. I also encourage clients to eat and hydrate.

Bins, baskets, boxes, shelving, dividers, turntables, risers, and drawer organizers are also commonly needed, but never buy them in advance. The first step is to sort and declutter. After doing this, it will be easier to measure and make purchasing decisions.

Plan Your Pace

One thing I always liked about tennis is that the players exert focused bursts of energy, and then briefly rest between plays. This pace allows them to play for hours. Back in the day when I was a cheerleader, this same approach held true. We’d do a cheer or a stunt, and then pause to catch our breaths before launching into another.

Especially if you are facing a significant project, bear in mind that organizing might take a while. Odds are that the stuff you have accumulated didn’t appear overnight, and it won’t disappear overnight either. If you have the time, you can make great strides simply by extending bursts of energy on a regular, recuring basis. You get “ready” for this paced organizing effort by clearing recurring time in your schedule. Maybe you commit to one morning a week or one weekend every season. If you just organize one kitchen drawer a day, in a week or two your kitchen will be finished.

If you are under time pressure, or want to get a big project done quickly, I strongly suggest you hire professional assistance. Many organizers have teams that can come in and get a lot done in a short period of time. You should still be mentally prepared to work hard, however, since decision-making on what to keep and what to shed always falls to the client.

Schedule One “Match” at a Time

In all the years I’ve watched people playing tennis, I’ve never seen a player compete in more than one match at a time. Along those same lines, I’ve also never seen one play a match while grocery shopping, transporting kids around town, working out in the gym, taking a call, checking messages, or frankly, doing anything but playing tennis.

If you want to be “ready” to organize, you need to carve out some time. It doesn’t need to be hours and hours, but the entire process will be more effective if you can give the task your full attention. I know this isn’t easy. It can be hard to block out life’s other demands. Most people these days are perpetually “on call” to an employer, a school, a camp, a loved one, etc. Still, just like you can’t play a good match of tennis while doing something else, you will have a hard time reaching an organizing goal if your attention is focused elsewhere.

One of the main benefits I bring when I show up at a client’s home is focus. I have nothing else to do for my client but the organizing or productivity project at hand, so we will stay on task for the length of the session. Much like a personal trainer, sometimes we just need someone else (especially someone we are paying) to show up, stand there, and tell us what to do.

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Most tasks are easy when are “ready” before we begin. Are you “ready” to organize?