Have you unpacked your handbag lately? It is time to dig in, sort through it piece-by-piece, and to simplify what you carry around.
I often feel like Mary Poppins when unpacking my bag. It never ceases to amaze me how much we ladies schlep around. There are the usuals, of course, such as a wallet and sunglasses, but then there are so many other things we think we need to have at our disposal at all times. The bottom line is…we carry too much, and finding ways to reduce the weight of what we carry is important not only for our ability to stay organized and be efficient, but also for our health (see what the American Chiropractic Association says here about the damage that the size, type, and weight of our handbags have on us).
So, how do you do it? First, empty everything out. Throw out garbage, expired coupons, old make-up products…etc. Sort through the contents and ask yourself:
1. Have I used this item in the last month?
2. Do I REALLY need it in my purse?
3. Can I leave this item in my office or in my car?
4. Are there items I tend to lose or cannot find easily on a regular basis?
5. What needs to change?
Here is one of my favorite purses.
It is not very large.
I forced myself to fit the contents into a small tray.
The small black case in the top left corner contains a bunch of small miscellaneous items that I tend to use regularly.
1. Trish McEvoy #9 parfum/2. Pen/3. Small sewing kit/4. Small measuring tape (mine is actually a paper one from IKEA, rolled up)/5. Tylenol for the occasional headache/6. My favorite Clinique lip gloss (Clearly Pink)/6. Mini L’Occitane hand cream (Shea Butter)
What do you have inside your purse? Do you use a purse organizer? What are your purse trouble spots?
Previously on Order Matters’ Organizing Boot Camp:
As for me…I rarely carry a purse…my wallet/credit card, etc. case is in my coat’s left pocket, my keys in my right pocket, my cell ph. in my upper-left-inside pocket [all pockets have zippers]…outside of Kleenex [usually in my sleeve], that’s all I need! xoxoj.
I actually just cleaned out my handbag today! I’m pretty good about only carrying what I need, but sometimes the receipts get out of control. As a Type 1 diabetic, I have to carry lots of extra things (juice, glucose meter, etc), so I really have to keep things organized so I can have room for those
The only things in my bag now are phone, wallet, small cosmetics bag with one lip gloss and a concealer, and my diabetes bag.
Where is the tray from? It’s fabulous!
Blake, this tray is from West Elm. They come in several other colours.
What brand is your purse? It looks like the perfect size..:)
I LOVE the Baggallini my daughter gave me as a birthday present, it is my favorite purse. Check them out at:
http://www.baggallini.com/
My purse is now always organized!
The better question is what ISN’T in my purse! I’m a student, though, so I tend to have a lot of stuff that I’ll need while I’m off to class in there. Right now, I’ve got my wallet, changepurse, ibuprofen, my asthma inhaler, some feminine hygiene items (of course), a pen, chapstick, a travel-sized tube of Bath & Body Works antibacterial hand cream, my Nook, a small knitting project, a little notebook, my favorite lipgloss stick, a small compact mirror, and probably some junk. I did just clean it out, but being out of the house all day, I tend to pack for the worst-case scenario. The one I’m carrying right now has a bunch of space, so it has more in it. When I carry a smaller purse, I do pack lighter!
Lovely purse! Have a gorgeous day, Kellie xx
I do carry a lot in my purse but I do use it, like sharpies, a toothbrush/paste, ect. My trick is to go to the dollar store and grab a couple of cheap, small make up pouches and sunglasses cases to organize everything in my purse. Makes all the difference when looking for something.
Another essential for my purse is a small accordion file for coupons and receipts. I would never remember to bring along coupons and receipts for returns otherwise. And your purse looks fabulous Oksana:)