Is it taking you forever to find your keys in your bag? Do you find yourself fishing in and scooping out various bits of paper and candy wrapper? Is your bag getting bulkier? If you answered yes to any of the above, it’s time for you to surrender your purse, organize and de-clutter. De-cluttering your tote can be done in five simple steps. Depending on how prone you are to hold on to your stuff, the process can take 15 minutes or less. Before you begin, it’s best to clear out a space to clean your bag. Whether you choose to do this on a table or on the floor, make sure that the space is clean and free from unnecessary distractions. This will make organizing your things a whole lot easier. Ready? Here are a few steps to help you de-clutter your bag:
1. Take out the contents of your bag. Either you dump it all on your space or take the items out one by one. Do whatever feels good to you. Some find dumping the contents a bit therapeutic because it empties the bag in a jiffy. Check every pocket for stray items. If you can, turn the lining of your bag inside out to make sure that it’s completely empty.
2. Segregate the items into piles or sections according to their usage. Put your valuables together such as your ID, wallet, cell phone, charger, camera, and coin purse. Gather your post it notes, pens, paper clips, USB drives and other office supplies into one pile. Put together your comb, hair clips and scrunchies in one corner. This way, it will be easy for you to see what you are actually carrying inside your bag.
3. Throw out the unnecessary stuff. Things like old receipts, candy wrappers, dried out pens and old notes immediately go to the waste bin. As for everything else, follow this simple rule: if you’re not going to use it in one to three months, throw it away. Just remember to review everything carefully so you don’t end up throwing away important receipts or documents.
4. Pack together loose items into small bags or pouches. Gather your office supplies into a ball pen case or a medium–sized zip bag. Put loose change in your coin purse or straight to your piggy bank. Place your comb and clips in their own pouch. Usually, it’s the small items scattered inside your bag that cause the clutter that’s why it’s important to have a place where you can keep them together.
5. Designate a pocket or space for each item. Place your valuables such as your wallet, cell phone and camera in the inner pockets. Put your beauty kit in one pocket and the office supplies in another. Place things that you often use in the outer pocket where you can reach them easily such as your ID, your coin purse, your oil blotter and keys. If your bag does not have a lot of pockets, get yourself a bag organizer. This will come in handy especially if you like to change bags several times a week. You can be sure that everything stays in its proper place.
Additional tip: Carry a small garbage bag for those candy wrappers or small bits of paper you just can’t throw right away. This way, they won’t accumulate or get stuck into the various nooks and crannies of your bag. When you spot a waste can, just throw that garbage bag away. To prevent junk from piling up, take time to de-clutter your bag everyday. Maintain order in your tote by consciously returning the items you use to their proper pockets and pouches after you use them. Doing this ensures you’ll be able to find things you need a lot easier and faster.
- Illustrations by Analyn Perez, GMANews.TV 
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