1. Look at the all-over picture of your home or hire a professional organizerGo through every room and decide what it is that you want to do with that room and write it down.
2. See if you can find any hidden storage areas in your roomDecide if you want to add another shelf in the closet, use the storage space on the inside of a door, maybe use under the bed storage.
3. Choose organizing products you like and that make you feel good Do you want to use Rubbermaid or are the items in a hidden area where a cardboard box will do. Using things that you like (color, size,clear vs.color) will give you a better feeling of a job-well-done.
4. Consider daily activities and routines in your homePlace items where they are going to do you the most good. Something that you use on a daily basis should not be on a high shelf. The vacuum cleaner should be kept in or near the room you use it the most
5. Know why you want to get organizedAre you doing this for yourself and to make your life easier and time saving, or are you doing it because someone told you to or your neighbor is doing it?
In order to do a job 100% to your liking you need to do the job right or not at all. By niot having your heart into it, you will get stressed, frustrated, waste money and not have a useable time saving solution to your problem.
6. Set long-term and short-term goalsWhat will you be happy with for now? What would you like it to look like by the end of the year? In this hurry up world, sometimes doing things a little at a time in order to achieve the higher goal is better.
7. Develop a system for paper, files and billsBy keeping on top of the paper filing, paying bills and keeping notes you will eliminate 20% of your stress in keeping up a household.
8. Keep your organizing simpleAlways remember to WORK SMARTER-NOT HARDER, take things down to the most simplistic form, it is usually the best way, easiest way and less expensive.
9. Learn how to throw things away or donate them Haven’t used it in a year? Get rid of it! Doesn’t fit or haven’t worn it? Get rid of it! Has needed mending for over 6 months? Fix it or Get rid of it! Get the idea??
10. Plan ahead and learn to save time If you know that you will need supplies and you already plan on getting them, make a list before you start your project and go and get everything that you will need. The job will go much faster because you will be so excited to see what it will look like.
Jan Hayner is a Professional Organizer and creator of www.organizingandcleaning.com, she offers tips, hints and shortcuts to everyday problems with organizing your home, work, family and life. She also offers shortcuts on cleaning your house, recipes for cleaners and tips to make the jobs faster and easier.
» left by gyni rimer from Lake Milton,Ohio (2 years 258 days ago.)
I'd like to subscribe--I NEED to subscribe but when I hit the area to subcribe ,nothing happened. I need daily tips and encouragement that I feel your site offers. How can I sign up? Respond to this comment
» left by Jan Hayner(4,582) Jan Hayner (2 years 258 days ago.)
The link has been corrected. Please click on the link. The site is filled with information on Organizing, house cleaning hints, tips for parents, senior citizens, baby boomers,kids and men. Happy Organizing! Respond to this comment
» left by Maria from CT (2 years 243 days ago.)
This article was verry helpful for me i am a single mother and stressed. Now I feel more confident in organizing mysef better and feeling good. Respond to this comment
» left by Jan Hayner(4,582) Jan Hayner (2 years 195 days ago.)
Thank you for your comment and I am glad that the article is starting you on your way to home organization. Being a single mom and working are two full time jobs no matter how many hours you put in. Remember too, kids LOVE to help. Even a two year old can throw dirty laundry in a basket. Just remember, the attention span is small, so you won't have a helper for long and it is fun doing things together, even if it is cleaning and organizing! Respond to this comment
» left by Jessica from MS (2 years 70 days ago.)
Yes, this article was very helpful to me...I was thinking about doing some organization using plastic bins and labeling them according to my life or should i say "our" (me and my husband) lives! I am, however, having trouble knowing what to label my plastic bins...as silly as that my sound! I just want to be as clean and organized as i can because i know that i am a pack rat and i have to get rid of alot...but i just need something to give me some ideas of how to do what all i want to do!! If you have any helpful advice - please let me know! Thanks!! Respond to this comment
» left by Jan Hayner(4,582) Jan Hayner (2 years 69 days ago.)
The best way to 'label' boxes is by using the names that you recognize or call things. The idea, is to simplify things so that in your mind, when you see the word you automatically know what is in the box without looking. Such as some people may label a box spices, but what spices are they? I have two boxes, one is baking spices, food coloring and extracts and one is cooking spices. This way I know exactly where to look for something and so does anyone else that cooks in my kitchen. Check out my website for many more helpful hints and sign up for the newsletter they will both guide you through to your organizing goals.
Jan Respond to this comment
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