What is possible for you to maintain over the long-term? Much of the future comfort of your space depends on your habits as well as the number of things you decide to keep. Of course, some people naturally love certain types of organizing: every tool on the peg board; all the laundry washed, folded, and put away; the desk in the home office clean; and shoes lined up in rows.
Some people like to own a minimum of things so that there is a minimum of work to maintain them.
But most people are hit-and-miss – great in one area and weak in another. We need to remember that this is totally normal. Embrace your natural style....just create new habits where necessary.
In fact, this is one of the best ways to help yourself reclaim your space and keep it organized in the years ahead!
Here are 11 habits you can develop right now to make life easier for Future You.
1 ) Get rid of extra items you no longer use: Haven't used it in over a year? Donate, Sell, or Trash it.
2) Avoid sales that you know will sucker you into buying something you don't need. 2-for-1 sale on super soft scarves? manual screwdrivers? cheap shoes? or my personal nemesis...cookies?? WALK AWAY....
3) Think before you buy. When you bring something home, does it have a logical and uncluttered place to live?
4) When there's something to be cleaned, just clean it up...no hesitation. Don't avoid emptying the vacuum or trash, cleaning dishes, emptying the litter box, or picking up the pile of stuff you dumped by the front door last night.
5) Clean something every day. Make your bed, wipe down the bathroom sink and toilet, run a vacuum, clean a table, do a load of laundry. Small things add up!
6) Clean up when you work. If you're cooking, assembling new furniture, or engaged in a hobby - clean up when you're done. Future You will be grateful.
7) Keep the things you value clean and accessible. Don't be that person who collects stuff like cast iron skillets or tools and then never uses them; but lets them collect dust and rust. If you value it, take care of it.
8) Have a designated space for things that naturally collect in certain areas. Put a laundry basket, a bowl for keys, cupboard for gaming storage, etc. wherever your family tends to dump these things.
9) Just Say NO to free things that will just become clutter later. For example - "extras" from neighbors, free samples, packets of soy sauce, free stuff from conferences - JUST SAY NO.
10) Consider alternatives to owning / buying more things. You could rent large tools; you could use an e-reader; you could get a gym membership instead of buying/storing exercise equipment at home; or just RE-USE things you already have.
11) Do a periodic purge of areas in your home. For example, clean the garage out every spring; clear the extras out of your kitchen every January; work with your kids to clean their rooms out when you notice it getting crazy in there.
BUT, we know that sometimes developing new habits can't be done without some support
It’s important to become aware of your strengths and weaknesses; and to remember that there is a wide spectrum of them. Keep in mind that when you or someone else is “pretty good” at something, then it can be considered a strength! No one needs to be perfect. You just want a general idea of what areas you are strong in and what areas you could develop some great new habits in.
You also want to keep in mind what to reasonably expect of yourself and the others who are using the space. If everyone can be honest and accept their natural tendencies, then it will be much easier to leverage each person’s strengths and support their weaknesses. And be nice to yourself and everyone else -- new habits don't happen overnight. Make sure you can commit to what you want to do.
Sometimes you may be able to support and motivate yourself and others just by reading an article or having an honest conversation with your partner. But there are other times when you might need consistent accountability from a trustworthy friend or family member, help from a professional organizer, or counseling sessions with a licensed therapist.
And, in cases where the clutter has gotten out of control and it’s too much to tackle with some new habits, even with support from family and friends; then hiring a professional organizer will be a huge help in getting everything back on track. These professionals have tools, experience, and knowledge that will immediately help to minimize and re-organize your space and support you in your efforts to maintain it over time. And if you need support of a different kind than your organizing professional can give you, they usually have someone they can direct you to.
This could include things like home repairs, furniture restoration, digitizing paperwork, customizations of your home, or recommendations for trustworthy counseling and mental health resources.
Leverage all the relationships and resources you can find to get you to your goal.
If you're determined to succeed, then you will!
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU...
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