Getting organized is on many New Year’s resolution lists, but some of you are looking around your homes and struggling with how to get started.
Start by writing down all the excuses you have used in the past for why you have been unsuccessful in organizing your home.
Now think like an organized person. They don’t let excuses such as a small home, messy spouse, or lack of fancy organizing products keep them from being organized.
If you’re disorganized, moving into a larger home may not solve your problem. In fact, you may find you are just as disorganized if not more because you’re taking the same habits to a larger space.
An organized person takes the space given them and formulates a plan needed to get organized. For example, over Christmas break we went on a cruise. The room was small, especially with four of us sharing the space.
Upon entering our room we agreed to divide the room into equal parts to help us keep track of our belongings. Each person would use one drawer, a closet shelf, a few hangers and a space on the shelf under the bathroom sink for our cosmetic bags.
Even though we were cramped for space, our room stayed organized because of the few simple guidelines we put in place at the beginning of our stay.
Do away with the excuse that you can’t be organized because those around you are not. You can live with a disorganized person and still be organized yourself.
Look for spaces that are solely in your control and organize those. Your nightstand, your side of the closet, a bathroom drawer, your purse or wallet, and your car are all spaces you can organize even when those around you don’t keep their spaces organized.
You’ll feel better and find things faster when your spaces are organized. Don’t let the fact that the rest of your home isn’t organized the way you would like stop you from being organized.
Don’t use the excuse that you can’t afford expensive organizing products. Let go of the idea that being organized has to cost a lot of money. Being organized is not about having a home that magazine companies want to photograph. It’s about being less frustrated when looking for things and getting out the door on time without feeling stressed and rushed.
Look for inexpensive items you can use to organize your home. Cardboard boxes picked up free from a grocery store and a Sharpie marker would be a great place to start.
Also, look for items you already have in your home that might serve the purpose. Many years ago when we purchased a refrigerator with an ice maker, I took the ice cube trays we no longer needed and used them to store my earrings. They are not picture perfect, but they work beautifully in my shallow vanity drawer.
If your home is disorganized, recognize when you are making excuses and come up with solutions instead. If you struggle with this, find someone you know who is organized and ask for their ideas.
When it’s time to take action, throw away the excuse list you created. That’s the first thing in your way.
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