10 Life-enhancing Resolutions for Your Most Organised Year Yet
A little order can remove a lot of fruitless frustration, so get your home and life running smoothly with these tips
There are many reasons why I’m asked to help organise a home: arguments in the mornings because of lost items, eating out all the time to avoid using the kitchen, parents feeling guilty because they can’t allow the kids have friends over, or they desperately need to use their spare room but it’s full of stuff. These are just some of the results of living in a cluttered home. Without some organisation of your possessions and time, life can seem more hectic than it actually needs to be. If this sounds familiar, follow these resolutions and make 2017 your most organised year yet!
I will remember to create zones
The idea of creating zones is to keep items close to where you use them. Rather than having things that belong to each other scattered around a room, try to consolidate them into one zone. Having a room sectioned into defined areas like this will make it easier to use and quicker to find things and put them away again.
When you’re establishing new homes for your things, it’s worth keeping ‘zones’ in mind. How are you going to use each item next time you come to need it? This will help determine it’s final home.
If you’re stuck for space, zoning becomes especially important. If, for example, you have a living room that’s shared with toys or a bedroom that has to accommodate a small office, it’s essential. Storing similar items together in a clearly defined section will help keep them – and the room – organised.
The idea of creating zones is to keep items close to where you use them. Rather than having things that belong to each other scattered around a room, try to consolidate them into one zone. Having a room sectioned into defined areas like this will make it easier to use and quicker to find things and put them away again.
When you’re establishing new homes for your things, it’s worth keeping ‘zones’ in mind. How are you going to use each item next time you come to need it? This will help determine it’s final home.
If you’re stuck for space, zoning becomes especially important. If, for example, you have a living room that’s shared with toys or a bedroom that has to accommodate a small office, it’s essential. Storing similar items together in a clearly defined section will help keep them – and the room – organised.
I will tackle my paper problem
Paper is the one type of clutter that requires a lot of discipline. Paperwork can multiply very easily. Mounds of it not only looks awful, it becomes overwhelming.
The only way to effectively tackle paper clutter is to look after it frequently. Certainly if you have a backlog, this requires extra time and effort, but for smaller amounts, a weekly or fortnightly purge and file is necessary to stay on top of things.
Keep paper in one room if possible. If this isn’t an option, create a well-defined paperwork spot in each room to stop its spread.
The kitchen is a good place for a ‘household administration’ zone. Seek out a good spot for a folder or expanding file and slot in papers you need to access quickly or frequently.
Paper is the one type of clutter that requires a lot of discipline. Paperwork can multiply very easily. Mounds of it not only looks awful, it becomes overwhelming.
The only way to effectively tackle paper clutter is to look after it frequently. Certainly if you have a backlog, this requires extra time and effort, but for smaller amounts, a weekly or fortnightly purge and file is necessary to stay on top of things.
Keep paper in one room if possible. If this isn’t an option, create a well-defined paperwork spot in each room to stop its spread.
The kitchen is a good place for a ‘household administration’ zone. Seek out a good spot for a folder or expanding file and slot in papers you need to access quickly or frequently.
I will create everyday routines
While many think routines are binding, in fact, they’re the opposite. We all do several of the same tasks each and every day. By grouping these tasks together at a similar time, you create a routine. With a routine, you get through these – usually monotonous – tasks much more quickly. Then you’re free to get on with the rest of your day.
By making a routine out of tasks you were doing anyway, you save time. You won’t have to think about what you’re going to do because it will be habitual.
Making the bed and opening the curtains every day becomes a ritual and marks the start of your day. It makes the room look good from the moment your day begins – you’re already onto a winner.
You can also create routines around the school run, after-dinner clear-up, or weekly cleaning tasks. Why drag out these jobs more than you have to?
While many think routines are binding, in fact, they’re the opposite. We all do several of the same tasks each and every day. By grouping these tasks together at a similar time, you create a routine. With a routine, you get through these – usually monotonous – tasks much more quickly. Then you’re free to get on with the rest of your day.
By making a routine out of tasks you were doing anyway, you save time. You won’t have to think about what you’re going to do because it will be habitual.
Making the bed and opening the curtains every day becomes a ritual and marks the start of your day. It makes the room look good from the moment your day begins – you’re already onto a winner.
You can also create routines around the school run, after-dinner clear-up, or weekly cleaning tasks. Why drag out these jobs more than you have to?
