Getting organized isn’t always about totally overhauling a room or your whole house. Organizing can be as easy as making small changes and creating new habits that make your life run more smoothly, more efficiently and help you feel like you have a handle on things.
So, today I’m going to share ten organizing secrets that you can easily implement in your life and reap the rewards of feeling less stress and more in control!
Secret # 1: Create Zones
Think about an elementary classroom and how the teacher has the room divided into different areas. You may find a game zone, a reading zone, a dress up zone and an art zone. The kids know right where to go when they’re ready to start an activity and where to put everything back when they’re done.
You can do the same thing within your home. Look at the space in each room and decide what activities your family will be doing in those rooms. As you organize the room, place the items for each activity together. Remove items that don’t support the goals for that space.
Examples of zones you may have in a room:
- Paperwork Zone: Mail, bills, homework, papers from school
- Craft Zone: Art & craft supplies for creative projects
- Reading Zone: Bookcase with books, basket for magazines, magazine holder for articles
- Game Zone: Storage for board games, playing cards & puzzles
- Exercise Zone: Weights, bands, balance ball, videos, yoga mat
Secret # 2: Create Catch Up Time
It’s no wonder people feel like they can’t get everything done in a day. We go, go, go from activity to activity, barely having enough time to grab a quick bite to eat. We still have things we need to get done at home, but being away so much we can’t get to them.
You cannot schedule yourself with back-to-back activities and expect to stay on top of everything. Cross off time in your schedule to give yourself time and a commitment to catch up on reading, paying bills, filling out paperwork and making phone calls. It’s okay to have open spots in your calendar throughout the week, you will still be busy finishing tasks on your to-do list. Getting these activities done will leave you feeling less overwhelmed and able to enjoy the activities that you do have scheduled knowing that you are caught up!
Secret # 3: Create a “Grab & Go Spot”
Just clear off a spot in your home where you can place items that need to leave the home. Usually this will be close to the door that you’ll be leaving to head to the car each day. If you don’t have an empty flat surface, you can set up a basket near the door as an alternative.
The “Grab & Go Spot” will save you from the stress of running around looking for something that needs to leave the house right when it’s time for you to get out the door.
Some examples of items you can place there:
- Outgoing mail
- Cards or gifts to give to someone
- DVDs or library books to return
- Items that need to be returned to the store-with receipt of course!
- Items that need to be returned to someone you know
- Papers that need to go back to the school
- Dry cleaning
Secret # 4: Keep Items at Your Fingertips
When you’re working in any space, really look around and see if you’re keeping things that you use regularly close at hand. Make sure you have to take the least amount of steps to get what you need when you need it and avoid needing to walk across the room to get what you’re looking for.
If you’re looking at your desk area, make sure:
- You have office supplies close at hand
- You have a calendar that you can see easily
- Your file cabinet is close enough to reach to retrieve papers or to file
- You have a recycle bin & garbage can right next to you
- You have important papers at your fingertips
If you’re looking at your kitchen, make sure:
- Dishes and silverware are stored close to the table where you eat
- Items that you use together are stored together, such as baking supplies
- Drinking glasses are close to the refrigerator if that’s where you get your water and other drinks
- Spices are close to where you cook
Secret # 5: Give Belongings a Clear Home
You’ve heard it before right? “A place for everything and everything in its place.” It’s so true!
It’s important to place “like” items together and give them a home that is clear to you and to the people you live with you so they know where to get what they need and where to put those items back. If you can take it one step further, use a label maker to place a label on the outside of the storage bin or basket. This will leave no doubt in anyone’s mind about what belongs there.
Some examples of items that can be corralled together for storage:
- Toys of the same type-cars, blocks, balls, puzzles
- Gift wrapping supplies
- Office supplies-computer paper, envelopes, photo paper, labels
- Incoming mail and papers
- Bathroom supplies-hair care, lotions, first aid
Secret # 6: Purge Belongings Regularly
It’s great when you declutter and get organized, but items will still continue to come into our homes on a regular basis. We might find something new to buy or receive gifts for birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. Somehow new things just keep finding a way into our homes.
