Is it Time to Rethink Your Organizational Systems?

Summer often gives us time to step back and take a look at our homes. Here are some things to consider if now is the time for some organizational updates. 

Then:

Unless you've recently moved, renovated or redecorated, you probably haven't updated your organizational set-up recently. Like the squeaky wheel, organizational systems typically get attention only when they aren't working. In the meantime, we often settle for "good enough" when one small change could make a big difference. And, we sometimes don't even know we're doing it.

Often, the first sign that we need to make a change is that things aren't getting retrieved or put away in a timely manner. While we might point to ourselves (or someone else in the house) as the problem, there's often a deeper issue at work. Three simple questions can be the key to turning so-so systems into storage solutions.

• Is the system easy to use? An overly complicated storage system is sometimes as bad as none at all. When putting things away is difficult, we choose the path of least resistance, putting things down instead of away (drop and run organizers), putting them wherever there is space (I know I put it somewhere organizers) or stuffing them somewhere (cram and jammers). When we do this, we exacerbate the problem, creating a retrieval issue. Drop and run organizers must retrace their steps and dig through piles. I know I put it somewhere organizers race around frantically trying to remember which safe place they put the necessary item in and cram and jammers attempt to retrieve things from overstuffed spaces, hoping the thing they're searching for won't be crumpled, torn or broken when they find it. In the process, we waste time, frustrate ourselves and often create chaos. Often, however, it's this process that reveals the answer to the questions behind this problem: what's stopping me from using this system and how can I fix that?

• Is it in the right place? Similarly, if we have to climb ladders, move piles or take a cupboard apart to find something we use often, it's in the wrong place. While it makes sense to store things we use only occasionally in out-of-the-way locations (especially when space is an issue), the things we use frequently need to be easier to access. Store it where it's used, store frequently used items in easy-to-access places and store similar items together.

• Do I like it? Although this might not affect how well the system works, it can affect how likely we are to use it. If it's fantabulously functional (a worn accordion file with just the right number of labeled sections, for example), we might not care how it looks, especially if we tuck it away in a drawer or closet. But, if you're taking your system from so-so to spectacular, the aesthetics of containers and systems are worth considering.

In the best of all possible circumstances, a simple change in location makes a big difference. Other times, some shopping, sorting and re-organizing is required, but if these steps lead to the creation of a more efficient system, the time to put it all together is time well spent. Not only will it reduce your clutter, as sorting often does, but it will also save you time in the long run.

Best of all, you'll be too busy taking pride in your new system to have time to point the finger of blame at anyone, including yourself.

realworkhard via Pixabay

And now:

Need a few more specifics? Here are five small changes that can make a big difference.

Replace a lidded container with one that's open on top. Worried that it'll look sloppy? Make sure it's deep enough that items aren't immediately visible, but not so deep that things get lost at the bottom. When the contents get close to the top, it's time to sort -- from the bottom up.

Relocate a container to a high traffic area. Rather than being a personal flaw, piles are often a signal that we need storage in that space. Instead of expecting yourself (and others) to store things in out-of-the-way places, put storage where it's needed.

Switch to clear or color-coded. While a collection of all-one-color storage containers looks nice, it robs us of the visual reminder of where things are. Clear and color-coded containers provide that cue. Love how the all-one-color system looks? Label the containers. Don't want the labels to show? Put them on the back or bottom of the containers. You won't be able to see what's in the containers at a glance, but you'll preserve the overall look of the space.

Copy and paste. Not literally, of course. But if a particular container or system works in one part of your house, why not try it (or something like it) in a spot that needs to be organized? Bins, baskets and inexpensive drawer units come in myriad shapes, sizes, and colors and can be useful tools in many rooms.

Replace a tool that works for everyone else with one that works for you. Because my personal style is I need to see it, I rarely use binders or file cabinets unless I'm storing things I need to reference only infrequently. Stop worrying about what should work and focus on filling your home with things that work for you.

Alexas Fotos via Pixabay

Organizing Your Bathroom

 VERY excited to be part of this great article on bathroom countertop storage on My Domaine. :-)

joe137 via Pixabay

3 Keys Thursday: Back to School Basics

As promised last week, I gathered all of my organizing with kids posts into one spot on my blog. If you click on "Organizing with Kids" at the top of the page, you'll find a list. This post, plucked from that list since I'm on vacation this week, originally appeared in 2016 as 3 Keys Thursday: 3 Key Tools for Getting Organized for the School Year (Kids).

Happy (re)-reading! 

Every year, the back-to-school lists seem to get longer and more complicated. While I don't doubt that the things on the list are there for a reason, I also know that buying everything on the list can quickly get overwhelming -- and expensive. I'm not going to second guess a supply list issued by your child's school (or, even better, your child's teacher), but I am suspicious of the general, one size fits all lists created by stores. Then again, I'm suspicious of one size fits all anything.

Having spent 27 years in elementary schools, I know that what one teacher considers essential, another might consider optional -- or supply herself -- and that it's possible to successfully "go cheap" on some items. But, since this is "3 Keys Thursday," I'm going to focus on three basic, important items that are worth spending a little more on, since they're key tools for staying organized all year long.

