Sorting is a vital step on the path to organization. It must precede putting a system in place. It’s tempting I know, to think I really need everything here, I just have to find a home for it. The truth is, if you have space that is overrun with stuff, it is more than either you or the space can handle. Or both.
In my 13 years of helping people simplify their lives, there is always stuff to toss, stuff to give away and stuff that lives elsewhere. And thankfully, because it reduces the number of things you need to find permanent homes. Often, we can reduce that volume by 1/3 from where we started.
Years ago, I had a friend who moved into an apartment and called me to help her. “I have already sorted, she said this stuff just needs to be put away.” Even if we could have fit all her stuff in this space, the system would have been difficult to maintain. Too many things, too small a space.
Books were her biggest challenge. She wanted to keep them all, but there wasn’t room in her new place. We had no choice but to sort through and select which books would go on shelves now. Lo and behold, we ended up with three piles. Keep. Store. Donate.
If you have space that needs attention, start with the SORT. Remember every single thing you say yes to, owns a tiny part of your mind. So, say yes to less.
