We’re more than halfway through 12 Strategies for a CalmHealthySexy New Year. I hope you’ve found a couple of tips you can use to be calmer, stay healthier or feel sexier this year.
Today’s strategy is “organize something!” I started to call it “get organized,” but realized that sounds too overwhelming. It seems to imply that, unless we can organize everything in our lives, we shouldn’t even bother trying. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Every little bit of organization (like this beautifully organized closet) can help us feel calmer and less stressed. It just requires a bit of planning and a small amount of time.
Organization is not my strength, but clutter, messes and disorganization stress me out. So I’ve had to figure out how to bring order to my home and life without the advantage of being an organizing queen. One thing that helps me is doing a little bit of organizing maintenance every day – hanging up clothes, cleaning up the kitchen, removing clutter from the common areas, taking care of the mail and other paper. When I don’t do these things I regret it, and they end up taking much longer later in the week.
A second small step that pays big dividends is to “containerize” things by putting them in boxes, bins, pails or anything else that will keep them together. You don’t need expensive storage containers to do this – cardboard boxes, cheap plastic pails or boxes, and baskets you already have on hand work great. Use them to organize first aid supplies, toiletry items, toys, remotes, hats and gloves, anything that tends to “sprawl” and create a mess. I was surprised by the improved organization in my pots and pans cabinet when I started putting all of the lids in a cheap plastic bin that I slid into the cabinet.
My third, and favorite, organizing strategy, is to tackle one small project at a time. Pick something that really bothers you and work on it for 30 minutes – a closet, the pantry, the children’s toy area, the mail/newspapers/magazines. You’ll be amazed at how much better it looks and how much better you feel. Many organizing projects can be completed in 30 minutes but if it can’t, take 30 minutes tomorrow and finish it. Then sit back and enjoy it. In a few days, pick another project and tackle it for 30 minutes. In a few weeks, a significant portion of your home and life will be organized.
For lots of great organizing tips from a real expert, check out I’m An Organizing Junkie.
P.S. My friend Dottie shared this great idea with me after she read the post, and I wanted to share it with you – One thing that I started several years ago and try to keep up with is that I take one room every month and concentrate on everything to do with that room. For instance, this month is the kitchen. I have the entire month to re-organize my cabinets, wipe everything down, look for repairs and make a honey-do list for my husband, and clean the light fixtures and ceiling fan. If it needs a paint job I will do that too. After I go through every room, I start over again! This has kept me clutter free and the house is not as dusty/dirty as it was in the past! Isn’t that a smart idea?!?!
What is your best organizing tip? Please share it in the Comments – I would love to hear from you. I also would love for you to subscribe to Calm.Healthy.Sexy. by email. Enter your email address in the sidebar (under Subscribe to Blog Via Email). You’ll receive an email each time I publish a new post. Gaye
Adrienne Bolton (@TheMommyMess) says
Oh, girl. When I do actually organize something I feel great about it. I have about 4 things I need to get to! Starting with my son’s room!
GC says
Hi Adrienne – lol, I’m right there with ya! I don’t like to take the time to organize, but I love how great it makes me feel!
Thanks for stopping by.
Gaye
ladiesholiday says
I am right with you on one thing at a time…my next organizing mission= my pantry. It needs some TLC. Thanks for your tips…and for linking this up on the Photo Friday blog hop. have a great weekend and we hope to see you next week.
Cheers!
GC says
Yes, when I got my pantry organized, it felt like I had really accomplished something!
Thanks for stopping by. I love linking up with you.
Gaye
dedivahdeals says
Blog hopping – thanks for the tips as I definitely need this as evidenced by my blog’s post today! Have a great weekend, I’ll be in my closet!
GC says
LOL – your poor closet needs some help! But your outfit is great!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Gaye
Nikki says
I need to organize my house so badly. My closets are a mess. I just feel like I never have time. When I attempt to organize, I get overwhelmed and give up. I also hate to throw things out. I’m not a hoarder but I tend to hold onto things longer than I should. I’m going to try my hardest though to get in my closet soon and clean out all the stuff I don’t need and donate a lot of clothes.
GC says
Hi Nikki – It can be discouraging when you feel like so much organizing needs to be done. I just take one thing at a time and enjoy each accomplishment. In the past few weeks I’ve organized my drawers, my closet, the pantry, and the freezers. Not huge accomplishments, but each one gives me a bit of pleasure and satisfaction. Plus it’s much easier to find my clothes and to see what food we have on hand.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Gaye
Technicolor Moments (@techni_moments) says
Hello from the Aloha Blog Hop! I love “things to keep things in”- boxes and drawers and things like that.
technicolor-moments.blogspot.com
GC says
When I first learned about putting things in various containers to keep them organized it was like, “Duh, how did I not know this!”
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Gaye
Emz says
I’ve been cleaning everything inside my house and being organized as ever….i’ll continue doing this not just this year but for the upcoming years of my life.
GC says
It really feels great when you have things clean and organized, doesn’t it?
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Gaye
Abigail says
I’ve been trying to organize my home better. I’m not great at it but, like you, clutter and disorganization stresses me out. I’m going to try this and hopefully I will have my house where I want it in no time! Lol
GC says
Hi Abigail – I definitely advocate the “one step at a time approach.” If I tried to organize everything at once, it would be too overwhelming. I think that if you organize something, even just a drawer or a cupboard, every few days, you are making good progress.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Gaye
Dottie says
One thing that I started several years ago and try to keep up with is…I take 1 room every month and concentrate on everything to do with that room. For instance, this month is the kitchen. I have the entire month of January to re-organize my cabinets, wipe everything down (including the tops of the cabinets and frig), look for repairs and make a honey-do list for my husband, and clean the light fixtures and ceiling fan. If it needs a paint job (which thankfully this time it doesn’t) I wil do that too. After I go through every room, I start back over! This has kept me clutter free and not as dusty/dirty as it was in the past!
GC says
Dottie – I love this comment so much, I just added it as a P.S. to the post!
posh says
Great tips! Thanks
GC says
Hi Posh – Thanks for stopping by.
Gaye
messymarriage says
I’m not an “organizing junkie” but am glad to know about that site. I’ll have to check it out. And as far as my favorite organizational tip – I like to use fun colored or decorative bins to keep items in. That motivates me since I love beauty, but don’t always like to straighten. My love for beauty and keeping things looking good overrides my lazy side! ha! Thanks for these great ideas and the resource as well.
GC says
Hi Beth – I love the idea of decorative bins. They’re like a nice little reward for straightening up and getting things organized!
Gaye