Unpack your bags. Yes, all of them.
In my work with clients, it is not unusual to come across shopping bags full of forgotten purchases; suitcases still packed from long-ago trips; handbag upon tote bag of papers, business cards, candies, tissues, makeup, and money. These bags are not in active use. They have been brought inside and neglected. They are filling up closets and cabinets and sometimes entire rooms.
Do you have unemptied bags? Do you remember what’s inside them? Of course, the higher the number of bags, the harder it is to keep track of what they contain. These forgotten and unfindable things become “clutter” regardless of their actual value. What is going on here? Are the bags a contributing cause of disorganization, or a result? It seems like a circular problem.
The solution is to unpack your bags. Put away your purchases when you arrive home and you’ll save yourself from buying duplicates and triplicates. Unpack your suitcase immediately after a trip and you won’t have to tolerate a dreaded eyesore in the corner of the bedroom while you frantically search the closet for a shirt you took on your last vacation. Empty the contents of handbags or briefcases you’re not actively carrying and you might well discover long-lost treasures.
Like with any other habit, the habit of unpacking your bags will take practice. Why not make it part of a routine that you do each time you come in the door: i.e. take off shoes, wash hands, empty bags. At first you might need to work on assigning “homes” for categories of items (including types of bags). Enlist the help of a professional organizer if you get stuck. If the habit is easy to execute and you can be consistent about following it, it will gradually become automatic.
What about bags in active use? Even these – work bags, school bags, gym bags, purses, diaper bags – need to be emptied and repacked regularly. You’ll find things to throw out and others that need to be restocked. And bags of travel-size toiletries? If you want to keep a packed toiletries kit for travel, I recommend limiting yourself to one. Empty it after each trip, toss the trash and repack and replenish the necessities, so it’s ready to go for next time.