I will keep my flat surfaces clear
Keeping flat surfaces clear is the golden rule of organising. Flat surfaces are table tops, worktops, bedside tables and – your biggest flat surface – the floor. ‘Keeping clear’ doesn’t mean devoid of everything, just anything unnecessary – in other words, clutter!
Clearing a surface is a great place to start when you’re unsure of where to begin decluttering. A kitchen worktop or bedside table can be quick to tackle and yet give great results.
Organising your floor space will give you the biggest feeling of relief. You won’t realise the impact clutter on this large surface subconsciously has on you… until you remove it.
Maybe you have one large piece of furniture too many and could remove something? Or maybe you could zone the room better? For instance, make a clear division for toys, or a clear section for DVDs, video games, cables and other multi-media.
Keeping flat surfaces clear is the golden rule of organising. Flat surfaces are table tops, worktops, bedside tables and – your biggest flat surface – the floor. ‘Keeping clear’ doesn’t mean devoid of everything, just anything unnecessary – in other words, clutter!
Clearing a surface is a great place to start when you’re unsure of where to begin decluttering. A kitchen worktop or bedside table can be quick to tackle and yet give great results.
Organising your floor space will give you the biggest feeling of relief. You won’t realise the impact clutter on this large surface subconsciously has on you… until you remove it.
Maybe you have one large piece of furniture too many and could remove something? Or maybe you could zone the room better? For instance, make a clear division for toys, or a clear section for DVDs, video games, cables and other multi-media.
I will not zigzag while decluttering
When you’re organising any space in your home, you will inevitably find something that belongs in another room. In an attempt to get this boring job done faster, it’s tempting to dash off to that room and get it rid of it.
However, by zigzagging back and forth, placing every item you find into the appropriate room, you’re making decluttering more difficult for yourself.
Zigzagging wastes time and you’re more likely to get distracted in the other rooms. Instead, stay where you are and make a bundle of items that belong elsewhere at the door. Once you’ve finished, you can take that bundle and redistribute items back around the house.
When you’re organising any space in your home, you will inevitably find something that belongs in another room. In an attempt to get this boring job done faster, it’s tempting to dash off to that room and get it rid of it.
However, by zigzagging back and forth, placing every item you find into the appropriate room, you’re making decluttering more difficult for yourself.
Zigzagging wastes time and you’re more likely to get distracted in the other rooms. Instead, stay where you are and make a bundle of items that belong elsewhere at the door. Once you’ve finished, you can take that bundle and redistribute items back around the house.
I will think of the children as I organise their toys
Toys can take on a life of their own and become very messy very quickly. It’s hard to keep them organised and even harder to get the kids to do the tidying up.
The key is to declutter frequently and not over-organise any item your little ones own. Keep toys loosely categorised and always think about how a child would look for an item and what systems would make it fun and easy for them to tidy up.
Sorting out toys has to be about how the children will organise them, not how you would – this is the way to make it easier for them to clear the space at the end of the day.
Maximise established routines to help bring about a daily clear-up. For example, encourage children to tidy up just before dinner, or just before bath time. They are already used to these activities, and by adding in a quick toy-tidy interlude, it will become a habit incorporated into an already established routine.
Finally, use birthdays and Christmas as specific times of the year to do a big declutter. New toys are on the way in, so what can head out?
Toys can take on a life of their own and become very messy very quickly. It’s hard to keep them organised and even harder to get the kids to do the tidying up.
The key is to declutter frequently and not over-organise any item your little ones own. Keep toys loosely categorised and always think about how a child would look for an item and what systems would make it fun and easy for them to tidy up.
Sorting out toys has to be about how the children will organise them, not how you would – this is the way to make it easier for them to clear the space at the end of the day.
Maximise established routines to help bring about a daily clear-up. For example, encourage children to tidy up just before dinner, or just before bath time. They are already used to these activities, and by adding in a quick toy-tidy interlude, it will become a habit incorporated into an already established routine.
Finally, use birthdays and Christmas as specific times of the year to do a big declutter. New toys are on the way in, so what can head out?
I will use colour coding to make finding things easier
Colour-coding is a great way to help you stay organised. We recognise colours quickly, so if we associate the storage of an item with a colour cue, it’s simpler to deal with it, to put it away and to find it again, saving time.
