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
I changed pocketbooks. Got a new one as a birthday present. Discovered it didn’t have as many pockets and pouches as the other one. Dh gave me a plastic pocket protector to store my credit cards in. Every once in a while I find some coins in the pocketbook and put them in a jar to deposit in my daughter’s savings account.
Mission accomplie!
I completed the task for Mission 2 a couple of weeks ago at an organizing workshop (unrelated to 52 Organizing Missions). It was pretty easy because my bag was already well-organized. Goodie for me! Now I'm ready to move on to Mission 3…
Well that mission only took me 10 minutes as I may be a rare woman but I don't carry lots. Anyway for the other 20 minutes I did mission 1 again – as I still had heaps of rubbish to get rid off. Shame my house isn't like my purse and bag. lol
it took me longer than 30 mins but i did it and excited abou the next challenge.
Mission #2 completed.
Done! How often should you do this?
Mission #2 completed. I have a business trip coming up in a couple of weeks so this was a perfect opportunity to “lighten the load.” Both my purse and briefcase are clean, neat and ready to go.
Week #2 mission is DONE, whoo-hoo!!! Can’t wait to get started on week #3.
Done! That was so easy that I think I will clean out my gym bag as well.
Done, at last!
Tthis worked well so I switched to my summer bag from my fall&winter bag.
Done! I retired yesterday, so I wass very happy to clean out that bag and put it away forever!
Done! 🙂
I have managed to streamline every thing that would fit into a large purse to now fit into a med. purce. I am loving it. I no longer am unable to find a pen or my keys or my lipstick.
Mission accomplished. Cleaned out my briefcase, satchel bag, handbag and purse. Dear oh dear oh dear … is it bad that nothing but my laptop soft case went back into by briefcase???
At least now I will be able to find everything!
Just finished detoxing my main satchel and my camera bag – camera bag was a bit more streamlined so didn’t take that long (I work hard to carry just what I need). Main satchel was actually in better nick than I was expecting but, oh dear God, the amount of hair grips and hair bands floating around in there!!
Cleaned out my purse the week before, so I focused on the make-up bag. Threw away some old lipsticks and band-aids. Then I removed some random papers, pens and paperclips that were in my briefcase. This one was pretty easy… just need to remember to keep up with it.
Great idea with the keys, discovered I had unrecognizable 6 keys. I have no idea what they are for they are no in a labeled ziplock bag in the filing cabinet if they’re ever needed I know where they are.
Just did this last night. Feels so good this morning to truck less stuff to work with me.