Who needs four containers of Parmesan cheese?! Well, that’s what I have now in my pantry. Yesterday I went to the grocery store, and when I went to put the groceries away I couldn’t even fit things in the pantry. And it wasn’t because we have a lot of food. It was because my pantry was so messy and unorganized that I couldn’t even tell what was in there. I realized that I already had three unopened containers of Parmesan cheese and certainly did not need the fourth one I had just bought.
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So I decided to stop procrastinating and take the time to clean out the pantry before I put the groceries away. And do you know what? Not only did it make it easier to put my groceries away but it actually changed my mood! It took me no more then ten minutes, and I immediately felt a sense of calm.
There are so many benefits to getting organized. It makes it easier to clean your house, you feel less stressed, you can find things when you need them, and you may even sleep better.
So if you are like me and really do like things organized but just don’t know where to start I encourage you to start small. Don’t try to do this all at once. If the job seems too big, you may just give up or put it off for another time that never seems to come around. That’s what I tend to do if something seems overwhelming. So just tackle a little bit every day, and do this day after day.
Here are some simple home organization tips that will help you conquer the clutter and breathe easier.
1. Let it Go
I know some of you just got the “Frozen” tune in your head just now, didn’t you? Well, sorry about that. The first step to getting organized may be just accepting the fact that you do have clutter and being willing to let some things go. You may think you don’t have anything you want to get rid of, but I bet you probably do. We tend to bring new items into our space on a regular basis without even realizing it, and before we know it we have accumulated more and more clutter.
When you own stuff you have to maintain it, store it, clean it, and maybe even insure it. This all takes time and energy. Maybe it is time to enjoy the “less is more” motto and get rid of the things we don’t use or need. Simplify.
Designate how much space you will have for a certain thing and stick with that. So if your sweater drawer is full, for example, you have to donate one before you bring a new one home.
I think we probably all have too much stuff. If we don’t regularly let go of things our stuff can slowly start to overwhelm us. If we don’t want to be featured on the next episode of “Hoarders” we need to make it a regular habit of purging. Once you start getting rid of things you don’t need it will feel so good that you will start looking for more things to purge and will even begin to be more aware of what new things you are bringing into your home.
Don’t let your closet become a dumping ground.
Tackle closet build up. Get rid of extra hangers you don’t use. Pick up clothes off the floor and hang them up, fold them and put them in a drawer, or put them in the laundry hamper. Set a timer for 15 minutes and pull out all the clothes that no longer fit or that you never wear and put them in a donation pile. In our area there is a Goodwill donation spot close to our house that we use. We also have a military veteran’s organization that gives us bags to fill and will come by and pick them up once a month. Most people wear only 20% of their clothes 80% of the time, so at least twice a year it is a good idea to clean out your closet and donate unused items. You might even want to keep a donation bag in each clothes closet. Then maximize the space in your closet. Use hooks for hats and belts, and get a good shoe organizer.
2. Prevent Future Clutter
Now that you are starting to get organized and feel better about your home don’t mess it up by going back to the same old habits. Be mindful of what you are doing and create new habits that will prevent future clutter.
When you first enter the house take the time to put away whatever is in your hands. The few minutes spent doing this minimizes clutter that would otherwise end up on the kitchen counter or table. It is just as easy to put something away than to just set it down on the closest surface. When I do this I always intend on putting it away later, but then I get busy and sometimes it sits there for a week or more. Just get in the habit of taking the item to its designated spot right then.
Surround yourself with things you love.
You have heard the saying “a place for everything and everything in it’s place?” Well, it is true. To keep my home organized, I have to be mindful of everything I bring in through my door. Everything needs its own home – don’t bring it in unless you know exactly where it’s going to live. I cannot say that I always follow this advice, but when I do it always works.
Tame the Paper Tiger!
For example, papers can end up in piles all over my house if I’m not careful. Paperwork is always better stored vertically rather than in piles. File, don’t pile! Piles are hard to sort through, and papers get lost underneath the top ones. I have used the Neat Company Scanner for years and love it. It stores my files digitally in the cloud and allows me to access them from any device. When it comes to paper you have three choices: Act on it, File it, or Throw it away.
Use Labels.
And make sure to label things. Don’t put a box in the closet or garage without knowing what is in it and labeling it. I am a visual person, so it helps me to have things labeled. I love the Brother Label Maker. I think making labels is actually fun!
Use the right containers.
Having the right containers makes a difference too. Go through all your toiletries and get rid of any medicines past the expiration date. Throw away old makeup every six months, as once it is opened it can be a haven for bacteria. I use an Acylic makeup organizer like this one to keep everything upright on my vanity.
When you are cooking try to put things away right after you use them instead of making a huge mess you have to clean up afterwards. Try to prep ahead of time when you can. Use kitchen organizers to make it easy to find what you need. Store leftover food in glass containers. It is easy to see what is in them, and you can put them in the microwave without fear of chemicals getting into your food from plastic. I use these Pyrex ones.
3. Develop New Habits for the Long Term.
I found Peter Walsh’s book It’s All Too Much to be very helpful. He is strict about getting rid of clutter, but he encourages us to do this in order to make room for the things we truly love. I highly recommend it. If you like reading on a Kindle, Amazon has an awesome program called Kindle Unlimited right now where you can get a free month of unlimited reading and unlimited listening. You can sign up here.
An organized home doesn’t just happen. It is the result of specific habits and daily routines that maintain an organized and neat home long-term. Doing these things helps with time management, money management, and even weight management sometimes!
So let’s tackle our clutter together! Don’t hate on yourself for the way you have let things become. Organizing and decluttering takes time and energy, so it will be worse if you are too hard on yourself while you are doing it. Focus on the goal ahead, not on the past. You can do this!
