4 Tips for People Who Hate Organizing
We get it. Organizing isn't easy. It often takes a great deal of time and effort, so a lot of people just don't enjoy it. However, if you know how to break the process into small steps, organizing doesn't have to be something that you dread. It can instead be very rewarding.Organized items look better, function better, and make life easier. So, we'll give you four tips that can make the organizing process simpler and more enjoyable for you. You can do this!
1: Start With Small Adjustments
When you have a lot to organize, it can feel overwhelming. Feeling overwhelmed may be precisely why you might hate organizing. So, the answer is to start small. Doing little things, one at a time, really adds up and makes a big difference. Plus, making progress – no matter how small – helps motivate you to keep going.
One way to start small is to pick just one area to organize. This could be a pantry, a closet, a small bedroom, a laundry room, or even just a drawer in your dresser. Then set aside 10-15 minutes a day to organize that space. Set up reminders for this on your smart devices to make sure it gets done.
Organizing one small area at a time for a short period every day will make the task less overwhelming and allow you to make steady progress towards your goal of becoming more organized.
2: When In Doubt, Throw It Out
Decluttering plays a role in organizing. To effectively declutter your home, one simple rule is, "when in doubt, throw it out."
As you organize, you'll probably find items that you haven't seen in a while and ones that you rarely use. So, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" or “Would I buy this again?” When you find yourself debating whether you want to keep the item, getting rid of it is likely the best solution.
Now, "throw it out" doesn't mean you need to throw the item in the trash. If you find it hard to part with belongings, ask yourself, "Who might make better use of this item?" If you can't think of a friend or family member who'd like it, donate it.
This mentality will allow you to get rid of many unnecessary items, help you to free up some space, and ultimately make it possible for you to be more organized.
3: Utilize High-Quality Products
Picking the right organizing products will make organizing much easier and allow you to keep your items organized. The right product is simply the one suited for the type of items you are organizing. These can include things like drawer organizers, shelf organizers, containers, baskets, and more.
Make sure that you purchase well-made products that will allow you to organize your items easily.
You can also choose products that are both aesthetically appealing and functional, especially if they will be in a highly visual space. This allows you to beautify your space and adds some fun to the process.
4: Don't Procrastinate The Small Things
One big tip for organizing that a lot of people don't even think about is don't procrastinate putting things away.
For example:
Don't put it down; put it away. After you’ve used an item, take a few seconds to put it away when you are done. Note: Putting things back becomes easy if you've implemented high-quality organizers because there is an easy-to-access place for each item.
Find a home for new items immediately. When you bring new items into your home, make sure to find a place for them right away.
Complete small organizing tasks as they come up. If you find the bathroom cupboard to be in a muddle when you've come to brush your teeth and will only take 5 minutes to tidy, just organize it while you brush your teeth.
These small acts can go a long way in keeping your organizational system in place, and it ensures you don't have a build-up of items to organize later. This also makes the task feel less overwhelming.
You Can Do It!
Organizing doesn't have to be something you dread, especially if you implement these tips! In fact, organizing may even become something that you enjoy doing.
Simply start with small adjustments; when in doubt, throw it out; utilize high-quality products for organizing, and lastly don't procrastinate the small things.
Olivia Parks is the owner of Professional Organizer New Orleans and a home organization enthusiast. Olivia graduated from the University of Loyola New Orleans. When she is not organizing a client's home, you can find her at the local gym, outside enjoying the weather, or at Whole Foods.