1 ) The assurance of knowing we can easily lay our hands on what we need is one of the best ways to be relaxed and comfortable in our space.
One of the most common goals behind our desire to get organized is being able to find our stuff when we need it. Sometimes, we find ourselves looking for days, or even weeks, for the thing we believe we should have been able to find in 10 minutes. Often our frustration level rises until one day we find ourselves pushed to do something to improve things. We might find ourselves buying expensive organizing systems we see advertised, watching instructional videos, or getting a how-to guide or goal-setting journal. We hope the experts can get us started on the right track...
As long as we have the drive to put the work into the process, these tools can help us. They give us ideas that we wouldn't have thought of on our own; and help us to organize all our things by giving them a home in a specific area of a certain room so that we can find them later when we really need them. But don't worry about perfection! Some people organize in vaguely related piles with baskets, some people organize items by specific type or function. Let your natural ways help you create a method that will be sustainable over time. And if you need organizing or decluttering support from a professional, reach out and call someone.
Because when we know where to find our things, it removes the stress that results from the sometimes-overwhelming uncertainty that comes with clutter and disorganization. It removes the fear of not being able to get what we need and, maybe, being forced to spend money we can't afford to lose so we can buy a replacement when we know we have what we need laying around…somewhere.
2 ) A safe home is a comfortable home!
Another concern that I've heard over and over again, is about how to make a home safe. Who it needs to be safe for will usually dictate how the space will be cleaned and organized. What is safe for an adult, may not be safe for a toddler. What is safe for a human, may not be safe for an active pet. The best thing to do is to consider what specifically needs to be improved before you begin your organizing project, especially if you have a deadline given by a family member or the city you live in. You need to know what the specific safety goal is to get there efficiently.
For example, I once worked with a very sweet woman named Beth who lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She'd allowed her home to get cluttered to the point that her grandchildren were no longer allowed to visit because of the stacks of things, and the dust, pet hair, and overall grime that had taken over every room. Her daughter said the children would only be allowed to visit after the home was made clean and safe for them again… and Christmas was only a few weeks away.
Beth definitely wasn't the most extreme case of hoarding or clutter that I've seen. But she had three dogs, half a dozen birds, and a couple of ferrets. She had a jungle’s worth of plants. She had multiples of every small appliance. She collected rugs, dolls, spoons, and dog clothes. And she hated to clean. The space was still completely livable for her and the pets; but it was not a safe place for young children. So, creating a safe environment for small, active children was the specific goal we focused on as we worked to declutter, clean, and organize her home in a way that she would be able to maintain over time.
3 ) A home that fails to be perfect, often succeeds in being comfortable.
Most of us know someone who always seems to keep their house super clean, super organized, and is super strict and makes everyone super tense and uncomfortable. I mean, seriously, we're afraid to sit down... or drink water... and forget about using the bathroom...yikes.
Perfection is rarely comfortable. It's okay to have dishes in your sink, dust on your shelves, and a few stains on the rug. Laundry sat in your dryer overnight? No Big Deal.
Spending time with the people we love or doing the things we love is much more important than keeping your space "perfect". Let it be safe, functional, and comfortable while you are being the real-life you.
HAPPY ORGANIZING!
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