Keep Clutter on the Run, Get Organized
Reading time – 1 minute
Three Steps to Organizing
- Consolidate items into groups
- Containerize groups in sturdy, proper sized containers that are labeled
- Condense items so you have the appropriate amount of items in each group
Remember to donate items to charity and not to put them in the garbage.
Follow Two Routines
- Do four things in the morning
- Do four things in the evening
Five Habits to Keep Clutter on the Run
- If you get it out, put it away
- Apply the 30 second rule – if it takes 30 seconds or less to do something, do it immediately
- Follow the camping rule – leave the room the way you found it or better
- Look, really look at your surroundings to see what is out of place
- Use “little minute” to clean – those few minutes while you are waiting for someone, on hold on the phone, watching a pot boil
Let me know your tricks to help you stay organized.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Another good habit: whenever you leave the room, take a quick look to see if there’s something that needs to go where you’re going. Example: if you’re going to the basement to switch clothes from the washer to the dryer, take that hammer back to the workshop.
I have to admit that this has backfired on me a couple of times, when I got back upstairs and realized I forgot to switch the laundry over!
Great guide for making a sweet home.
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Sorry I don’t know about floor care but thank-you for the lovely comment.
So many great nuggets here, Julie! I love the “camping rule.” I never heard of that being applied to decluttering before, and it’s so appropriate. Another ‘rule’ is to consider what you’re bringing into the home more carefully. So before you buy something, know where it will live. Some take this one step further and turn it into the “one in, one out rule.”
I agree that is a good rule to know where you will store an item before you buy it and bring it into your home. It may mean you have to let go of something special to make room for the new purchase. Are you willing to do that?
I am a fan of the rule – Use “little minute” to clean – those few minutes while you are waiting for someone, on hold on the phone, watching a pot boil.
I also stage items to make it easy to grab when I am going to that spot – like grocery bags on the back door handle to take back out to the car the next time I go or items on a bench in the back hall that need to go to the storage shed.
That is a good tip too. Placing things in an area where you will see them to put them away properly will help to maintain organization in the home. I do that with things that need to be dropped off on my way to another place. If they are in my vehicle it makes it easy to get them returned, donated, or recycled. Perhaps they should store them in an area where they can put them away immediately. Some people let those piles build up.
I love that “camping rule.” It’s like a gift you give to your future self, and that title makes it easy to remember. I’ll keep that one in mind to share with others!
I like the idea of giving a gift to your future self when you decide to make a task or space a little more efficient each time you finish. I always thought of it as a gift to someone else, making their life easier.
These are great, simple tips that will definitely help keep a home tidy. This is my ADHD (I hope) friendly, progress over perfection tip: If an item is not in its home, move it closer to its home. If we are in one room, heading to another, and see an item that belongs in that second room, bring it with you. Even if you don’t put it fully away, it’s at least closer to where it needs to go.
That is a very good rule. Everyone is different. Some people need to put it away immediately or they can’t concentrate on the task at hand. Some need to move it closer so they finish what they are doing before leaving the space. BOth ways work well. It is important for each person to know what works best for them.