A home for papers that need to be referenced. For many kids, this is a three-ring binder. It can also be an accordion folder (or one for each subject, for older kids), a skinny binder with a clamp closure (or one for each subject, for older kids), or a collection of folders color coded by subject. Whatever it is, it needs to be durable and expandable so that it can house everything from a single sheet of paper to several fat packets that cover entire units of study. These should live in the desk at school unless they're explicitly coming home so your child can study for a test.

A home for papers that need to be dealt with (homework, need signatures). For younger children, these are the papers that go in the "take home" pocket of a two-pocket folder. If for older students have demonstrated success with this system in years past, there's no need to come up with something new. If pocket folders don't work, try file folders, top-loading "backpack" folders, or an accordion file divided either by subject or by whether the paper stays home or goes back to school. Whatever you child chooses, it should be big enough to hold a stack of papers, but not so big that a single sheet of paper gets swallowed up, and it should be durable, as it will spend a lot of time traveling back and forth between home and school in your child's backpack. Many teachers have a required system for this, so before your child gets too excited, make sure his or her system will be acceptable to the teacher.

Pixabay

A container to hold pencils, erasers and all the other little things that invariably end up in the desk. Possibilities here will vary widely based on your child's age, taste and styles, along with the teachers' requirements; some teachers specify not only the case, but what must go inside as well.Younger kids tend to gravitate to pencil boxes (and a pencil box may even be on the required supply list) or fancy pencil pouches. Size is the key feature here; what must be kept inside? Is more than one container allowed? Are kids allowed to keep a small basket of supplies on their desks, rather than hiding them away inside?

Older kids who travel between classrooms often like flat pencil holders designed to fit inside three-ring binders. They're typically carrying fewer supplies than younger kids and portability is more important than capacity.

Regardless of your child's age, make sure to take attributes like size, visibility (clear containers help I know I put it somewhere and I need to see it kids remember what's where), ease of use and durability. Again, this container will get a workout.

Finally, as you're making your purchases, consider how the three key container attributes (form, function and style) of the chosen supply interact with your child's personal and organizational styles. The closer the fit (and the more excited your child is about using the item), the more likely it will be used beyond the first month of school.

One last suggestion: If your child's school doesn't supply some sort of planner or assignment notebook, that should be at the top of your list as well. Your child may choose to integrate it into his or her home for papers that need to be dealt with, or carry it separately, depending up the tool he or she decides on for the papers that travel between home and school. When schools provide online assignments, many kids need a hard copy back up as well; actually transferring the assignment from the computer screen onto the page serves as a memory tool for some kids.

It's possible to spend endless hours (and nearly endless dollars) in the school supply section. As always, start with successes (what worked last year? what didn't?) and build from there, to make sure this school year starts and ends with STYLE.

Yesterday, Today and Next Week in Organizing News

Yesterday, I did a Facebook Live on the CatholicMom.com Facebook page and I had a blast! I did a sort of show-and-tell with organizers to help parents think about getting kids organized for back to school. I used to do something similar in the classroom with my fifth graders, and I immediately got back into the swing of things.

Unfortunately, I swung right past my blog post. It was bedtime by the time I remembered I hadn't posted anything. 

So, today, in keeping with the theme, I'm sharing another one from the vault: 3 Kid-Friendly Keys (to getting organized). By this time next week, I hope to have all of my "Organizing with Kids" posts gathered together so there's one-click access for parents looking for that information. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, I hope you'll check out the Facebook Live video. Need an incentive? There's a giveaway -- with a deadline :-)

Have a great weekend!

Christmas in July and a Better Basement

Today's post begins with one from the vault (December 2015), but it's kind of a mash-up: a little bit Throwback Thursday, a little bit of a Then & Now post and a tip for digging into an overwhelming space. The original post is in italics below; today's update follows it.

When my daughter was small, we started a book tradition at our house. I can't remember where I found the idea -- it might have been Family Fun magazine -- but I do seem to remember that it was just a front-of-book snippet by a parent. "Just" a snippet turned into a tradition that, at our house, lasted until my daughter was into her teens. And when a writer friend posted the photo below on her Facebook page , it begged to be shared.

Photo from Magic 106.1 FM, Guelph, Canada
via Facebook

The process is a bit time consuming up front, but very simple. In November, gather all of your child's Christmas-themed books. Then, sometime before December 1, wrap each book individually. Beginning December 1, your child can open a book a day (or a book a week, or somewhere in between, depending upon the number of books you have available). Secretly purchasing new books I could add to the pile was fun, too, and less expensive than it would seem, as many old favorites endured for years.

My daughter loved coming downstairs each morning and opening a "new" book, and, as a bonus, it started each day with reading. Although mornings worked well for us, you could just as easily do this after dinner (or before dinner to procure some late afternoon peace and quiet), or at bedtime.

Once all of the books have been opened and the season has passed, gather them up again when you gather up the decorations and put them in a special box (labeled or unique so you can find it quickly when the time comes to do it again). If you're feeling really industrious, you can wrap a few (or all of them) before you put them away, saving yourself some time at the outset, but choose carefully. You may find that your child deems some of this year's books too babyish next year.

