10 Habits of Super Organized People
When it comes to storage and organization, it can feel like the work is never done. In truth, it never is! Your home, car, office and life are always getting disorganized and thus require more cleaning. It’s a part of… well… living!
As humans we move around, use things, eat on plates, drop things and create dirty laundry. All of this is okay, as long as we stay ahead of the mess so it doesn’t grow and become overwhelming. Overwhelm leads to cleaning procrastination, which leads to a bigger mess, more procrastination, and the vicious cycle continues.
How can we avoid this? By making cleaning, organizing and proper storage an established HABIT in our everyday life. What specific habits should you develop? We’ve listed our favorites below.
- Organize First, Store Later
So many people, us included, set out to organize our lives and the first thing we do is buy an expensive set of colorful storage bins.
The truth is, it’s much better to organize first and then store afterwards. Sure you’ll probably find a use for those bins, but your money and time will be put to much better use if you organize everything FIRST and then buy the storage containers based on need.
2. Clean as You Go
When you use a dish, put it in the dishwasher. Hang up your towel. Make your bed first thing in the morning. Put clothes in the hamper.
Make it a habit to clean a little bit all of the time and to put things back where they live after you’re done with them. You’ll avoid the piles, clutter and mess.
3. Make Your Bed Every Day
It’s so simple, but it can make a huge difference. It gives you something to do every morning that starts your day on the right foot, and you’re guaranteed to end your day with a clean, comfy space no matter what happens.
4. Create a Routine and Stick To It!
This could be a morning routine, an evening routine, or organization routine in general. Making something a solid habit, and refusing to give up on it, will help you create the space for other healthy habits to form. Once one comes into play, others will as well.
Be realistic with yourself and you’ll reap the rewards soon enough.
5. Don’t Aim for Perfection
That being said, it’s not about being perfect. If you miss a day, that’s okay. If your bed is only half made by the time your toddler is tugging you into the kitchen – it’s all good.
Something doesn’t have to be absolutely spotless for it to be clean.
Do your absolute best, that’s good enough.
6. Things Live Where You Use Them
One of the best things you can do for your home’s organization? Designate where things live, and make sure they stay there. Better yet, designate that things live where they’re used.
The vacuum cleaner? Probably near the living room or kitchen. Bathroom cleaning supplies? Either in the bathroom or hall closet right outside. Items living far from their place of purpose guarantees lag in returning them to that spot, and thus the possibility of clutter. Avoid this!
7. Throw Away (or Donate) a Lot, and Often
This one is the most difficult to stomach for the hoarder in each of us, but it’s also crucial to keeping things in order. Purge a few times a year and get rid of anything you haven’t used in 6 months, and will probably never use again.
There’s so much freedom in this exercise, despite the potential immediate discomfort. Which items exactly? You know the ones – they’re the things you stare at all the time but haven’t picked up in a blue moon. It’s time for them to find a new purpose somewhere else.
8. Avoid Duplicates
Having a few duplicates of big items in case they break is one thing, but that extra coffee maker in the cupboard that’s about 15 years old? It can probably go. Duplicates are tempting, but rarely actually necessary. Toss ‘em.
9. 10 Minutes a Day
Small and steady wins the race. Dedicate 10 minutes a day to tidying up. You’ll find yourself in a cleaner, more calming environment and be more motivated to do bigger cleans on the weekends.
10. Garbage and Recycling Everywhere
Many of us underestimate how convenient trash cans are, but the truth is they’re pretty much necessary in every room in the house. Have them everywhere and empty them often. You’re guaranteed to lessen the amount of garbage left around your home that way.
Like any blogger advice, take what you like and leave the rest. Not all of these habits are going to work for every aspiring hyper-organized person. Pick what’s going to work in your life, what you can sustainably make a solid part of your routine, and make it a priority.
Let us know how it goes in the comments below!
