I was always in awe of Mary Poppins. She was able to clean up and get organized with a snap of her fingers. But in our real world and everyday lives organization simply doesn’t happen that way and it certainly won’t happen on its own. By practicing simple methods, you can get organized and stay organized. Then, by setting simple rules and guidelines around the house, your spouse and children will follow suit.
Here are some simple methods to getting your home organized- for good!
Start with one, small room. As you set new guidelines and rules for how you are going to maintain an organized environment you will learn what you works best and what you needed to change in order to tackle the bigger, more challenging rooms with much less stress.
Categorize and Classify: Decide where things will go based on frequency of usage and availability of space. Make sure your system makes sense to you as well as to your family. If you have a confusing method then nobody will stick to your plan. Plus, if your categorization is too confusing then chances are you too will begin to forget. And remember to make the most commonly used items most easily accessible. Otherwise, you will drive yourself nuts!
Label Everything: Invest in a hand held label maker. Using labels on shelves or outside of containers will allow you to stick to your plan and will help yourself and your family when keeping things in their appropriate places. You can use this for closets, cabinets, pantries, children’s rooms, etc.
Emotions Aside: Part of organizing is putting aside emotions by thinking fast. It’s great to stop and reminisce every so often, but make a simple rule and stick to it… If it’s broken, obsolete or unused for the past 2 years, toss it! You’ll love your new space more if it’s cleaner. Plus, the more room you have, the more shopping you’ll get to do in the future to fill it!
Every Item Has a Home: Each item in your house should have a home base. Do your keys go on the hook above the light switch or in the tray on the desk? Does the remote go on the entertainment unit or on the ottoman? Does mail go in your kitchen drawer or in the office?
Be Space Efficient: You know those items or clothes that you refuse to throw out? How about seasonal items? Pack them in storage bins that are small enough to fit under a bed. If your closet has only one shelf then invest in additional shelving or clear bins to make use of empty space. Also look into hanging organizers for behind the closet doors or even on walls in your office or kids’ rooms.
Enlist a Helper: Organizing is great when you have a helper because two minds are better than one and because it’s just more fun! A friend or family member will provide an outside point, offer suggestions and help you get move along in the process quicker. If you’re able to enlist someone who has superb organization skills, then you’ve hit the jackpot!
Do Your Research: Making a commitment to reorganize is a big deal and chances are you won’t be doing it again for a few years. So before you get started, take some time to research images online, browse the aisle for the affordable bins and learn about what others are doing. Ask friends and family how they are organizing their homes. You’ll feel ready to take on the world after you’ve feel educated and well equip.
Take Inventory: Before you head out to the store to buy a label maker, clear bins, and so forth, make sure that you take inventory of what it is that you will need. You don’t want to go overboard but you also don’t want to start a process and be held up because you forgot an important component. This is how you end up with projects that are forever incomplete.
Schedule Time and Set a Goal: You may think that tackling even a small room is a quick process but once you start categorizing and determining what you want to do with your space, you will notice that a lot of time goes into the process from start to finish. Keep a weekend open and dedicate time to finish your project.
After reading this list you’ve officially begun the process, so congratulations to taking the first step and good luck!
Here are some simple methods to getting your home organized- for good!