As I make my way to a new client’s home, I see traffic backing up in front of me. Road construction signs announce they’ve reduced the road to one lane at a time. I’ll get through but it’s slow going, creating stress around my arrival time.
Disorganization does the same thing. It slows us down, causing stress as we waste time and energy searching for things.
Wasting time in traffic is often beyond our control. Wasting time at home is our choice. Here are five strategies to gain control—saving your precious time and energy.
Timely Tips for smooth sailing
LET IT GO. Tackle impacted cabinets, closets, drawers, etc. Let go of things that aren’t earning their keep.
Purge single socks.
Remove plastic containers or lids that don’t have a match.
Clear out clothes you can’t or choose not to wear.
Dispose of make up, hair products, cleaning supplies, and other items you've stopped using.
It’s magical. Suddenly the items you need and use appear!
CREATE ZONES. Store similar things or things that are used together in one place (shelf/bin/cabinet/drawer).
Kitchen zones—baking, cooking, dishes, glassware, kids’ supplies, breakfast foods, snack foods, etc.
Garage zones—paint supplies, gardening, auto, sports, scooter/bike, holiday, vacation, etc.
Craft zones—sewing, painting, scrapbooking, kids’ crafts, etc.
Whether you’re baking cookies, touching up baseboard paint, or packing for a trip, all the things needed for that task are together and easily retrieved.
KEEP CLOSE WHAT YOU USE MOST. Store things you touch most often in the mid-body range—top drawers, bottom cabinets, middle shelves.
Everyday dishes/glassware/water bottles/coffee mugs
Breakfast/lunch/coffee supplies
Leftover containers/zip bags/wraps
Daily toiletries
Wallet/keys
This may cause an exception to the “create zones” rule. You might store spices you use most often in the cabinet near the stove and move less used spices to the pantry. This protects your prime shelving for other things used frequently.
Rotate seasonal items like clothing, bedding, and sports gear in and out of prime storage spots. Beach supplies can swap places with snow gear as seasons change—keeping whatever is in season accessible while the off-season gear relocates.
CONTAINERIZE AND LABEL. Need something from the back of the cabinet? Having front items containerized makes retrieval easier. Are snack bars & bags floating freely in drawers and on shelves? Containerizing increases space efficiency.
Use open-topped containers for things frequently used—snack bars/chips, toiletries, etc.
Use lidded stacking bins for batteries, light bulbs, party supplies, etc.
Containerize bulk or bagged items (rice/nuts/flour/etc.) in clear canisters.
A label means that everyone knows what’s there and where things go at-a-glance.
CLEAR THE PATH. Just like traffic slows when objects block the road, clogged entryways and halls create hazards and stress in the home. Designate homes for things that typically land in these areas.
Hooks on the wall for backpacks/purses/hats/jackets
Benches with storage for shoes
Baskets for incoming/outgoing packages
wise words
Organization isn't about perfection. It's about efficiency. Reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money, and improving your overall quality of life. -Christina Scalise