10 Tips For Getting & Staying Organized
Updated September 2021
10 Helpful Tips to Reap the Benefits of a More Organized Life:
After this whirlwind of a year, it’s easy to feel overextended and maybe organization has taken a backseat. Think about your home, your desk, and your life in general. Don’t you feel amazing when everything is neat and tidy? I know I do. But, maybe more important than the feeling of serenity and the prettiness of an uncluttered space, is the fact that leading an organized life will save you so much time and energy - use these home organization life hacks for no more wasted moments searching for misplaced belongings, or anxiety over unfinished tasks!
1. Stop Procrastinating
The longer you put off doing something, the more overwhelming it begins to feel. Be decisive, get it done and release the burden of uncompleted tasks. We talk a lot about physical clutter, but this is a good example of emotional clutter. The undone task will continue looming in your mind, creating unnecessary stress.
Have a basket of laundry that needs to be completed? Turn your television time at the end of the day into a multi-tasking event. Fold the clothes while you watch, and put them away during your commercial breaks!
2. Write Things Down
Choose a system and be consistent - this can be a bulletin board in a mud room, a notebook, or your phone!
Personally, I keep a running to do list on my phone using the Notes app. It’s free, it’s always with me, and I can add and delete items in real time. (I also love handwritten to do lists, because journals are just so pretty). Try this eco-friendly journal made from cork or hang up this dry-erase calendar!
3. Keep Life Simple
Organization is all about editing - the less stuff you own, the less you have to put away! So often we keep things for the wrong reasons: It was so expensive! It was a gift! Maybe I’ll use it one day! Chances are, you won't.
A small but lovingly curated collection of belongings simplifies your decision making and reduces visual clutter. Make room for the things and events in your life that truly make you happiest.
4. Know Where To Take Unwanted Items
There are a lot of simple solutions for getting unused items out of your space. If your items are still in great condition, try selling furniture or electronics on Offer Up or Facebook Marketplace. If your items are retired, you’re just looking to donate, or you’re not sure if you are even able to donate your belongings - we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite charities to give our items. Whether it’s textile recycling, old paint, or repurposing old eyeglass frames - there is a place for everything!
Donations to your favorite charity gets you a tax write-off, as well as the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from knowing that someone will be able to use and cherish your things. If you can commit to going through your home twice a year and boxing up anything you no longer use, you will prevent clutter from gradually taking over your space.
5. Get Everyone Involved
Teach your family to organize their own belongings, especially if you have kids. Set expectations: if you open it, close it; if you take it out, put it back. Have a specific spot for everything. Don’t let organization fall to you - get everyone involved! You can even have them get involved with the process of getting rid of toys they are no longer using!
6. Buy Fewer, Better Things
Only buy those items you actually need. Buying something just because it’s on sale only contributes to the accumulation of more clutter. It’s not a bargain if you don’t need it! Having one item that you truly cherish feels so much better than multiple, lesser quality items. (Cuyana is an LA-based boutique that really gets it!)
7. Use Baskets
Baskets look beautiful and are the perfect solution for corralling frequently used items. Kids' toys taking over your living room? Teach your little ones to throw them all back in a basket at the end of the day to avoid clutter! Loads of cozy throw blankets? Great! Toss them in a basket next to the sofa. Baskets are also great in your linen closets or in your pantry. Not only do they help keep everything organized and contained, but they’re super cute too!
8. Set Small Organization Goals
Trying to get organized can be overwhelming. Where are you supposed to start? Create a list of small organization goals, such as clearing out one kitchen drawer, tossing expired pantry goods, or decluttering your toiletries. Then commit to spending 30 minutes on any one of these projects. By the end of the week, you’ll have decluttered seven spaces, and you’ll be ready for more! The feeling is addicting!
9. Repurpose Your Belongings
Feeling the need for some retail therapy? Often this urge strikes because we’ve become bored with the way things feel in our home. For home organization on a budget, rather than spending money on a few meaningless purchases, shop your own home! Take a tray from your kitchen and use it to style your bedside table. Turn a lazy susan into a coffee table vignette. You’ll be excited to have a new vibe in your space, and you can do something else with that hard-earned cash.
10. Call The Experts
If you still can’t seem to get started, get help! A professional organizer, has the skills to transform your space and help you restore harmony in your home, can create systems of organization that will be easy for you to maintain, and give you tips on sustainable living. Plus, we’d love to help you!
Happy Organizing!
Originally published 11/19/2019
