--- title: "STYLE Savvy: Organizing When the Time is Right" description: Lisa Hess offers an example of small steps you can take, no matter how busy you are, to chip away at clutter. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20210428%20LHess%202.jpg ---                                           [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/style-savvy-organizing-when-the-time-is-right#) [HOME](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/home) # STYLE Savvy: Organizing When the Time is Right Apr 28, 2021 1:00:00 PM  |  by [Lisa Hess](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-hess) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20210428%20LHess%202.jpg) *Lisa Hess offers an example of small steps you can take, no matter how busy you are, to chip away at clutter.* A few weekends ago, I walked into my office and caught a glimpse of the counter. When did all those piles get there? Sigh.  The addition of some time-sensitive tasks to my already full to-do list had inadvertently invited some old habits back to roost. Apparently, my reversion to my drop and run organizational style had created more clutter than I realized.  I wanted to spring into action, but those aforementioned time-sensitive tasks?  Still not done. And still at the top of the list. But I couldn't let it go, so I decided to chip away at it a little bit at a time. I decided that every time I passed the counter, I'd pick something up and put it away. A few trips later, I was pleasantly surprised to see clear space -- one of the reasons I love this tactic. Here are three key reasons something so simple can be so satisfying. It's approachable. Tackling the piles one item at a time fits into even the busiest of schedules. It identifies what has a home ... and what doesn't, making it easy to figure out which systems are working and which are not. Progress is almost immediate. Picking up and putting way even just a few items shrinks the piles and, after a few repetitions, might even yield some clear space. > [Click to tweet: > Tackling clutter one item at a time fits into even the busiest of schedules. #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/0772c) My counter is still not completely clear, but I've met my deadline so it won't be long until I can dig in in earnest. In the meantime, small steps yielded a payoff that kept things in a holding pattern until I could give the task the time it needed. Lisa 1, Clutter 0. ![post-its, loose leaf, paper clips and scissors on desk](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20210428%20LHess%201.jpg?width=1620&name=20210428%20LHess%201.jpg) --- Copyright 2021 Lisa Hess Image: [Pixabay](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pixabay.com/images/id-2836842/&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw1qVbwAWLLiVlSjuEh6dXpT) (2017) ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fstyle-savvy-organizing-when-the-time-is-right%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fstyle-savvy-organizing-when-the-time-is-right%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fstyle-savvy-organizing-when-the-time-is-right%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=STYLE%20Savvy%3A%20Organizing%20When%20the%20Time%20is%20Right) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fstyle-savvy-organizing-when-the-time-is-right%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fstyle-savvy-organizing-when-the-time-is-right%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Lisa Hess](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Lisa%20Lawmaster%20Hess.jpg) ### [Lisa Hess](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-hess) Transplanted Jersey girl Lisa Lawmaster Hess is the author of a blog compilation, three novels, and three non-fiction books, including the award-winning Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff. A retired elementary school counselor, Lisa is an adjunct professor of psychology at York College of Pennsylvania. She blogs at [The Porch Swing Chronicles](http://l2hess.blogspot.com/), [Organizing by STYLE](http://www.orgbystyle.blogspot.com/), and here at Catholicmom.com. [Read all articles by Lisa Hess](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-hess). [**](https://www.facebook.com/L2Hess/) [**](https://twitter.com/orgbystyle) ## Related Blog Articles [ STYLE Savvy: Are You Tripping Over More Than Just Clutter? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/style-savvy-are-you-tripping-over-more-than-just-clutter) [ STYLE Savvy: Considering the Closet Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/10/19/style-savvy-considering-closet) [ STYLE Savvy: Taking Small Steps in 2023 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/style-savvy-taking-small-steps-in-2023) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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