Your Entryway is the first room that will greet you and your guests when entering your home, so it pays to keep it neat and organized. Not only to welcome your guests and convey a happy home feeling but also for yourself. Would you rather be greeted by a neat and calm area or a cluttered and stressful place that makes you want to run back out??? Depending on the size and layout of your home, you may have an entryway, or a narrow hallway or a large foyer, there may be a coat closet or none. Whatever the layout and size you can create a space that is aesthetically pleasing and functional at the same time. These tips are just general suggestions and you can customize according to your style and preferences or based on the space available. Tip #1 - Create a DROP ZONE What is a drop zone you may ask? It's a dedicated area in your home that house all those items you carry in with you or will need on your way out. It is most commonly located as close as possible to your main entrance. Think about all the items you usually need (and most often spend time looking for) before you leave the house, and what you bring back when you return. All those items will need a home, and that is usually within your drop zone. Examples might be a basket for gloves and hats, or a place to hang them on the inside of your coat closet, hooks for the kids to hang their back packs, place to hang or drop your keys, a drawer in your entry table for hand sanitizers, masks, sunglasses etc. Some people even have a basket to place return packages, and dry cleaning items. "Tip #2 - Style Style and beautify with plants, a "Happy Home" sign, family photos, a mirror, a vase with dry flowers or whatever else you like that makes it welcome you. Tip #3 - Season Switch Keep handy what is needed for that season, if it is summer, sunscreen, lip balm with UV, sunglasses, summer hats, masks, sanitizer, put away heavy coats and school stuff, take out beach bags, and park gear for kids to play. In winter heavier winter gear, chap stick, hand cream, masks, sanitizer, switch to winter bags, and coats, dogs coats and shoes if you have one. By keeping out only what is in season it will be easier to keep it organized and handy. Tip #4 - Furniture with storage Get furniture that has lots of storage purposes, even cube storage will work, as long as you have cube storage bins to keep things contained. If you opt for a table make sure it has at least some drawers. Another option with lots of possibilities is an entryway Hall Tree with a bench, especially if you have a small coat closet or none nearby, this will be viable for items you use often or on a daily basis, saving you to wrestle with your full coat closet. Even a simple and inexpensive one will provide plenty of storage options. Tip #5 Keep it clean If you have pets and kids it is important to have a place to collect dirt as you walk in, a place where pets paws can be wiped, kids can change and deposit wet or muddy shoes and boots, so your floors will remain clean and dry. The same goes for summer and items full of sand. There are rubber doormats for indoor use that look like trays and will keep all liquids and dirt contained. Most people use them only when weather conditions require it. If you follow these simple tips you will find it easier to keep your entryway clean and tidy with minimal maintenance.
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Disorganization happens and there are many reasons:
And there are probably a few more but oftentimes it stems from
These are harder to identify as somehow they help us cope with stressful things we don’t want to deal with. Working with a Professional Organizer can help you overcome some of these underlying issues. (If you don’t have it in your budget to hire a P.O., try to find a family member that can be there for you). It provides accountability, motivation, support in making decisions and completing those unfinished tasks you have been postponing forever. It gives you that necessary push to get it done and over with. One of the sentences I hear quite often is “ I know I would never do it if you weren’t here!” And that is because my presence provides them with accountability. When people hear the word Professional Organizer they either think about someone that comes and makes them go through all their belongings and discard ½ of it, or they think about perfect pantries and closets full of plastic bins and minimalistic in possessions! That is because TV and social media are portraying that picture. That picture is different in real life. Yes, I do have clients that love to have that perfect pantry or closet, and don’t get me wrong I love them too! I am a minimalist at heart and I love well coordinated spaces, but that is not everyone’s reality or wish. There are everyday people with smaller budgets and longer wish lists of things that need to be done and this is when a Professional Organizer puts on one of her other many hats and becomes a support person there to help you anyway she can. I can’t tell you the variety of things I have helped people with, for some reason people keep asking me for advice or assistance with many different things, I must look very resourceful ;-) 😅
