Helpful Tips and Ideas for Getting Organized.

Tips to Help you Get Organized

Are you a little overwhelmed and shaking your head because there are magazines scattered all over coffee table, the kitchen counters are so full you can’t use them, and the front hall is packed to the rafters with shoes, boots, coats, backpacks and lunch boxes?

Studies have shown that living in a cluttered environment can contribute to increased stress levels. Organizing and decluttering can have positive effects on mental well-being. Living in an organized home and living an organized life is so much more pleasant.

Home and Personal Organization Ideas

There are many areas in the home that need organizing and here are just a few. Lists are also a very good way of keeping yourself organized. I know the older I get, the longer my lists get, and the harder it is to keep track of it all.

These are digital downloads for a brain that can’t keep up with everything. (who can?) I don’t know what I’d do without them.

Use a Planner, Calendar, Organizer or a To-Do List

There are many tools to organize your life on the internet. Most emails like Outlook, Yahoo and Gmail have calendars, to-do lists, appointments and events reminders to help you get organized with options allowing you to sync with your phone and share with your friends and family.

I used a hard copy school calendar for keeping track of my kids events. A hard copy year calendar for vacations and 1 time appointments. I use Google Calendar for reoccurring appointments like clients scheduled for my cleaning company.

Regularly organizing and decluttering your digital files, emails, and apps can improve productivity and reduce stress.

Magazine Storage

I like to sit down and read magazines. I get some good ideas for decorating, craft projects and not to mention, I like reading a good article.

If you have magazines cluttering up space get a decorative basket or magazine rack to keep them in, but only keep the newest ones.

Don’t hang on to old magazines you’ve finished, this will only cause the clutter to grow and make organization harder to achieve. If you find a recipe or home decorating idea you want to keep, tear them out and put them in a file or binder then recycle the rest.

My daughter didn’t take my advice to remove recipes and other articles as she was reading her magazines. Which, if you have the time to read them, don’t you have the time to tear out a page or two?

Anyway, her magazines piled up over the years and now she has a ton (really!) to throw away. Now she regrets not tearing out the things she wanted to keep because now it would take valuable time she doesn’t have to look through them all.

Using Ottomans for Storage

Ottomans are versatile pieces of furniture that can serve various functions beyond just being a footrest. Here are several ways you can use ottomans in different areas of your home:

• Ottomans can function as additional seating when you have guests. They’re particularly useful in smaller spaces where you might not have room for extra chairs.
• If you have young children, you may want to opt for a sturdy ottoman that can be used as a coffee table.
• Many ottomans have hidden storage space inside. Use them to store blankets, pillows, magazines, movies or other items you want to keep out of sight but within easy reach.
• In the entryway, use an ottoman as a bench for putting on or taking off shoes. They also come with storage cubbies where you can put shoes, backpacks and purses.

When choosing an ottoman, consider the style, size, and functionality that best suits your needs. Ottomans come in various shapes, materials, and designs, so you can find one that complements your decor while serving a specific purpose in your home.

Organizing Kitchen Counters

Kitchen counters are a landing place for a lot of stuff. Not only kitchen stuff but stuff that belongs in other rooms. Here are some solutions you can try for getting the counters organized.

• First – clear the counters off and clean them – Aah, doesn’t that feel better?
• Group similar items together to create designated zones. For example, keep cooking utensils near the stove, baking supplies near the baking area, and cutting boards near the food prep area.
• If there is anything that belongs in another room put those in a separate pile and put them back in their proper places later.
• Store appliances, utensils, or decor that you don’t use regularly in cabinets or drawers. Only keep appliances on the counter that your family uses daily.
• Use containers to keep items together as this can prevent clutter and make it easier to clean your counters. For example, use a utensil holder for cooking utensils you use most, use a basket for mail if you read it in the kitchen and keep napkins in a holder where they are easy to reach.
• Consider investing in organizational tools such as drawer dividers, spice racks, and stackable containers for the pantry.
• If you want to add decor to the kitchen, choose items that serve a purpose such as a decorative fruit bowl.

Wardrobe Organization

The 80/20 rule in wardrobes suggests that we typically wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. Organizing your wardrobe to highlight the most worn items can make getting dressed more efficient. It can also suggest you need to go through your clothes and give away or donate the items you don’t wear at all.

How else can you organize your closet?

• If you have many pairs of shoes, consider using a shoe rack or over the back of the closet door storage.
• Organize clothes by work, play, casual, etc.
• Use hooks for purses, ties, scarves, or hats.
• Keep the current season of clothes up front.

Organizing Resources

This is a great organizing book- The No-Guilt Guide to Owning What You Want and Organizing Everything. It helps you develop a plan tailored for you and your individual needs.

Whatever your organizing issues are, you’re not a hopeless case, and you don’t need special equipment–just a little understanding of the problem and a willingness to plan before diving in.