One of the best skills anyone can learn is the skill to get your house organized and keep it that way. The idea of getting organized can easily intimidate anyone but if you take it one step at a time your home and life will run that much smoother.
Organized Home
- Use Baskets and Cubbies – Build cubbies or use beautiful wicker baskets to collect the things that get misplaced around the house. I like to keep a basket upstairs and downstairs of misplaced items that anyone can grab and put away as they go to their rooms.
- Everything Has a Home – As you organize your home, put things in logical places that make sense. For example, coffee mugs should be stored near your coffee maker, and utensils by the dinnerware.
- Clean as You Go – Clutter is the number one reason a home looks dirty; not actual dirt. Whenever you do anything, clean as you go instead of leaving things out.
- Make Your Bed Right Away – Believe it or not, getting up and making your bed will start your day off right. This simple task will transform your room and set you up for success the whole day.
- Keep a Running List – Put a pad of paper or dry-erase sticker on your fridge. When you run out of anything, write it down. This will help you easily create a list when you're headed to the store.
Organized Events and Appointments
- Sync Calendars – We use Google Calendar to sync our family schedule, that way we can easily keep track of dates and we all know what everyone is doing. This makes school and sports responsibilities easier as we know if it is possible to make an event or volunteer.
- Schedule Fun and Work – We have a tendency to only schedule “important” dates such as doctor’s appointments or work. But, it’s also important to schedule fun time, date nights, one-on-one time with your children, and so on. This way there are no excuses!
Organized Car
- Get a Trash Bucket – Keep trash in its place especially while on road trips. You can easily dump the bucket when you get home or on garbage day. Habits and routines are the key to keeping clean and organized.
- Get a Dash Mount for Electronics – A mount for your phone and/or GPS will help keep everything well organized. You’ll always know right where your phone is, and you’ll be able to see your GPS easier.
Organized Office
- Create a Filing System – Deal with paper only once. When you get mail, put it in the “in box”. When you touch it, make sure you open it and deal with it immediately, recycling what you don’t need and filing the rest away either digitally or in paper copies.
- Keep Bills Organized – Get a numbered, slotted organizer; put the bills in there in the order you need to pay them. I do this digitally and everything is set up to automatically pay itself, I just keep a note when I get the bills in my inbox and how much they'll be that way I won't be surprised when the payment is taken out.
Creating systems might feel strange at first, but after just a few weeks it will become second nature. You’ll be able to get more done because you’re not spending your time finding missing paperwork, cleaning up messes, or knowing how to have an appointment. I hope these organization hacks help you get and stay organized.