Welcome to Mission #2 of our 52 Organizing Missions.
If you completed last week’s Get Organized Mission Fill a-Hu-u-uge-Trash-Bag you’re probably feeling pretty fabulous right now.
If not – what are you waiting for!
This week we’re getting organized on a smaller scale.
We’re about to streamline the receptacle you take with you into the world each day – purse, tote, handbag, wallet, briefcase, capacious carpetbag, whatever.
Remember – you only have to spend 30 minutes to complete the basic mission. If you want to go further check out the Extended Organizing Mission Options below.
Ready?
Get Organized Mission #2: Detox Your Briefcase/Tote/Bag
Step 1: Empty
Empty everything out of your bag (I’ll use this generic term for simplicity). Dust out any lingering detritus over a sink so your bag is lovely and clean.
Step 2: Wallet
If you have a separate pocketbook/wallet, start there.
- Remove old business cards, receipts, paper scraps, tissues, post-its, random hairclips, etc.
- Remove other items that don’t deserve the real estate – eg loyalty cards for stores you rarely visit, coffee cards you never remember to use, etc.
- Place the regularly used credit cards, store cards and ID in convenient locations in your wallet.
- Check any photos of loved ones are current and in good condition.
Step 3: Keys
Next, streamline your keys.
- Use a neat, functional keyring or case.
- Remove any keys you don’t need. If you don’t remember what they’re for, put them on a separate ‘Mystery’ keyring for later investigation.
- If you’re always fumbling with keys, consider putting them on the ring in the order you use them – eg, car, garage, mailbox, top lock, bottom lock.
Step 4: Make-Up Purse
Next, let’s tackle your make-up purse, make-up compartment in your bag, or for guys, any toiletries you carry with you.
- Remove items you don’t use regularly enough to justify their real estate.
- Discard anything old, in poor condition or funky smelling.
- Consider streamlining your daily essentials. Could you limit yourself to, say, a neutral lipstick or lipgloss, small tube of SPF hand cream, small blush with built-in mirror and brush, small mascara and small fragrance bottle?
- If you streamline the contents, consider downsizing your make-up purse too.
Step 5: Organize
Finally, return the streamlined items to your bag. Make use of compartments to help keep the contents organized.
Dos & Don’ts
- Don’t keep floating tissues, unneeded receipts, ancient mints and gum, loose coins, random pens, paper scraps, indecipherable notes.
- Do keep your streamlined wallet, keys and make-up purse, cell phone, iPod, attractive notebook, nice-to-use pen, small tissue pack or handkerchief, and diary/PDA (the target of a future organizing mission).
Extended Organizing Mission Options
Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?
- If your bag or briefcase lacks compartments, is in poor condition or out-of-touch with your current likes and lifestyle, take yourself shopping and invest in a better performer.
- If other household members want to participate let them get their backpack/briefcase/tote and join you.
- If you have other bags and briefcases you don’t love, take this opportunity to discard them. If they’re lovely, donate; if not, ditch.
Ready, Set, Go!
Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.
Before You Go – Please Check In
You’re now accountable to your organizing mission-mates! Once you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission please add a comment to let us know you’ve done your assignment and you’re keeping your commitment.
(Click ‘Comment’ at the very top of this post or scroll down to the bottom. Depending on how you’re viewing this post, one of those options will be available for you.)
And see you back here next week!
Update
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Image by ume-y
Lots of fun. I don’t keep much of a mess in my purse but it was nice to clean out the cobwebs!
Done!
First Mission complete. It feel so much better to have sorted out things. Thank you & God bless.
Coincidentally, I had just finished changing purses and did a major clean up in the process. I also eliminated many items that I didn’t need to be carrying around. It’s a nice change.
I’m in the process of doing this now. The makeup bag is done and the purse is done. Now the briefcase. I will one day be a one bagger!!
I did this over the weekend actually – but still got to do my purse.
I was at the office and “kinda” straightening up and realized that I had 5 different bags/ cases there – NOT counting the one that I was using.
I cleaned out all of them and took all but one home. I kept one at the office in case I needed to take home extra stuff or might be going to a meeting that didn’t require the large bag that I’m using.
Done 🙂
Feels like I have a new wallet and handbag….thanks!
Fait accompli. Now to get ds and dh to do the same…that would really be a feat!
Done — and my daughter cleaned out her backpack too!
5lbs lighter!! NEXT!
😀 DONE!
85% done wtih pitching/donating stuff.
Will complete purse/bags-including golf bag detox tomorrow. I purge my purse weekly and other bags seasonally. This is a good excuse to “do it now!”.
Did it, but cheated a bit. I clean out my purse weekly, so there wasn’t anything to do. So I purged the two kitchen junk drawers…where things get thrown into when I clean out my purse!!
Done! My purse wasn’t at all bad. But I did get to order some new cards too replace the old one that has been damaged for ages! 🙂
woo hoo something I’m good at and do regularly. Glad to see I’m not totally organizationally challenged : )
Mission accomplished! I just bought a new purse so I was already organized! Can’t wait until next week!
Took care of this. I have two briefcases, One I keep straight, the other was a disaster. It’s straight now though.
Did it! And my 1 year old son was a big help with removing all the stuff from my bag 😉
Done!