Getting More Organized
If you were to go around your home or bedroom and start opening drawers and closets, what would you find: neatly organized items in their own bins and containers or a random assortment of things stuffed where they fit? Or maybe a combination of both. The latter is most likely the most common, as we tend to accumulate things faster than we have time to deal with, so we do our best to try and place them in a "good-enough" spot until we have more time to come back and deal with them. The thing is, that day rarely ever comes, if at all.
Disorganization creeps up on all of us, but here’s the good news: it’s totally manageable if you’re willing to put in a little effort. In this article, we’re going to talk about how you can do a few quick and easy things you can start doing today to start to wrestle the disorder into submission. We’ll dig into why things get messy in the first place, and I’ll give you some straightforward tips to help you start organizing today. Whether it’s your office, your living room, or even your digital life, these strategies will help you start to pick away at the growing amount of stuff that needs to be put into it's place and start taking back control of your space. So let’s dive in and get started on the path to a more organized life.
How Disorganization Occurs
To start, let's step up a level and get a quick sense of why things get disorganized to begin with. The underlying mechanism here being entropy -- a fancy way of saying that if you leave things unattended, they naturally tend to get messier over time. Maybe it starts small, like leaving your keys on the counter “just for now,” or throwing a reciept from the grocery store that you shoved in your pocket into your nightstand drawer to deal with later. Before you know it, you've got stuff accumulating in drawers and the amount of effort it takes to actually start to go through and figure out what to do with the mess adds more stress, so it gets put off. The key is to not let it snowball. You’ve got to step in and take control before things spiral out of hand.
But if you dig further into the issue of how this disorganization happens, there are really only two main reasons why things get disorganized: either you’re not taking the time to put things in their proper place, or there isn’t a proper place for them yet. That’s when things start piling up in random “holding” spots—like that chair in the corner that’s buried under clothes or the nightstand drawer that has a bunch of random stuff in it.
The solution to this is honestly simpler than you might initially think, and it just takes a small mental shift and a bit of consistent effort to turn it around. Now, it won't be an overnight shift (nothing is), but with a framework in mind and a little bit of effort applied consistently, you should be able to establish better habits of being more organized. Let's start to get into these.
The First Step - Creating A Place for Things
Here’s the most crucial part of staying organized: making sure everything has a dedicated spot. Why is this the most crucial step? Because thinking back to our model of why disorganization happens, the first piece is that you aren't putting things in their assigned location. This is easily fixable in less than 10 seconds: just take the item, walk to the place in the house where it belongs, and place it there. It requires very little mental or emotional energy...just a small piece of physical energy.
Now, thinking about the second piece -- creating a place for things to go -- this is the one that is most likely going to require the most effort and energy, so if you're in a spot where you might be exhausted or pre-occupied, you're unlikely to stop what you're doing and start creating a spot for a new item, so you're probably going to place it in a drop-spot for now until you have the time and energy to think about what to do with it...which again rarely happens.
Creating dedicated spaces isn’t as hard as it may sound, and once you’ve done it, you’ll reap the rewards of not only knowing where everything is, but also of not having the stress of stuff building up around you. Think about it: If you need to find your rental or mortgage agreement, you'll know exactly where to go. Need an extra charging cable? Got it. What about even your wallet and keys? Don't worry about having to search for them anymore if you have a dedicated place for them and you train yourself to automatically put them away. Just imagine this kind of experience being the norm for you. I know, it may sound too good to be true, but let's walk through what it actually takes to realize this kind of life.
Examples and Solutions: Practical Steps for Creating Dedicated Spaces
Now that you understand the importance of having a place for everything, let’s talk about how to make it happen. Start simple. Look around and pick one area to organize. Maybe it’s your desk, a drawer, or that pile of mail on the kitchen counter.
Here’s what you can do:
- Filing System: Set up a basic filing system for important documents. Get a folder or a small filing cabinet and start sorting. Bills, warranties, and personal papers all get their own spot.
- Storage Bins: Use storage bins for things you don’t need all the time, like seasonal clothes or sports gear. Label them clearly, so you know exactly what’s inside.
- Mail Station: Create a mail station by the door or somewhere you naturally drop things when you come home. It can be as simple as a small tray or basket where everything goes until you sort through it.
- Key Hook: Put up a hook by the door for your keys. It’s a small move, but it makes a big difference.
By setting up these small systems, you can keep your space in check. The best part? Once everything has a place, it’s easier to keep things organized going forward.
Putting Items Away: Using Time-Blocking to Get it Done
Now, let’s talk about the act of putting things away. Sometimes, the hardest part is just getting started, especially if you’ve let things pile up. Here’s a simple trick: time-blocking. All you need to do is set aside 10 minutes to tackle a specific task.
How it works:
- Pick one area to focus on. Maybe it’s clearing off your nightstand, putting away clothes, or organizing the kitchen counter.
- Set a timer for 10 minutes. During that time, put all your focus on getting that one thing done. Don’t worry about anything else—just knock it out.
- When the timer goes off, you can decide whether to keep going or take a break. Either way, you’ve made progress, and that’s what counts.
