Eliminate Clutter with these Helpful Acronyms

A fun round-up of mnemonic devices to help you clear out clutter.

All throughout high school and college, I used mnemonic devices to help me study for tests or learn complex subject matter. What can I say, my mind needs formulas to assist my memory!

One device I love using is the acronym. When I started on my journey as a Professional Organizer one of the first books I read was Julie Morgenstern's Organizing From The Inside Out. In it she talks about the SPACE process she uses when working with clients: Sort, Purge, Assign a home, Containerize, and Equalize. Watch her explain the method on Oprah HERE. This method struck a chord with me and I have since taught it to numerous clients and given many presentations on it. 

I've come across other acronyms that can be helpful when trying to organize your space. See if one, in particular, sticks out for you:

Organize my House uses the ADORE method: Assess - Declutter - Organise - Real life - Evaluate

Humantific wrote an article about the LATCH model to organize information: Location - Alphabet - Time - Category - Hierarchy

Stephanie O'Dea's model uses the word PROM: Purge - Remove - Organize - Maintain

Pinterest has a great to do list based on GUTS: Give it away - Use it - Toss it - Sell it

Simply Squared Away uses the SPASM method: Sort - Purge - Assign homes - Set limits - Maintain

A Thoughtful Place likes to stay CALM: Clear out - Assign a spot - Label - Maintain

Organizing Junkie feels it's all about the PROCESS: Plan of attack - Remove items - Organize into piles - Containerize - Evaluate the plan - Solve remaining issues - Smile 

Pinterest had this posting about the SLAPP model: Stop - Look - Accumulate - Pick up - Put away

Details Organizing It All asks questions using the WASTE model: It is Worthwhile? / Will I need it Again? / Can I find it Somewhere else? / Will anything happen if I Toss it? / Do I need to keep it in its Entirety?

Robert Pozen who wrote a book on extreme productivity has the OHIO rule: Only - Handle - It - Once

Of course, when you're making any type of organizational goals in your life it's always important to make sure you're making SMART goals (Specific - Measurable - Achievable - Realistic - Time-bound). You can find tons of articles on SMART goals all over the internet.

Did a particular acronym stand out for you that will be easy to remember or do you have your own that you'd like to share?