I recently had the opportunity to meet with some top executives at Morrison & Foerster, one of the largest law firms in San Francisco. We discussed the possibility of presenting a lecture series on organizing skills and team building. During the conversation, I sensed that one of the supervisors was somewhat agitated. When we took a break, she came to me and said, “When I think about organizing, it seems so daunting that I just can’t get off the ground at all. I don’t have the time for it.”

I’ve encountered many people with similar sentiments. They seem to be paralyzed by their clutter. It’s hard enough to ask for help, nevermind trying to tackle an area by yourself. When we have false notions about organizing, such as, it has to be perfect in no time flat, then it prevents us from getting started.

Since being successful at organizing requires some motivation and strategy, you can begin small. Especially if you have limited time, if you start small, then you can work your way into bigger projects or tackle them section by section. For example, if you have one hour of spare time to organize, you can organize your spice drawer, entrance closet, medicine cabinet, car or incoming mail. If you have two hours of spare time to organize, you can organize your kitchen pantry, bedroom dresser, CD collection, filing drawer or purge electronic documents. If you have three hours of spare time to organize, you can organize your bedroom closet, desk, recipe and cookbook collection, personal hobby area, a child’s bedroom, etc.

You can always do something, no matter how small the project is. Starting small allows you to make some headway and begin to feel a sense of accomplishment. The slightest effort will make you feel good and will energize you to start another project. There are a lot of little things you can organize around your home and you can tackle them one by one. You will eventually have a more organized home and feel more comfortable with your surroundings as you progress.

Please keep in mind that when you are ready to embark on a major project, for example, organizing your garage or attic, it’s best to have someone assist you. Those areas tend to be too large for one person, and you can cut the work load in half by having someone help you. You’ll have more fun and will then have the support to help make some potentially tough decisions during the organizing and purging process.

Lanna Nakone is the author of “Organizing for Your Brain Type” and “Every Child Has a Thinking Style.” Her Web site is www.organizedworld.com. She can be reached by e-mail at info@organizedworld.com or by calling 524-9896.