Organizing Tips – Have a System

Systems Keep You Organized

Your life can seem out of control when you have no systems. A system just means a routine way of doing something.

You might be told you have to organize things in a specific way, but if that way doesn’t work for you… then it is not a solution for you.

If you know what is coming up, and how to plan – then life seems more in control…. and easier.  Streamlined.

For me charts work out a system for me.  Seeing things written down make them concrete… and seeing them on paper, help me to straighten them out in my head.

What kind of system works for you?

Organization Tips

Organization Tip #6

Look Up! Use Shelves

Use that wall space!  I have so often had clients feel they have no room at all to place items they plan to keep.  They say this as they have three to four nearly empty walls!

Shelves! They can be so useful. You can put baskets or cubby’s on them to store items, you can use them for bookshelf space, memorabilia that is important, kitchen small appliances you may not have room for in your cabinets – there are a zillion uses!

They do not have to be free standing.  There are many varieties you can choose from.  Even if you live in an apartment or you are renting.

Organization Tips

Organization Tips #5

Clear Out Decorations at Holiday Time

This is the best time to sort through all those holiday decorations we accumulate. For some reason it seems strange to purge holiday decorations. Either someone gave them to use, or we think we may still use them one year.

If you have 4th of July decorations that you are getting out for the 4th – Be sure to look in that bin or box and see when the last time was that you used all of the decorations in that box.

If you didn’t use it last year for the holidays and you decide not to use it this  year, then donate it if it is good enough shape. If it is faded or broken, or torn – then either recycle or pitch it!

Organization Tips

Organization Tip #4

Use Clear Bins for Storage

I love using clear bins to store things.  You still have to label, but you can see basically what is inside at a glance.  I don’t have all clear bins, because I used to buy them before they came out with clear. But when I need new ones, I pay just a little more and get the clear ones now.

It makes such a difference when you go into the basement, or into the attic or garage. Being able to quickly, at a glance see which bin it is you want to grab.

 

Organization Tips

Organization Tip #3

Label – Label – Label!!

You may think you will remember where you put things. But you will save so much time hunting for things if you use labels.

It is your home. You can decide if you want labels or not.  I remember thinking it was wrong to put labels on my children’s dresser drawers when they were young.  I think my parents would have had a fit if they would see that I was putting some form of tape on a nice wooden dresser.

I worked in a home as a pediatric nurse years ago and she had tape labels on everything. Dresser drawers, cupboards etc.. I loved it!  It was like the “ok” for me to label my boys dressers.  It helped them to remember which drawers to put their clothes in.

 

Organization Tips

Organizing Tip #2

Use black trash bags for trash and white trash bags for donate.

When you are sorting through a room, you will end up with a big mess on the floor of your room.  One way to keep things from getting mixed up, or taking a whole bag of trash to the store to donate and throwing away that donate bag… is to color code your bags.

Buy black and white trash bags.  Keep your system consistent.  If you already use white trash bags in your house for your trash… then switch the colors.  Keep using the white ones for trash and use black for donate. You get the picture.

Organization Tips

Organizing Tip #1

Like with Like

When you are organizing, keep things that are alike together.

Don’t just fill the space with what ever you have in your pile to be put away.  Sort through and put all like items together.

For instance, keep all the kids games in one spot. Don’t have some of their games in the family room, some in their bedrooms, some in the basement. Have a designated spot for them and keep them together. Then there is only one “go to” spot to look for a specific game they might be trying to find.

 

 

I Guest Posted On Ellie Merritt’s Blog

I Did a Guest Post On Ellie Merritt’s Blog from NBC 4

Ellie and I are tight.
LOL No, not really – but she did post a 2nd guest blog from me.  It is called Spring Cleaning – Get Organized Tips, so I am thrilled.
She has her own News show on NBC channel 4 here in Columbus. It is called First at 4 with Ellie Merritt. She does the normal news stories for the day, but what is really nice is that she has a little more focus on woman and mom’s. On Mondays she rotates having on Marcy from Stretching a Buck and Tara from Deal Seeking Mom (local mom bloggers) to give tips on saving money, coupons and free deals. She realizes the value and how much the bloggers can teach, so she features us often.
Check out her blog called, Elaborating with Ellie and you can check out my post, but you can also look at the other information she has and learn a little more about her. (She is really nice)