First, you need to be careful about your contribution to bringing in new belongings. Before you purchase, really think about why you’re buying something and know right where you would put it and how you would use it.
Consider using the “One in, one out” rule. If you’re bringing something new into the home, something else needs to take a hike.
Keep a donation bag or box handy for charity at all times for items that you come across that you are done with. This will help you part with items on a regular basis, which will cut down on needing to do a really big home overhaul.
Items that can go into the donation bag:
- Toys your kids are done playing with
- Outgrown clothes or clothing you don’t wear or just don’t like anymore
- Household items you don’t use
- Decorations or gifts you’ve received that you don’t care for
- Anything else that you’re ready to part with!
Secret # 7: Use One Calendar System
Adopt a calendar system that works well for you. Don’t worry if you’re not using the newest app that hits the app store, there’s no one perfect system to chase down. It’s all about what works for you and being consistent in using it.
If you’re a paper and pencil person, then use a calendar or planner that you can write on as you go. I used to love my paper planner! I’ve since moved on, but I did love it.
If you love technology and gadgets, then go digital. Technology can be great with reminders that you can set for yourself as well as portability.
What really matters is:
- You use one system and do not write your information in more than one place. It makes it much more likely you will forget to put the information in both places and you may miss or forget something.
- Use your system consistently, don’t give up on a new system. Use it for at least three months.
Secret # 8: Use Your Calendar to Ease Your Mind
We’re very busy people and we shouldn’t have to rely on our memories to get everything done. It’s okay to write things down; it doesn’t mean you’re getting old and forgetful! It’s when we don’t write things down that they float around in our heads and keep us awake at night because we’re afraid we’ll forget something.
Fear not! Get it on your calendar and ease your mind.
Use your calendar or planner to write down:
- Birthdays, anniversaries, special events
- Phone calls you need to make
- Appointments you need to make
- Reminders to bring something to an appointment or event
- Activities or events you’re participating in
- Chores you don’t have to do very often, such as clean your furnace filter
- Reminders to send a card/gift a few days before someone’s special occasion
- Anything that you don’t want to have slip through the cracks!
Secret # 9: Plan Ahead
A big key to being organized is thinking ahead. It’s about anticipating what’s coming up and being prepared for it and it takes away the frantic rushing at the last minute.
Ways that you can plan ahead:
- Look at your calendar in the evening to see what’s on the agenda for the next day. This will give you wiggle room if you realize you’re on the schedule as snack mom at the preschool the next day. You’ll still have enough time to make a quick run to the store for juice boxes and goodies!
- Place items in your “Grab & Go Spot” in the evening so they’re ready to take with you the next day.
- Lay out 1-2 outfits the night before to choose from in the morning so you aren’t scrambling to put together an outfit before running out the door.
- Have kids make lunch and load up backpacks before going to bed.
- Look at all the birthdays and special occasions on your calendar for the month and shop for cards & gifts at one time.
Secret # 10: Plan Meals
Don’t find yourself roaming the grocery store aisles after work looking for something to throw together for dinner. You’ll spend way more time and way more money than if you take the time to sit down and do a bit of planning for the week.
- First, decide how far in advance you want to plan. For the whole month, two weeks or a week at a time.
- Then sit down with your cookbooks and recipes or Pinterest and write down what you’d like to make. You can assign each day a specific meal or you can make a general list and choose as you go. Make sure you decide the night before so you can defrost meat safely in the refrigerator if needed.
- Next, make your grocery list.
- Go shopping.
You’ll have everything on hand that you need to make each meal and you can always pop into the store throughout the month for fresh dairy and produce or have it delivered to your home.
Now you can follow these ten organizing secrets and feel in control today!