Colour is also great for the organisation of our children’s items. Colour is more obvious to us than written instruction, so it works brilliantly for very young children.
Colour-coding is a great way to help you stay organised. We recognise colours quickly, so if we associate the storage of an item with a colour cue, it’s simpler to deal with it, to put it away and to find it again, saving time.
Colour is also great for the organisation of our children’s items. Colour is more obvious to us than written instruction, so it works brilliantly for very young children.
I will not use my bedroom floor as a wardrobe
At the end of a long day, it often seems easier to throw your clothes on the bedroom floor or chair than to put them away – especially if you have to battle an over-stuffed wardrobe.
While we all do this from time to time, avoiding your wardrobe and building up a mess on the bedroom floor will only lead to stress. The bottleneck is the non-functioning wardrobe and it needs to be working well for you in order to stop the clutter build-up.
Take some time out to declutter and reorganise your wardrobe. Remove anything that’s neither clothing nor shoes – books, toys, paperwork. Replace damaged hangers and fix broken rails or shelves. If you hate tidying clothes, hang up as many items as possible – it’s a quicker job than folding.
Once the wardrobe is in order, remember that tossing clothes to one side instead of tidying them away is procrastinating. While it might be an irritation to hang up clothes when all you want to do is climb into bed, putting it off will only make the job even worse when you do get around to it!
11 ways to avoid a floordrobe in your bedroom
At the end of a long day, it often seems easier to throw your clothes on the bedroom floor or chair than to put them away – especially if you have to battle an over-stuffed wardrobe.
While we all do this from time to time, avoiding your wardrobe and building up a mess on the bedroom floor will only lead to stress. The bottleneck is the non-functioning wardrobe and it needs to be working well for you in order to stop the clutter build-up.
Take some time out to declutter and reorganise your wardrobe. Remove anything that’s neither clothing nor shoes – books, toys, paperwork. Replace damaged hangers and fix broken rails or shelves. If you hate tidying clothes, hang up as many items as possible – it’s a quicker job than folding.
Once the wardrobe is in order, remember that tossing clothes to one side instead of tidying them away is procrastinating. While it might be an irritation to hang up clothes when all you want to do is climb into bed, putting it off will only make the job even worse when you do get around to it!
11 ways to avoid a floordrobe in your bedroom
I will start to use labels
Once you’ve cut through clutter and started to organise new ‘homes’, labelling will help. Even if you think you’ll remember the new places for things, the rest of the family might not, which is where a good labelling system comes in handy.
Organisation takes the thinking out of how you use your home environment. A label on the outside of a box immediately reminds you what’s inside. It’s easy to find things and easy to put them away. No mess, no time-wasting.
Labels don’t have to stay forever, just until the new systems become second nature. However, having said that, there are some great labels available nowadays, from printed to chalk to photo labels. They can really add to a space, and take your organisation to the next level.
Do you have organising resolutions of your own for 2017? Share them – or just your disorganised frustrations! – in the Comments below.
Once you’ve cut through clutter and started to organise new ‘homes’, labelling will help. Even if you think you’ll remember the new places for things, the rest of the family might not, which is where a good labelling system comes in handy.
Organisation takes the thinking out of how you use your home environment. A label on the outside of a box immediately reminds you what’s inside. It’s easy to find things and easy to put them away. No mess, no time-wasting.
Labels don’t have to stay forever, just until the new systems become second nature. However, having said that, there are some great labels available nowadays, from printed to chalk to photo labels. They can really add to a space, and take your organisation to the next level.
Do you have organising resolutions of your own for 2017? Share them – or just your disorganised frustrations! – in the Comments below.
An important rule for getting organised is not to buy storage until after you declutter. Storage does not solve a clutter problem, decluttering does! Very often, we buy storage thinking we’re taking control of our organisation, but unless you’ve decluttered first, it can be a form of procrastination. Storage is not a vital component of having an organised space, although it helps. So stop procrastinating about decluttering until you get the ‘perfect’ storage box!
Decluttering is the necessary evil nobody wants to tackle, but once it’s done, you can fully enjoy buying storage, knowing exactly what you need and where you’re going to place it.
Before buying storage, make sure you know what it’s for: are you stashing bulky sports gear or small, delicate jewellery? Having the item in mind will help you choose. Remember to measure the drawer or shelf you need storage for, so you get containers and solutions that actually fit.
Check out 10 ways to make storage boxes work for you