Obviously, this is not limited to just your closet. However, the idea is that, a disorganized space is an Energy Drainer and therefore causes poor sleep or lack of sleep. How many times have you turned the corner and thought... "I HAVE to clean that closet once and for all!" or.... "I am going to have to take time to go through that huge stack of papers on the nightstand!" The longer we go on this way the more our Energy is drained. Just the mere fact that you are THINKING about it daily or weekly is draining. Sure you may try to close the door and hide it but it is still occupying a part of your brain and repeatedly nudging you…”I have to do this.” And when your mind is full of “I HAVE-TOs” it is impossible to get a good night's rest.

So what can you do to get on the road to some restful ZZZZs? Start by purchasing a notebook (now don't put this off too, go out today and pick one up). This notebook will be for your plan of action.

The first thing you will write down in the notebook is a list of ALL the things you want to organize. Title this page “My Organized Life”. I am suggesting this title because this is what you are planning…. an organized life. And from this moment on, you will begin to live and act “as if”. As if you have the most organized life and before you know, it you WILL!

The next page will be your step by step plan. Start by picking the area you want to start in. For example, you might choose the closet. Write down the steps needed to get your closet organized. For instance:

1 Pick up all clothing off the floor

4 Remove items that DO NOT belong in the closet

2 Gather dry cleaning

6 Gather clothing for seamstress/tailor

3 Put dirty garment in hamper for washing

5 Toss dated clothing

7 Set aside shoes for repair

After you have written the steps put a number next to each step (see above) and this is the order you will ATTACK!

Now you have a plan and that “OVERWHELMING” feeling should have subsided. You are on your way to restful nights. The next step is to actually take the steps one by one (in the order you have arranged them) and place them in/on your calendar at a specific time and date!

Example: June 23rd 10am-12pm.....pick clothing up off closet floor & gather drycleaning.

My advice is set a timer for one hour and plug away at the task at hand. After the timer goes off STOP, DO NOT continue with project. Spend the next 15 minutes doing something you ENJOY! (surfing the internet, reading your favorite magazine, power napping, etc) Once your 15 minutes is up go for one more hour and repeat this process NO LONGER than 4 hours.

You can follow the above action plan for everything on your list (cleaning out the car once and for all, sending out thank you notes after wedding shower, cleaning out the junk drawer, etc.) Feel free to use your notebook for journaling about your road to organized living.

The whole idea is to free your mind up so that you can rest better, which means you will feel better and as a result LIVE BETTER!

Copyright 2007 – Sally McMullin