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Debbie Williams, mom and author of Awesome Organizer , walks you through the four steps everyone needs to get organized.

How many times have you promised yourself you'd get organized, only to go out and buy a bunch of storage tubs and then forget all about them? Or perhaps you've gotten started millions of times before but you just can't keep it up?

As your de-clutter workshop leader, I won't recommend fancy products for organizing your clutter, but I will teach you how to get started and stay on track. The good news: it doesn't take a lot of time or effort but it does come down to a simple four-step process. Follow the process and you'll get organized!

Before you take the plunge and get started with your project, you first need to create an action plan. Take the time to get a realistic view of your clutter. Zoom in on one area of your most cluttered space, and let's begin your organizational journey there.

Whether you use a spreadsheet, write ideas in a spiral notebook, or jot down random thoughts in a journal, it's crucial to make notes and track your progress on a regular basis.

First, list your biggest organizational nightmare in your planning notes, focusing on just one area for now.

My biggest Organizational Nightmare is:

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Next, write down the biggest clutter-free dream you have for your newly organized space:

My #1 Clutter-Free Dream:

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Your action plan notes might look something like this:

#1 Nightmare: My messy kitchen. I can't see the countertops for all the clutter, and most of it's not even mine!

#1 Dream: Clear off countertops with space for cooking, making lunches and a file rack for our family's files.

Second, if you want to take it further, create a master plan for success by listing all the rooms in your home on a large sheet of paper. Choose the one that you would like to begin with and put the number “1” beside it. Find the second biggest organizing challenge and place a “2” beside it, etc.

Continue this prioritizing process until you have assigned a number to each of the areas that you have selected. Don't be too overwhelmed by all the items on your list. Remember, we're only tackling one trouble spot, so we'll just concentrate on that one for now.

Finally, set a realistic due date to organize your trouble spot and then mark that date on your planning sheet. Don't just guess -- grab a calendar and make a real effort to reach that deadline. Mark off each room as it is completed and include that date in your notes. This will serve as a realistic guideline for future projects as well as a reminder that you can really do this!

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