Throwback Thursday: Christmas Organizing

 If organizing is about balancing what comes in with what goes out, the holiday season can make us feel doomed from the start. No sooner have we finished giving thanks for all that we have than we start to acquire more. Gifts. Decorations. Food for future feasts.

If you have more storage space than you need, congratulations - this is probably not an issue for you. But if you, like me, feel maxed out when it comes to places to put things on a regular, run-of-the-mill weekday, all of these Christmas acquisitions can feel overwhelming.

At our house, the Christmas decorations are stored in the crawlspace off the master bedroom. This means that as I begin to pull out Christmas decorations and all the trimmings and trappings, they inevitably invade the space in my house that should, arguably, be the most tranquil. I wish I could tell you that I have a wonderful solution for coping with these interloping, festive, baubles but the truth is that it comes down to the same thing it does during the rest of the year: making sure our styles lead the way.

Take small steps. In order to minimize the amount of space that all these Christmas goodies take up in our bedroom, I take decorations out a few at a time. I have a red basket that I use to store the decorations I like to start with each year and that’s the first thing that I take out. Once I put up the decorations in that basket, I can use it to store anything that I’ve replaced during the decorating process (which also makes putting things away easier when I “un-decorate” in January). When I put the basket back in the crawlspace after putting out those first few things, I can take out a few more decorations. Decorating the house slowly makes it a little more festive each day.

Store presents according to your style. I need to see it or I know I put it somewhere organizational style? Don’t put everything in plain brown boxes! That’s a sure recipe for digging through the same container over and over again. Instead, consider the type of storage that works best for you during the rest of the year. If you’re trying to keep things covert, maybe do stick to the plain brown cartons that the gifts arrive in, but put a brightly colored sticky note on the outside of each one to signify whose presents are in which box. No need for covert operations? Use clear storage bins so you can see what you have. Cram and jam organizational style? Stick to one large container for storage, but consider subdividing it so you don't have a pile-up inside.

One in- one out. Opportunities abound to practice this! As you buy new decorations (or put them away), replace anything that’s become tired and worn (or a safety hazard). In addition, anything that doesn't make the cut this year probably won't next year either. Toss it, donate it, or recycle it now to create space. Cool stuff under the tree? Consider what you can do without now that you have all those fun, new things. 

The Christmas season brings wonder, joy, and stuff. We can't control all the stuff but, if we keep our styles in mind, we can keep some of it neatly under wraps.

qimono via Pixabay

Giving Up

 Getting organized can be a challenge, in part because being organized isn't just a matter of having a tidy workspace. At its best, organization is a complex concept that involves deciding where to put things and where to find things, as well as having an internal sense that we're on top of everything important.

Quite a concept. No wonder it's a process.

Knowing what to keep and what to get rid of is at the heart of organizing. It's what gives us that lovely, peaceful (albeit often fleeting) sense of having it all together. While what you keep is ultimately up to you, there are some universal guidelines about what to get rid of. Here are three of them, along with some first steps for getting them under control. 

Physical clutter. Okay, this one's obvious. De-cluttering is clearly a part of organizing, right? While this process is much more complex than simply throwing out anything that's in our path, it's something we can accomplish step by step. 

• The Fix: Pick a pile, any pile. Set a timer for ten minutes. Sort, toss, put away, add to a donation bin -- whatever is called for -- until the timer goes off. Then, stop, or reset the timer. Your choice.

Mental clutter. This kind of clutter is less obvious, but perhaps more annoying. We can walk away from physical clutter, but mental clutter travels with us wherever we go. 

• The Fix: Do a brain dump. Make a list -- or several. If you want headings (to do, to buy, to call, etc.), add them to the top of the page (or buy a cute notepad that does this for you. But just one -- see #1). While getting everything out of your head won't do the tasks for you, it will reduce the cognitive load of carrying them around in your head until you can check them off.

A bad habit. This can be anything that disrupts our peace, whether it's organizing-related or not. Maybe it's an unchecked style habit: the drop and run habit that leads to piles, the cram and jam plan that's destined to leave things rumpled or crumpled, or the knee-jerk I know I put it somewhere response of putting things "away" in any available space that leaves us ransacking the house to find a single piece of paper. Or, maybe it's something entirely different like biting our nails, drinking too much coffee, or eating too much chocolate -- the habits that are fun in the moment, but guilt-inducing (or worse) in the long run.

