The phrase “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear” is a warning required on side mirrors of vehicles for safety reasons. The design of the mirror enables a wide view but makes objects appear smaller, and thus can give the illusion they are further away than they actually are. Wouldn’t it be great to have a similar reminder regarding media images and the self-defeating games of comparison that these images urge you to play? Consider this your reminder.
It takes an entire professional team to produce these images. First, a group of experts collaborate to determine perfect lighting, photography angles, and design. Then, the images are edited, Photoshopped, airbrushed and altered. In other words, virtually all of what you see in home décor and home improvement magazines has been strategically staged.
Consider the appealingly organized-looking closet you see portrayed in magazine photos. It’s beautiful! But you’ll notice that these seeming paragons of organization generally contain only about ten tops, ten bottoms, and five pairs of shoes. Chances are that you own, wear, and wish to keep many more clothing items than that. Even many self-proclaimed minimalists have more than twenty-five articles of clothing in their closet.
Examples of distortion in the media are everywhere. Here are three tough truths when it comes to organizing.
Tough Truth #1: Containers will not make you organized.
Organizing is about much more than finding the perfect containers. In fact, an overabundance of containers can actually contribute to disorganization, both visually and functionally. When you have many containers containing similar items, it can be difficult to get a sense of how much you have and to find the items you need.
For this reason, I recommend against purchasing new, “special” containers before you start organizing. Instead, take stock of those boxes, baskets, and bins that you already have, and use those. You can always upgrade later, as it becomes clearer what you need.
Tough Truth #2: An awesome label maker will not make you organized.
That being said, labeling can be extremely useful in maintaining organization. Labels are especially helpful in shared living spaces, so that everyone knows where to find things and where to put them away. However, you don’t need a top-notch, ultra-fancy label-maker. Use Post-Its, painter’s tape, or paper and Scotch tape to designate where things belong. Once your system is functional, upgrading your label look can be a fun and rewarding finishing touch.
Tough Truth #3: It’s a marathon, not a sprint – and every great runner has a great coach.
Take a moment to think about everything that’s in your space and how long it took you to accumulate it. It would be unrealistic to expect to organize a lifetime of belongings and memories in one weekend, on your own. A more productive approach, and one more likely to yield lasting results, is to set aside several hours per week for a two or three months. For those organizing projects that need to be taken care of swiftly, at least try to break up the job up into chunks, and do one piece at a time. You’ll feel less overwhelmed, and you’ll find encouragement in the successful completion of each step.
Help from a friend or family member can make any organizing project more fun. And to really boost your organizing fulfillment and success, enlist the help of a professional organizer. Organizing is what we love – and what we do best.
Organization has a different definition for everyone. If you can find what you need when you need it, if you feel good in your physical space more often than not, and if you are able to give attention to the people and activities in your life that mean the most to you, then fundamentally all is well.
And, yes, you can create a label for that!
Do you have a comment related to an organizing truth? If so, I’d love to hear it! Please share with me and other readers in the comments below.