So, you’ve decided that it’s time to take control of your life and get organized. But do you know the first steps to get started?

I’m sure you think that the first thing I’m going to tell you to do is to start chunking or tossing items out the door. But you’re wrong. Organizing is not the act of throwing things away. Organizing is the act of creating a system to effectively and efficiently manage the items you own. On the flip side, de-cluttering is the act of chunking and tossing items. So, with that being said, what are the first steps to getting organized?

1. Determine your organization style. Decide if you like things organized and concealed or organized and set out on display. Do you like things labeled or do you like having a master list to cross-reference where things are located? By identifying your organizational style up front, you reduce the amount of time it takes to plan your organizing project.

2. Determine where to start your organizing project. To avoid becoming overwhelmed or frustrated early on in a huge project, start with a small room or a small section of a larger room. Some good ideas would be to start with your kitchen pantry, linen closet, or bathroom cabinet. A huge organizing project, like the garage, can be daunting. Opt for taking baby steps towards reaching your goal to become organized.

3. Determine what is required in that space. What items do you use more frequently and what items can be tucked away for infrequent access and retrieval? Obviously, you don’t want to have to dig to find items you use on a regular basis. Make sure you have everything required for the everyday operations of your household. If something is missing, now is the time to add it. For example, if you always have to grab something from the utility room every time you do laundry chances are your laundry room is missing a key requirement to complete the task.

4. Have fun getting organized. Create a system to effectively and efficiently manage the items you have in that space. If some items belong in another space, move them appropriately. But don’t get side tracked. Return back to your current project so that you can finish it before you move on to another. Think about tying an imaginary ribbon around your completed project before you start the next one. One organizing project will probably lead to another, so get ready.

Once you know the first steps to getting started, finishing will become second nature. Getting organized is a lot easier when you know your organization style. Pick a small space in your home and determine what is required. Take a small baby step and start your first organizing project. Before you know it, you will be heading towards a future of having a more organized life.

By Leslie Kate Thornton

Follow Leslie on Twitter and visit Staging Designs website here.

Leslie Kate Thornton is a real estate staging expert and professional organizer, and is the owner of STAGING DESIGNS based in Birmingham, Alabama. Leslie holds a B.S. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has extensive consulting and project management experience. Leslie is passionate about transforming properties to make lasting, first impressions. She is the master of clutter and infuses eco-friendly ideas into each property.