I don't know where to start!

So many of my de-cluttering and coaching clients call me and say, "I know what I need to do, I just don't know where to start." My response is usually this, "What are you trying to accomplish?"

Before you can get started on anything, you should be able to envision the final outcome, or your end in mind. When it comes to a cluttered home or a cluttered mind, the same concept applies. What are you trying accomplish? What do you want your life to be like? What do you want that soon to be de-cluttered space to do for you?

Once you have clarity around those questions, where and how to start should be more obvious.

Begin by getting rid of the excess. For a cluttered home that is the junk mail, the broken toys, the happy meal trinkets and anything else that is not useful and takes up your space. For a cluttered mind, that is the unhealthy relationship, the unused gym membership, or the "should" statements. (I should be working out. I should scrapbook these pictures, but...)

The second step is to look at what is left and create order. That includes the "stuff" on the shelf and in your head. Order comes from compartmentalizing. Go get bins for your shelves, then look at your schedule. Are your appointments and tasks within your control scheduled efficiently? When possible, move meetings so they all fall on one day, opening up another day to work on a big project. Change tasks into appointments so you block time on your calendar to complete them, instead of trying to fit them in when you can.

The last step is to find or create a system that allows you to maintain the order. There are lots of great systems out there to help with schedules, meetings and to-do lists. There are also many great people (like me!) who can help you organize your belongings. Find something or someone who can keep you on track and moving forward.

It is never to late to get started. Just take it one step at a time.