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.