From the Desk of Clearissa Coward’s Command Center
Three Basic & Simple Rules of Home Organization
A Cozy Lifestyle with Clearissa Coward
There are simple rules to home organization and getting rid of clutter everyone should live by to eliminate the clutter and stuff piling up around your house. It really is not rocket science, but the process can be different for each of us. But there are some rules that apply to all of us when we are organizing our homes and even our lives. In this article, I am sharing three basic & simple rules of home organization.
Let’s be honest. Nobody likes rules. Well “nobody” may be a bit too strong, because I happen to like rules. Rules and lists are my friends. I realize that may seem a bit strange to some of you, But the thing is, if you are serious about home organization, there are some specific rules you will want to adapt and follow.
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You will see how much easier organization will be by taking the following simple steps…
Home Organizing Rule #1:
“Touch it Once!” I know, I know, I am always preaching this, but that should tell you that it is an important part of the organization process. And that is why it is rule #1.
Shuffling things around instead of making a decision as to what to do with an item when you first touch it is not a good habit and is a habit that must be broken. This is a form of procrastination and it causes piles because something is being put off until later. It could be a little laziness, but more often it is a time issue or so we tell ourselves.
The thing is, and I am going to be brutally honest here, this rule will actually save you time.
For everything you put off until later, you are touching it twice or maybe even more, when it should be just once. You (or someone you live with) is procrastinating and putting things off until later. Break this habit immediately!
Why?
To save a couple of seconds today, you are wasting five minutes, or more, tomorrow.
For example…
You come home, throw the shirt on the bed because you’re going to hang it up, or throw it in the laundry basket later.
Or you shove it on a shelf in the closet and will hang it later.
Not Good.
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This is two steps when it should be one. Common sense? Of course. But few practice this simple rule of home organizing.
Touch it once. The coffee cup goes in the dishwasher, not on the counter, and into the dishwasher later.
The mail coming in the house should be dealt with immediately…not added to a pile where you touch it more than once for no reason at all other than procrastination. Toss out junk mail immediately and have a place for everything else. I understand everyone does not pay bills as they come into the house. And if this is the case, have a specific place to place bills until it is time to pay them.
Home Organizing Rule #2:
Keep things together that belong together.
Sweaters with sweaters. Shirts with shirts. One shelf for snacks and a shelf for cans. Take a look around a fancy clothing store. They are designed to help you (the customer) find exactly what you need quickly. Would that not be nice to find whatever it is you are looking for in a matter of seconds? Of course it would.
Grocery stores are the same. If these shelves were not organized, these stores would go broke because nobody would be able to find a thing.
Home Organizing Rule #3:
Organize ONLY one space at a time.
Work on one small space at a time in set increments and try and do it every single day. It might only be for fifteen or twenty minutes, but the key is to get something organized every day and make it consistent.
If you try and tackle too much at once, you will not get it done because of an already hectic schedule and because organization can and most times becomes a bit messy before you get to the gratifying end result. Incomplete tasks are discouraging and you might just give up. So start small and work your way up.
The smaller the task, the easier to complete. And the better you will feel. Often organizing something as small as a junk drawer or even your wallet can give you the boost in motivation to “step it up” to a bigger project.
If you have to do the junk drawer over a two-day period, big deal? Take two days to do it. Getting it done is the key. One small step at a time. I realize there is all sorts of advice for organizing your home. I realize that and I share them with you very often. However, if you follow these three simple rules, all of the other advice will be helpful.
Don’t forget to check out my eBook; Organize Your Life in 21 Days. It is available for download and has a variety of small projects to help you take on and complete organizational projects. Some you may not have even thought of. Get your copy today.
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Until next time…I remain in my Element – God Bless!
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Hugs & Blessings,
Great post – the 3 basic rules can help anyone organize their home. Pinned and shared.
Hi Carol. I agree There are many organizational styles and advice for each style, but the rules of organization are simple. Thanks for stopping in.