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. To achieve this, here are five secrets of organized people:
Secret #1: 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 rather than 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.
When reading a book, put it back on the shelf where it belongs. When bringing in the mail, read it and get rid of it right away instead of letting it pile up.
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 frustration and effort later on.
Secret #2: Have a place for everything.
Make sure everything you own belongs somewhere. Think about it. If you’re going to put things back where they belong, they have to have a spot where they belong. Most stuff in your home has an obvious spot, like shoes belong in the shoe rack and utensils belong in the kitchen drawer.
If you don’t have a place for something, designate one. Get a bin, a box, a shelf organizer. Pull out the label maker. Give everything you own a specific spot, and you’ll find it is much easier to have an organized home. And if you can’t find a spot for something, ask yourself whether or not you actually need it.
Secret #3: Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.
When 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.
People who always have an organized home are methodical about their purchases. Don’t get tempted by big sales or flash deals. And resist impulse buys or add-ons. Shop with intention and carefully identify your needs.
The less stuff you have to manage, the easier it is to get and stay organized.
Secret #4: Get rid of things that no longer serve you.
Garages, storage units, basements, attics, and closets are often filled with things we no longer need. Maybe old clothes that don’t actually fit anymore, books we don’t plan on reading ever again, chipped dishes, old electronics, half-used cans of paint, etc.
By getting rid of things that no longer serve you as soon as possible instead of holding onto them for years to come, you can ensure your house stays as clutter-free as possible.
Secret #5: Clean up and organize your stuff on a regular basis.
We’re all human, which means sometimes things do get a little disorganized.
Even 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.
Decluttering is a way of life!
To learn more about secrets of being organized, visit Amazon for Kim’s book Joy of Downsizing. For Kim’s free 30-minute downsizing consultation, call 480-720-8566 or email [email protected].