Golden Rules For Getting Organized
1. 'A place for everything and everything in its place'- You may be convinced that there is no way in the world that you would be able to actually find a place for everything. However, this is a key step in helping to stay organized. If something is important enough to keep, it deserves to have its own 'place'. Once items have been assigned a home, it is easier for everyone to retrieve and replace. You (& your family!) know where items are because they are in their place. Conversely, when you check the mail, you can deal with everything immediately because you know just where everything belongs. When assigning an item a home, remember to assign a location depending on who uses the item, how frequently it is used and make the location as handy and convenient as possible, and use labels (or pictures to assist those who cannot read!).
2. Put it away and do it now- Often times, we expend more energy avoiding a task than completing it. Once you have a place for everything, you will know where items go as soon as they come into your hands. It takes just a minute or two to put things away (the same amount of time it takes to put them off to the side, only to be moved again and again…). Enforce this with family members- whoever takes it out is responsible for putting it away…now, not later. Schedule 15 minutes to de-clutter by walking through your home with an empty basket and collect items lying around and put them away.
3. Change your purchasing habits- Buy less! - "That's impossible", you say. It's actually a lot easier than it seems. It's time to take control of your buying decisions. We spend an excessive amount of time buying things, cleaning and storing things. Don't buy something that's on sale just because it's a great price. Think twice about buying items that require a lot of extra maintenance or only have one purpose, like kitchen gadgets or knickknacks (i.e. quesadilla maker) or souvenirs that just take up space… and require dusting. Take pictures instead.
4. Minimize paper clutter- Limit incoming paper by dealing with junk mail before it comes into the house. Cancel subscriptions for publications if they are rarely or never read. Ask yourself, "Can I access the information elsewhere?" i.e. Internet. Think twice before duplicating documents i.e. printing e-mails, photocopying. Also, don't bring home free brochures and pamphlets, read them on the spot and jot down notes in your planner or notepad of just the information you need to reference i.e. website, name and phone number, etc.
5. Adopt a 'one in, one out' rule- Before purchasing anything new, try to purge, donate or sell a like item. This can be applied to anything including books, magazines, clothing, and even kid's toys. Try to get kids into the spirit of donating lightly used toys or things they don't play with. This will also help prioritize the importance of items, is it more important to buy that new cookbook or should you hold onto the old one?
6. Utilize your resources- Do you really have to purchase the latest novel, or DVD? Borrow books, videos, and DVD's from the library, rent from the video store, or borrow from a friend. You can also swap, borrow or rent seldom-used home and garden tools.
7. Use it or lose it!- Do you keep tons of clothing that you know you will never wear again or 'just in case'? Do you have 40 towels and bed linens for 20 in a household of 3? Curtains from your last apartment that won't even fit your current windows? Tablecloths in the wrong size? Table linens that no longer match your decor? If they are adding to the clutter and your inability to locate items when you need them- they are costing you time and money! Donate or sell these items. If you are committed to using them, then do so. If not, donate or sell these items.
These Rules are guidelines to help you on your way to organization. Try to remind yourself of the rules as you go through your daily routines. Rather than trying to throw out all of your old ways of doing things and start from scratch- Try to apply the rules as you go. This will help you to create a system that you will be able to maintain.
Happy Organizing!
Related Tags: organization, getting organized, minimize clutter, creating organizational systems
Lauren Halagarda is a Jacksonville, NC-based member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and the NAPO- North Carolina Chapter and she currently serves as the NAPO Website Chairperson. Her local involvement includes the Jacksonville/Onslow Chamber of Commerce, the Onslow County Council for Women, Jacksonville BNI and Toastmasters.
To ask her a question or find out more information on organizing or staging your home, e-mail Info@2OrganizeU.com or visit The Organization Connection web site at http://www.2OrganizeU.com You can sign up for her FREE organizing eZine simply by visiting her website: http://www.2OrganizeU.com
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