Let me start with saying – I get it. Organizing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and it can seem like an incredibly daunting task. There’s always something else you can be doing, like enjoying a nice pool day or heading out to the lake. But at some point during quarantine I’m sure you noticed a few areas that are in desperate need of some reorganizing (all of this time at home has been a blessing and a curse!) Today I’m going to walk you through where to start with organizing when everything is a mess, and how to systematically roll out your organization projects.
Have a plan.
Having a structure in place is helpful for things like children’s bedtimes, classroom rules, but also for organizing! You don’t want to overwhelm yourself from the get-go by thinking you have to do it all at once and give up before you’ve really begun. Start by prioritizing the areas of your home that need the most work. I always suggest tackling the common areas and storage/organizing spaces first, and then making your way through the smaller or more private areas of your home that will naturally have less eyes on them. Here’s my suggested list, in order of what to work on first through last:
I don’t suggest or expect you to do all of this organizing in one day. Please, for your own sanity, space it out. Prioritize 2-3 rooms you can get organized that will give you the greatest sense of accomplishment and relief, ultimately making your daily life less stressful.
Prep your spaces.
Earlier I mentioned that you should have your organizing spaces prepared to take on the job of decluttering other areas. In order to be ready to do this, you must first declutter this space! Take everything out and create keep and toss piles. I always find that I’ve been holding onto expired medicine, makeup I no longer use, and mismatched towels that I don’t need – now’s the perfect time to get rid of them! I’m a big fan of using clear bins with labels so that everything is easily found without having to rifle through each box. Here are some traditional bins that are great for a variety of uses, or if you plan on stacking yours you may want to try these. If you have a smaller space with less storage, utilize the vertical space by hanging a clear shoe rack on the back of the door (the side that guests won’t see) and use the pockets for organizing smaller items like cleaning supplies, chargers, kid’s toys, lint rollers, etc. Don’t forget to dust and wipe down all of your shelves and doors before placing your freshly organized bins back in place!
Now that you have your to-do list laid out and prioritized, and you’ve prepped your storage spaces to be the ultimate organization stations, you’re ready to get started with organizing when everything is a mess! Take on each space one at a time, as to not overwhelm yourself, and you’ll be flying through your home organization in no time.
Stay tuned for more tips on tackling this big task! If you have any suggestions of your own, please share them with us in the comments below. As always, if you need help organizing your home, office, or other space, feel free to reach out to us at info@sortedout.com. We would be honored to help!
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Tonia
