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Goodbye Clutter!
Clear the Clutter Before Baby Arrives
By Kathy Waddill
In this concept, it's important to define the key words, container and tool, precisely. The first one -- container -- is a common word, generally understood to be something big enough to put things in and small enough to carry around. In a word association exercise, the word container might prompt you to respond with box or bin or basket. My clients think of containers as items that can be purchased at stores like Target and Wal Mart. And when I began working as a professional organizer, that's what I thought, too.
Over time, however, I've discovered that the concept of a container is much broader than this limited definition conveys. In an organizing system, a container is anything that holds something else. This expanded definition includes the bins and boxes one normally thinks of, as well as chairs and sofas (containers for people); wood furniture (containers for things); closets (containers for clothes and things); rooms (containers for activities); and buildings (for instance, your house is the container for your family's life). You could even call your calendar a container, because it holds a record of the way you spend your time. As you organize, you'll see how this broader definition helps you recognize the role of effective containers in all layers of your organizing system.
The second key word -- tool -- also benefits from an expanded definition. Even though the word might conjure up the image of a hammer or a screwdriver, organizing tools are not limited to hand-held mechanical implements alone. Instead, a tool is any instrument that helps you accomplish a specific task. The word tool encompasses a wide variety of instruments. Containers are just one type. A tool can range from something as simple as a box top to a complicated piece of equipment like a computer, as long as it does the ob you want it to do. If you ever tried to drive a nail with a screwdriver because you couldn't find your hammer, you know the difference the right tool can make.
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