Now these might not be tasks one might associate with a Professional Organizer but it is a daily occurrence for me. If it is something that is in the way of my client achieving some level of organization we will tackle it!! While most of the time my work focuses on bringing order to chaotic or cluttered households, usually in closets and flat surfaces which tend to accumulate clutter overtime. Once the accumulation reaches a certain level it causes overwhelm and thus the individual tends to postpone the decision to deal with it! Which is a natural reaction to something we perceive as difficult or unpleasant . Luckily for me I enjoy bringing order and clearing up messes. Closets tend to be a place where people put things and never see them again! ;-) Naturally disorganized people also have the disadvantage to think creatively rather than logically and organization is not something that comes naturally to them. These individuals tend to have lists of uncompleted tasks, piles of mail and bills, and no systems in place so they are constantly misplacing items and repurchasing them, only to misplace them again. I can’t tell you how many times I have found multiples of items within a household for this specific reason! Flashlights, scissors, razors, blow dryers, cords, I can fill bins with them. There have been times when the “goal” was to find specific items, like a missing shoe, a passport, a tax document, a pet vaccine record, even a specific shirt needed for an event!! Other times a good chunk of time is taken by completing tasks, especially when there is a deadline, like items that need to be returned or bills that need to be paid or assembling furniture and finding the right size bedding because guests are coming. Once there is a person present to keep you focused and accountable to, things get done! In conclusion, if the type of disorganization you are dealing with is just material, meaning your closets are messy, overstuffed, and you are not able to see or find things due to lack of time, or skill a PO can reset your closet to a place that is functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time, same goes for other rooms, but if the situation you are dealing with is due to inability to get things done you need the assistance of a PO that can be your push to tackle those issues, complete those tasks, keep you focused, and steps in when you can’t do it on your own! You will feel like a New lighter version of YOU! As you can see there are multiple reasons why a person, a home, a room might be disorganized oftentimes it has nothing to do with space, I have worked with roommates situations where the individual has a single room, apartments, and families with large homes, disorganization happens everywhere.
Some might deal with material reasons, too much for the space they have, sometimes it is a poorly designed space which does not provide much in storage space, but often it has to do with life and its twists and turns, someone might have to move in a hurry, might have an elderly parent to care for, have a baby. Or it might just be that life is too busy and time is lacking so the focus would be on the most important items on your list. But as I said before sometimes time is not lacking and it has nothing to do with material things, it is just a matter of accumulation, not only in belongings. An accumulation of unfinished tasks, postponed decisions, procrastination and that is a change that has to happen within the individual. I am not a psychologist so I am not familiar with all the intricacies but I have witnessed the change happening with a little support and a soft push. Even just being there and taking charge, finishing those tasks and lightening the load for the client will provide enough relief for them to want to continue and get things done, either with help or on their own. So don’t let things pile up any longer, it will just get worse, ask for help to get it done, it’s worth it. During the course of my sessions with clients I often get asked for advice about a multitude of things…. Not sure why?.. I must seem like a very resourceful person...lol…One client had a set of silver spoons that had blackened and tarnished with time, and if you live near the ocean like we do that will speed up the process. She asked me what we could do to polish them without using chemicals… and that reminded me of a ring I had that routinely tarnished when not in use and how I used to polish it with regular household items. So we decide to try it with her spoons and it worked, just to be safe we only did one spoon but she then proceeded with all of them. Inspired when I came home I went looking for my ring and as I suspected it had tarnished to a black color, so I decided to bring back its shine!! A bit of history on this ring. It was gifted to me by a friend more than 20 yrs ago, she brought it from Tunisia when she vacationed there and I wear it very often, but at times there are long stretches when I don't and that is when it gets tarnished. And here is how I did it, not to say there are other ways but that is how I always do it. The first thing I did was soak it in very bubbly seltzer water, (freshly opened bottle) I had stuff to do so it sat there for 1/2 hour. When I took it out it had lost some of the blackness but still needed help :-)
I then rinsed it with warm (not hot) water and dried it on a soft towel. And here it like brand new. Remember how black it was? I can't capture in the pictures how shiny and new it looks but trust me it works. I wear it everyday now and it sparkles beautifully!!!
