Now Available: Interactive workbooks to accompany the 52 Organizing Missions program.
Each workbook contains 13 printable missions - with fully interactive planning worksheet, to-do list and success journal for every mission. Find out more.
UPDATE: You can now get your weekly organizing mission delivered free to your inbox. Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.
Welcome to the second of our 52 Organizing Missions.
If you completed last week’s Get Organized Mission (Fill a-Hu-u-uge-Trash-Bag) you’re probably feeling pretty fabulous right now.
If not – what are you waiting for!
This week we’re getting organized on a smaller scale.
We’re about to streamline the receptacle you take with you into the world each day – purse, tote, handbag, wallet, briefcase, capacious carpetbag, whatever.
Remember – you only have to spend 30 minutes to complete the basic mission. If you want to go further check out the Extended Organizing Mission Options below.
Ready?
Get Organized Mission #2: Detox Your Briefcase/Tote/Bag
Step 1: Empty
Empty everything out of your bag (I’ll use this generic term for simplicity). Dust out any lingering detritus over a sink so your bag is lovely and clean.
Step 2: Wallet
If you have a separate pocketbook/wallet, start there.
- Remove old business cards, receipts, paper scraps, tissues, post-its, random hairclips, etc.
- Remove other items that don’t deserve the real estate – eg loyalty cards for stores you rarely visit, coffee cards you never remember to use, etc.
- Place the regularly used credit cards, store cards and ID in convenient locations in your wallet.
- Check any photos of loved ones are current and in good condition.
Step 3: Keys
Next, streamline your keys.
- Use a neat, functional keyring or case.
- Remove any keys you don’t need. If you don’t remember what they’re for, put them on a separate ‘Mystery’ keyring for later investigation.
- If you’re always fumbling with keys, consider putting them on the ring in the order you use them – eg, car, garage, mailbox, top lock, bottom lock.
Step 4: Make-Up Purse
Next, let’s tackle your make-up purse, make-up compartment in your bag, or for guys, any toiletries you carry with you.
- Remove items you don’t use regularly enough to justify their real estate.
- Discard anything old, in poor condition or funky smelling.
- Consider streamlining your daily essentials. Could you limit yourself to, say, a neutral lipstick or lipgloss, small tube of SPF hand cream, small blush with built-in mirror and brush, small mascara and small fragrance bottle?
- If you streamline the contents, consider downsizing your make-up purse too.
Step 5: Organize
Finally, return the streamlined items to your bag. Make use of compartments to help keep the contents organized.
Dos & Don’ts
- Don’t keep floating tissues, unneeded receipts, ancient mints and gum, loose coins, random pens, paper scraps, indecipherable notes.
- Do keep your streamlined wallet, keys and make-up purse, cell phone, iPod, attractive notebook, nice-to-use pen, small tissue pack or handkerchief, and diary/PDA (the target of a future organizing mission).
Extended Organizing Mission Options
Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?
- If your bag or briefcase lacks compartments, is in poor condition or out-of-touch with your current likes and lifestyle, take yourself shopping and invest in a better performer.
- If other household members want to participate let them get their backpack/briefcase/tote and join you.
- If you have other bags and briefcases you don’t love, take this opportunity to discard them. If they’re lovely, donate; if not, ditch.
Ready, Set, Go!
Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.
Before You Go – Please Check In
You’re now accountable to your organizing mission-mates! Once you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission please add a comment to let us know you’ve done your assignment and you’re keeping your commitment.
(Click ‘Comment’ at the very top of this post or scroll down to the bottom. Depending on how you’re viewing this post, one of those options will be available for you.)
And see you back here next week!
UPDATE:
You can now get your weekly organizing mission delivered free to your inbox. Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.
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I do this on a regular basis (every Friday actually) but now I will make it more organised and get myself a nice little toiletry bag instead of putting all my bits n pieces in the zipper pocket!
I promise lol
My goodness I must be getting the hang of this organising lark! (Either that or I have psychic powers!) I detoxed my bag and purse yesterday, just as you have outlined above.
