The holidays are over, the New Year’s resolutions have been
made, and winter is in full swing. Many of us like to spend the weeks leading
up to spring getting organized so that the all important spring cleaning is
easier. But, a lot of us just don’t know where to start. Here are a few tips to
help get you on your way to having a place for everything and everything in its
place.
You probably received some gifts during the holidays that
you have no idea where to put. Every drawer, cabinet, and closet is full. So,
it’s out with the old; and in with the new time. A great place to start getting
organized is making space by eliminating everything that you don’t need or use.
A good rule of thumb that many people use is to get rid of anything that you
haven’t worn or used in the past six months. Personally, I like to apply the
rule to anything I haven’t used in the past year. That way, I don’t throw out
seasonal items I may want when that particular season rolls around again.
If you are someone like me who has trouble letting go of
things, you may need to use a two step process. When going through your drawers
and closets make three piles. The first pile is for things that you will
definitely keep. The second pile is for things you will definitely discard. The
last pile is for anything that you know needs to go because you haven’t used
it; but just can’t quite let go yet. Put these items in a storage bin and store
in your attic or garage. Keep them for six months. After that, if you haven’t
used them they must go.
Once you have weeded out all the things that are just taking
up space you will be able to organize what’s left. For instance, I like to hang
my clothes in the closet with like items together; so it is easier and less
time consuming for me to find things. One way is to hang all the dresses
together, jeans together, etc. Another is to hang like colors together. You may
not feel the need to go quite that far with your organization plan; but at the
least you should hang, fold, or stack everything you are putting away neatly.
That takes care of the inside of your home; but what about
those spaces like the attic and garage where we store seasonal decorations,
tools, and items we don’t use often. Years ago, I just packed my Christmas
decorations in various cardboard boxes and stored them in the garage. I never
knew which box contained the lights and which contained the tree ornaments; and
the boxes being different shapes and sizes never stacked well. So, I decided to
start making my life easier by buying plastic storage bins for everything
stored in my garage. I put seasonal decorations, extra linens, craft supplies,
etc. in the bins and label each bin with a number. Every time I fill a bin I
make a list of the items that I put inside. Anytime I need an item, I just
refer to my list to find out which bin it is in. I use an Excel spreadsheet for
my list which is easy to update anytime I discard an item or get something new.
The initial set up took some time; but now it is easy peasy. I cannot begin to
tell you how much easier this has made my life.
Once you have everything together that you don’t need
anymore, call a local charity and donate all items that could be of use to
someone else. Just because you don’t need it anymore doesn’t mean it isn’t just
what someone else needs. This recycling will not only do some good for the
environment; it will give you a sense of real accomplishment. Hopefully, these
tips have inspired some great organizational ideas of your own. If so, let us
know your ideas in the comments; and we will include your tips in our next
organizational blog. So, what are you waiting for? Get up and get busy!
