“Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.”

Herman Hesse

Change is rarely easy. We humans love to stay within our comfort zone. Even when we know our choices may not be good for us, we find comfort in familiarity. So how do we break the cycle? The answer is actually quite simple. The answer is to simply do.  Any action we take is better than no action at all. At Create Calm, we like to start small and then build on your success. Today we will teach you how to organize a drawer. It may not be the transformation you dreamed of when you set your 2020 new year’s resolutions. But if you can conquer a drawer and maintain it for 66 days (see our blog post on habits), you are well on your way to establishing a new habit. And living an organized life is simply a result of our habits. 

Below are ten simple steps to help you take control of any drawer: 

1. Open drawer and take your “Before” picture.
2. Remove contents of drawer and set on the floor.
3. Clean out the drawer. And I mean clean!
4. Categorize drawer contents on a flat surface. Put “like” items together.
5. Prepare to purge – get out your trash can, recycle bin, and a bag for donations. Make sure each is clearly labeled/easy to identify.
6. Purge. Be ruthless!  The more we keep, the more we have to take care of. Ask yourself the following:
   • Do I NEED it?
   • Do I USE it?
   • Do I LOVE it?
7. Measure and take picture #2. Measure the width, depth, and height of the drawer. Make sure to have the measurements with you when you shop for organizing solutions.
8. Donate. Get your purged donations out of your home before you buy organizing products. Not sure where to donate? Check out our featured donation blog for a list of local resources. 
9. Shop for organizing products. In order to maintain organization within your drawer, you need to create structure. You can do this by using drawer dividers and containers. Choose eco-friendly products whenever possible. If you feel you can maintain the structure without organizing products, go for it! But refer to that ‘before’ picture on a regular basis. Without structure within the drawer, you will end up right back where you started if you are not mindful!
10. Implement organizational systems and label. Labeling where each item will live will serve as a visual reminder to maintain the new habit every time you open the drawer. 

I am closing this post with a gentle reminder – we (collectively, culturally) have too much stuff. Often times we hang onto items that once brought us temporary joy. But the truth is that these “things” often become a burden. Our free time is all too often spent taking care of “things,” rather than spending time with people we love and creating experiences. There is tremendous power in letting go.