Home organization means being able to find your stuff when you need it, not after an hour or more of searching. But home organization doesn't necessarily mean you're neat or clean. It doesn't even mean you're not a pack rat. Home organization just means everything has a place and you know where that place is in your home.
Of course, when you practice "home organization" and "clearing clutter" together you do inevitably get a neater and more organized home. Why? Because you can find your stuff when you need it AND you're not tripping over your stuff. So instead of allowing yourself, or your family, to consistently put your shoes in the entryway (where you do know their location), you designate another spot such as a shoe rack in the foyer closet. That's blending home organization with clutter clearing techniques. Here are 9 strategies for home organization that also may help you clear clutter in your home:
1) CLUSTER LIKE ITEMS - When you organize an office storage closet at home or work, put the different types of paper beside each other on a shelf. And what goes with paper? Envelopes. Put the different types of envelopes adjacent to the paper. Adjacent to that you might put writing instruments used on paper like pencils and pens. And so forth. Organizing holiday ornaments? Keep bins of Christmas supplies together. Keep bins of Easter decorations together. Then put all of these holiday storage bins in one clustered area in your garage or attic. You can also use the cluster mindset for toys and sports equipment.
2) MAKE THINGS CONVENIENT - This simply means put most frequently used items toward the front of shelves or on shelves within arms reach or at eye level of the user (whether that's you, your spouse or your children). Put infrequently used items in those hard to reach cabinets in corners, cabinets above your refrigerator, in the attic, etc. Put shelving or other organizers in convenient places such as put shoe racks, umbrella stands and hanging baskets for gloves in a closet near the entryway you use most often.
3) LABEL IT - Invest in an inexpensive label maker. You'll have fun labeling items (e.g. home recorded DVD tapes) or labeling places where items should go so they always get returned to the same spot. For example, label specific garage shelf spaces for hand tools or power tools. That way nobody in your family will ever forget where they got an item they're using and they'll know where its exact "home" is.
4) DON'T KEEP AN ITEM IF... - ...you can find it elsewhere. So much research, forms and other paperwork is easily accessed these days through the Internet. Just keep a simple list of Websites and useful phone numbers and then you'll always know where to return to or who to call in order to access that information again.
5) HANDLE IT ONCE - And handle it now. That's how the organizing professionals suggest you handle paperwork, whether it's incoming mail or something on your home office or work desk. If you can't handle it now, then put it in a tickler file labeled with a specific intention (e.g. holiday cards to mail by month, bills to mail by week).
6) MAKE IT YOUR SYSTEM - I once knew a woman who placed labels inside her kitchen food cabinets. So cans of green beans and peas always went on their designated label or row and a can of tuna went on its labeled space. When you could see the label that just meant it was time to buy more tuna or green beans. Was this a bit over the top with detail? Not for her. The system suited her personality. It worked for her. Lesson learned: Own your home organizing system. You can use other people's home organizing tips but only if they suit you, they suit your thought process and they mesh with your daily routine. You're the ultimate user of the home organization system.
7) BE FLEXIBLE - If your entire home organizing system, or just part of it, is not working, change it. Try a different method. Put something in a different spot. Observe other peoples homes and work spaces for ideas. Look at photos in home decorating magazines for ideas. Don't be afraid to admit temporary home organization failure and start again as often as needed. It's okay!
8) BE PATIENT WITH OTHERS - You know the clich?...you can't change other people. Unfortunately, that clich? is usually true though so many of us choose to learn it the hard way. Don't expect everyone in your family to start immediately singing your home organization tune. They may never do so. But you can try for compromise and understanding. And you can make subtle polite requests like "honey, will you put your shoes in the closet for me so I can vacuum that area" or "will you put the car keys here when you get home so I can find them in the morning without waking you."
9) GET HELP WHEN NEEDED - Not everyone is good at clearing clutter, especially quickly; nor is everyone good at thinking in an organized, almost analytical, way. And that's okay. But if that's you, consider calling in a paid professional home organizer (search online or in the phone book). Even if you just hire an organizer for a few hours or a day, he or she will at least be able to help you brainstorm about organizing your home in a manner that suits you. Then you can take that next step toward home organization on your own. And keep stepping until you get it done eventually. You will!
Karen Fritscher-Porter writes about home organization at http://www.easyhomeorganizing.com. Visit http://www.easyhomeorganizing.com to read more than 50 FREE articles containing dozens of home organization ideas and solutions. Plus subscribe to the FREE newsletter updating you about the latest home organizing products sold in stores.
Mercedes Benz s500 rentals Salem ..1. Sink to their level. Get on your knees in... Read More
I know I have a problem when I have to... Read More
How to do keep track of all you have to... Read More
What do you do with those special items that have... Read More
Winter is starting to retreat, and hints of Spring are... Read More
Has your polished mahogany (or modular plastic) desk been buried... Read More
Remember when you charged into the office that first day,... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of organizing your home? Start... Read More
The true definition of an organization is one that is... Read More
"I don't have enough room!" -- this is a common... Read More
Parenting is always a challenge, but particularly so if your... Read More
1) It's easy to have a good clear out: Not... Read More
How many of us have enough time to do everything... Read More
Life is really all about CHANGE. In order to make... Read More
"Junkyard Wars," a TV series showed two teams of experts... Read More
Some people seem to be born organized. You probably remember... Read More
"The real question is, why do you want it? What... Read More
Chances are, most of you have a lot you need... Read More
Getting organized is hard. If it weren't, we wouldn't put... Read More
One of the most basic ways to find papers when... Read More
1. All or nothing thinking/taking on too much." I'm going... Read More
My mother is one of the most productive people I... Read More
3-Step Clean Sweep Program 1 -... Read More
1. The Law of the 1st StepA good first step... Read More
Cindy looks at the calendar and sighs. Ah, the end... Read More
Dowagiac cheap limo service ..Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... Read More
You can get a pretty good idea of the benefits... Read More
Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have... Read More
What stops you from 'getting things done?'Have you ever started... Read More
We are in a society where people are applauded for... Read More
Getting and staying organized is critical to achieving your goals.... Read More
We are bombarded with so many factors that perpetuate disorganization.... Read More
Cleaning out can seem overwhelming -- especially if it's been... Read More
(This is the second in a series of three articles... Read More
Has your polished mahogany (or modular plastic) desk been buried... Read More
Have you ever been totally overwhelmed by a massive task... Read More
Last year I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and... Read More
"My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am... Read More
The word "compartmentalize" means to separate into distinct parts. I... Read More
1. Divide big jobs into smaller jobs. Make a list... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Have a to-do list a mile... Read More
I gathered some things you can do this spring while... Read More
Your closet is often the first thing you see in... Read More
"I don't have enough room!" -- this is a common... Read More
I've noticed that in the two years since the major... Read More
In one of my favorite books, First Things First, written... Read More
An organized living lifestyle can cause you to weed out... Read More
Does Your Present Internet Filing System Work?Do You Really Know... Read More
Everytime Mary had to find a file on her computer,... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |