Once you learn these organizing basics, you can apply them to organize anything in your home or office. From closets, linens, handbags, junk drawers, kitchens--the list goes on and on.
Commit to organization
This step is really about developing and maintaining motivation, so focus on the benefits of getting organized. Think about the time and money saving benefits of being organized: no more rooting around for batteries or light bulbs when you need them because you'll know exactly where they are stored. Additionally, you can stop buying duplicates because you can't find an item you need. That means keeping more money in your pocket.
Lisa's Pro Tips:
- Start with an area in your home or office where you will see results quickly. I like to direct people to their kitchen junk drawers.
- Paper is the hardest thing to organize and can take a long time. Pace yourself and don't get discouraged.
How to Organize Resources
Declutter the space
Before you can dive into an organization project, you've got to clear out the clutter. Lisa recommends you work on one area at a time and make it as fun as possible: play music, invite a friend to help, and most importantly, pace yourself so you don't burn out!
Lisa's Pro Tips:
- Establish criteria for what you're going to keep and toss before you begin so you don't waste time and energy on items you are just going to throw out.
- Don't keep multiples of items (think: soy sauce packets, plastic utensils, dry cleaning hangers, etc.)
- Don't fall victim to the "I may need this some day" line of thinking. "Someday will never come," says Lisa.
Group like with like
This is the most important step. "This is where you begin to create order from chaos," says Lisa. First, begin with large categories and then break down those categories. Example: Books -----> Cookbooks, Novels, School Books.
Lisa's Pro Tips:
- Group by type of item (i.e. all extra tubes of toothpaste in a storage basket in the linen closet, etc.)
- Group by frequency of use (i.e. all daily work clothes hang together in the closet, etc.)
- Group by project (i.e. everything you use to brew coffee in the same spot in your kitchen, etc.)
- Group by person (i.e. everyone's winter gear like hats and gloves in their own cubby, etc)
Create a place for everything
"This is where you make everything easy to put away," instructs Lisa. First keep in mind your "prime real estate" which are the spaces most accessible to you (Lisa: "between your shoulders and knees") and store things where they are used!
Lisa's Pro Tips:
- Out of sight, out of mind so make sure what's important to you is visible.
- Identify and use the appropriate containers for items. If they don't fit you probably won't use it for too long.
- Avoid mystery boxes by using clear containers and labeling them as soon as you fill them up.
Maintain organization
The more frequently you maintain order, the less time it will take, so keep it up! Example: If you open your mail, pay your bills and file your receipts weekly, that will take about 4x less time than if you do so on a monthly basis, so schedule your maintenance to suit your style.
Lisa's Pro Tips:
- Schedule maintenance daily, weekly, quarterly or annually; or,
- Event-based: as deadlines approach, when things become disorganized or messy, when the container for that items begins to fill up, or my favorite, when you have a gust coming!
- Use a timer to pace yourself.
- Daily Organizing Routine
- Weekly Organizing Routine
- Monthly Organizing Routine
- Get More Done with a Daily Routine
- How to Create a Daily Routine
- How to Stick to a Daily Routine
- Daily Checklist
- 10 Tips for a Better Daily Routine
- Erin Duran's Pro Advice on Daily Routines
- Wendy Salmon's Pro Advice on Daily Routines
- Daily Routine Reading List
