Do you consider yourself a failure when it comes to organizing? Do you feel like giving up (or have you given up) trying to clear clutter in your home? As soon as you get a space cleared on a book case or on top of a flat surface does someone in your home come along and fill it up?

Fill it up syndrome is alive and well in our home. It drives me crazy. One thing I do to thwart this syndrome is that I don’t allow the stuff to “live” there; I move it to its designated home. I find it is easier to just move something that to complain about it. I also let my family know that it is okay to have an empty space. It may involve telling them more than one time that the space is being used already—they just can’t see it (air is invisible you know). Make it your prerogative that only you can put something in its place and until then nothing is to go in that space.

Try a new way of thinking when you are organizing clutter. If you feel you have failed so many times before to be organized and you wonder why keep trying. Keep organizing no matter how many attempts it takes for you to get things just the way you want them. Every time you try to organize something it brings you that much closer to the solution that will work for you personally.

Organizing is like building Rome. It is done a little at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will a perfectly organized space be done in one day if there is a lot of clearing clutter to do. Start in one room and stay in that room until it is just like you want it to be. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a break, it means stay with that room for as long as it takes to get it organized and then move on to another room.

Surround yourself with things that you like, everything in your home should light you up. If you use something (say a frying pan) but you don’t like it because it sticks or it is too small or you just don’t like it; then replace it with one you like. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel about cooking and you’ll even feel better about yourself.

You know the difference between being a failure and a success? It is not giving up, organizing clutter one more time until you find a system that works for you and those you live with. The challenge and the secret to getting rid of clutter is to stick with it and keep on keeping on. Never give up—now that is a success story!

We have a flashlight in the garage but I could never find it because someone whom I won’t mention by name (it wasn’t me) would just leave it lying around where ever he finished using it. I decided designating a container for the flashlight to live in would take care of the problem. I had a container I wanted to recycle and the flashlight could stand up in so it could be seen. I placed it where it was readily accessible and easy to remove the flashlight and to put it back after being used. I still found the flashlight here there and everywhere so I would quietly put it back and when I had a chance I would remind him what the container was for. It took 16 months but now it is always returned to its home where it is easy to find. Now isn’t that a win-win?

The secret to your success in organizing clutter is never give up.

Marilyn is a professional organizer and invites you to visit her website , She is a sought after public speaker and author who is passionate about teaching ways to organize your life and how to reduce clutter. She works with women in their homes and offices. On her web site she teaches you to get rid of clutter by using her Lights On Organizing System. She provides practical information on how to declutter your home, office and life. In her blogs, articles, and videos she gives timely tips on how to clear clutter and how to declutter everything in your home and office. She is the author of a book called Go Organize! Conquer clutter in three simple steps which will be in major bookstores in December 2009.