When I tried the same process with my client spoons I did not use a toothbrush but a sponge (you can probably use a microfiber cloths as well) and it worked like a charm. She then proceeded to do the others herself. I don’t think you need a specific toothpaste as during the years I have used different ones but I used only white toothpaste. So if you don't have silver polishing solution or it doesn't pay for you to purchase some just for a couple of rings just use some seltzer water and your toothpaste...just make sure you don't use YOUR toothbrush....lol.... Photo by Tomas Lundahl on Unsplash Boots are beautiful! Boots make you feel beautiful!! But when they are not properly taken care of ... not so much. I often work in closets and I don’t like to see nice or expensive boots, especially leather or suede ones all crumpled up at the bottom of a closet but oftentimes people throw away the original box so they have no place to store them and needless to say... like a drunk.. they don't stand up by themselves ;-) Lately I keep seeing Boot Shapers advertised everywhere, maybe because we are moving into the cooler season. There is no shortage of choices in regard to type, budget, colors; they even have inflatable ones! If that is the route you chose to go I would just stay away from the extra cheap ones especially from sketchy overseas sites, you might not even be able to return them. Personally I have never bought or suggested one. I would keep the box especially for those you use infrequently but it’s your choice. The reason I don’t believe in purchasing these it’s because there is no need to waste your hard earned money and add to our plastic consumption. When you buy boots they come in a box that you can use to store them flat and stack the boxes, especially during warm seasons. Perfect fit! They also have cardboard inserts in the leg portion which is usually folded to fit perfectly to the boot and help it to retain its shape, even if you keep your boots at the bottom of your closet standing up under coats, or clothes by KEEPING the original inserts they will be supported and will not fold sideways. Best thing is they are FREE! Why spend money to replace something you already have? If you have already discarded all that, there are other options that won’t break the bank.
Give it a try, this way you will save money and save the environment from yet MORE plastic!! SMALL HABITS that WILL GET YOU ORGANIZED! CHANGE… for some people is not easy but it is sometimes necessary in order to achieve your GOALS, and the difficulties that come with adapting to change can definitely be overcome. You may wonder why I am talking about this. There is a lot of content about ORGANIZING but mostly it is about items you can purchase, about fancy ways of folding things, or “hacks” that don’t work most of the time or are so time consuming you would be better off just applying a few changes to your lifestyle. I am not saying not to explore any of those areas. FOLDING: if you like folding, sure give it a try but it’s not going to do much for a naturally disorganized person, I have lots of clients that do NOT like folding even the old fashion ways!! I have never folded anything in a fancy or complicated way and I have always been organized. It’s not needed. HACKS: I have seen remnants of those in multiple places, attempts to make them work but most of the time it’s just a waste of time, unless you like arts and crafts projects and don’t mind investing the time on something that “might” work. PRODUCTS: Yes, certain products are useful and do help when we organize, especially in small places where we have to make the most of what we have, but it won’t turn a disorganized person into an organized one. The pictures you see are all staged, no one lives there, it is different in a regular household, unless you are already an organized person that enjoys spending time decanting and labeling all your pretty jars, and remember that maintaining such a system requires more effort than a simpler one. Keywords for those that are not naturally organized are SIMPLICITY and FUNCTIONALITY. Keeping your system as simple and functional as possible is Key to maintaining it and making it work for you. CHANGE is the most effective tool in transitioning from a disorganized household to an organized one and maintaining it. In order to effect CHANGE you need to understand your main GOAL and appy those changes that will lead you to achieve that goal. Once you understand your goal you can figure out the small steps required to reach that goal, and change is probably part of one or more of those steps. You will have to learn to do things differently especially if you are Habitually Disorganized. The change will have to be applied to your HABITS. We are conditioned to believe that purchasing items is the “solution” when in reality it’s just a band aid, that will lead you to believe you solved a problem when you didn’t. It might be good for the economy but it won’t solve the root cause of your disorganization problem. Down the line you will repeat that mistake and purchase something else thinking that is the solution, but without change none of those “solutions” will make a difference. That solution is inside of you! It’s your WILL, to change what does not work and replace it with a better habit, better system, different way of doing things, it’s your motivation to reach your goals.
The best way to do it is by implementing small changes to those areas where improvement is needed. Start with one, work on it until you succeed then move on to another one. This way you won’t be overwhelmed and the chances you give up are much lower. SMALL HABITS that effect change can be as simple as:
Small changes like these will create big results and will give you a confidence boost. Once you conquer small changes, move on to bigger ones. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you feel you need it. With time I came to realize that the most “SUCCESSFUL” clients are the ones that are involved and motivated to change what does not work and committed to stick to new ways to improve their lives. Is it easy? Probably not so much but it is doable. I have witnessed it. Organization is a way of life, beyond color coding or filling your Amazon cart with organizing gadgets, it’s applying changes to your lifestyle and working to maintain them until they become second nature to you, nothing can be achieved in life without effort, it’s a matter of how much you want it. If you come to the conclusion it’s not that vital to you, enough to make changes then maybe your solution is to keep your disorganized ways and just hire a housekeeper that will keep your home organized for you, or a personal assistant that will do the same for other areas. Just be honest with yourself :-)
If you have different colors and style of hangers, switch to one color and 1 style to create a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing look. Consider the type of garments before switching hangers, velvet hangers work well with slippery and wide collar garments that would otherwise slip and fall from other hangers. While heavy garments like coats, hoodies or sweatshirts work best on wooden hangers or heavy duty plastic hangers, they often break the velvet ones. Even if you need different styles for different garments try to stick with one color, and keep it uniform within the category.
