Not every organization project needs to take days and dollars to complete. Actually, many cost absolutely nothing and can take just minutes and such a small investment can still yield a huge return.
Here’s how.
1. Set aside 15 minutes.
2. Pick one small place in your house. A place you use often – a place where, if it functioned well, you would benefit from that function often. And think small - one drawer or a shelf.
For my 15 minute project I chose our kitchen’s miscellaneous drawer. There was a lot going on in that drawer, and with the four of us in it, multiple times a day, most of what was going on was sorting through its mess.
3. Empty the contents of the area you picked. Get everything out. You want a blank slate.
4. Clean the area.
5. Go through the stuff you took out and get rid of what you don’t use. Really. Get rid of it. It takes up space and prevents you from getting to what you do use. Be ruthless. Keep telling yourself, “If you don’t use. Lose it.”
6. Sort what is left and group these items by function.
7. Now look at the number of groups you have and the space it’s going back into. Look for a logical order. Put like things together. Napkins by the napkin rings. Candles next to candle holders.
8. Return the items back to the clean area in the order you established in Step 7.
You now have a clean space, occupied only by the things you use, placed in an order that makes sense to you.
A place for everything, and everything in its place.
You have achieved organizational success!
Congratulations!
Now, each and every time you go to this frequently used small space you will be rewarded with a sense of success, a sense of achievement and you will be able to find what you have without aggravation. Yay!
Just a few days ago my husband opened the drawer I organized and he said “I love this drawer.”
Kinda weird.
I know.
But he was reacting to how good it feels to be organized.
And maybe, just maybe, that feel good feeling will help you set aside another 15 minutes and do another small section of your home. How cool is that!
So pick a place, turn on some music and have fun getting organized. You can do it!
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p.s. The laundry room doors are on! Click here to see the Laundry Room Redo.
Its taking the small step…just one small, seemingly insignificant step…but just that ONE accomplishment is all you sometimes need…good post. Inspiring me {looking around my space for a project}
Do it girl! And when you do, post a photo, I would love to see it!
Being that we are forced inside more during the cold months, it is a great time to knock out these tasks. I would add that I have had an easier time letting go of things since my local dog shelter opened its’ resale shop. I get rid of unused things and support the shelter at the same time. Double win.
You are absolutely right. Being able to donate unneeded stuff to help pups, well that is about the greatest idea ever!!!
This was really helpful. I realized that I usually skip steps 6 and 7. Instead I’ll put stuff away by shape and size so it looks pleasing.
Which, you know, not necessarily useful.
So glad the post helped you. You will soon see organizing by function will be pleasing every time you find something with ease, and then the eye will follow, and the new sense of order will become visually pleasing as well. Form ever follows function! Ah, Louis Sullivan was indeed a genius. Happy organizing!
p.s. Because I like it so much, here is the Sullivan quote in its entirety…
It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic,
Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human and all things super-human,
Of all true manifestations of the head,
Of the heart, of the soul,
That the life is recognizable in its expression,
That form ever follows function. This is the law.
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I like the concept of organization. It is keeping it in its organized state that can be the challenge
I am going to take that as a challenge! (a good challenge) I will do a follow-up post on this drawer in two months, to show once you organize and just take a second as you go along to put things back it can stay organized. I shall mark it in my calendar! Hope you are doing well.
I look forward to this. I love follow-up stories
Oh, and you JUST HAVE TO SEE MY CLOSET. It’s incredible, it’s not crammed with junk I don’t wear anymore, and I can see everything and because it feels so nice to be able to do that, I actually put the clothes back where I found them. 47 years and I am just now discovering this!!! I was lost, but now am found!
So, is this organization kick a new thing or something that has lain dormant and is finally finding an outlet? Regardless, it is very empowering, isn’t it?
You could run workshops, you know
I thought the organization gene skipped my generation, but apparently it has just been dormant. When we got home from our Christmas trip, a day of dodging blizzards and tornadoes, yes, all in an 11 hour drive, I was just so glad to be home, I never wanted to leave again. And in my pleasure I wanted to make my beloved home wonderful, since I never wanted to leave it again! So now I am on this kick, and it’s really rather fun. Oh my god, I’ve just become my mother!!!
Ha! Ah, genetics
It’s like a military dictatorship, if you can’t beat ‘em, at least join the party and get some of the kickbacks… or something like that (?)
Well, now I know what I need to get myself organized. A dance with Nature and her infinite power. Of course, I need to get myself a real home first!…
Oh my gosh, when you wrote “Join the party” I have to take a photo of the poster we got for Ted. Oh how I hope you appreciate nerd humor, if you don’t you will think us weird. (Come to think of it, perhaps you already do!) When I saw this poster at a college poster shop I was like, “Ted will love this!” Which of course, he did. When we dropped it off at the framer’s to get it drymounted the young lady who worked there looked at it and was like, “I don’t get it.” Ted explained to her who was in the poster and still she didn’t have a clue. Anyway, I babble. We just picked it up today and it’s not hung yet, but I will stop typing and go take a photo and email it to you if that’s okay. You know what, I just had 4 chocolate chip cookies and I think I am sugar buzzing. I guess I should not sugar buzz and comment!
LOVE IT – note to self: must get one for myself
secondary note: how can one get through school and not recognize the faces of the most infamous dictators on the planet….?
This also makes it much easier to find when you need it. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome Amy! And thanks for stopping by!