Violetta Reum
- Jul 30, 2020
- 4 min read

Why You Can't Get Organized

Why are we even holding on to this stuff?

Turns out, the answer is kind of easy! But also...not really.

We all have our own reasons but for the most part, it all comes down to these 3 things.

1. Lack of permission

2. Lack of instruction

3. Lack of knowledge

Let's dive into each one!

LACK OF PERMISSION

At times, we just need someone to reassure us that we actually have the permission and the freedom to get rid of something.

You struggle with permission if maybe you ask yourself questions like,

Am I even allowed to throw this out?
Is my guilt over this object too overwhelming?
Will the giver be upset with me if I pass it on?

Well, I am here to tell you...

You have my permission to throw away that piece of mail that says "DO NOT DISCARD" on it but in reality is simply marketing material that you don't need.
You have permission to decide what is important or urgent for you.
You have my permission to donate the clothes that cost way too much money and still didn't serve you well.
You have permission to let go of the guilt that comes with your past purchases.
You have my permission to get rid of that gourmet cookbook that looked so appealing at the store but in reality doesn't fit with your current cooking habits.
You have permission to be practical and realistic in your current season.
You have my permission to not keep every single art piece that your child makes for you.
You have permission to be a mom who doesn't run on guilt and opinions of others.
You have my permission to get rid of things that remind you of past relationships or deceased relatives that you are holding on to simply because of their sentimental value.
You have permission to keep only the things you truly love and hold on to the happy memories from those relationships, not the guilt and shame.
You have my permission to pass on books that you meant to read but never got to.
You have permission to change your mind.

LACK OF INSTRUCTION

Sometimes, we just don't know where to start. Lack of direction and instruction could be the reason you have not gotten organized.

If you are lacking instruction, here are some of the questions you might be asking yourself,

Where do I even begin with this mess?
What is the best way to declutter and organize all of this stuff?
Am I too overwhelmed?
Even if I get rid of these things, how can I do it properly?

Well, I am here to give you a little bit of instruction to get you started.

1. Start small.

Just pick a drawer, a shelf, a surface area and begin by organizing that. Set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes and try to go through things as quickly as possible. This will build your confidence when it comes to organizing.

2. If you want to go big, bring a friend.

Ask a friend to come over or involve a family member to help you tackle a bigger organization project like a closet or an entire room. They can help you make decisions faster, fold things quicker and serve as hands-on accountability.

3. Empty, Declutter, Sort, Repeat.

Empty the entire space; take it all out of a drawer or empty the entire closet. Then get rid of as many things as you can. Sort what is left and then declutter some more.

4. Think about what you are already doing.

When putting things back after Step 3, think about your current habits and routines. If you already get dressed in your closet, do not keep clothes that you wear often in the bedroom. Keep things in their zones and recall what your current system is. You don't need to reinvent everything; just make it better.

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Some people get stuck because of their lack of knowledge about the future.

If you are getting frozen because of the unknown, you might be asking questions that sound like this,

What if this is actually valuable?
What if I will need it at a later date?
Is this something the future generations will want one day?

But guess what?

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

Sure, you can prepare, but you will never know what will actually happen.

Sure, you can plan all of you want, but you still won't know what's on the horizon.

Sure, that painting could be worth something one day, but there is no sure way of knowing that.

Sure, you might lose the weight and fit in that sexy dress again, but maybe not.

We hold on to things because of the unknown.

We have no way of knowing and I think the best thing we can do is come to terms with the fact that we don't know what we don't know.

The best we can do is live in today, right now, what we do know.

And while we are here, present in today, let's be surrounded by things that we love.

I really hope that this blog has inspired you to be more mindful about your organizational setbacks and gave you some helpful tips to implement today.

I would love for you to take a moment to share this post with a friend that you think might benefit from this blog and the applications I've shared.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us.