Reading this weeks Get Organised Mission: http://tinyurl.com/dm5j2q
Have sorted the bag shelf in my wardrobe and have discarded 4 bags, a hat and a belt (what were they doing there?) Found a £1 coin too!! Also found some memories: Ticket stubs for a Zutons concert, French and Saunders Live and Slumdog Millionaire.
good idea RT @MicheleConnolly: Time to detox your briefcase/tote/purse? Join us for ★Get Organized Mission #2★ http://is.gd/w4iq
good idea RT @MicheleConnolly: Time to detox your briefcase/tote/purse? Join us for ★Get Organized Mission #2★ http://is.gd/w4iq
Two bags now cleaned out and organized… Plus keys no longer required removed off keyring
Mission accomplished!!
Thought I didn’t need to do this one – but the shopping bag in the trash full of receipts and notes and other who-knows-what proves otherwise.
One bag completely emptied and another now with the bare necessities.
Can tick that one off!
All done this one! I didin’t think I had that much stuff in it as I do this once and a while. Guess I need to do it more often!
RT @micheleconnolly Get Organized Mission #2: Detox Your Briefcase/Tote/Bag | Get Organized Wi… http://tinyurl.com/dlp7rq
Done- not so difficult after all.
done and dusted nxt plz
I started out with cleaning out my makeup bag and my book bag (From Last Semester). I then got out the new purse and wallet that I have had for a couple of months and emptied everything from my old ones and started fresh and clean in the new ones. This is great everything is findable and in order.
Mission #2 accomplished. I am on a roll!
Whooo hooo. I did it.
I lucked out on this one. Bought a new bag last week and had done a thorough cleanout prior to “moving in”. But I did get rid of some old bags that I never use! Looking forward to Mission #3.
I did this tonight. I actually like to do this every Sunday night after shopping on Saturday and Goofing on Sunday. But I went farther and did my purse, wallet, and knitting bag. Done and done
did this right away (the basic mission and diaper bag)…wow – a lot to get rid of!
Done. No comments. It feels good progressing to getting organized step by step. Looking forward to the third mission. Thanks.
This was relatively straight forward as I’d pruned through before going on vacation. However streamlining my key chain was inspired. In all honesty I’ve been carrying a couple of keys on there for 20 years and I no longer have any idea what they are for! I’ve substituted one of those dinky ultralights to help with dark evenings.
Done!! yippeeeee
All done! About a month or so ago I made a promise to myself to do this weekly. I haven’t always managed it but it wasn’t in such a bad state. I have a hand bag organiser which is brilliant for moving everything from bag to bag but often gets overlooked so it has had a thorough clean.
Have started this one already but need to detox keys and cards. Will keep you posted
This was so easy, and made such a difference! thought i’d have nothing to ged rid of but I actually was carrying several loyalty cards i don’t even use and hundreds of random notes on pieces of paper. Got rid of them and feel so much lighter!
I do this everytime I come home home from a shopping spree. File receipts straight away and then throw out the rubbish. Any coins I have in my purse go into a bowl. Once a month I bag up the moneyand deposit it into my daughters account.
This might be an original statement – but – I am done – that was easy – etc. I do like having something to help focus my tasks.
Finished the first huge bag class. Will do the bag one tomorrow. Will be interesting to see how much stuff I do discard as I’ve been pretty good the past 6 months or so of getting my keys and bags together. Got rid of a 4 or 5 bags recently – didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would and gives me WAY more room in my closet.
I actually have bags upon bags that need to be emptied and consolidated. This is a much needed task.
Today I detoxed my purse–remembered to use a disinfectant wipe on the outside also, as our purses can collect lots of germs. Also detoxed my keys.
Great assignment.
I actually had just done this a couple of days ago. I did my purse, my wallet, tote bag for work, diaper bag, and bag I take to parades when we take all the kids.
Done! Easy, because I remove clutter from my bag periodically. The most challenging bit was my wallet and not carrying around loyalty cards for places i never go (but /might/ one day!)
I was putting this one off because I have a massive bag that has so much stuff in it that it gives me back pain if I have to carry it around to much – but I had somehow justified everything in there – until I was carrying my lunch to work and a yoghurt leaked in my handbag. It makes you assess everything when you have to clean everything before putting it back!
