Kim Kubsch
Your home should be a reflection of what you love, a space that you feel good about and that functions well for you and your loved ones. Here are six secrets to stay organized:
Secret #1: Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.
If you keep buying stuff that you don’t necessarily need, it’s difficult to stay organized. Everything in your home should have a place where it belongs. Shop with intention, and do not be tempted with impulse or big sales. Carefully identify your needs, do your research, and purchase exactly what you need or want. The less stuff you have to manage, the easier it is to get and stay organized.
Secret #2: Get rid of things that no longer serve you.
Garages, storage units, and closets are often filled with things we no longer need. Getting rid of things that no longer serve you as soon as possible (always keep a donation bin in your home) instead of holding onto them for years, ensures your house stays as clutter-free as possible.
Secret #3: Have a place for everything.
Make sure everything you own belongs somewhere. If you’re going to put things back where they belong, they have to have a spot where they belong. Choose an obvious or logical spot, like utensils in the kitchen drawer and coffee pods near the coffee maker. If you don’t have a spot, designate one. Get a bin, a box, or a shelf organizer, and label everything! If you can’t find a spot for something, ask yourself whether or not you actually need it. And if the answer is no, get rid of it.
Secret #4: Always put things back where they belong.
Put things back where they belong as soon as you have used them to keep the home neat and orderly. For example, take off a coat and hang it up in the closet instead of throwing it on the back of a chair. Finish a drink and put the glass in the dishwasher instead of leaving it on the coffee table.
This strategy might sound tedious, but these small tidying efforts become habits. By putting things back where they belong right away, you can save yourself a ton of time, frustration, and effort later on.
Secret #5: Label everything.
When you label everything, it helps create a home for items so you can put them back where they belong!
Secret #6: Do clean up and organize your stuff on a regular basis.
Sometimes things do get a little disorganized. Just 10 or 20 minutes a day or an hour or two on a weekend morning can make a tremendous difference when it comes to staying on top of decluttering, straightening up, and tackling the miscellaneous things that creep into our space. Working to adjust your habits and putting things away on a regular basis helps to keep your home organized and feeling more manageable. Decluttering is a way of life!
Stay tuned for monthly articles about decluttering, downsizing, organizing, redesigning, making transitions, and clearing of estates. Call me at 480-720-8566 to learn about my free 30-minute consultation or to speak to your group.
To purchase my books Getting Your Life Together Organizer and Joy of Downsizing, visit Amazon.com or www.JoyfulDOWNSIZING.com.