The tip about not buying organizational items until you’ve started decluttering is a good one — I used to work in reverse. It’s easy to get caught up in a store like Target or Organized Living and buy specialized storage items. I actually have been getting rid of storage containers as I lighten my load — if I don’t have anything put in them, they’re just clutter themselves.

Since that’s a constant task I sometimes put it off in order to do things that have been Grating On Me. If I’m really pissed off or frustrated, then I just start somewhere and attack all those little tasks that I haven’t yet another 5 minutes to do. (I have more 5 min tasks than I have 5 min for). One spectacular fit of pique led to a thoroughly cleaned, vacuumed, and wiped up car.

I also have tasks that will take several hours;these are very hard to find time for. Mostly they’re “capital” tasks rather than daily ones, the equivalent of spring cleaning. The most recent was to reevaluate kitchen gear. I’ve been in my place a number of years now. Plenty of time to reevaluate what I actually use, what’s a convenient place for stuff (tell me again why extra paper towel is stored in the sunroom?), and what I’m unlikely to use for a long time. Four boxes to donate, 3-5 to go to the basement, some minor reorganizing around the edges for improved efficiency.

Alas, *none* of these moods cause me to attack the paper on my desk with the same fervor.

Now, to maintain organization, I do discrete things as the mood strikes me. So I will sort through a closet, or a cupboard, or just do the candlesticks.

As for prioritizing, I find that going for the visible and the low-hanging fruit (easy stuff) helps me see the progress and thus gain momentum. My office and my studio are my continual trouble spots, and I almost always start with the top of my desk or workbench. I work from one side to the other and put stuff away, then clear off the surface entirely and give it a good wipe-down.

So I’d say start with any cluttered horizontals: dining table, coffee table, bathroom counter, kitchen counter. Coffee table clutter tends to mostly be trash – unread mail/magazines, etc. Dining table shouldn’t have anything on it but a centerpiece (if desired) – how else can you use it to set a dinner? Kitchen counters, once cleaned off, make it so much easier to turn out a drawer or cabinet (not to mention, you know, prepare a meal). A clear bathroom counter is the first step toward that calm spa-like space that’s on the wish list for most of us.

Good luck!

Room sequence: We focused on our sanctuary (master bedroom) first. Although the clutter in the public areas was overwhelming, having a clutter-free bedroom substantially reduced our stress level. After our bedroom, we attacked the kids bedrooms. Once the bedrooms are complete, then we move to the functional rooms and so on.

Space sequence: De-clutter current storage areas (closets, cabinets) first, followed by floors then surfaces (cabinet tops, etc). That way, you’ll be able to optimize your valuable storage and have it available for later de-cluttering decisions. Afterwards, if you need more storage, you could always make a decision to add some furniture, shelves or the like – knowing that everything in the entire room is in its proper place.

Good luck!

I say, after spending three days cleaning up my office.