I was also disappointed that I wasn’t using many of my beautiful handbags cos it was too much of a drama to transfer everything over.
I bit the bullet and completed this mission and now have a perfectly sized makeup purse, a cleaned out wallet, only 1 pen (!!!) and can easily transfer between bags. and I’m not using my handbag as a carry all – If i need to carry things into the office then I use a small enviro bag. and I detoxed my keys – I would never have thought to do this but what a difference!
Done ! But this was quite easy because I do it every year when we go on holiday – most of the cards etc don’t work overseas, so I can really get down to a minimum, then some never make it back.
Done! Just in time for a quick trip up the coast. Detoxed my brief bag and backpack, then while on holiday I treated myself to a lovely new handbag and wallet — just the right size to hold a tiny folding umbrella, cloth grocery bag, itty-bitty notebook, a tin of mints and the wallet. The extra tote bags, brief bags, hand bags, computer bags, backpacks and all are on their way to the thrift store tomorrow. YAY, ME!!!
done – that wasn’t too hard – why did it take me so long?
Done!
Did it! And my 1 year old son was a big help with removing all the stuff from my bag
Took care of this. I have two briefcases, One I keep straight, the other was a disaster. It’s straight now though.
Mission accomplished! I just bought a new purse so I was already organized! Can’t wait until next week!
woo hoo something I’m good at and do regularly. Glad to see I’m not totally organizationally challenged : )
Done! My purse wasn’t at all bad. But I did get to order some new cards too replace the old one that has been damaged for ages!
Did it, but cheated a bit. I clean out my purse weekly, so there wasn’t anything to do. So I purged the two kitchen junk drawers…where things get thrown into when I clean out my purse!!
85% done wtih pitching/donating stuff.
Will complete purse/bags-including golf bag detox tomorrow. I purge my purse weekly and other bags seasonally. This is a good excuse to “do it now!”.
5lbs lighter!! NEXT!
Done — and my daughter cleaned out her backpack too!
Fait accompli. Now to get ds and dh to do the same…that would really be a feat!
Feels like I have a new wallet and handbag….thanks!
Done
I did this over the weekend actually – but still got to do my purse.
I was at the office and “kinda” straightening up and realized that I had 5 different bags/ cases there – NOT counting the one that I was using.
I cleaned out all of them and took all but one home. I kept one at the office in case I needed to take home extra stuff or might be going to a meeting that didn’t require the large bag that I’m using.
I’m in the process of doing this now. The makeup bag is done and the purse is done. Now the briefcase. I will one day be a one bagger!!
Coincidentally, I had just finished changing purses and did a major clean up in the process. I also eliminated many items that I didn’t need to be carrying around. It’s a nice change.
First Mission complete. It feel so much better to have sorted out things. Thank you & God bless.
Done!
Lots of fun. I don’t keep much of a mess in my purse but it was nice to clean out the cobwebs!
Calling all Mission-Mates with a gorgeously detoxed purse or briefcase:
If you’d like to send me a pic, I’ll put it in the upcoming ★52 Missions Hall Of Fame Gallery★.
Please send:
— An ‘After’ photo
— A ‘Before’ photo if you have one
— Your name as you’d like it shown
— Your blog or website URL if you’d like a link attached to your name.
Please send the above to: Photos@GetOrganizedWizard.com
M
Done! Not difficult because I usually use a bag organizer. So I did the extended option and I have discarded 15 bags!!!
15 bags, Sylvia – that’s AWESOME!
Don’t suppose you took a picture for the upcoming
★52 Missions Hall Of Fame Gallery★?
M
All done – feel much lighter! Thanks!
Ok Iam done with this one…..:) What is next ??? Iam trying to get my sister on this also….Iam so happy Iam doing this.
this ones done
Long overdue! Thanks for this!!
Ahhh. Such a relief. And since my purse and all of the organization pieces inside of it are black, I should be able to tell how clean the purse is by how much white and colour I see.
Done! At least my primary bag. It never occurred to me to have a makeup bag before! But I think it’ll be a big help in eliminating the floating lipsticks I always have. I think I’ll go through some other bags this weekend.
This 30 min is the best idea anyone has ever had. I LOVE IT!!!!!! It is making me do things that I have put off and I am only on my second mission.
