When spring comes, everyone thinks of spring cleaning and organizing. Then feelings of overwhelm can set in. The key to successful organizing is starting somewhere, starting small and starting NOW.

Here are five tricks or routines to help you get started. You can do any of them in just a few minutes. These are all "starter" methods to help you break through the resistance and feelings of overwhelm. A further suggestion: As you try each one, it helps to look for the simple easy decisions. Don't tax yourself.

Toss five things. Whether you just opened the refrigerator, the closet or the garage door, take a quick glance around and find five things you can toss out and throw away.

Put away five things. Maybe it's the laundry or things to go upstairs or downstairs or the last of the holiday decorations. Pick up five things and put them back where they belong.

Delete five emails. When you go into email, trim your Inbox by deleting five emails that you no longer need.

Focus for five. Take five minutes to plan your day or the week ahead. When you bring focus to planning, it is easier to set priorities and adjust your calendar or to do list.

Take five minutes. Last, but not least, just take five minutes to sit down and relax or stand up and stretch. Pick the one that refreshes you. Then, take this moment to appreciate what is done and pat yourself on the back.

Try these Five at a Time ideas and see if you can create a rhythm or even a dance to organizing and jump start your spring organizing!

Jill McKean helps busy professionals and people in transition who want to achieve more in less time. With her 7 Steps to Office Productivity, she helps clients get organized both on-site and by phone coaching. Jill is a member of NAPO and NSGCD.

Reprinted with permission.