When the Upkeep isn't Quite so Easy

I've written a lot of posts that focus on how to get to the E in STYLE. Building on successes. Honoring styles. Choosing containers and building systems.

So, what happens when you get to the E?

If you've made it that far, you might have found that not all upkeep is created equal. When the styles and the containers and the system and the location all come together, things work well -- most of the time -- and upkeep is easy.

But then, life intervenes. We get busy. Things come in faster than we can keep up with them, seasons change, holidays arrive. It's easier to put things down than away, and items that were homeless or in the wrong container are suddenly everywhere except where they're supposed to be.

This is not the time to throw in the towel. Instead, it's time to return to what works -- the containers by style, the locations that make sense and the systems that combine knowledge with practice.

Think of the crazy busy times as an opportunity to asssess what you've been doing. When you finally manage to eke out a few minutes to restore order, what gets put away quickly and easily? Those systems are working.

Photo: Morguefile

On the other hand, what do you end up holding in your hand, trying to decide where it belongs, or setting beside the container it's supposed to go into rather than putting it inside? Something in that upkeep is not easy. Perhaps the container is wrong. Maybe the location is off. What would make it easy for you to put that item in your hand where it belongs?

It would be wonderful if we could get to the E and achieve organizational perfection, but life is mean to move forward and systems need to adapt to the changes. Whether you're adding to your family, downsizing or just trying to keep up with the day-to-day, organization needs to be dynamic, adjusting to the life it's meant to organize.

And that's when the upkeep gets easy.