I actually am looking forward to the next one and I am going back to each one (only 2 ) and redoing some things and thinking about other things to get rid of. I too like Lauren never really thought about the make-up bag. Used to be a popular thing in high school years ago. Whats old is new again. Again thanks for this boost.
Mission accomplished – including all purses, make up bags and my car – since my vehicle is an extension of my purse! And done in half an hour! I love the goal – and the time limit. Makes me work super fast! Thanks for the goals, the time frame, and the incentive in reporting back.
This one I didn’t do. The only reason being, I changed purses 2 weeks ago. The one I had was too big and collected too much stuff. So, I switched to a smaller one and just carry what I need. And I got rid of 10 extra purses this summer in a yard sale.
Hi Flora,
The reporting back is a big part of the success of 52 missions – which means your success! Great work – and keep it up.
M
I finished #1 last week and treated myself to a new purse, only to get #2 today…how timely, I’m already done!
done
I did it. I also went though all the pockets in my other bags and even got rid of some. Cool
Done – 1st one – with the rubbish bags I loved and filled 5 in the 30 mins! Handbag now pristine and weighing lots less.
Done. I managed to find a smaller bag that can easily be slipped in and out of my purse. This bag is used to hold all of the things that have a tendency to float around in my bag. I am all about containment.
Also, after much deliberation, I let go of my makeup purse. I realized that I never reapply any makeup. I am pretty good until closing time. I felt an attachment to that makeup purse. Most of it, I never use. It’s at home now where it should be.
Thanks
handbag, keys and purse organised! wasn’t much to be cleaned out, but did evict some store cards which never get used. also after reading someone elses post here, went over my purse with an antibacterial wipe.
I did it…and it didn’t take that long at all!
I got tired of having more than one bag, so changed to one. Then I got tired of carrying around unnecessary items in the one bag and trying to find black colored items in a bag with a dark interior. I finally went to just carrying a palm-size wallet and my cell phone (wardrobe pockets a must). Life is so much easier. When I clean out my wallet, the most used cards go toward to back because that’s where I start pulling out from the back. Little used cards go in a designated place in my desk at home. My sister found a cigarette case to use as a wallet and it’s very nice looking for any occasion. Beware of cases that are slick, they can fall out of pants pockets easily. Leather or similar materials stay put. Many retailers and catalogues are beginning to carry many kinds of these cases. Front window is very handy for your most-asked-for ID.
done…did this the next day after the trash bag one..I was so inspired to clean out…
Apparently, it’s going to take several bags. So far my husband and I have gone through three, and we’ve only made a dent in the excess stuff that we have from our past. Please don’t notify Clean House yet. Mostly it’s stuff that came from my parent’s house and his parent’s house just recently. We weren’t always overrun with STUFF. Oh, well, a little at a time.
Done! I don’t carry make-up on my bag so I guess it’s wasn’t as difficult… at least not this once.
DONE!
19 pens. 19!!!!!!
I thought only WH Smith’s had that many pens – I am so ashamed – never again.
Hi Paulie,
Want a little tip to avoid getting into the 19-pens-in-my-bag situation again?
Find a pen you really like – the way it writes, the way it looks, etc. Now when you use it, you’ll be more aware of putting it back in its place and less likely to accidentally acquire another one.
It may cost more upfront, but will save money in the long run.
M
all done.
if i carry a smaller purse, i can’t fit as much crap into right?
tee hee
done!
no more gum wrappers, fuzzy cough drops, and loose change for me. done and done.
Done
All done. Pretty easy, because I only did this last Wednesday. Must remember to do this weekly with my work bag.
WOW Loved it.. Thank you
Done! …wasn’t too hard, actually, because I had perchance done (most of) that recently. Um… probably that’s the whole trick of it all: completing these 30-minutes missions not once a year, but twice a month, so they only take 3 minutes?…
Done!
Completed
mission #2 completed!! =0)
Done!
Mission accomplished, clean bag. I do this one pretty often.
Make room for your knitting: RT @micheleconnolly Get Organized Mission #2: Detox Your Briefcase/Tote/Bag http://bt.io/AWUh
Done!
