Are you an avid book reader? Creative crafter?
Outdoor enthusiast? Shoe
diva? Whatever your particular
interest, having a way to store the elements of your avocation is part and
parcel, and many times key, to its enjoyment.

If you, like many, are someone who has dreams of knitting
sweaters & throws, or of walking out the door in a lovely new outfit each
day, or of weekly springtime fishing trips, this type of supply-focused
shopping may have you gasping for air in a cluttered home that does not allow
room for actually engaging in any of the activities for which you are so well
equipped.

“I had to take advantage of that great sale!” “I don’t have one like this yet.” “I know I can find something to wear with this”
“I have it already but I don’t know where it is, for this price, I’ll
just get another one (or two).” It
can be so easy to get caught up in buying suppliesfor the hobbies that we sometimes do, or would like to someday
pursue. Soon they outgrow their
spaces and fill up our homes with reminders of all the great ideas of projects
we would like to have done.

Gathering the supplies needed to do a project is only the
second of a four-step process to actually accomplishing our visions. If we focus solely on this step, over
time the supplies (and our empty wallets) are our only results.

If you find that this sounds like a too-familiar
circumstance and feel that you would like to change its fatal outcome, here are
the steps to take in order to re-focus your attention and have your dreams take
flight.

Begin with your Idea
or Vision. Take the time to
ask yourself some questions: Is this a project that is compatible with your
life today (crocheting and arthritis may not go hand-in-hand)? Do you have the
space (or can you make it) for this type of endeavor? Are you willing to devote time, and perhaps take time away
from something else, to do this?
As well as more project-specific questions:

Want to travel?
Where to - National?
International? Local? You may not be able to do an entire
trek of Europe at once, so settle on just one region.

Dream of knitting?
What would you like to knit – a scarf, blanket, shawl? Look around and find a knitting project
that catches your eye.

Like fishing?
What type – fly-fishing, lake fishing? You may dream of deep-sea fishing but fly-fishing might be
more closely accessible. Resign
yourself to the one that you can picture yourself actually doing.

Step TWO - Gathering
Supplies. Yes, I know, you
already have some. Well, this is
the time to take Inventory. Begin
by rounding up all the elements you currently own for this one particular
hobby. Look at what you have and
weed out what you no longer want:
are suitcases still in good shape? Do you still like the yarn
colors? Are some of the fishing
poles broken?

Then make a list, by style, type, color, etc. of the
items. How much cotton yarn,
acrylic yarn, knitting needles –how many, what sizes? Hooks, weights and fishing line, etc. with their
sizes & tension weights. Once
you have your list, evaluate it: do you have enough of each type of
supply? Too much of one and
not enough of another? Is there anything that you are missing that should be
added to your list?

Storage and
Organization. Essential to
having and enjoying a hobby is not just the acquisition and accumulation of
supplies, but also having a way to organize and house them. Choosing and using storage solutions
makes it easy to know exactly what items you have or need, and keeps them handy
for when you are ready to use them.

In order to choose the right storage piece(s), you should
first have a good idea of the types and quantity you are looking to store.

Love shoes? How
many pairs do you have? Do you
have room in your closet or under your bed for shoe storage? Shoe containers will hold more pairs of
women’s shoes than men’s – make sure you purchase enough.

Like beading and jewelry design? There are bead containers
with sorting compartments that make finding just the right bead quick and easy.

Whatever your interest, if you have an over-abundance, decide
whether you will buy large storage bins to house back-up supplies or consider
donating them to a local charity.

And, the moment we’ve all been waiting for….

Start your Project! The obvious and most gratifying end
to this process of accomplishing your goals is to go ahead and get
started. If you find actualizing
some long-standing goals intimidating, invite a friend to join you for a once a
week “project” date or sign yourself up for a class or group.

* To contact Annette Reyman for
organizing work, productivity support, gift certificates or speaking
engagements in the Greater Philadelphia area call (610) 213-9559 or email her
at annette@allrightorganizing.com.

Reyman is a member of the National Association
of Professional Organizers (NAPO®) and Board Member of its Greater Philadelphia Chapter.

Visit her website at www.allrightorganizing.com or
follow All Right Organizing on Facebook.