From the Desk of Clearissa Coward’s Command Center/Divinely Organized
We all know organization is not an easy task. Some folks break out in hives at the mere thought of purging closets and junk drawers. They get all bug eyed and frightened when you suggest that maybe they need to toss something they haven’t worn in 5 years or gift something they have not used in 2 years. But the other OCDish folks out there like me actually enjoy it. And because we enjoy it, we like sharing the art of organization.
Because I think organization is the bomb, I am sharing ten of my favorite organization tips and tricks with you. Hold on to your seats!
- Can’t find your desk because of clutter? Why not invest in a scanner? Most printers pull double or triple duty these days. They are copiers, printers and scanners. Scan receipts and other important papers and maintain them on your computer. This will result in less paperwork and less clutter. Important side note…if you go digital, be sure to invest in an external hard drive to back up your computer hard drive. A very necessary step for the digital office and they are affordable.
- Visit your local dollar store and purchase an over the door storage system. As a matter of fact invest in several. Cut one in half to use inside the doors of your bathroom vanity (more to come on that in another post). They are excellent for organizing makeup, toothpaste, soap and other items that would normally clutter your bathroom counter. They are also wonderful to use in your craft room. They hold ribbon, tape, pens, cards, and many other items. And finally they are wonderful in the kitchen pantry to hold small boxes of cake mixes, and anything that will fit in the pockets.
- Practice Oprah’s rule of turning all of your hangers one way and turning them the other way once you’ve worn an item. If you haven’t worn an item for six months or more, donate or toss it. Also, buy one and replace one. When you purchase something new, donate or toss one item you already have. It really works.
4. Find creative ways to store your items. Sweaters on closet shelves by color, office supplies in pretty storage boxes, shoes, in creative shoe storage (there are many), cookbooks in a wicker basket in a corner of your kitchen, makeup in a silverware organizer in your vanity drawer. The list is endless. Just put your thinking cap on.
- Store all of those empty plastic bags you’ve collected inside a plastic bag storage sleeve. They are very inexpensive and can be purchased on Amazon. If you are not inclined to pay for plastic bag storage, try an empty paper-towel cardboard tube. Not as pretty but effective.
6. Invest in a shredder and use it once a month when you sit down to pay your bills. Many of us pay our bills online but we still have papers with personal information. Shredding will help to protect your identity and as an added bonus, shredded paper makes grate confetti for wrapping gifts. If you have the time, you can shred all of the colorful junk mail as well. Save it until you need to wrap a gift and viola, you’ve cleared the clutter and saved a few cents on confetti.
7. Personally I am big on filing. But I believe filing systems need to be personalized. If you have filing system that is not created to suit your personal style you will not use it. I suggest the Smead Viewables Filing system for everyone. It is the most clean and uncluttered look I have found. You can read more about this system on my blog. Whichever system you use, chose your categories carefully.
- I love wicker baskets and colorful plastic storage bins. Not sure how to keep your winter gear organized? Try storing winter hats, gloves, scarves and ear muffs in wicker baskets in the closet closest to the door. In my family only my husband and I are still in the house, but if you have children, try assigning each person their very own personalized basket or storage bin.
10. Finally, enlist the help of a professional organizer to help you get started. Once you understand the process it will become easier for you.
Divinely Organized
Bonus – start small. You do not want to bite off more than you can handle in the beginning. The worst thing that you can do is to start big and become over whelmed. I always suggest beginning with a small job (a junk drawer, a coat closet, a linen closet).
Read more on the art of organization at https://clearissacoward.com/divinely-organized/
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