A hand reaches for an old family photo in an open shoebox.
Have you ever pulled out a box to sort before lunch and found yourself still sitting on the floor long after you meant to get up? The first few things were easy. The extra keys went by the door. You knew who might use the spare picture frame. Then you came across an envelope of family photos, and suddenly you needed a minute. I’ve been thinking about moments like that lately. Several of the clients my team and I are working with have felt worn out by one decision after another. That’s decision fatigue. I’m always glad when I can give it a name, because sometimes that alone helps someone give themselves a little grace.
When a Box Brings Back Memories
Imagine that envelope came from a box your grandmother kept. Underneath it is a recipe card in her handwriting, with a little note about adding more cinnamon. There’s also a dish you remember from her kitchen table. One minute you’re wondering where you could put it. The next, you’re remembering what it was like to sit in that kitchen. Of course you want a minute with it.
Sometimes we set things aside for another day. Our parents and grandparents did that, too. They might have kept something because they thought someone in the family would want it someday. When those boxes come to you, you may be picking up where someone left off years ago. You’re thinking about who else in the family might want the dish, whether you’d use it yourself, and whether there’s room for it where you could enjoy seeing it.
When a piece needs more thought, I like to give it a next step. You might slip the recipe card in with the recipes you use and set the dish aside with a note to ask your sister if she’d like it. That little note saves you from having to think through the whole decision again the next time you pick it up.
Why Three Hours Can Be Plenty
My team and I usually work in three-hour sessions. That gives us time to make progress and gives our clients a natural place to pause. When a project calls for it, my team can keep sorting and setting up the space through a second or even a third session. If you’ve been deciding what stays and where it goes, you may be ready for a break well before the first session ends. Once we’ve agreed on the plan, we can often keep working while you get on with your day.
You can borrow that idea when you’re organizing on your own. Pick a task that fits the time and energy you have, like clearing the drawer you open every morning. Maybe you want it to slide open easily and the scissors to be in the same spot every time. Fifteen minutes might feel right on a weeknight. On a quiet Saturday, you might have an hour. Leave a few minutes at the end to put away what you’ve sorted and make a note of where you want to start next time.
If you catch yourself picking up the same thing and putting it back down, go ahead and take that break early. Make lunch. Take the dog out. Go sit on the porch for a bit. Give your brain something different to do, and come back to the drawer when you have a little more energy for it.
Choose Where You Want to Weigh In
Some clients like to work right alongside us. Some spend ten or fifteen minutes with us at the beginning to talk through priorities, then come back at the end to see how it went. And some say, “Here’s the vision. Make it happen,” and go about their day.
As a strategic home organizer, I ask questions that help my team understand what you want from the space. What do you reach for every day? What would you like to be able to do more easily? How much room do we have, and what are you comfortable spending? Those answers help us take care of the decisions you’re ready to hand over.
Say we’re working in your closet. You want to see your work clothes when you open the door, you’d like us to use the baskets you already own, and there’s a stack of old T-shirts you want to look through yourself. We can set those shirts aside for you, put the clothes you wear every week within easy reach, and see which baskets fit the shelves.
Tomorrow morning, maybe you’ll open that drawer and put your hand right on the scissors. I hope you take a second to enjoy how easy that feels. If you’d like more practical ideas for organizing at your own pace, I’d love to have you follow along online.
Pinky Jackson is a Decluttering Specialist and Home Organizing Expert. If you need expert organizing help, don't hesitate to reach out. Pinky and her team would love to help you. Onsite Organizing services are available in the Louisville, KY area and Virtual Organizing services are offered for clients in other locations and for those who prefer to work online. Visit pinkyjackson.com to learn about our services and schedule a free assessment.
Photo: fish socks @poopfishsocks