• The Fix: Take small steps, and celebrate their completion. Maybe it's stopping yourself mid-drop, putting something in a drawer instead of dumping it into an overstuffed bin, or thinking about where something really belongs before you put it into any random, available space. Or, perhaps it's going a whole day without indulging in a habit that we'd rather do away with. Remembering that it's not an all-or-nothing proposition is key to success here -- so often we give up because we don't succeed immediately, forgetting that change takes time.

While the physical and visible aspects of organization are the most obvious, their hidden benefits -- like confidence and peace of mind -- can be just as important. And sometimes, seeking them out can remind us of why we're doing all this work in the first place.

Trying Something New

 This week, I'm auditioning a new planner. I've been using the same attractive (expensive) undated planner for more than four years. Unfortunately, this planner has become difficult to find. I still have one or two that are unopened and ready to be pressed into service, but eventually I'm going to need to make a change, so I decided that I might as well start now while I have Plan A at the ready if Plan B proves catastrophic.

Yes, I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but the reason I've been using the same planner for so long, despite its price tag, is that it works. While its style drew me in (it's cute), its function kept me hooked. And, in time management, as in organizing, when I find a tool that works, I don't look back. 

The new planner is much cheaper and, while cute, it lacks the same panache embodied by my tried-and-true tool. Both planners have that lovely new planner smell and essentially the same layout, which is the only reason I'm giving the understudy a chance. The main difference between the two tools is that the new one has a two page per day spread, with the second (right-hand) page providing ample space for a long to-do list. 

To be honest, I can't decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. One of the things I like about my current planner is that it helps me fight the urge to attempt doing everything in a single day -- there simply isn't enough room on the page to write it all down. But, since the first (left-hand) page has the same layout I'm used to, I'm hoping the added page will be an advantage. That extra list-formatted space offers a lot of possibilities and I'm looking forward to exploring them.

I've actually had the new planner for a while and have been trying to decide on the best time to give it a try. As we enter the season of lists (Thankgiving, Christmas shopping, Christmas decorating, Christmas baking, Christmas to-dos...), it seemed like a good time to break out the Post-it flags and see what this new contender can do.

Change can be hard, even when it’s as small as trying a new tool. But change can also lead to growth and new perspectives, and perhaps even a solution we like better than the one we’ve been using. 

For now, this planner is auditioning, but has not yet been cast in a permanent role. Stay tuned. I'm sure I’ll have a lot more to say after I’ve seen what she can do.

Photo: Amazon.com

When Styles Collide

 My personal style is I need to see it. Two telltale signs of this style include color coding and piles that serve as reminders, fighting the “out of sight, out of mind” fear that plagues those of us with this particular style.

Acknowledging my personal style and pressing it into service typically works well for me -- at least when I lean toward its tidier manifestations. Different colored file folders and paper clips, for example, help me identify a particular set of papers at a glance. Leaving myself a note on the doorknob or placing a package beside the back door increases the likelihood that I’ll leave the house with everything I need.

But, when my I need to see it personal style meets my drop and run organizational style, things can quickly get out of hand. Lately, I've found that the collision of these two styles has become both stress-inducing and clutter-producing. When piles meant to serve as reminders accumulate, it seems that no matter where I look, there is a stack of something calling out for my attention. 

To add to the pile-up, I have what one might call an optimistic idea of how long things will take (translation: almost everything takes longer than I think it will). This means that the pile I leave out on Sunday evening and expect to take care of on Monday often sits around until Wednesday -- or (worse yet) the next Wednesday. The longer it takes me to get to the items in the piles, the more stressed out I become, and the more annoying those piles become – not only to me, but to those I live with as well.

Does this mean it's time to give up and succumb to a Type A organizing plan? Should I reconsider those file cabinets I relegated to the basement?

I think not.

The thing is that, when the plan works, it's great. Piles shrink, revealing clear space, which gives me a tremendous sense of accomplishment and motivation. This usually happens when my I need to see it personal style triumphs over – or at least reins in -- my drop and run organizational style. 

But, when it doesn't work -- when my drop and run style runs rampant with no particular plan for depleting the piles it creates -- it's almost as bad as having no system at all. Piles grow, linger, and leave me feeling overwhelmed. 

All these observations have led me to an obvious conclusion: I need to tweak my system, while keeping my styles at the helm. One of the best ways to do that is to establish guidelines for where clutter can and cannot accumulate.

• Designated no-clutter zones. Nothing gets set down here. Period. No matter how much my drop and run style protests. 
• Designated low-clutter zones. These spots can harbor piles on a short-term basis, but need to be dealt with frequently so the clear days outnumber the clutter days. This humors my drop and run style, while still keeping it in check.
• Limit piles. I’m not ready to do away with my piles and stacks because they do help me keep track of things, but I need to limit them to things I can realistically accomplish within the next two days. Everything else gets put away and added to a list, which I can keep with the pile or in my planner. Then, when it’s their turn, those reminder items can be strategically placed.

