By Jennifer Gittins-Harfst 

If you have resolved to start getting organized, or even if you’re already pretty good at it, beware of the “disorganization devils.” They are those little demons that whisper not-so-sweet nothings to derail you from making progress.  

Here are some of their favorite lines and what to tell yourself instead: 

“It’s too overwhelming…”  

Oh, how the little devils love it when they can paralyze you into inactivity; when you do nothing, it makes their job that much easier! If you don’t know where to start, then literally start with anything—search for the matches for lonely socks; break down all the empty boxes lying around; throw out expired foods from the pantry. It matters less what you are doing than that you are doing something. And why is that? Because progress is contagious! 

“Action is the antidote to anxiety.” Gretchen Rubin 

“You can do it later…”  

But will you, really? Or do you have piles and stacks around your home that suggest otherwise? Silence the little devils by handling quick tasks as they arise. But if you really are pressed for time or it’s a bigger task, and you intend to do it later, then prove it 

• set a timer if you’ll have time later that day OR  
• create an appointment on your calendar in the next several days to knock it out at a specific date/time  

“It won’t make a dent…”  

That may seem true at first, but keep going! You will reach that magical tipping point where real progress becomes visible. And take the win, however small. Those wins add up fast, and you’ll become faster and more confident with practice. 

“You don’t have any time…”  

You do, actually (with very rare exception), it’s just that you’d rather spend it doing something else, anything else. But your home will not organize itself! So steal time from something else if necessary: 

• have dinner delivered or eat a frozen dinner instead of going out or cooking 
• stop Netflix before it cycles to the next episode and get out of your TV trance 
• alter an exercise session 
• stop scrolling, put your phone on silent in another room, and get to work! 

You’d be amazed at how much you can accomplish from just stealing time here and there. 

Learn from our brilliant NAPO productivity trainer Teresa Hawthorne on insightful hacks to steal back time: https://www.napogetorganized.com/2025/01/09/use-these-3-steps-to-steal-back-time/  

“It will just get messy again…”  

Ah, the futility factor, but each subsequent time (if applicable) will be less messy and will take less time to clean. 

“You don’t have the right containers…”  

Just start with boxes, baskets, and bags that you have on hand, especially since at first you will probably mainly be gathering and sorting. Sturdy shoeboxes and office trays are great, as are the reusable shopping bags that have flat bottoms so they stand up. If you still want to buy attractive containers when you finish an area, that can be a nice way to reward yourself for progress..  

Bonus: You’ll save money by purchasing fewer items now that you have less and know exactly what you want to contain! Pro tip: Buy only what you truly love; don’t rush to buy the first thing you see to be “done.” 

“The place doesn’t need to look perfect…”  

Those little devils are tricking you into a false dichotomy, that the only alternative to what you have now is unattainable magazine-ready perfection. So recognize that for what it is—a “sucker’s choice.” In reality, there is a vast middle ground of improvement. Wouldn’t it be nice to spend less time looking for misplaced items and feel less stressed about someone coming over unexpectedly? 

So, when it comes to getting organized, remember the Rolling Stones got it wrong—“No sympathy for the (disorganization) devil”! 

---

Meet the author, Jennifer Gittins-Harfst