Organized Handbags = Reduced Stress

By Madison Tripp

Stress is a part of everyday life. If we had zero stress in our lives, then life would be pretty boring. That doesn't make sense? Well, there is good stress and bad - the good kind often comes form of challenges that excite and motivate us - happy stress. Bad stress is the kind that drags you down and holds you back from accomplishing your goals, also known as 'unnecessary stress.' So where do handbags come into play?

Many women carry their entire world around in a handbag, yet they cannot get to an item (like keys or cell phone) quickly when needed - that wastes time, energy and is downright aggravating! Now if this happens first thing in the morning, it can set off a chain reaction of bad karma. Eliminate unnecessary stress by getting organized!

To get your handbag organized, start with the basics. Empty the contents out and throw away obvious garbage such as gum wrappers, old papers, batteries and pens that don't work, etc. Receipts or anything else you may need to keep should be filed away immediately.

Take a look at what is left and decide how you can pare down the contents to what is absolutely necessary. Do you really need that full-sized bottle of aspirin? Probably not, so consider using a smaller travel-sized bottle and refill it when it gets low.

Consider how often you really use all of the cosmetics you are carrying around. If you only use lipstick and powder on a regular basis, then just re-pack those items (and get a smaller cosmetic bag).

Go through your wallet and eliminate all but your basic IDs, Driver's License, Insurance Card, and one or two credit cards (file the others away for safe-keeping). Note - never carry around your social security card. Reduce the amount of cash you carry and deposit all the extra loose change in your account. Do you really need to carry a checkbook?

The essentials vary from person to person, but it usually boils down to these items (give or take a few): wallet, keys, cell phone, checkbook, sunglasses, date-book or note-pad, pen, small bottle of aspirin or medication, cosmetics, hair brush and mints or gum. Once you start adding to the necessary items, you start adding weight and bulk to the bag.

The best way to organize your handbag or purse is to compartmentalize the items according to their use. For instance, the cash and checkbook should be kept together, the electronic devices kept in their own section, the cosmetics together with the hairbrush and so on.

If your bag does not already have compartments, then bag each section separately either by using small zip style bags (ie. cosmetic bag) or even plastic baggies. For quick reference you can go one step further by using different colored bags for each section.

The next time you go shopping for a new handbag, take the time to consider how you will organize the contents. Finding a bag that already has compartments will save you time and space. There are also handbag inserts on the market that solve a variety of compartment issues you may have with your current bag.

For more information, go to Organized Handbags for helpful tips, handbags and inserts of all sizes.

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