What to Do When Your Home Organizational System Needs a Quick Fix
Organizing your home is good for the soul. It frees up the clutter in your house so that you have extra space, and it frees up the clutter in your mind so that you can be more productive. Surveying the results of your hard work is rewarding and satisfying. You make a sincere attempt to keep things in order, at least for a couple of months, but sooner or later your system gradually fades away.
The problem is that real people live in your home. Mail will pile up on the kitchen counter, packages will make their home in your entryway, and the infamous “junk drawer” will slowly but surely return to haunt you.
You typically try to keep your space clean and tidy, but there may be times when the clutter starts to build up again. This is often the case in heavily used areas like children’s bedrooms, kitchens, and pantries.
One way to control the mess is with a secure, affordable self storage unit. You can reclaim your space by packing up your rarely used items and giving them a new home in a climate-controlled self storage unit. Universal Storage has a wide range of sizes, types, and prices to fit every need and every budget, using these storage spaces will make it much easier to stick to the plan.
If your clutter has reached the point of no return, it may be time to try and determine why your home organizational system isn’t working and what you can do to fix it.
Why Your Home Organizational System Isn’t Working
There is No Actual System
Having an organizational system doesn’t mean shoving all of your items into one room or closet just to get them out of the way. That’s a stopgap, not a solution. An organizational system can help you make better use of your space, save time, and create a more peaceful and clutter-free home for your family.
Quick Fix: Start with a scaled-down approach that allows you to build on small successes. The traditional approach of making 3 piles (keep, discard, and donate) is a great start. Set your timer for 15 minutes and see how much you can accomplish. Your self storage unit is a great place to store the items to be donated or those things that you want to keep but use infrequently. Those things to be discarded should be placed in the trash immediately, and those things that you’re currently using need to be put away in the appropriate areas.
Check Pinterest for tons of organization tips and tricks to get you moving in the right direction.
It’s Complicated
The whole point of being organized is to make life easier, not harder. If you have to keep up with a number of complicated, time-consuming steps, you certainly won’t enjoy tidying up your home. The goal is to streamline your life, not give up because it’s too much work.
Quick Fix: Be sure that your system is clear. Give yourself and other household members a couple of weeks to grasp it, and then reevaluate. If it seems too complicated, has too many steps to remember, or doesn’t accomplish your objectives, it’s time to make some changes and simplify the routines.
It’s Not a Good Fit
An organizational system that works for one person may not work for another, which is to say you shouldn’t try to copy a system line by line. What is perfect for one family, may not work for yours. Every household is different, every space is different, and every family is different. Find a system that fits your needs.
Quick Fix: This isn’t about one system being better than another. It’s about creating the perfect fit that will save time and energy while keeping your home neat and organized. For example, the Kon Mari method is great but it’s extremely complex, requiring a commitment to strict guidelines for categorizing and rule-following. There are many less complicated systems that you can adapt to your needs. Maison de Pax and HGTV have some fun family-friendly ideas that you can adjust to fit your needs.
You’re the Only One Who Can Figure it Out
When you decide to create a system, make it easy for the rest of your household or they won’t bother to use it. Think of it like this. You create a system for doing laundry. You separate the clothes according to color and wash cycle. It makes sense to you, but no one else understands. If you ask a family member to do laundry, they’ll mix bright colors with white clothes, and you may end up with some unusual looking items.
Quick Fix: If you keep the system simple and explain the reasons behind the system, they’ll be more inclined to get on board with it. This may take some teaching that will require patience and understanding on your part. Don’t give up. It will be worth the effort in the end.
Control is More Important than Organization
There is a difference between creating an organizational system to streamline a process and attempting to control the situation with micromanagement. Keep in mind that the goal is to make life easier, not to control everything and everyone in the home. Don’t be a dictator.
Quick Fix: Think about it this way. If you put a system in place for folding the laundry and your kids don’t fold tee shirts exactly to your specifications, take a step back. As long they are folded neatly and placed in the drawers does it really matter that the corners don’t align perfectly? Or, is it more important to get the job done and let time take care of the rest? If your goal is to force your family into your idea of perfection, say goodbye to your system and create something less stressful.
Takeaway
Frustrating yourself and everyone else involved in the plan won’t work. An organizational system should make life easier, save time, and keep your home neat and tidy. Your first task is to get everyone on board. Use common sense, patience, and practicality. This isn’t a race, it’s a journey to a clutter-free life.
