By Elizabeth Scruggs, Superior Construction and Design
The act of flipping the calendar from December 31 to January 1 has always made me a bit giddy. Everything feels so
new- like we’ve been given a clean slate and anything is possible! We all make the usual resolutions, and inevitably one of those is always to get organized.
Statistics show being organized saves time AND money—and who among us doesn’t want more of both?? But even the simple word ORGANIZE strikes fear into many. It seems daunting and overwhelming…. like another job we have to fit in our already over-packed schedules. But truthfully, if we set aside a small block of time to invest in ourselves, the benefits would positively affect almost every aspect of our lives.
Often, by the time someone calls me for help with their space, they are so overcome with the state of things- they have no idea where to start. Such is the case in the photos below. This client is one of the top women in her field—in the ENTIRE United States—a certifiable rock star in her company. She is one of the most intelligent and dynamic women I know, and I aspire to be like her. Yet due to the simple lack of systems in her closet, it had become an overwhelming area to her.
The simple system I use when I’m called in to help a client edit their home is called
S.P.A.C.E. It works simply and effectively every single time, and this is how it’s done. Empty the entire area completely. Then:
S– sort everything.
P– purge ruthlessly. If you have not used or worn the item in the last nine months, odds are that you are not going to.
A– assign everything a home.
C– contain like items together.
E– equalize everything. When the process is complete, if something new comes into the area, another item leaves.
Here’s another fun fact: we wear 20% of what we own 80% of the time. Keep that in mind if the area you are editing is your closet, and let go of all items you’ve been hanging onto for whatever reason.
If your physical space is in disarray, your mental space is as well. As you are working on your space, remember that you are investing in yourself. You are saving yourself time (looking for misplaced items), money (saving yourself from replacing those misplaced items), and stress (associated with both of the above)- and that, my friends, is a wise investment!