What they tell me is that a cluttered home is a sign of a cluttered mind. It makes sense that an organized home can help you think more clearly and even help you organize your life in other ways. But for some people the road to organization can seem like an obstacle course that they aren’t completely sure they’ll ever finish.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Organization is a skill that anyone can learn. The White Shelf will offer organization tips, tricks and techniques to help you achieve your organization goals and avoid the obstacles that can get in the way.
Find A Home Organization Method That Works For You
While it may seem easier to adopt a credo like, “if you haven’t used it for a year get rid of it,” to buy a bunch of storage containers or organization devices, or even to use organizing ideas from friends… if the method doesn’t fit your lifestyle and personality it may not work for you. Organization needs to be personalized to fit your needs if it is going to work for you long-term. Finding a method that fits your personality and lifestyle will make it easier to maintain and make it more effective. Do some analysis before you create an action plan; this can help you achieve greater success with your home organization efforts.
Why Do You Want To Organize Your Home?
Part of finding the best method of home organization for you will involve determining your reasons for getting organized. There are plenty of good reasons, but it is good to understand your main reasons for wanting to declutter and get organized. Here are some common reasons to clear clutter and organize your home:
- To decrease frustration and make life a little easier
- To save time so you can spend that time doing more important things
- To reduce stress and feel a greater sense of calm at home
- To save money using the things you have and not buying duplicate items
- To gain a greater sense of control or pride at home
- To be more effective and achieve more in less time
- To increase self-confidence or project a better image
Determine What Works And What Doesn’t Work
Part of an effective home organization plan will entail an evaluation of what works for you and what doesn’t. Don’t fight your personality and all of your habits; try to work with them when you can. For example if you don’t have a coat closet near your entry door, but you like to drop items like your coat, keys and briefcase or purse right away when you come home consider adding a coat rack or hooks and adding a shelf or small piece of furniture where you can lay and store these items in a more organized way instead of trying to retrain yourself to put them in a less handy space.
Find those areas of your home that are organized; this may include a specific room, closet or drawer. Give yourself credit and learn from this space. What do you like about this space? Why does it work for you and why is it easy for you to maintain? Use the answers to these questions as you plan organizing your home in other areas.
When choosing home organization tools choose storage containers and storage solutions that appeal to your sense of taste and home decor. Also choose organization tools that will fit the space and items you want to store in that space. Keep your options open; sometimes an enclosed container is the best choice, but sometimes a white bookshelf, cube shelves or a white wall shelving system is best. It all depends on the space and your needs.
When evaluating what works and what doesn’t work keep in mind sometimes the best organizing ideas are those that fit your habits, but sometimes it is time to change or slightly modify counter productive habits for better organization. Work with your natural behaviors whenever possible, but don’t resist change if it is necessary.
Create An Action Plan
Too often people reach a breaking point so they go out and buy storage shelves and containers or they start hastily getting rid of things without having a real plan of what they will do after that. Lasting, effective organization will need a plan of action. Be patient; developing a plan of action to fit your needs will make your efforts truly worthwhile.
It may be best to start one area at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. Small bits of progress can be rewarding enough to make this task more fulfilling.
Choose an area that needs improvement. Either choose an area that bothers you most or an area that will be easier so you can start with a relatively easy success. Think about what works for you and what doesn’t and apply these principals. Think about why and how you want to improve this area. Take notes so you can develop an effective plan over time.
If you are having a hard time conceptualizing how to make your project successful look at pictures of what other people have done or ask for suggestions from other creative, organized people you know.
Once you have a plan you can buy the items you need like wooden wall shelves or storage furniture to put your plan into action.
Organize Your Life
Once you start to get a feel for how to personalize your organization methods you can apply this to other areas of your life as well. You can take it to work to organize your office and you can even use these skills to organize your time. You will soon see how the skills used to organize your home will also help organize your life.