Organizing For A New Year

Like everyone else I set goal for the new year every year and they kind of fall by the wayside by March. I never give up though and always try to set new goal when the old ones fade away. This year one of the goal I have set for my scrapbooking is to be more organized so I can get more pages accomplished. I'm sure some of you have the same goal in mind to but have no idea where to start. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.
1. Don't get overwhelmed! If you are like me you buy stuff, wonderful stuff, and take it home and stash it (still in the bag) somewhere never to be seen again. It is OK we all do it! But it is overwhelming to think about putting all that stuff in a home of it's own.
2. Start small. Pick an area and work in that area for 15 minutes. Set a timer and start to sort this small area. Try not to get distracted by trying to put stuff away yet, just sort.
3. Sort into 3 categories: Get 3 BIG boxes
Keep (things you love and KNOW you will use)
Get Rid Off (Things that are not your style anymore and you know you will never use)
Not Sure (Things you are not sure you will use but still like)
4. Just continue doing 15 minute increments until you are done or you get worn out or run out of work time.
5. Now that you have your stuff sorted into your 3 piles (hopefully in boxes) Take the Get Rid Of box and decide what you can use for swaps, what you will donate or sell and if any needs to be just thrown out.
Some great ideas for swaps are:
Online groups: Lots of these groups have monthly swaps for there members.
Hold a swap party with you friends. Get all your scappin friends together and swap stuff you don't want. Fun way to get new stuff!!
Donate your items to schools, daycare or retirement homes. These places welcome items that they can use for crafts.
Sell your items at a garage sale or online. Good way to make a little extra cash to buy things you will use.
6. Take the Not Sure box and set it aside for now. After you get organized you can go through it again and see if you want to keep any of the things. Sort it just like you did before: Keep, Get Rid Off & Not Sure. Then just set the Not Sure box aside for another day until you have no more Not Sure stuff.
7. Now to make a home for all the stuff you want to keep. This can be tough especially if you live in a small home like me and can't have a dream scrapbooking room (I would love one of those!!). In the next few weeks I will list creative ways to store your scrapbooking supplies. But for now find a place to keep your stuff that is easy to get to. If it is hard to get to you won't use it and you won't put your new stuff away.
I hope this gives you a small start on your New Year's organization. Most of all be patient!! It did not become a mess overnight and you can get it organized overnight (well maybe but you will be to tired to enjoy your success LOL!)
If anyone has some tips on organizing feel free to post them in the comments. We would all love some new tips!!