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
You can get your weekly organizing mission delivered to your inbox.
Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.
Image by ume-y
I emptied out my purse and then stocked it up with the few little things I’ve been ‘meaning’ to put in it for a few weeks now. No more searching for lipstick, Advil or hand wipes!
This was easy as I usually keep my purse clean. Just had to clean my wallet – and Mission #2 Accomplished! 🙂
I have a fairly new purse and have been keeping it cleaned out, but my wallet is another story. Purchased back in the day when I thought I had to carry everything with me. It’s bulky with a lot slots – a packrat’s dream wallet ;). I need to replace it soon.
Done! That was easy! My purse is small! lol
Finished!
I did this last week and will be doing it again tomorrow. This is an absolute weekly task as it is amazing how fast loose change, receipts, garbage, snacks and kid stuff can fill up my purse. I also switched out my “diaper bag” for a “kid” bag since my son is no longer in diapers but we still need hats, wet wipes, sunscreen, a change of clothes, snacks and juice for our daily outings. I also cleaned out my brief case.
This is something I regularly do so I didn’t need to do this in 30minutes. I regularly empty my bags whenever I return home, wallets weekly, and make-up bags and other containers monthly. 🙂
I rotate using three different bags – a laptop backpack for visiting clients, a diaper bag for whenever I have my daughter, and a large tote bag the rest of the time. I originally purchased the tote bag to also carry diapers, with the intention of only having to carry one bag. Since then, my husband has become a stay-at-home dad, so I rarely carry any diaper bag items. However, I often forget to move one or two of the many items I need between the backpack and tote. After completing the mission, I realized the tote has become a black hole where things disappear, and that I don’t need nearly so much space, so I switched to a much smaller purse that will actually fit inside the backpack. No more forgetting to move items from one bag to another. Detoxified!
Done! That was a wonderful idea.
Done! 🙂
Done! With four children, my purse is a disaster – not now!
This was easy for me. I hate a messy purse – I can’t stand not beig able to reach in and touch what I want. I also hate the interior of most purses being black ad most accessories are the same color so they get lost. I’m heading out today to get a different color change purse and have been thiking of getting those colored dots used at tag sales to put on other ‘things’ to make them more visible in a black lined purse.
2 down, 50 to go… woot, woot! I have no idea why I put this mission off, it was so easy! I cleaned out my handbag and 2 diaper bags in well under 30 minutes! Now, as soon as I locate my handbag stash (boxes I cannot seem to find because I’m so disorganized…), they’ll be donated immediately! :o)http://messieconfessions.blogspot.com/
Wow, I was carrying all that extra stuff around on my shoulder!
Done… Now I just have to keep it clean!
All I have is 3 handbags…….they all have compartments….and they are all done!!!!!
done!
Done
Done, pretty easy for me since I keep my purse/diaper bag pretty neat on a regular basis and organized my wallet out of desperation a week ago! All of the cards from irregularly visited stores have been hold punched and put on a giant key ring. Now I have a sleek wallet with only the essentials and a ring of cards that I can toss in my purse of glove box and only take out if needed.
Mission #2 done. I like the way it feels, now.