This approach is great because it takes away the stress of not knowing how long a task will take. You’re just committing to 10 minutes, and in that time, you can make a noticeable dent in the mess.
Ensuring There is a Dedicated Place for Everything
This is the foundation of your organization system. If there’s one takeaway from all this, it’s that you’ve got to create a dedicated place for everything. The biggest obstacle to staying organized is not knowing where things go. If you don’t have a spot, you’re stuck mentally running through options every time you need to put something away, which leads to decision fatigue and more clutter.
Here’s what you can do:
- Spend a few minutes thinking about where items should live. If you’ve got stuff lying around that doesn’t have a home, take the time to assign it one.
- Once you’ve got dedicated spots, putting things away becomes almost effortless. You don’t need to overthink it—just put things where they belong.
Remember, this doesn’t need to happen overnight. You can gradually create these spaces as you go. The goal is progress, not perfection.
Taking Action Today: Simple Steps to Get Started
Alright, now that you know the basics, it’s time to put them into action. Start small—don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to tackle everything at once. Pick one drawer, one corner of a room, or even just your desktop, and get it organized.
Here’s your challenge for today:
- Focus on one specific area. Maybe it’s that junk drawer in the kitchen or your bedside table.
- Spend 10 minutes organizing it. Get rid of what you don’t need, and make sure what’s left has a dedicated place.
- Once you’re done, step back and appreciate the difference. That’s the first step toward a more organized space.
Remember, the goal here is to make small, consistent changes that add up over time. Keep it focused and specific, and you’ll see results.
Example: Organizing Your Cables
Let's take an example of all the electronic stuff accumulated over the years. Chances are, you’ve collected a bunch of cables—charging cables, HDMI cords, USB cables, old power adapters, you name it. At first, you might not have thought much of it. You just needed a place to keep them out of sight, so you tossed them all into a drawer or a box. It worked for a while, but now that spot is overflowing, and finding the right cable is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Here’s how you can apply the organization framework to get those cables under control.
Step 1: Recognize the Chaos and Take Control
- The Situation: Your drawer or box of cables has become a tangled mess. At first, it seemed like a convenient spot to keep them, but now it’s a pain to deal with. Every time you need a specific cable, you end up digging through a pile of wires.
- Take Action: It’s time to stop using that catch-all spot and start organizing. First, dump everything out and take stock of what you have. You’re going to create a better system—one that makes it easy to find what you need without the frustration.
Step 2: Create a Dedicated Space
- Identify a New Spot: Find a new, dedicated spot for your cables. This could be a drawer, a storage bin, or a series of small boxes or containers. The key is to pick a spot that’s accessible and makes sense for where you usually use your cables.
- Start Organizing: Begin by sorting the cables by type—charging cables, HDMI cords, USB cables, etc. Use zip ties or Velcro straps to bundle similar cables together. Then, assign each type of cable its own spot in your new storage system. For example, you might have a small container just for phone chargers and another for HDMI cables.
- Label It: Label each container or section, so you know exactly where to find what you need. No more guessing or digging through piles.
Step 3: Address Overflow with Sub-Spaces
- The Challenge: As time goes on, you might start accumulating more cables, and those neatly organized containers begin to overflow. What now? Instead of letting things get messy again, it’s time to create sub-spaces within your system.
- Sub-Divide by Type: If your container for USB cables is getting crowded, break it down further. You can create sub-spaces for different types of USB cables—USB-A, USB-C, micro-USB, etc. Use smaller bags, boxes, or dividers within the main container to keep things sorted.
- Rotate or Purge: Consider rotating out older cables you no longer use, or even purging ones that are outdated. This keeps your collection manageable and ensures you’re only keeping what you need.
Step 4: Maintain the System
- Stay Consistent: Whenever you get a new cable, immediately put it in its designated spot. If you notice a section getting crowded, address it before it becomes a problem. The goal is to maintain order by consistently putting things away and adjusting your system as needed.
- Review Periodically: Every few months, review your cable collection. Are there cables you don’t need anymore? Could your system use a tweak? Keeping up with these small adjustments will prevent your storage from getting out of hand again.
Step 5: Apply the Principles Elsewhere
- Expand the System: Now that you’ve mastered organizing your cables, think about other areas where you can apply the same principles. Maybe your tool drawer, your digital files, or even your wardrobe could benefit from a similar approach.
By following these steps, you’ve gone from tossing cables into a drawer to creating a well-organized, easily manageable system. The key is to start with a dedicated space, adapt it as your needs grow, and stay on top of it with small, consistent actions. This process not only makes your life easier but also saves you time and frustration down the line.
Conclusion: Start Today, Stay Consistent
By taking these steps, you can start to bring order to the chaos. It’s all about making simple, practical changes that fit into your life. Start today by creating a few dedicated spaces and setting aside 10 minutes to tackle one task.
Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—just focus on progress. Over time, these small actions will add up, and you’ll find it easier to stay organized in the long run. And hey, if you’re looking for more tips, sign up for our newsletter. We’ve got plenty of advice to help you keep things in check, both in your home and your digital life.