What does this have to do with organization? I'm glad you asked :-) It's a reminder that managing our stuff doesn't always mean getting rid of things. Sometimes, it means rotating the things we take out from season to season so we can keep and enjoy more of what we love, without creating organizational mishaps along the way.

minfl3 via Pixabay

You may be wondering why I'm posting this in July. I have two reasons. First, the idea can be easily adapted to summer. You can use summer-themed books, long-neglected former favorites, or even library books. You can use picture books, or have the next book in a series available when the previous one has been completed. Wrap them (or not) and leave them at your child's place at the table. (It might be confusing for small children if you wrap library books that need to be returned). 

While readers will likely dig into the book along with breakfast every day, reluctant readers may not, and that's okay. (You can lead a child to a book, but you can't make them read it). If they're enthusiastic about the idea, keep it going (you never know which book will be "the one"), and set aside a basket where they can easily pick the books up if and when they want to read them. At the end of the summer or when the basket is full, you and your child can decide which to keep and which to donate.

haderer17 via Pixabay

The second reason for this post has to do with a place in my house which would convince you that I have no business writing about organization, ever. That would be our basement, where all good (and some not-so-good) things go to collect dust and be ignored. On more than one occasion last week, I attempted to use Give it Five! in the most cluttered section of my basement, but I was stymied.

I had no idea where to start. Me. The Queen of "Take small steps" and "Start with Successes." Well, the successes were hidden behind piles and every step seemed like an enormous one.

The solution didn't come to me immediately but, when it did, it was so obvious.

I needed to define my small step. If starting with a random pile wasn't working, I needed to start with something specific. Based on the rest of this post, you've probably guessed what that was.

Books. 

I set a timer for an hour and dug in. If it was a book, I needed to decide whether to keep it, donate it or toss it (old textbooks were the only ones that made that pile). If I decided to keep it, I had to decide where to store it. 

If it wasn't a book, it could wait for another day.

Three hours later (once I got started, I wanted to keep going), I had three medium-sized boxes of books to donate and two similarly sized clear bins with books I wanted to keep (one reference, one children's). I'd cleared some floor space (by sorting through the bins that were there), reduced some piles, and cleaned off shelves to make the "I think I want to read this one" books easy to find. In addition, I not only know where to find the books that made the cut, I can see what's in my bins without even pulling them off the shelves. 

In the process of this de-cluttering, I came across a stack of books from the last Christmas we did the book unwrapping and yes, they were wrapped. 

Those were my daughter's to sort.

I'm actually kind of excited to tackle the basement again, sooner rather than later because now I know just where to start. I still a few books to go through, and I have another category at the ready, should I need it, but my adventures in decluttering last weekend created the momentum I need to keep chipping away at this overwhelming organizational project.

I know I always say "start anywhere," and I stand by that statement because it doesn't really matter where you start. But, when "anywhere" is as overwhelming as the task at hand, getting really specific can shine a light on the place where we can make progress.

OBS FAQs: Why Can't I STAY Organized?

It happens to all of us. We get frustrated with the clutter, we dig in, we get organized....

And much too soon, we're back to where we started.

Why is it that we can get organized but we can't stay organized?

Often, it's because the systems we put together when we're in a hurry aren't as well thought out as the ones we come up with when we can take our time and really think about what works for us on a day-to-day basis. As a result, we end up using whatever we have on hand, or stashing things wherever there's space without really thinking about the desired end result, which is easy upkeep.

How do we get there? There are two answers. One is by using our styles -- something I'll address in a future FAQ post -- and the other is approaching our trouble spots with STYLE.

• Start with successes. When we're overwhelmed, it's hard to see what's working because so many things are calling out for our attention. Take a step back. Where is the eye in the center of the storm? Your successes are probably hovering close by. These are the systems you want to replicate so that you can stay organized for the long haul.
• Take small steps. Taking even five minutes at a time to sort, clear and rescue clear space from within the clutter yields a huge payoff. Trust me on this. Even better, the more we do this, the more likely we are to only need five to fifteen minutes to dispense with the clutter.
• Yes, it has a home! Or, if it doesn't, you've found a starting point. As you sort, cluster similar homeless items together. That will make it easier to determine the size of a home these things will need and which home works best for you (see successes, above) because it makes it easy to both put things away and retrieve them when you need them.
• Let it go! People tend to find this one either terrifying or cathartic. Keep in mind that letting it go doesn't have to mean throwing it away. It can mean selling it, donating it or passing it along to someone else who'll love it as much as you did (Ask first! And be prepared to graciously take no for an answer). When you sort, give yourself the luxury of a "maybe" pile so you can part with those tough-to-let-go-of items gradually.
• Easy upkeep. The goal. Didn't reach it in a single session? I didn't expect that you would. Easy upkeep arises over time when we find homes that work for our personal and organizational styles for all of the things in all of our piles. How does this happen? By replicating our successes so we know what kind of home-hunting we want to do in the first place.

It's a process. Want to know more about your styles? Take this quiz.