Getting organized and simplified is a very important step to success throughout the entire year. It is not something that can be done in one day and it takes time as well as proper planning. Forget the idea of taking a day to get organized. Doing a little effort every day is what can make the difference and, over time, you can incorporate new habits into your daily routine.
You do not need to have been born organized to get organized. You just need to follow the simple and efficient ways that are mentioned below to get organized in 2018.
Simple Steps to Getting Organized
- Create a plan on areas of the house that need the greatest help. We recommend that you start by focusing on problematic areas like basements and attics that acquire clutter easily. This clutter can cause moisture problems to go undetected and can create bigger problems like mold and other harmful toxins. Starting in your problem areas allow you to feel the greatest success upfront and give you the energy and desire to continue throughout your home.
- The number one rule to getting organized is to minimalize and get rid of stuff you do not use. This is a great time to tack advantage of making tax-deductible donations to your local charity. Most local charities will even come and pick up your donations free of charge. It is also a great time to sale any unused items on craigslist or facebook marketplace to pay off your credit cards from your holiday spending spree. A great rule of thumb is to get rid of anything that is not a family heirloom or holds a great sentimental value that you have not used within the last 18 months.
- Simplify, simplify, simplify. Ask yourself questions like, “does this item serve more than one purpose?” “Is there another item in my home that serves the same purpose that I like better?” And our favorite question of all, “If I saw this item at the store today would I buy it?”
- Totes, totes, and more totes. Take a pile of mess and organize into categorized totes with simple labels.
- Add shelving, storage and ways to organize more effectively.
What to Do if You Feel Overwhelmed with Organization
- If things are really hard on your side, set small daily goals. Choose only three tasks that you need to solve every day and stick with them. If you can solve three tasks in a day, it’s better than doing none at all!
- Choose the priorities of what is most important. Many times you need to start with a storage area first to make room for things in other parts of your home.
- Create a daily routine to organize something in your home for 30 minutes each day. This will help motivate and also to create new patterns to prevent disorganization in the future.
- For larger organizational tasks it can easily get overwhelming if you try to hit everything at once. Instead, take one Saturday per month to focus on your more problematic areas that require more time.
- Checklists are a great way to see what needs to be done and prioritize. Also, nothing feels better than scratching off items you have completed and make you feel accomplished. Keep your checklist in small task items that allow you to easily scratch off when accomplished.
Getting your home organized saves your time, as it separates the most important from the least important, avoids headaches and makes you prepared and organized well before time. Organizing yourself well is like taking care of the tire pressure of your car. It is a necessary habit that can make everything else better.