Professional organizer Rachel Strisik shares five organizing fundamentals that you may not know:
1. It’s better to take it slow.
Professional organizer Rachel Strisik shares five organizing fundamentals that you may not know:
1. It’s better to take it slow.
(Linda Davidson/THE WASHINGTON POST) - Rachel Strisik at home in Bethesda.
“People will say, ‘I want to organize my entire bedroom,’ but that’s overwhelming, and it can derail you from the entire process,” says Strisik. Instead, write down the steps of your project first. “Looking at chunks is more manageable, less overwhelming and more likely to get done.”
2. There is a difference between being neat and being organized.
Organizing is not just about getting bins; that is a big misconception. Neat is stacking items and putting things away. Organizing is having homes for items so you can find them when you need them.
“Organizing is the next step that will allow you to spend time on the things you want to spend time on rather than wasting time looking for X,” Strisik says. “It’s unrealistic to think your house will look neat all the time, especially if you have children. But it can always be organized.”
3. Off-site storage should be a last resort.
“I think they are a waste of money,” says Strisik. “Not only is it a major splurge, but what you put in there will probably never be looked at again. Out of sight, out of mind.”
4. Looks matter.
If you like the color blue or flowers, spend the extra 50 cents to get blue files or the ones with flowers because you’re more likely to use them.
5. Remember that organizing is not a one-time event.
There’s maintenance, too. Organizing works only if you continue to sort, group, file and discard as new items come into your home. “The first time might be the hardest,” Strisik says about organizing, “but the next time is just maintaining what you’ve already accomplished.”
SuperFan Badge
SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.
Culture Connoisseur Badge
Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.
Fact Checker Badge
Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.
Washingtologist Badge
Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.
Post Writer Badge
This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.
Post Forum Badge
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
Weather Watcher Badge
Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.
World Watcher Badge
World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.
Post Contributor Badge
This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.
Post Recommended
Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.
You must be logged in to report a comment.
You must be logged in to recommend a comment.
Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.
All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.
To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.
The Post MostMost-viewed stories, videos, and galleries in the past two hours
WP Social Reader Hide this
See what your friends are reading!
Live Q&A, Friday 11 a.m. ET
The 2012 Post Hunt -- a wild contest of brainteasing puzzles -- kicks off on Sunday, June 3 in downtown Washington, D.C.

Associated Press
_1337038921.jpg)
Elizabeth Lesly Stevens
Amy Dickinson
More ways to get us





Loading...
Comments