With both hanging and folded items it is always worth it to separate by category. Most often than not when my clients complain of not being able to find what they need in their closet it’s because there is no distinction and everything is hung together. Oftentimes small garments are hidden among bulky ones. It is very time consuming having to sift through everything to find a particular garment. Take the time to separate tops from bottoms, if possible tops in one area and bottom in a separate area, then further categorize bottoms by pants and skirts, and tops by sleeve length, color, season, or whatever works best for you. I always prefer sleeve length, I think it’s easier.
I believe in visual markers to help clients keep the systems we put in place especially while it is still new and they need to get used to it. Labels and markers are useful reminders and it takes a second for your eyes to see it and identify it. They help people to return things where they belong so the system remains in place rather than revert back to a mess. I make these myself for clients to use temporarily, and place them on the hanging rod to clearly identify clothing categories. Much like stores use them for size on Sales Racks. You can purchase these on Amazon in a variety of styles and even in colors.
There are various styles and systems and you will have to find what works best for you, but I prefer the Container Store option because it is well designed and sturdier than other options we have tried, which invariably break. It also allows you to see the shoes and the pockets are quite spacious. Some of the other styles accommodate only flats, and small shoes.
The one below is just an example I found on Amazon. There is much more that can be done with closet organization, from easy to major, depending on budget, personality, style etc. These 5 basic tips can be implemented by anyone with minimal effort and expense. Enjoy.
It is getting closer and time is running out, oh what a headache trying to find the perfect gift! Especially for those who seem to have everything... what do you get for them? Well, here are some simple ideas for people who could benefit from a touch of organization... after all that is what I do EVERY day :-) 1 - COFFEE STATION ORGANIZERFor those in your circles who love coffee and have a collection of supplies and gadgets and love to make coffee to go this is a great Gift Idea for their coffee station. It keeps everything organized and very handy from paper cups to carboard sleeves, mixing sticks, and sugar/sweetener packs it even has 2 drawers for coffee pods and tea bags should they love tee as well. It could hold straws and napkins along the utensils and maybe salt packets for those that pack lunch. I see the option to customize it for whatever a person needs are, maybe they prefer tea and hot cocoa instead, or like to make snacks and drinks for their kids. I think it can be adapted. Point is it will keep all those moving little pieces in one place, easy to find and organized. It will only require refilling. Of course it would be great if it could refill itself but I don't think we are there yet... maybe in the near future?? ... lol You can find in on Amazon HERE 2 - MEN VALET BOXFor those of you that have a man in your life that leave his belongings everywhere and constantly ask you where they are, here is a Valet Box Organizer that can be used on a nightstand, home office desk, near the entrance or in the kitchen, wherever they drop most of their stuff. It has a tray, a drawer and a docking station for charging phones and tablets. A docking station is simply a slot to place electronics while on charge, it has a slit for cords, but it does not charge the items for you, they will still need to be plugged into an outlet. It provides a place to corral those everyday items men carry with them and constantly misplace. It is portable so they can place it wherever they feel they might need it even on the coffee table next to their favorite chair! Enjoy your peace of mind and you are welcome! ;-) Link to this Gift Idea HERE 3 - DOOR KNOB ORGANIZERThis is a great Gift idea for people that Forget or lose stuff both men and women, young or old nowadays with super hectic lives it's easy to forget.
