People always ask me the secret to being organized. They want a formula for making their homes and lives neat and tidy. Sadly, there’s no secret formula to getting organized.
But if I had to choose one thing that makes a huge difference to home and personal organization, it’s this: Getting organized is much easier to achieve via small, daily organizing actions than through grand, life-changing plans. In general, big plans to get organized bring out the perfectionist in you. Which leads you to procrastinate. The more grandiose your vision of a perfectly organized life, the more procrastination will sabotage you. Even if you do go on a massive organizing rampage, the results will be short-lived unless you keep up good decluttering and organizing habits. Before you know it, it’ll be Chaos II: The Nightmare Returns.
Getting organized is much easier to achieve via small, daily organizing actions than through grand, life-changing plans.
So the strategy that’s likely to be the most effective, that will keep your inner perfectionist under control, and that will last, is to decide on some daily organizing tasks that are pretty much non-negotiable. Like brushing your teeth, you just do them. Every day. Here are mine.
10 Ways To Be Neat, Tidy, And Organized – Every Day
- Make the bed. It sends a powerful message of order and self-care to your subconscious.
- Put things away after using them. Yes everything. If there’s no place to put something, throw out something you haven’t used in a while to make room.
- If you notice something broken and know you won’t repair it (be honest – you probably won’t), then discard or donate it immediately.
- Be alert for anything not used or loved and discard or donate it immediately. Keeping it is costing you time, space, energy, and mental clutter.
- Wipe down the kitchen sink, counters, and dining table after dinner. You’ll feel organized as you head to bed and when you get up in the morning.
- Load and run the dishwasher or wash the dishes after dinner. Dirty dishes are demoralizing.
- Quickly run a cordless vac over the kitchen and living-area floor. It’ll take just a few minutes, but will make a big difference to the way your home looks and feels.
- Check whether anything needs replacing in your kitchen, bathroom, or office, and add items to your diary, shopping app, or to-do list.
- Re-fill coffee beans and water in the espresso machine. Do anything tonight that will ease morning stress tomorrow.
- Put clothes in the hamper or hang them up to air after wearing, and put laundered or aired clothes away. Be kind to your clothes and shoes.
Doing these things costs a little time, but the rewards include being organized, setting a good example for the kids, having more energy and motivation, and feeling great! Well, that’s my non-negotiable, Neat, Tidy, And Organized list. You can start with just one thing, or a few. What’s going on your list?
Found another idea for #3 Faye and Jessica–my local area has online FB garage sales. One can post items for “curb alerts” and even for sale with caveat that it is for parts only or for DIY-ers
thnks
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I totally agree with #1. Thanks 🙂
I needed to hear 5, 6 and 7! We leave the kitchen a mess after dinner, because my husband and I are both exhausted after a long day and commute from work. This should help with our attitudes and energy! Thanks for the help!
I have heartburn with #3. WHY on earth would you donate something BROKEN? Is it magically going to work for someone else? FIX it and donate, or donate to someone who KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR, but don’t give broken things to Salvation Army, or Goodwill, or Purple Heart and others of that ilk, UNLESS YOU TELL them it needs repair; and they are equipped to handle. Some bargain hunter will take it home, and it won’t work, then get peeved at the organization’s thrift shop. It’s just a waste of everyone’s time!
I am totally going to try this! I need a lot of organization in my home!!! any other tips will be appreciated! 🙂
6 and 7, still my blind side, otherwise it’s all good!
Yeah sure, I have an espresso machine LOL.
Agree. mail an paper work are easy to build up and a bummer to deal with.
Well said Debora!
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This is soooo true, I
I will add one more thing to this list…make sure you deal with mail every day. If it comes into the house deal with it, dump it, or designate it for future action. AND make usre you have an action file or a system for dealing with mail that requires action. Mail clutter can be demoralizing too.
Great point! If you have my 7 Days To An Organized Home Office program we learn a daily mail process on Day 6: Habits.
Great point! If you have my 7 Days To An Organized Home Office program we learn a daily mail process on Day 6: Habits.
Great tips that me & my wife (especially my wife) can use. Getting tired of being the only “neat freak” in the house! 🙂
LOL Jim – it’s a lonely life being the solo neat freak! 🙂
Your 30 day weight loss challenge got me started in the right direction to loose weight, now it’s time to try the organization challenge:-) Do you have any suggestions for a husband who prints and keeps every email?
🙂 Eek Jean – the email printing is a challenge. I wonder if this article might help him think differently about email – eg the ease of filing/archiving rather than printing: http://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2012/07/how-to-organize-your-email-computer-and-technology-part-2/. If not, let me know and I’ll try to think of something else. 🙂
🙂 Eek Jean – the email printing is a challenge. I wonder if this article might help him think differently about email – eg the ease of filing/archiving rather than printing: http://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2012/07/how-to-organize-your-email-computer-and-technology-part-2/. If not, let me know and I’ll try to think of something else. 🙂
It really is the simple, everyday part that sticks, isn’t it? I’ve gotten into the habit of just popping whatever I’ve used into the dishwasher instead of caring about prewashes and the like. 🙂 The clothing thing has also been a welcome change for me. I love my three-bin hamper. LOVE IT. Sorts things nicely into loads.
I think the harder you make it for yourself, the less likely you’ll get organized. So yes Caterina – the quick daily habits work so much better! 🙂
I think the harder you make it for yourself, the less likely you’ll get organized. So yes Caterina – the quick daily habits work so much better! 🙂
I’ve followed this routine pretty much for years…. It certainly helps.
And now it’s a habit, something you hardly think about? That’s the goal, Charlene!
And, admit it…you could teach seminars on this!! Too bad that this is the one way that I am my father’s child!
Thsnk you so much…i will take this on board and make it my daily routine. I want to set a good example for my kids that i never had
Thsnk you so much…i will take this on board and make it my daily routine. I want to set a good example for my kids that i never had
My pleasure, Samantha. I’m sure you know all too well that your kids learn from what you DO more quickly than from what you SAY! 🙂
Didn’t Samantha just say she doesn’t have any kids?
I believe she meant that she wanted to set a good example (that she never had) for her children.