Quick and Simple Organizing Tips

Organizing has never been one of my strong points. However, I have learned throughout the years that there are some easy things that anybody can do to stay organized. Perhaps the most important thing to remember about organization skills is that you have to first get organized before you can stay organized. These quick and simple organizing tips might help you get started.

KEEP YOUR CLOSET FLOOR CLEAN The closet is quite often one of the worst places for most people. It’s all too often the catch-all spot. It’s just way easier to toss stuff on the bottom of the closet floor, rather than taking the time to put it in its proper place.

Take one afternoon just to clean out your closet. Throw away the things you’ll never use or need, find a place to put away the items you do use, and give away the stuff that’s still good but unusable to you anymore. Once your closet is clean, work hard to keep it that way. Use shoe organizers, clear plastic bins, and storage boxes to give everything a home of its own. Then keep it that way.

PUT THINGS AWAY ASAP Every single item in your home should have a home of its own. If it doesn’t, it will invariably end up on the floor or crammed under the bed. Once you find a place for everything, it is imperative to make sure that everything is in that place at the end of each day. As soon as you’re finished using something, put it away that very second. Don’t throw it in your bedroom, thinking you’ll do it later. Procrastination is often the greatest cause of clutter and a mess.

RECYCLE Lots of magazines are getting into the green theme lately and offering some really fabulous ideas on recycling. One great idea I recently read suggested reusing old egg cartons to store small items. For example, if you enjoy beading, an egg carton would be a terrific storage spot for some of your beading materials. Some other items you might have in your house that you could recycle and use to get organized are coffee cans, plastic tubs, and mint tins. Think outside the box and you’ll be able to come up with a hundred different ways to use them.

RESPECT WHAT YOU HAVE One of the most important lessons I’ve learned about organization is that if you don’t respect what you already have, you’ll be less likely to have nicer things. When you respect what you already own, you’ll take better care of it. If you’ve been griping because you need a bigger house, why not have a huge yard sale and get rid of the things you don’t need? Once you clear out that clutter, then you’ll be able to take care of the things you have. You might also learn to appreciate them so much that you realize you didn’t need a bigger house, but you needed to release some of the clutter in your life.