I have lots of clients that tell me they forget things on their way out, causing them to have to come back, search for them and often be late. So I did a little searching and found this gadget and it seems like a good solution. One because it’s RED and red signifies Stop! Pay attention! Two because it hangs right on the doorknob which you will have to touch if you want to open the door and get out…lol… Impossible not to see it and thus remember what you need to take with you. With the countdown getting down to it's last days this is a great last minute gift idea for a loved one that tends to forget and constantly comes back to get things, if it’s someone that lives with you, you know what I mean! They call you to check if said item is anywhere in the house, oftentimes YOU have to spend time looking for it, or even worse end up having to bring it to them. Do you recognize yourself here? In this case this gadget is for you! Having this on your doorknob will allow you to place things there that you know are necessary for that special forgetful person the next day, saving you some time and peace of mind. It would be best if you could train them to use it themselves though… new habits can be created. If you identify with one of those individuals that does often forget things and has to rush back and look for forgotten items, consider getting one for yourself or put it on your wish list for birthday or Christmas gifts. :-) Link to this gift idea HERE I hope these suggestions will resonate with some people out there and provide some relief in some cases... either way... Happy Holiday to everyone! It is the season for giving and with it comes the season for wrapping gifts… but do you know where your wrapping supplies are?? I often help clients at this time of year not only to get out their Christmas decorations but very often searching through the home for all the different paraphernalia used for gift wrapping, and that is because they don’t have a place to keep it all. I have found wrapping paper rolls in the most unique places... Although last year I did have a client who had all her wrapping needs neatly stored away in one of these organizers and I loved it!! So I did some research and found these 2 very similar Gift wrapping storage organizers that will make it a breeze to find everything you need, no more looking for cards, ribbons, markers, tape and most of all you will no longer find wrinkled ribbon or crushed rolls of paper. Depending on how much stuff you have you may need a different size, and they do come in sizes from small to extra large. The first one is from Hearth and Harbor and comes only in blue but has sizes from S to XL, with plenty of storage. It is also water, moisture and puncture resistant. The L size includes:
If you are the type that enjoys beautifully wrapped gifts and have extensive supplies this might be for you, if you have less one of the smaller sizes might suffice. The second option is from Sattiyrch and comes in Red or Green, but one size only, it seems pretty sturdy and is water, moisture and puncture resistant, it accommodates around 20 rolls of paper.
Includes:
In conclusion they both seem a pretty good choice, depending on your needs and color preference, they have good reviews and are affordable. I found both on Amazon and both are linked. I think it is a good way to organize your mini wrapping station and making it portable, should you ever have the need to wrap away from prying eyes… lol… Having everything in one place makes it much easier and saves a ton of time. Happy Holidays and Happy Wrapping!!! I previously covered Edible Gift Ideas for the minimalist in your life, after all once something is consumed it will no longer take up space in their home. But what if your loved one does not care much about food? ...Aside from Edibles there are other gift ideas that would make a minimalist happy if they are not enthusiastic about food related gifts. Below are some ideas for you to consider. Experiences If the gift recipient is someone that loves adventure or experiences with their family and friends, depending on their hobbies and preferences there are plenty of choices they will enjoy whether nature, art and culture or travel related . Here are some, but there are a ton more. 1 - National Parks Pass or membership It will support the local National Park and Wildlife Services, and will offer the gift receiver time among nature to create beautiful memories with whomever they will bring along.Most parks have discounted passes for elderly, disabled and military members so check that before purchase. 2 – Museum Pass or membership Maybe your loved one is not so much into nature but more culture oriented so a Museum seems like something they would enjoy. It depends on your budget and the habits of your giftee, there are plenty of options for you to explore, nowadays there are museums for anything from Art to Ice Cream. 3 – Airbnb Gift Card For those that love to travel and Airbnb is their preferred choice of stay, a gift card will be well welcomed. Vacations are pricey and everything helps. You can get these at Target. Staples, Best Buy, and chose the amount. 4 – Movie Theater, Netflix or other streaming platforms For the Movie buffs in your circles you can choose a Movies Gift card if they enjoy the going out experience, for those that prefer the living room couch there is always Netflix or a variety of streaming services they can enjoy. Discreetly find out their preference :-) 5 - Amusement Park / Farm I know they might have to wait till the warmer months but lots of families enjoy these family outings to amusement/water parks, something to enjoy with family and friends and again make great memories. Similarly there are also Farm experiences, either apple or strawberry picking, or enjoying pet zoos and at times great meals with family. The gift of an experience that can be cherished. 6 - Concert Tickets Everybody has a favorite artist and concerts are a great experience. Depending on your area, and what the gift receiver likes there are plenty of options, special events or shows that might be on their bucket list. Find out what they like and gift accordingly. Other Gift Cards 1 – Barnes & Nobles Gift Card If your gift receiver loves to read, a Barnes and Nobles Gift Card is a great option, they can purchase online or in store and spend a nice afternoon at the cafe` browsing books. I love doing that myself :-) The good thing is they can purchase e-books that will not take up space in their home. You have the option of a physical or an electronic card and pick your amount, just visit their WEBSITE to read more. 2 – Starbucks or similar Gift Card Lots of people stop at Starbucks and similar on a daily basis for breakfast on the go or just a pick me up mid-day. If you know what their preferred chain is, get them a Gift Card that will keep them covered for a little while ….without bringing anything home! 3 – Gas Gift Card Maybe the person you are thinking of is someone who drives a lot or has a long commute to work and this is a very useful gift, considering gas prices can spike up at any moment. You can buy gift cards online from the comfort of your home. Here is where you can buy ExxonMobil Gift Cards These are just a few examples, there are so many options for gift cards that I can't list them all, but chance is whatever you loved one is into, there is a gift card for that. There are more ideas to explore and I am working on it for a future post so stay tuned.
