Get Started!

(This was a response I wrote to someone inquiring how to begin getting organized. It seems like beginning is the hardest part of most difficult things. You might be thinking, "Where do I start? How do I start. Do I even want to start?" Don't think about it too long. Just get going and don't look back!)

First of all, what area is bugging you the very most? That's where you're going to start. You can't do it all in one day or weekend or even year so don't be hard on yourself. Just start with some easy projects and that will give you the courage to move on to the more difficult ones.
I always ask people, "What is more important, the people in your life or your things?" It's not difficult to answer so don't make it difficult to chose. All this clutter is probably getting in the way of the relationships with the people you love most so it's time to get rid of it. I say this because it sounds like you just need some help letting go so don't forget through all of this, things don't matter.

Starting now, spend 15 minutes a day going through the piles. Don't worry about getting rid of something you'll need someday. You obviously had the money to buy all that stuff so when you stop over spending then you will definitely be able to afford something you really need.

Which leads me to my next point. It took a lot of time and money to purchase everything in your home. That's time and money better spent elsewhere or better yet, SAVED! Are you teaching your kids to be spenders or savers? Are you teaching them that what they have is more important that who they are? What do you want to be teaching them? It's not just clutter you know. It's a symptom of your lifestyle.

I can't answer to all your questions in the few moments I have but you sound very motivated to get your life turned around in the right direction. The answers are out there. I started my organizing journey by reading one organizing book. From there I read every book I could get my hands on. You can do it. Just a little bit every day!