If you've ever put in the effort to organize a space— or hired a professional to help - whether it's your closet, garage, or office filing system—you know how rewarding it feels to see everything neatly in place. But the real challenge often begins after the last item is tucked away: maintaining that pristine order.
As a professional organizer, I'm here to guide you through setting up simple, sustainable systems to keep your spaces organized long after the initial tidying up is done. Here are my top five tips for maintaining an organized space on a daily basis, along with some weekly, monthly, and yearly strategies to ensure you continue to live in harmony with your environment.
1. Establish Home Zones
Everything in your home or office needs a logical "home." This means designating specific spots for different categories of items. For example, decide if you're someone who prefers all paper towels stored in one central location or if having a roll under the sink in each room makes more sense for your lifestyle. Understanding your habits and preferences is key to creating an intuitive system that you will naturally follow.
2. Embrace the "One In, One Out" Rule
To prevent clutter from accumulating again, adopt the "one in, one out" rule. Every time a new item comes into your space, make it a habit to let go of another, preferably similar, item. This is particularly useful for wardrobes, children's toys, and kitchen gadgets.
3. Daily Five-Minute Resets
Make it a fun family habit to do a "five-minute cleanup" at a set time each day, perhaps right before dinner or bedtime. Setting a timer and turning it into a game can motivate children to participate. This not only keeps your home tidy but also teaches kids the importance of putting things back where they belong.
If you live alone, challenge yourself to tackle any “ugh” chore, one bite at a time and get organized. So, if that pile of paper you’ve been ignoring for the last month starts calling your name again, set a timer for five minutes to just get started on it…chances are once you are in it, you’ll want to complete it or you’ll have made at least some progress on it.
4. Weekly Walk-Throughs
Once a week, take a few minutes to walk through your main living spaces. This isn’t the time for deep cleaning but rather for a quick reset to ensure everything is where it should be. Adjust as necessary, and you'll prevent small messes from becoming bigger organizational challenges.
I like to do a room “reset” periodically, where I take a few minutes to put everything back in its rightful place. For the living room this might look like fluffing the pillows on the couch, putting the phone back in its charger cradle, moving the remote back to the coffee table in its “spot”, rolling the ottoman to its proper place, and straightening out the living room throw rugs. You could also do this same kind of “reset” with your desk, the refrigerator, the entry way table, and more.
5. Schedule Regular Decluttering Sessions
On a monthly and yearly basis, set aside longer periods of time for more thorough organizing. This might mean going through your wardrobe at the change of seasons, checking your pantry before it gets overcrowded, or doing a yearly sweep of your garage. These regular check-ins will help you stay on top of clutter before it starts to take over your space again.
Maintaining Organization and Peace of Mind
Remember, maintaining organization isn't about perfection; it's about creating a living space that reflects and supports your lifestyle. It's also about understanding that organization is not a one-size-fits-all scenario.
As a professional organizer, my role is to listen and observe how you use your space and then craft a system that aligns with your daily life. Even if organization doesn't come naturally to you, everyone can achieve and maintain an orderly environment with the right guidance and systems in place. Implementing even a few of my simple strategies will not only keep your physical space tidy but also bring a greater sense of calm and efficiency to your daily life. Let's keep making space for what truly matters!
Together, we can turn the challenge of maintaining an organized home into a rewarding part of your everyday routine. Remember, a little effort goes a long way in keeping your sanctuary serene. Sign up today for a free consultation and get started!
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