I’m hopeful that these guidelines will help keep things under control, but adjustments are to be expected. 

Your organizational style may require different guidelines. Cram and jammers might want to live by the rule that once you have to squish the contents of the container you're using in order to fit something else into it, it's time to sort it, replace it, or get another container to keep it company. Those who embrace the I know I put it somewhere organizational style may find their guideline easily boiled down to one question: sure, it fits here, but does it belong here?

 

I’d love to conclude by saying that staying organized is as simple as setting a few guidelines. But the truth is, once these organizational styles collide with their personal style counterparts, it’s a whole new ball game -- one with a set of rules that has to honor the needs of both teams. Reminding ourselves that it’s a process (a.k.a. these things take time) can empower us to take those first small steps to get the ball rolling. 

You Can Repurpose What?

 After writing my last post, I started paying more attention to the repurposed containers in my own home. Turns out, they're everywhere! Some are doing only a slightly different version of the same job, while others are enjoying (I assume) a new life with a new job. Here are a few of my favorites.You 

In the kitchen: spice jars with screw-top lids that once held purchased spices now hold spices from my husband's garden; 

In the bedroom closet: pouches that once held bed linens are pressed into service to hold shoes when I travel; 

In the TV room (formerly the playroom -- we repurpose rooms around here, too) closet: a former baby wipes container (my "baby" is 27) that holds nails. I should note that these are among my favorite containers to reuse (stackable! colorful!), which I why I still have them. Another of my favorites is a lidded box in a lovely blue color that once housed food from a subscription service (no meat, dairy, or other selections that might render them unsanitary) that now holds crayons.

In my office: jelly jars hold binder clips; a pill bottle covered in Washi tape holds small pencils; another pill bottle (out of sight and unadorned) in the drawer holds pencil top erasers;

In the sunroom: another pill bottle covered in Washi tape holds more small pencils (I have small hands, so I like small pencils); a small saucer that was part of a child's paint-your-own tea set now holds paper clips;

In the hall closet: another jar, holds makeup brushes; a rectangular wire mesh magnetic bin meant to stick to an office wall holds small air freshener sprays, with tweezers and nail scissors stuck to the magnetic strips on the outside for easy access, and nail brushes in between where the strip isn't magnetized;

Awaiting assignment: berry boxes from the farmer's market sit on the bench in the mudroom, placed there by my husband with the I know I put it somewhere organizational style; a (recently reduced) pile of boxes in the basement, ready to serve any use from storage to shipping; a substantial pile of lidded plastic bins (recently reorganized) and school supplies that I’ve organized so I can grab what I need quickly because I raid that stash often. I don't remember the last time I actually bought a plastic container, binder or folder, and I hope not to need to do so any time soon.

As I cautioned in my last post, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. My box collection, for example (recently reduced by about half), frequently gets out of control, and I have way more plastic containers than any one person will ever need. Since organizing the basement has been one of my summer projects (I'm chipping away at it slowly), I've been reminded that I need to designate spaces (one drawer, one shelf, one cabinet, etc.) for anything I’m setting aside for reuse. Then, when that area is full, it's time to sort and declutter, ditching the duplicates so everything fits in its assigned location. This can be challenging, especially for those with an I love stuff personal style, but it's an essential part of making sure that repurposing our containers has more to do with efficiency and less to do with creating more clutter. 

Another reason to keep containers appropriately organized is ensure that they stay clean enough to be pressed into service. It probably goes without saying that taking the initial purpose of the container into account, along with how well it can be cleaned between uses, can help determine whether or not it’s a keeper.

Finding what we need when we need it is at the heart of being organized. As always, check your styles and preferences. If saving packaging and containers is more likely to create clutter than it is to afford an opportunity for repurposing, recycle or donate what you can and toss the rest, guilt-free. This is also true for any container that doesn’t match your style, or requires too many steps to make it useful. In the end, we’re aiming for easy upkeep. Any container that works at cross-purposes to that goal only contributes to the clutter.

And that is not what organizing is about.

Intent to Repurpose

 If you're like me, you grew up in a house with a kitchen cabinet that contained a mishmash of lidded plastic containers ranging from recycled margarine tubs to higher end Tupperware. And I'd be willing to bet that there's a similar cabinet or drawer in your kitchen right now.