LET'S TALK JUNK DRAWER ORGANIZATIONToday I would like to talk about “Junk” drawers. My view is, there is no need for anyone to have a Junk Drawer, first because by labeling it “Junk” drawer you are sending a message to your brain that that’s what it is; a place to throw junk you don’t know what to do with. Secondly a junk drawer is not very useful, it’s just a disorganized collection of random items that you probably will never use because you won’t be able to remember what is in there or be able to find anything, a junk drawer is a place where things go to disappear and never be heard of. I usually find it in the kitchen, since that is a room where people spend a good chunk of time and it seems like a logical place to keep things you use very often, but they can be found in other rooms as well including basements. A “Utility” drawer on the other hand is a useful thing, and we all could use one, a place to keep often used items that we might need to grab quickly. Think about what you might need in the kitchen that is not food or cooking related, things like pens, pencils, keys, lighters, phone chargers, scotch tape, band aids, batteries, glasses, these are all items I usually find in such a drawer. If these are things you need handy in the kitchen then they belong there as long as you don’t treat them like junk. Create sections within your drawer to accommodate the different categories and keep like items together. This will not only prevent the items from shifting every time you open the drawer but it will keep them visible and easy to find. The easier it is to find them the more likely it is you will use them, and by using them often you will create a brain pattern that will prevent you from wondering where things are and need to be returned after use. This is an example of a Utility drawer that works for a client, after we identified all the items she would require for daily use, yours might look different depending on what your needs are. You can create sections by using small containers, either purchased or you can use the boxes your cell phones come in or similar, (I use them all the time), alternatively you can use drawer dividers that intersect to create any size section you might need. The picture below is just an example I found on Amazon. An organized Utility drawer (we won’t call it Junk drawer anymore) is a great use of drawer space which at times we lack, so don’t waste that space with a mess of things that no one can use, make it functional and everyone will find it easy to use. Keep in mind that a lot of the pictures you see online are staged and that level of organization is unrealistic and not sustainable or practical, so aim for what works in real life, tailor it to your needs. In conclusion, there is no need for a Junk Drawer, but a Utility drawer is highly functional and will make your life easier when looking for often used items in a hurry. SUSTAINABLE DESK DRAWER ORGANIZATIONI often encounter messy drawers, and that is expected in the organizing industry, and they are not always in the kitchen but sometimes in the office or Desk area. I have worked in drawers that had items so old they probably don’t even make them anymore… that is what happens when people have so much stuff they don’t even know what they have anymore or how long it has lived in that drawer, think Floppy disks??? Some people don’t even know what they are….lol… On the other hand I often see blog posts, advertisements and similar, especially on Pinterest that are really unrealistic and not practical or sustainable in the long run. Yes, they look great but would they work in a Real Household with multiple members actually living there??? I think not! Organization like anything else in life requires maintenance, and this type of organization is extremely High Maintenance! Most of those pretty pictures are staged to look good but unless they are for a Museum Exhibition it will require an extremely organized Household to maintain that level or organization 24/7. What often happens is that when a person sets his/her goals that high it is more likely they will fail, causing a lack of motivation to continue with the effort. Set the bar to Normal and you will more likely succeed! So don’t set yourself up to fail with unrealistic goals of unsustainable organization, think practical and efficient, think about your habits and what you need handy. I am extremely organized myself, but even I don't keep it to that level, it requires a time investment that I don’t have, and from what I see on a daily basis not many do.
What I focus on instead is not overbuying and keeping only things I actually use, if I use them often they have to be up front, and what I use less often in the back but still visible and easy to reach, If I have to go through too many steps to find it chance is I won’t use it and forget it is there after a while. Like for the Utility drawer use small containers in your desk drawers, they will vary depending on your needs but there are many options out there. Find what works for you. It is not hard to train yourself to be more organized, it will save you time and stress in the long run, probably money too since you won’t have to purchase the same items over and over because you can’t find them. You can thank me later ;-) |
AuthorHello, my name is Vicky and I am a Professional Organizer in NYC. I am passionate about anything related to organizing and most of all I fully believe in the benefits of it. Archives
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