Getting organized is not just about putting everything in its place, it’s about prioritizing, creating functional beauty, and making a space a sanctuary. We are now experiencing a new lifestyle, so it’s more important than ever that you and your family have organizational systems in place. Why?
Home organization is something you can control which brings peace of mind, increased productivity while working from home, family enjoyment and fewer arguments about where things go. No matter the space, the process is always to sort and categorize alike items, purge, organize and "containerize." Start small, pick a cabinet, a drawer or your closet. I’ll tell you a secret, organizing is fun and the rewards are endless. When possible, make it a family event and everyone will learn. How do you get there?
The Burning Questions: Spark Reality! Ask yourself these three things when purging: Do I use it? Do I love it? Do I appreciate it? Make room for things that you really want. Be Honest.
The Art of Purging: Do you have piles of pens you never use? Do you have 14 spatulas but hardly ever cook? (Yes, I saw this once!) Have your children outgrown clothes and toys that someone else would now benefit from? Do you have clothes you may not fit into now? Be Ruthless.
The Lifestyle Change: If you have less stuff, you then have less stuff to organize. Purging frees up your mind to do the things you really want to do! Do yourself a favor and restrict purchases until you have gone through the sorting, categorizing, purging, organizing and containerizing process. You’ll just add more clutter and stress! Be thoughtful. Be Selective.
The Organizing Process & Beauty of Color Coding: Whether it’s the closet or pantry, the same premise applies: set up your systems of organization by category, alike items go together. In your closet, put all short sleeve shirts together organized by color. Use the same style hangers for everything. Organize clothes by genre and color from white to black along the color wheel to make each closet a work of art. In your pantry, healthy items should be at eye level surrounded by your most used items, and of course, keep the candy out of reach of children! Use clear bins or baskets to maintain the organization and categorization. Be Detailed.
The Clutter-Free Home: Keep your counters clear (which I struggle with!) and keep your home clean. When you have organizational systems in place, it’s a breeze to clean up.
I believe that organizing is a lifetime process, not a one-time event. You don’t have to devote an entire weekend to a massive project, just 10 minutes here or 20 minutes there. Try to impose order and beauty where there was none before. Do this for yourself now and the rewards will be endless.
Most importantly, in today’s world, you can’t afford to not be organized. It's a priority, not a luxury.
Stuff is not passive. Stuff wants your time, attention, allegiance. But you know it as well as I do, life is more important than the things we accumulate. --Dave Bruno
Article written by Sheryl Hadley, president of Organization & Relocation
Published by Boulder Lifestyle, May 2020
