Welcome to Extra Organized: A blog to celebrate organizing

I’m passionate about organizing.

I’ve started this blog to share my interest and to collaborate on new organizing-related ideas and experiences.

For over two decades, I’ve researched every facet of organizing, applied the principles to my life, and written about the topic as a freelance writer. Recently, however, I felt I was re-reading a lot of material in my quest for new information.

I already knew how to declutter, how to store like with like, and how to arrange objects according to frequency of use.  I also realized that even though I was ‘organized’, I was continually moving things around and dealing with an ever-growing to do list. It was becoming increasingly difficult to find time and energy for what was really important.

Unless I could better apply my organizing knowledge to shape a more mindful life—one focused on valued relationships and experiences—I knew I was going to stay on the treadmill. Traditional organizing, no matter how much I enjoyed it, was sustaining this lifestyle.

I decided to use organizing in the service of my life, rather than in the service of my stuff. As I looked more deeply into philosophies related to organizing—such as simple living, mindfulness, and minimalism—I drew together a holistic, yet highly focused, approach.

Even though I’d thought my home was already decluttered and well-organized, in reality I’d only just begun. With a fresh perspective, I kept going until my possessions, to do list, and thought patterns were less in my way. I also stopped putting off my passions and dreams until some distant moment when I had it all together.

Three discoveries, in particular, were surprising and welcomed: real treasure was already in my life waiting to be appreciated; a sense of spaciousness and enthusiasm for life returned; and I found that I often got in (and thus could get out of) my own way—putting the trivial before the important, letting fear hold me back, and clinging rather than releasing.

Being extra organized is not about being perfect, obsessive, or a control-freak. It’s figuring out what you want in your life, and using organizing as the vehicle to get there.

Try this quick exercise to see how closely your life reflects what you say is important to you:

• What are your top five priorities?
• From a friend’s perspective, what would they say your top five priorities are?
• Does the way you spend your time reflect either list?
• What is getting in the way of your priorities? Is it worth it?

Keeping your list short forces you to focus on what really matters. Don’t worry about what you think should be there or what would have appeared in the past—there is only room for what is important to you now.

Use the list as a straightforward way of evaluating your possessions, and figuring out how to spend your time, energy, and money. Make sure most of what you do relates to one of your priorities, and let go of what doesn’t.

I look forward to engaging with you on this blog to not only make room for what is important, but to make it happen.

As well as regular posts, I will include snapshots of organizing bliss, extra organized gems I uncover in my research, and reviews of organizing resources with edgy ideas.

Let’s take organizing to the next level!

Comments

[Trudy Miller]

Wow! what a blog, well done. Written like a true 'writer' sounds spot on. I'll certainly be checking out this blog for more great tips (any chance of spelling organising with an 's')?

[Kim Woodland]

Thanks Trudy for your lovely comment! The 'z' is better for search engines - knew you'd pick that up :) Looking forward to your tips as well.

[Jan]

Hi Kim. I need all the help I can get to be organized so will follow your blog with interest.
Oh and welcome to blogland. It is daunting at first but then You will go great.

[Kim Woodland]

Hi Jan, thanks for posting a comment and welcome to my blog. I appreciate your thoughts on blogging - it is definitely daunting but I am picking up so many new skills along the way. So much fun to write something then see it go 'live'.

[Lianne]

This sounds great - I too look forward to future posts.

[Kim Woodland]

Hi Lianne, thanks for your comment and welcome!

[Emma]

Kim, I think you have got to the heart of the matter with your first post! - good luck with this blog I am sure it will inspire many.

[Kim Woodland]

Thanks Emma, your comment is really appreciated. I'm inspired by others all the time, so it's nice to hopefully be able to give a bit back.