Every now and then we feel the need to get our shelves, closets, work spaces organized. But every time when we do that, after few days it is all the same as before. Do you face similar situation? Do you want a solution to get little more organized?; or to help your family finding stuff on their own without asking ( i.e. making life easy).. Mom, I cannot find my black sock; or where is my coloring box; or I cannot find the paper that need to be send back to school? There is one answer to all these questions – start organizing stuff which means working with the space. Through this post, I am trying to give you an antidote that has worked for me.

 

Action Plan:

• Pick the areas to start with – kitchen/play area/work spaces

• Do you really need it (the stuff)?

• How can you arrange it tidily?

• Start organizing; work with the space

• Get into the habit of following your new project

The very first think is store things where they belong: For e.g your hairbrush should be in the Bathroom drawer and not on the bedroom side table or sofa.

• Labeling things: Idle for emergency items.

• Storage:

          (i) Same color boxes/bins: Looks neater & more organized.

(ii) Open bins: Accessible to young children.

 

       

         (iii) Clear plastic containers: Works great for school supplies, hair clips.

(iv) Card board boxes: We used Valentine box for storing snack boxes. They are big and wide.

 

     

      (v)  Decorative baskets/ Fabric baskets: Ideal when it comes to living room/public areas like entry way.

(vi) Trays: For kitchen

 

Things you can avoid:

• Variety of colors: I am not saying  get all new boxes. Try to match colors of your existing boxes to your best.

• Remember More space=More clutter; avoid over sized containers.

 

Do you really need it? When we moved to Houston, we realized that there is lot of stuff we haven’t used that much. You cannot throw everything is trash. Then what to do?

• Clothes: Ask these 2 questions, be honest – Have I worn it in last year or two years?- No? Will I wear it again?- No? You got the answer.  Maintain control of your clothing storage. You will get coupons from your favorite stores, emails about new styles.  But do you really need it? Don’t buy just because you have a coupon.

• Paper: Recycle

• Donate magazines, kid’s old books to the library. Or you can share it with your friends.
  

• Toys: There are places/stores that accept gently used toys. Lego, Board games can be shared with friends you are interested.
  

 

Another thing that has really worked for me a lot is the ‘Monthly Planner’. There are so many dates to remember especially at the beginning and end of the school year. I have it in my kitchen. You just have to update it in the month beginning and that’s it. You are good to go. The entire family can see the important dates.

 

    

      Remember, in any organizing project, your long term goal should be to Maintain the habit. Organizing is nothing but working with the space you have. At first, it looks challenging but later all will be fine. It’s like dressing up for dinner/lunch/meeting. We don’t dress up once and wait for our second meeting..:). While writing this post, I was constantly remembering my late Grand Father. He was one such fine organizer. His book shelf, his closet, his work place everything used to be so clean and tidy. We used to ask him for something, and he would tell exactly where it can be found.

     This was organizing in general. In the next part, we will talk about one of the most cluttered but yet important place – Children’s bedroom & Play area. The notion remains the same- work with the space.