How To Maintain Your Newly Organized Space
Disorganized habits to leave behind
There’s a lot of focus on organizing your home but no one talks about what it takes to maintain your newly organized space. Many of my clients ask if they’ll have to completely change who they are in order to stay organized? The short answer is no, but there are definitely some habit changes that need to happen in order to live an organized life. I always say being organized is a skill, not a trait, so with a little practice, anyone can be organized. Even your kids and partner!
You’ve organized, your home is pristine but you have to live your life, so how do you keep it organized.
The first step is how you organize
You have to organize your home by task so that the things most relevant to each job are where you’re most likely to use them. While organizing, take time to figure out where things normally get dropped and set up an appropriate place for them near the drop zone. If you have a counter in your kitchen that is constantly a dumping ground, make homes close to that spot for the things that normally get dumped there. The front door is the perfect example, between masks, keys, mail, bags, and all of the outerwear that gets dropped the minute you come in. Create zones for each item so that every member of the household can put them away easily.
Put things away as soon as you're done with them.
Instead of leaving dishes in the sink or on the counter, put them in the dishwasher or hand wash them right away. If the drying rack is your issue get rid of it and force yourself to dry the dishes and put them away immediately. Open the mail as soon as you bring it inside, and then put it away immediately, put keys, bags, and winter accessories away in their place when you walk in the door.
Plan a reset day
Every Sunday I reset my home, upstairs toys are returned to their spot, and toys that belong downstairs are put away, I make sure all winter accessories are in their correct bin, And after dinner, I make sure all the dishes are washed and put away and counters are cleared. This sets me and my family up for success each week.
Rethink your shopping habits
When you’re shopping, purchase with purpose. If your weakness is a good deal, don't tempt yourself, make a list, and only buy what's on it. If your household has changed, change the way you buy groceries the less waste the better. If you don't change the way you shop, clutter will build up again. I always tell clients, one in, one out, think of that every time you’re buying something. If you create a home for everything you own there won't be much room for new things so to keep your home organized you have to let go of old things when you buy something new.
Let it go
As Elsa says, “let it go” and that includes guilt when it comes to getting rid of your stuff. I am all for keepsakes, but they also have to have a home. Somewhere you can access them but that they’re not in the way. If you don’t have the space for keepsakes, take a picture of it and let it go. Go through your things a couple of times a year and get rid of anything you're not using or that no longer represents you. When it comes to paper, have a good filing system and a quarterly review of what you've kept, there may be opportunities to let it go.
Happy Organizing!
-Jocelyn
