Raise your hand if your new year’s resolution to be better organized is already falling behind schedule. Raise your hand if you don’t know where to start. You don’t have to go from chaos to a neat freak, but just aim to be better at putting things away. The extra benefit is you will also be able to find them quickly. Step 1 is to find a place for all of the things. I promise when you know where to put things, it won’t be such a chore to actually put things away. Children and teens can get on board with this as well. Also, if after a few weeks you feel like you are slipping back into old habits, it won’t be as hard to right the ship again. This is because you already did the hard work - there is already a place for your things, you just have to take a little time to put things back to where they belong. I like to tidy up before going to bed, so I don’t have to wake up to a mess in the morning. A few extra minutes to pick up shoes, put the dishes in the dishwasher, or hang up some sweatshirts makes future me very happy.
So where are you putting these things? This is where I can help. Start small. Focus on drawers like the end table in your bedroom, the junk draw and/or utensil draw in the kitchen, your clothes bureau. First, take everything out. Throw out or recycle what is old, expired, or not useful anymore. Second, pick up some dividers. You can buy these from any stores you frequent for home decor items. Now, put what you have left back in the drawers. You will see the results right away. You will see your stuff right away! I guarantee that once you do a few of these small, manageable projects, you will want to do more.
The next step is to tackle the closets - one closet at a time, maybe one a week, two if you are really on a roll. Same instructions - take everything out. Donate whatever you don’t wear, throw out if anything is stained or ripped. Get hangers that match, and baskets or containers to separate the smaller items, such as hats and gloves. If you need to store shoes, look for shoe organizers for the bottom of the closet or to hang over the door. Hooks are helpful as are tall baskets for sports equipment or umbrellas.
The key is not to overwhelm yourself. Set an achievable goal, one drawer at a time, one room a week. Remember that being organized does not mean everything needs to be perfect. To me, being organized is like having a tool to help my day go smoothly and I can concentrate on more important things. You might find yourself looking around your home and loving it more. Of course, if you run out of steam or if you would rather someone else do it for you, contact Maureen Fallon at Living Simple at www.livingsimple.info, and we will find a place for all your things to help you stay a little more organized and feel a bit more in control of your daily routine.
