The absolute hardest part of the organizing process is the purging process (or as some call it, “editing”). Whatever you call it, it can be difficult; yes physically, but mostly emotionally. This process can take hours and hours which is totally normal. Here’s what I have learned: While there are some clients that can do 8 hours straight of purging, I have found that 4 hour sessions at a time is what works best for most of my clients. This allows them to stay on track and to not become overwhelmed with all their “stuff”.
Purging:
During the purging process I usually do one room and one item at a time. I will typically categorize that room and put like things into different bins/boxes before getting the client involved. Once categorized, I have the client sit in an area of their house that feels most comfortable to them and I bring one box at a time to go through with them.
I always have three piles for my clients during the purging process (I call this the “yes, no, maybe game”): Pile 1. Yes-we are keeping it, Pile 2. No-it’s going away, Pile 3. Maybe-not sure right now, let’s circle back to it. It’s that simple. We aren’t organizing anything or putting it away, we are just playing the “yes, no, maybe game”…THAT”S IT. We do this for 4 hours at a time (or until the client has had enough) and we do one item from each box from each room until everything has been sorted.
Now the “no” pile can have multiple options: sometimes it’s trash, sometimes it’s worth monetary value and can be sold, and sometimes it can be donated.
Donating:
Trash and selling of the items is a bit more obvious, but let’s talk donating:
In my eyes, donating is the most rewarding act of kindness. There are so many places that take donations and I am a fan of them all. However, I will say this, my favorite and my go to donation spots are local women’s shelters, local homeless shelters and local food pantries.
Fun fact: In high school, my church youth group did volunteer work at a women’s shelter and this was the most heart warming, eye opening experience. We did a lot of physical work, which was amazing, but we brought gifts to that shelter for the children and THAT was mind blowing. The smiles on their faces and the joy in their eyes was incredible. I will never forget that.
Have you ever heard the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”? IT”S TRUE!! There are so many people in need and there is so much we can do to help. For example, that chair you are hanging on to that you don’t use just might be the perfect missing piece for someone’s “new” kitchen table. Let it go. Maybe it’s that old stack of coloring books you will never use; that could be EXACTLY what someone needs for their kid’s entertainment. The list goes on and on.
Sometimes finding these places can be a bit tricky. If you are having trouble finding these donation spots, call a local church and ask them if they can help guide you in the right direction. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
That’s all I’ve got for you today, friends. Happy Monday, happy purging, and HAPPY DONATING!
-Laurie
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