Don't panic -- I'm not going to tell you to get rid of your stash! I wouldn't even suggest such a thing. I might suggest that, if your cabinet is like mine, it could benefit from a once over to make sure all the bottoms have matching tops. But, that aside, this cabinet and all its riches are at the heart of this post.

Our grandmothers (and maybe even our mothers) reused containers to save money and reduce waste, an idea that has enjoyed a resurgence as the cost of plastic beyond its price tag becomes increasingly undeniable. Over time, the contents of these cabinets began to lean toward the higher end. As plastic became a way of life, all manner of containers for specific purposes emerged. 

Those of us with an I need to see it personal style (and therefore a love of color coding) are likely to be easier marks for the cool new updates than those with other organizational styles. Our cram and jam compatriots are usually content with any container as long as it's large enough to fit a bunch of stuff in it, and those with I know I put it somewhere organizational styles are also much less picky; if the container is empty, it's fair game. 

As it turns out, those with the latter two styles might just have something to teach we I need to see it organizers. Keeping an open mind about what counts as a useful container (whether plastic, paper, fabric or something else altogether) can save money and boost the lifespan of everyday objects. While we've been rinsing out ricotta cheese containers for ages, are we as good at taking a second look at that well-constructed (and sometimes attractive) box that contained our new business cards? 

Since I've begun paying closer attention, I often find that the packaging for something (a box, a drawstring bag, or a plastic container, for example) can be repurposed. Not only are these items free, but they can reduce our recycling pile up our repurposing game as well.

Just as identifying systems that consistently work with our styles can make it easy to replicate what works instead of starting from scratch, repurposing containers that have the attributes of tools that work for us can give us a similar head start. Pairing our styles with a dash of creativity can help us build inexpensive systems that last, making organizing on a budget a fun challenge instead of an onerous burden.

So, before you toss the box that came inside the box your order was shipped in, give it a second look. Is it sturdy and well-crafted? Attractive? Could a little Washi tape or Contact paper jazz it up and turn it into a home for something else? While we need to be careful not to hold on to so many things that they create a whole new set of piles, saving containers that look a lot like the ones we already use can save us time, money, and energy. A slight change in perspective, coupled with a little optimism allows us to see not just what an object is but also what it could be. When we put our powers of observation and creativity to work, the right container might just be closer than we think. 

I think my mother and grandmother would be proud.

Do it Better!

 I love organizing (pretty obvious, huh?) I also enjoy reading about organizing but I’m often frustrated by well-meaning books and articles with one-size-fits-all solutions. 

I recently read an article in one of my favorite magazines that inspired exactly this sentiment. It was beautifully laid out and had some great ideas, but few of them were easily adaptable to my living space. As a result, I found myself critiquing the article and envisioning better answers, ones that were more suitable to not only my environment, but to me as well.

Pretty cocky, huh?

Yes and no. When confronted with these beautifully laid-out articles written by experts, it’s all too easy for self-doubt to creep in, sapping our organizational confidence. But these articles were written for a general audience, targeted to the readers of that particular publication – their tastes, their spaces, their expendable income. The ideas aren’t bad. They’re just not personalized. 

In many cases, I’ve found myself “improving upon” the suggestions in an article by scaling them down. In my small house with limited space, I need the tool that does the job while taking up the least amount of valuable real estate. I often choose organizers that have a small footprint but take advantage of vertical space so my whole dresser or counter isn’t eaten up by one organizer. By maximizing space, these kinds of organizers (stacking trays and lazy Susans, for example) also afford me the benefit I most love about an organized space: clear space. There’s something about a clear space, unhampered by clutter, that makes me smile. 

And relax. 

Another improvement I frequently find myself making is moving away from monochromatic organizational solutions. While they look lovely, having organizers that are all one color wreaks havoc on my I need to see itpersonal style. I have my color-coding down to a science (literally down to the paper clips I use for papers for each of the classes I teach), and for me, a monochromatic method = misery.

Finally, if a tool or system requires too many steps, I turn the page. Years ago, I would have branded myself as lazy, but I’ve come to realize that between a busy life and my drop and run organizing style, the more steps a process requires, the less likely I am to use it. Why should I waste time (or money) on something that doesn’t fit the way I live or the way I think?

The next time you find yourself poring over glossy magazine pages that promise to cure you of clutter, or reading a book that promises magical organization solutions, listen to your gut. If an idea excites you and nudges you off the couch and into a clutter zone, give it a shot! But if you look at any organizing idea anywhere (including here and in my book) and it doesn’t work for you, don’t try to convince yourself that it should. No one knows you better than you do. Trust your instincts, go with your styles and ditch the rest.

And no. That’s not cocky at all. It’s just smart.