Top Ten Ways to Prepare Yourself for Success While Working/Playing in the Trenches

De-cluttering projects usually require a lot of energy, physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental. That is why most people avoid tackling them at all costs. So the piles grow higher and the closets grow fuller. Maybe you are a Professional Organizer who does this for a living or perhaps you want to assist someone you love in this sometimes painful and gut-wrenching process. Perhaps you are left with the task of emptying out someone's office, bedroom, or entire home. Or maybe you have decided to take on one of your own areas that desperately need to be dug out. Perhaps it's a change of season and you'd like to start anew. Regardless of the reasons, I have found that a few simple physical and spiritual preparations beforehand can make a seemingly impossible or unbearable process a whole lot better. Here are some ideas that I recently brainstormed with my amazing friend, colleague, and client, Gayle Gruenberg, Owner & Founder of Let's Get Organized LLC. In advance of an assignment or mission, remember to start with a…

1. Vision and Strategy: Prepare your Vision for your new space/new life with the help of your Professional Organizer or Coach. Map out your strategy on how to successfully complete your mission. Develop a timed plan that includes amount of time projected, broken down into months, weeks, days, and/or hours. Remember to include ample breaks for the actual day of the event.

2. TLC (Tender Loving Care): Get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy meal on the day of your project.

3. Color Power and Attire: Wear bright wash & wear protective clothes… including a bright work apron (ala Home Depot). Color helps perk things up and specific colors helps with specific tasks.

4. Amulet: Wear a powerful object, brown leather, belt, pouch with stone, gemstone jewelry (not dangly), or favorite loose gemstone in your pocket. Different stones have different protective and energetic properties.

5. Prepare Your Physical Supplies: Rubber gloves, face mask, snacks (maybe a picnic basket with truffles and juices, soda, coffee) and cleaning supplies (Dustbuster, dustpan and brush, trash bags), and additional items suggested in the following tips. Remember that on location, it is wise to…

6. Create Sacred Space: purify the space with Frankincense, sage, eucalyptus, citrus… Take a few minutes to centering and ground yourself. Say an affirmation or prayer to ask Spirit, God/Goddess, the Universe, to help you with your task today.

7. Altar: Include a photo or personal item, unlit candle, flowers, twig or something natural from outside, cloth, scarf, or placemat to set the stage.

8. Aromatherapy: anoint yourself with essential oil on the forehead/third eye… Have candle or incense of your favorite scents such as lavender for calming, citrus for energy, etc. Remember that during the process…

9. Have Lots of Loud Fun! Make Some Noise! Use sound to help ring out the old and bring in the new! Use noisemakers, bells, rattles, or drums to make some big noise! Use your voice too~ hooting and hollering required! Sound vibration helps to express emotions, commemorate a big decision and action, facilitates the letting go process, and creates joy in the process. Keep good background music or dance music going using a radio, iPod with speakers, and music instruments.

10. Make a Game out of your day: Have a “golden trash bag” award for attaining a certain number of bagged items. Keep a tally of filled trash bags, bags of items to donate, bags to shred, etc. Award prizes such as a movie of “Ghostbusters” or smaller items to create an atmosphere of a child's birthday party. Remember to take ample breaks in between! Happy Lightening UP!