In the day of social media and blasting your entire life out for the world to see, home organizing has become more of an art than a need. There are countless blogs, reality shows, and social media profiles showcasing organization masterpieces, but how functional are they actually? Here are some easy to maintain ways to stay organized in a busy home!
- Avoid open shelving. When you have quick and easy access to open space it can quickly become a habit to throw random things wherever they fit. This makes the space look chaotic and cluttered. Using bins, dividers, and baskets are a great way to prevent this and to ensure everything has a designated spot!
- Use clear, covered storage bins. This is especially important if you have a habit of just hiding clutter to get it out of the way, like when a kid shoves all of their toys under their bed while cleaning their room! Having clear bins with lids makes it difficult to hide clutter and encourages you to return things to their designated spot!
- Empty the “junk drawer” weekly! It’s easy enough to say “don’t have a junk drawer,” but sometimes you need a quick spot to throw something to get it out of the way and there’s nothing wrong with that! It only becomes a problem when it gets ignored and starts piling up. Once a week go through the drawer (or box, cabinet, or bin, whatever works for you!) and return the items to their designated homes!
- Aesthetics don’t always matter. The only way to successfully maintain an organized home is to set a plan that works for you, not others! Matching containers and color coordinating your cereal may look pretty for an Instagram post, but it’s not always practical. Don’t feel pressured to blow your budget on something just because it looks good! Make sure above all else it is practical for your life!
- Create your own rules. Who says you have to fold all of your kid’s play clothes or have a perfectly organized sock drawer? There are no rules saying you have to do what has always been done in the past! If there is a way that will help you stay better organized and make your life easier. Keeping your home organized is meant to make your life easier, not add stress.
- Start small. If your whole home needs to be organized, start in just one area. Maintain that area for a few weeks (remember 21 days makes a habit!) and then add another room as you go! Soon it’ll be second nature to keep your home organized!
- Get rid of junk. If you still have a box sitting in the back of a closet that hasn’t been touched since you moved six years ago it’s time to dig through it and either donate or toss as much as you can. Go through each room at your own pace and clean out as much clutter as possible. The less you have to organize the easier it is!
- Make it a group effort. Getting your family involved is the best way to alleviate added stress and motivate others to keep things organized as well! Keeping a home clean and organized isn’t a task that should rest on only one person.
- Set a routine. After things are clean, set a routine that works for you! Look at your weekly schedule and assign tasks to each day. Set up your schedule to work around your schedule. If you know that Wednesdays are busy, pick a small task like trash for that day. If Sundays are wide open choose that for lengthier tasks like laundry or moping.
- Plan for your young kids to go somewhere for the day. While older kids can assist with organizing, younger kids may get bored and demand attention while you’re trying to get things done. Everyone will be happier if they’re able to visit with a family member or friend for the day! If you aren’t able to find someone, have different activities and fun planned so that it’s easy to redirect them with something new to do!
If organization doesn’t come easy to you, it will be a process to get to a point that it becomes a routine. Take your time, don’t overwhelm yourself by taking on too much, and do what works for you!
