The O.H.I.O Method

Do you have an organizing plan in mind for your upcoming project? Maybe you have a room picked out to start in, and some labeled bins for all of your Donation, Sell, and Keep items. But what do you do about the indecision when it comes to deciding what to do about a specific item?

The O.H.I.O Technique

The O.H.I.O technique stands for “Only Handle It Once”. That means that when you pick up an object during an organizing session, you have to decide what to do with it right away! Once you pick up an item you must decide if you will throw it away, donate it, sell it, or keep it. If you decide to keep it, you must decide where that item will go, so make sure you zone it to where it will be retrieved later for use and enjoyment as part of the process.

Don’t Set an Item Aside for “Later”

Don’t fall into the trap of setting aside an item because you can deal with it later! If you start putting things away or setting them aside, soon enough they will be forgotten about. Not only will this add more work to your organizing down the road, but if you put items in a basement or attic, there's a chance that they could become lost completely or damaged!

When organizing, follow the O.H.I.O technique to make the most of your sessions. By deciding then and there what to do with items, you can keep moving forward and keep making strides towards your organizing goals!