I love a nice clean purse.
done — this was an easy one.
Actually got regular purse and 3 old purses cleaned out in less time than the 30 minutes!
Done! Had been putting this off for a while. My shoulder should ache less now!
Wow, Im surprised. I’m little so I carry little purses, but I still had plenty to chuck. I had lots of appointment reminder cards and receipts, and tons of expired coupons (I hate that…). So out they went and also emptied my wallet which is simply a zip pouch which holds my drivers license, credit cards (down to one now plus atm card), business cards, and money. Plus insurance cards (health and car) and a couple others like AAA. All my coins are going in a container at home like another poster has to lighten the load. I dont reapply make up either so there was none of that stuff. Just a pack of gum. I do plan on getting or making a nicer coupon holder instead of the ziplock bag I carry them in. Now if I can just remember to use them before they expire!! Looking forward to #3.
Mission Two done – cleaned and organised my briefcase and labelled the compartments so i remember where to file different papers.
Reorganised my purse and handbag – purchased a borne naked handbag organiser to keep everything in….
DONE! (finally) … feels good to have all that junk out of it … I found movie tickets that were 9 months old!
I do this about every month or two. Should do it sooner but…This has become a test..I’ll explain Once my purse weighs 10-14lbs,( I carry a large purse all the time) them I clean it out. I drop all my loose change into my purse it migrates to the bottom,I NEVER dig down there to spend, in the time it takes to get to that weight I will have between $80.00 to $130.00 in the bottom of it. Yes I do use expense purses, the straps will hold up I have never broken a strap. My husband thinks its insane…he is in law enforcement..he says if I was every in an accident he would never expect anyone to inventory my purse contents just weigh it. In a little over 3 years I have managed to collect a little over $4000.00 I leave it in change form so I am not tempted to spend until vacation time. The trip I’m saving for just for the 2 of us. (No Kids) A month in Europe.
Got this one done! I need to do that more often.
Cleaned out my purse! Didn’t take the whole 30 minutes because I have cleaned it out already not too long ago. One thing I think I do need to do is WASH the purse. It has been everywhere with me and who knows how many germs are on the bottom of it. I may do that tonight while it is fresh in my mind.
My bag is so much lighter now!
This was a great exercise. Have put it on my calendar for the end of each week!
Long overdue and perfect timing. Was having surgery so needed to make my purse lighter as I’m not supposed to lift anything. Well did this mission the week before and surgery and amazed what I had on the bottom. Even found money in the process! now, 2 weeks after completing the mission, my puse is so light that it doesn’t always stay on the shoulder. Yay!
I purchased a new purse and wallet after Christmas. This mission was perfect timing. My bag is so much lighter now!
My purse is small, so this eliminated the extras.
I don’t think this will last, but I do find that I empty and organize my purse often. This is not one of my problem areas.
Done
Done, this one took awhile. I put it off as long as i could. But, it’s done now and it didn’t really take that long to do.
Done!
Mission #2 done. I like the way it feels, now.
Done, pretty easy for me since I keep my purse/diaper bag pretty neat on a regular basis and organized my wallet out of desperation a week ago! All of the cards from irregularly visited stores have been hold punched and put on a giant key ring. Now I have a sleek wallet with only the essentials and a ring of cards that I can toss in my purse of glove box and only take out if needed.
Done
done!
All I have is 3 handbags…….they all have compartments….and they are all done!!!!!
Done… Now I just have to keep it clean!
Wow, I was carrying all that extra stuff around on my shoulder!
2 down, 50 to go… woot, woot! I have no idea why I put this mission off, it was so easy! I cleaned out my handbag and 2 diaper bags in well under 30 minutes! Now, as soon as I locate my handbag stash (boxes I cannot seem to find because I’m so disorganized…), they’ll be donated immediately!
)http://messieconfessions.blogspot.com/
This was easy for me. I hate a messy purse – I can’t stand not beig able to reach in and touch what I want. I also hate the interior of most purses being black ad most accessories are the same color so they get lost. I’m heading out today to get a different color change purse and have been thiking of getting those colored dots used at tag sales to put on other ‘things’ to make them more visible in a black lined purse.