During the past several weeks I reviewed how virtual clutter support groups operate and some of the reasons people have for joining a virtual clutter support group. To round out this series of blogs, I want to share with you a review of projects conquered by participants in the Clear Space for You virtual clutter support group. It’s likely that these are projects that are also conquered in other virtual clutter support groups.
If you are thinking about participating in a virtual clutter support group, you may be wondering if the project you want to work on is appropriate to discuss in such a group.
Honestly, the possibilities are endless.
Just as each one of us is unique, every project (even if it resembles a project someone else is working on) is unique.
How can that be?
The reason that projects can be unique and identical at the same time is that the people working on the projects are different. They will each have their own individual way of approaching the project. Probably they will have slightly different visions for the way in which their project will impact their lives. And, because each person is unique, they will have their own concept of what done looks like.
A review of some of the projects conquered in the Clear Space for You virtual clutter support group
Please note that I am not sharing any personal information related to the participants in the Clear Space for You virtual clutter support group. Everyone signs a privacy statement when they join the group. It is adhered to strictly.
Paper projects:
Paper is something that becomes cluttered quickly. I often compare paper to bunnies. You know the expression about bunnies multiplying. When you put a piece of paper down, more paper seems to gravitate to it and becomes a pile almost overnight.
Paper projects include sorting and organizing papers as well as creating a filing system.
People wonder if they need to keep it and if so, how to label it. Plus, sometimes people worry about documents. They become fearful and worry they may need the document one day and would not be able to find the information online.
This sometimes leads to another project, scanning some documents and creating a good digital filing system.
Digital Organizing and Decluttering:
Just because we can’t see the piles of digital documents doesn’t mean they don’t also need organizing.
There are emails to file or delete, online accounts to manage, subscriptions, and digital files. It’s helpful to have your digital files closely mirror your paper files. Setting up naming conventions for both paper and digital files is another great project.
The list of projects conquered also includes reviewing digital downloads. This is a file that is often overlooked and easy to tackle.
Digital or Paper Calendar
Since we’re talking about going digital, another project conquered in the Clear Space for You virtual clutter support group is setting up a digital calendar and creating reminders to help move other projects along.
There is often a discussion about whether it’s best to use a digital calendar or a paper one. I believe the best calendar to use is the one you will commit to using. Try them both and determine which one works best for you. Then stick with it.
Closet Organizing:
There are so many options out there for organizing clothes. It all depends on the individual and how they want to find their various articles of clothes. This project can involve determining what type of clothes go where, how much of that type of clothes will fit in the space, and then what will be kept.
Schedule time to either donate or sell clothes which are not being kept for one reason or another.
Decluttering Zones
If you think about your home in terms of zones, then decluttering those individual zones one by one is a great project to work on in a clutter support group. You can decide if it’s possible to declutter and organize a zone in a week or in a month.
Storage Solutions
This is a popular project in the clutter support group. So often things are placed in storage never to be removed. Whether the storage is a closet, attic, basement, garage, or shed it’s important to review what is in storage, how long it has been there, and if it’s necessary to keep.
Daily Maintenance Routines
Daily maintenance routines are the key to maintaining an organized home. It’s always necessary to do heavy cleaning from time to time but creating daily maintenance routines that work for you can improve your day-to-day living immeasurably.
Daily list or Reminders
Making a daily list and/or setting reminders in your phone or calendar also helps to keep your day running as smoothly as possible. Creating a system that works for you is another project conquered in the Clear Space for You virtual clutter support group.
Books
I love books and understand the reluctance to part with favorites. Learning how to separate the favorites and the necessary to keep from the books that just happen to be there is important. This skill will keep the collection of books from overwhelming your home.
Kitchen and Pantry Organizing
This is another popular project. Kitchens and pantries are areas in most homes that are accessed several times a day. It’s easy for these areas or zones to become disorganized and cluttered. A desire to conquer this project and discover how to maintain these areas is a popular project.
Clearing Clutter
Finally, clearing clutter throughout the home is a project that is often brought to the support group. This is tackled one pile at a time.
As you can see there is a wide variety of projects people bring to work on in a virtual clutter support group. The Clear Space for You virtual clutter support group starts a new series at the beginning of each month. Sometimes participants conquer their project in one month. Sometimes they stay for two months or longer because the weekly meetings accompanied by gentle accountability keep them motivated to do more organizing.
It’s important to note that there is no competition in the clutter support group. Every win, no matter how small, is reviewed and celebrated. Becoming organized is a personal journey and not a race.
Click the link for more information about the Clear Space for You virtual clutter support group run by Diane Quintana and Jonda Beattie.
Diane N. Quintana is a Certified Professional Organizer® ,a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization®, Master Trainer and owner of DNQ Solutions, LLC and co-owner of Release●Repurpose●Reorganize, LLC based in Atlanta, Georgia.
I am impressed with the breadth of topics your clutter support group covers. Expertise (both from the two of you and shared among group members with different skill sets) and the accountability of working with others? So powerful! I’m curious whether you ever have people bring their paper to work on during a support group session? Any show & tell?
And I love how, if ever win is celebrated, everybody wins!
Thank you, Julie. No. In this setting, we don’t encourage show ‘n tell. We review the process and go from there. However, each participant in our Clear Space for You groups gets a 30 minute one-on-one call. People will very often work on their project during that call to receive advice and strategies while they work.
It’s wonderful how you offer a Clutter Support Group with Jonda. But more than that, there are so many ways people struggling with organizational challenges can benefit from virtual organizing support. We often think we can do things or ‘should’ be able to accomplish things on our own. And while that may be true, if you continually struggle, reaching out for support is a game-changer. It’s one of the things I love most about working with my virtual organizing clients. In a short time, we can change the mood, energy, and motivation and make progress.
Thank you, Linda. I love that so many of us work virtually with our clients in different ways. You work one-on-one and Jonda and I offer group support. There’s something for everyone!
What a great overview of how being a part of a group like this can help people achieve those goals.
I love that you talked about how people can have differing needs and goals, and yet still benefit from this type of community. I think having others who can empathize and share strategies can be so helpful.
This is the perfect time to join a group and start getting organized.
Happy New Year!
Thank you Seana! Yes. This is the perfect time to join a virtual clutter support group!
I love our clutter support groups and find that they help me with my projects as well. Accountability is very important to me and all of us.
Thanks, Jonda. I agree – accountability is an important part of the clutter support group.