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Cut the Chaos

I was recently asked to write an article on organizing for a newsletter at a local church (so honored I was asked!), and thought I’d share it with you on the blog.  5 simple and important things to remember in achieving and maintaining order in your home.

 Living in physical chaos can lead to emotional chaos, and vice versa. Clutter in the home can steal joy, time, and even finances.  Living from a place of order can help us respectably steward our possessions (and relationships!).

 Getting organized can be OVERWHELMING when you are looking at all of the chaos, up close, all at once.   I’m all about keeping it simple and real.  So here are five of the most important things I can think of when it comes to getting and staying organized.

 1.  Give every possession a “home.” 

I don’t know where it originated, but I love the quote “A place for everything and everything in its place.”  Everything in your home needs a place to live.  I mean EVERYTHING.  Make sure the entire family understands where everything “lives” too, so that the order sticks and can be maintained on a daily basis.  There comes a time when “life happens” and you have to let go for a few days (or weeks), but if you know where everything goes it makes the process of reorganizing so much easier.

 2.   Take an extra 3 minutes or less now to save you the extra 3 hours later. 

Make it a habit of putting things in their spots right away.  When you walk in the door put your keys, purse, mail, etc. in its assigned place.  When you take your clothes off at night, put them in the hamper.  If you have young children, take the extra time to teach them to clean up & put away their toys after they play with them (I’m still working on this one myself!).  The bad habit of leaving things “where they lie” costs tons of valuable time later. 

3.  Give your tasks time limits.  

Whatever the project is whether at home or work, determine a set amount of time that you will spend giving it attention.  Try to avoid the urge to multitask and jump into something else, give your attention fully to one thing.  Then when the time is up, move on to something else!  This especially helps if there is a project you’ve been putting off because you don’t want to do it, or you just don’t enjoy organizing!

4.  You don’t have to do this alone. 

Grab some friends or family members to help. Take turns working on each other’s homes! Outside perspective is so important.  You may consider hiring a professional organizer to help you get a plan in place, and even walk with you through it step by step.  We can provide space solutions you never thought possible.  I love when people unveil their chaos to me, because what I see is potential.

5.  It doesn’t have to be perfect. 

My home is very well organized, but it is far from perfect.  The above image is from my mudroom/closet that is not completely where I want it to be.  I have 3 young and very wild boys.  We are in the process of renovating and decorating our house (and have been since we moved in almost 2 years ago!).  We are going one step at a time so I have to make do in some spaces while they wait for their turn.  Also, I have 3 kids (did I say that yet?).  They are not robots (which I’m very thankful for) but I’m trying to guide them into the ways of returning things to their homes. The kids’ shoes may not always make it into a cubby in the closet, but I get excited when they at least make it to the closet! 

Do the best you can and give yourself grace!  One space at a time, one step at a time.  The hardest part is getting started.  After that, the momentum will carry you.  Don’t forget to have fun in the process!

Thanks for reading,

Get Organized. Simply Live.