Organizing FAQs: Do Small Steps Really Work?

 Can small steps really lead to big-time organization?

Yes! 

And no. 

Despite the fact that they don't lead off the STYLE process, small steps are a key ingredient in getting -- and staying -- organized. Truthfully, though, they work better under some circumstances than others. 

My favorite time to use small steps is when I feel overwhelmed, by life, by clutter, or (often) both. When this happens, I don't have time to dig in and truly eradicate the clutter but, by simply picking up one thing (and putting it away) every time I pass a pile, I can make a difference. Even better, I can make the pile smaller so that, when I do have time to dig in, I've already started to make progress.

And, as someone with an I need to see it personal style, I'm all about seeing progress.

Small steps are also great for chipping away at big projects that don't have a timeline. Maybe you've been dying to do a closet overhaul, but you just can't face giving up an entire weekend afternoon to drag everything out, sort through it, and do what needs to be done (keep/toss/donate/consign/repair). 

But maybe you can set a time for thirty minutes and dig in. Or pull out everything blue and sort through that pile. Or start from the left hand side, grab a handful of hangers and make sense of those clothes. 

Maybe you can buy some pretty hangers, pull that many items out of the closet, hang the keepers on the new hangers and stop when you run out of pretty hangers. Then, you'll know just where to start the next time you have an opportunity to spend some time on closet organization.

Okay, now I want to attack my closet. 

But I digress. 

The beauty of the small step is that it can look however you want it to. You can set a timer, pick one shelf, one category, one pile, or several inches worth of stuff. You can tackle the clutter you know you can dispense with in the time you have available or you can tackle the pile that's been screaming at you (figuratively, I hope) every time you walk past it.

You get to make the rules. And, if you've been reading this blog for a while, that shouldn't surprise you at all. Getting organized means taking control of your stuff, and staying organized begins with identifying your styles and choosing tools that honor them so that upkeep is easy. 

The good news is that small steps, consistently applied, can move us steadily along the path to organization. Even better, they can make organizing less overwhelming.

The bad news?

Well, it's not really bad news -- more the exceptions to the small steps rule. Small steps don't work so well when you have a deadline (company's coming in an hour). They might not work so well when you're staring at a project that will, by its very nature, take a long time -- unless, of course, you're very, very patient and/or don't particularly care how long it takes. 

When we take small steps, digging in before the pile gets too big or getting in the habit of picking things up and putting them away as we walk past, we're developing habits that keep clutter in check. These small steps won't make clutter magically disappear but they will show it who's boss. 

And that is half the battle.