My disorganization is stressing me out. There are so many areas of my life that need help I don't even know where to start. What would you do?

-Eliza from Hamden

Whenever I start to feel stressed, behind on everything in my life, and out of balance, I find cleaning my car is one of the first steps to bring me back to sanity. I have often told my clients and customers that my car continues to be my biggest shame. I'm thoroughly mortified when a client follows me out to put a donation item in my car and they see the explosion that's occurred due to my frequent life on the road.

For me an out-of-control car is symbolic of an out-of-control schedule. There will be wrappers and napkins spilling out of my trash container from eating snacks and lunches on the run. Crumbs will sprinkle my carpet to remind me that I haven't sat at a table to eat in weeks.

The biggest problem, though, will be the bags spilling out of every corner. While they can be great for separating different projects, it's when I start dumping them in the car and not getting them to their next destination that it becomes unsettling. Whether it's donations on the way to Goodwill, returns going back to a store, or my most common, bags I just didn't feel like bringing into my office or home out of pure laziness, my car becomes an embarrassing display to advertise my professional organizing skills!

This is why I love the spring and summer. I'll practice this therapy much more frequently because the whether is warm. Who really wants to clean out his or her car in a cold garage or driveway? I tackle it by emptying everything into the driveway. Before I even deal with those items, I vacuum and clean all of the surfaces. If my car is really lucky that day, it'll get washed, too!

Next, I throw out any trash that has accumulated. I bring everything in my house that needs to go back to its home. I reorganize the trunk with items that go to different destinations and I schedule time on my calendar as a reminder to start bringing them there when I'm in the area.

Recently, I revamped my travel work bag, which was like a scrapbooking craft bag and almost the size of a small suitcase. I refilled the supplies I need on the road like contractor bags, post-its, sharpies, label makers, and frequently handed-out forms for my clients. I felt so much more prepared and it barely took up any room in my trunk. You might do something similar with supplies for your family on the road if you're not a working road warrior.

The whole process took no more than a half hour and my life seemed a little calmer the next morning when I got in the car. The car and I felt like new again.

Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford (www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com). You can email her your questions at kristin@livablesolutions.com.