by Ben Sissom

Created on: January 01, 2011

Organizing can be overwhelming so I recommend setting forth a plan on paper. What rooms in your house need it the most? What supplies will you need? How much time can you spare? These are all very important questions so you do not get frustrated, overwhelmed and decide to quit before you get started on your project.  

Planning to organize can be as simple as looking at your room, taking an inventory and writing down the categories you need to sort within. Example: Your home office would need files, file cabinets, a labeling device,

small plastic totes and office organizational tools. Putting your plan on paper will keep you focused on the task at hand.  Once you know what you want to organize, and the products you need to purchase, you can estimate how long it will take to you complete.

Rooms that need organizing the most are typically your kitchen, closets (yes these counts as rooms too), offices, and bedrooms. These are the rooms where you hide many of your items in “junk” drawers or in boxes that are out of sight, and unfortunately out of mind. How many times have you been looking for that one item and you knew you had just seen it but you had to tear through the whole house before finding it? Too many times is most likely the answer to this question.

Items that will help you get organized can be purchased at your local grocery or hardware stores. Simple items like plastic totes with lids, baskets with liners, or coat rakes can improve the efficiency of an area without breaking the bank.  Labeling devices can seem basic but the members of your household will appreciate you telling them what goes where, and not expecting them to read your mind. Happiness within a home can be achieved by organization. It might not fix everything but it will help ease some of the tensions of a busy household.

Time is a huge factor when planning your organization project. Not many of us have time to spare but if you plan out your project, purchase the items you will need in advance you will find that after the project is complete you will have gained much more than you invested.  If you only have a few hours to spare just do one closet. Your small victory upon completion will help propel you into bigger projects. Do not try to organize every room all at once, start small and work your way around the home one project at a time.

Organizing is just one part of the puzzle, maintaining it is the other. As you organize each location share your vision with your family members. This communication will help everyone live in harmony, and ensure the organization will last.

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