Everyone wants to get organized or at least they say they do. In fact, the most frequently used New Year’s Resolution is to get organized. If this is the case, what makes it so hard? The problem is that most people work to get organized the way they think they should be organized instead of organizing in the way that works best for them. Here are 3 tips for getting organized in a way that works for you.
I’m sure you’ve seen the beautiful pictures in magazines of kitchens, pantries, laundry rooms, offices, closets, and garages to name a few spaces that are absolutely beautifully organized. Just in case you haven’t, I’ll give you a brief description. There are matching baskets and hangers in the closets and the clothes are organized by color and type. The pantries have most of the non-perishable supplies emptied into labeled containers. The laundry rooms look like they’ve never seen dirty clothes (which they probably haven’t) and the garages are spotless – nothing is out of place.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a beautiful space. You can use these gorgeous magazine photos as a guide. They will give you great ideas as to how you ultimately want the space to look. Just remember that you live in the space and the goal is to create an organizing system and strategy that works for you.
The first tip for getting organized may be the most important to remember.
Tip #1: Keep it Simple
If an organizing system or strategy has lots of steps to follow or is complicated, you will most likely not be able to maintain it. When you get organized you want a system that is simple and easy to maintain.
Tip #2: Listen to Yourself
How do you want to be able to find your keys? Do you like to put them in a dish near the door? Do you like to have a hook on the wall near the front door? Would you rather have a basket near the garage door for your keys? Listen to yourself. You know the best way to get organized for you. Allow yourself to listen to your inner monologue. What are you telling yourself? Listen to that voice.
Do you like to have things put away out of sight or do you prefer to have things out in the open, so you know where they are? There are many new and innovative designs that make use of wall space to get things organized and out in the open.
Following this tip for getting organized allows you to tweak the system according to your inner voice.
Tip #3: Consider Your Lifestyle
Think about the way in which you like to do things. Let’s say you sort the mail in the kitchen. It makes sense, then, to have a recycling bin in the kitchen. This way you have a place to put any unwanted paper mail.
Do you want to have a ‘no shoes’ rule in your home? Then it makes sense to have a place to sit near the door you use most often – either the front door or the back door.
Do your children do their schoolwork sitting at the dining table? If so, create a place near the dining table for school supplies.
The best way to get organized is the way that makes sense for you and that works with the way you live your life. Take ideas from different organizing methods and strategies and tweak them to suit you. Nothing is set in stone. Think of them as suggestions instead of absolute rules.
Every person is different. What works to get you organized may not work for your friend. When someone tells you that you should do this to get organized, try it. If it works, great! If it doesn’t, move on. It may not be because you didn’t do it right. More often, it is because the system wasn’t right for you.
Try these simple tips to get organized. If you want some support consider joining our Clear Space for You clutter support group. You can also reach out to us on Facebook. We have a wealth of experience which we would be happy to share with you.