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If you’re like most people, the new year is a time of resolutions and one of the most common resolutions is to get organized. Organization is a big part of my life- a messy house and not being able to find what I need right away makes me nuts! I have bee a long time subscriber to the “a place for everything and everything in its place” line of thought because it works! Not only does staying organized keep me sane, it saves me a lot of time, too.
Being organized is a long term commitment and more of a habit than anything else. Once you have weeded out unnecessary items from your life and have a spot for everything, it’s just a matter of returning items to their correct spot every time you use them. In time it becomes second nature and you’ll think nothing of it. “Thinking nothing of it” is the hidden perk because not having to think about routine things frees up brain space for things that are important!
So, how do you stay organized once you’ve organized? Here are some simple tips & tricks that I use to keep everything on the right track.
1. Stop Buying Stuff
Yes, you need to stop buying the stuff that causes your home to be cluttered and disorganized. At the very least have a “one thing in, one thing out” rule. That is, if you buy something, get rid of something you no longer need or use. If you have kids they are probably the main cause of your surplus inventory issues, so have them follow the same rules you are when it comes to buying new items and eliminating unused items from their toys and belongings.
2. Establish Daily Routines to Stay Organized
The habit of staying organized is not going to happen overnight, or on its own. You need to establish a daily routine to help stay on top of things. One thing I started doing this year is bullet journaling. I bought the book The Bullet Journal Method and forced myself to read the entire book- it’s not that bullet journaling is difficult, but there is a method to it and in order for it to be effective for me I wanted to fully understand the process because it goes beyond simple “list making.” I also treated myself to a cute bullet journal that I would look forward to working in. It’s been about a month now and so far so good!
3. Establish Weekly Routines to Stay Organized
Each week do the things that are most important to you in order to stay organized. Clean your house, work on a larger project (like photo organization- ugh) or a room that has become a catch-all for your clutter. Even though our kids are out of the house, my husband and I still have a weekly “calendar” meeting so we know what’s going on in the upcoming week. If I plan 5 dinners and my husband has an unannounced client dinner I get a little irked. 😉
4. Manage Your To-Do List to Stay Organized
A to-do list is great, but it can also become overwhelming. Niche down each task as much as possible. Instead of saying “organize kitchen,” say “1. Go through storage containers, 2. Move plates to cabinet next to microwave and glasses to cabinet next to sink, 3. Install storage for pot lids, 3. Toss expired pantry items,” and so on. You can then cross items off as you accomplish them instead of being intimidated by the enormous task to “organize kitchen.”
Another thing to help manage your to-do lists is to build in breaks. This can act as a “treat” for accomplishing daunting tasks along the way. If you know you get 20 minutes of social media (or whatever your big “time waster” is) it’s easier to power through unpleasant tasks.
Easy peasy. Once you get the hang of it all of this will become second nature, allowing you to stay organized throughout the year instead of just through the beginning of the year!
Need more organizational ideas? Check out our DIY for the Home: Organization & Cleaning Tips board on Pinterest. There are hundreds of ideas!
You may also be interested in these posts from Looks Like Happy!
The One Hour Power Clean That Will Change Your Life
10 Clever Cleaning Hacks for Lazy People
Conquer Clutter Once & For All With These Stylish Storage Solutions
Clever Decluttering Solutions to Organize Your Home Fast!
7 Easy Steps to Simplify Your Crazy Life
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