I have another of my 50-Things lists for you today. This one I call 50 Ways to Get Organized. Read on, then let me know what you think!
50 Quick and Easy Ways to Get Organized
Make your bed daily
It takes less than a minute and instantly makes your room look more organized
Toss junk mail immediately
Don’t set it down for even a second; take it directly to the trash can
Keep a list of regular bills & due dates
Never pay a late fee again!
Store duplicate office supplies where most needed
If you use pen, scissor, stapler, correction tape both at your desk and in your bed, keep one set of those things in your desk drawer and a second set in your nightstand drawer
File greeting cards by the month you’ll send them
Set aside time in January to stocking up on cards for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. and put them in a monthly file, so you’ll remember to send them when it comes time.
Keep extra ink cartridges for printer on hand
Storing a few back-up cartridges will ensure the printer doesn’t quit on you in the middle of a printing job and will also allow you to get reduced pricing by buying printer ink in bulk
Use sticky note reminders and toss when done
Put a sticky note somewhere that’ll really stand out — computer screen, bathroom mirror, inside the back door — to help jog your memory before important tasks or appointments.
Label everything
I love my my Brother Pen-Tech label maker! The labels will help your family learn your system, so they can put things away where they go as easily as you can.
Store touch-up paint for walls in pint-sized jars
Keeping it handy will make covering nicks and scrapes quick and easy.
Keep well-stocked first aid kit in family car
Include bandage strips, antibiotic ointment, headache and motion sickness remedies, eye drops, ear drops, antacid tablets, etc. You never know when you might need it.
Keep a box or bag for Goodwill in the closet
Add to it regularly, then donate once it’s full.
Install hooks in entry closet for kids’ backpacks
It will save you tripping over them in the living room!
Use easiest-to-reach storage for things used often
Put the Christmas decor and other items you use once in a blue moon in the hard-to-reach places and leave the easily accessible storage for things you use on a daily or weekly basis.
Use small parts cabinet to store toiletries in bath
Those tiny drawers are great for storing nail clippers, alcohol pads, dental flossers, safety pins, razor blades, hair elastics, bobby pins, nail polish, etc.
Store cleaning chemicals out of children’s reach
Put the toxic stuff on the top shelf and use lower cabinets for storing wet wipes, paper towels, Tupperware containers, and other things that can’t hurt anybody.
Keep mouthwash in glass oil dispenser by sink
It looks pretty, and you’ll be more likely to use it when you notice it sitting there. (I keep a jar of flossers and a small drinking glass beside mine.)
Use drawer dividers to keep contents neat
Don’t you get a thrill when you slide open a well-ordered drawer? I love being able to find what I need quickly and easily.
Use hooks on wall or door for hanging necklaces
These little 3M hooks are perfect for this job!
Wall hooks also work well for scarves and purses
Low on drawer space? Use 3M hooks to help you store things vertically.
Listen to books on tape while folding laundry
This is one of my favorite ways to multi-task. Such an efficient use of time!
Fold T-shirts, towels, etc. to fit available space
You’ll need fold things differently to store in a long, shallow drawer than in a short deep one. So experiment a little, find a method that works, and stick with it.
Handbag organization: Group essentials in pouches
Whatever you normally carry — wallet, makeup, notepad and pen, the doily you’re currently crocheting (or is that just me?) — package like items in individual pouches which you can then easily transfer from one handbag to another.
Know where you’ll put something new before you bring it home
If you don’t know where it’ll go, leave it at the store (or garage sale).
Buy pretty but functional furniture with storage
End tables, coffee tables, bedside tables — opt for designs that have drawers or shelves to make the most of your space.
Set a place for everything and keep everything in place
The old adage your mama taught you still rings true and is the secret to staying organized!
For motivation to finish projects, invite guests over
There’s nothing like the knowledge company’s coming to help kick me into high gear when it comes to finishing home cleaning, decorating, or organizing projects.
Set a timer and work until it dings
Have you been procrastinating on a big project? Commit to working on it for just 15 minutes. You can overcome a lot of inertia by simply setting a timer and getting busy.
Schedule time on calendar to tackle big projects
If 15 minutes won’t cut it, set aside a day on your calendar. Make an appointment with yourself to work on it, and avoid letting anything else encroach on that time.
Tidy as you go: Leave rooms better than when you entered
Fluff a pillow, put away something that was left out of place, empty the trash can. You get the idea. Try to make the trip upstairs or to the other end of the house count both ways whenever you can, coming and going.
Declutter: Sell or donate stuff you don’t use
Best practice is to not bring it home in the first place. But the next best is to stop giving valuable storage space to stuff that isn’t serving any purpose but to take up room and make your home feel cluttered.
Store drinking glasses near sink
Put things where you tend to use them: cups near the sink, pots and pans near the stove top, car keys near the garage door, copy paper near the printer, etc.
Post frequently used recipes inside cabinet doors
Keep it handy for easy reference.
Hang measuring cups and spoons on hooks
If you’ll hang them in descending order, you can tell at a glance which is the teaspoon and which is the ½ tablespoon.
Alphabetize herbs & spices
Find what you need without having to scan the entire collection.
Stock freezer with bulk-made meals
Pull from the stash of freezer meals and pop them in the crockpot as needed for fuss-free dinners.
Refill dispenser as soon as dishwasher is empty
Doing this helps you tell instantly whether the dishes inside are dirty or clean: A full (closed) dispenser means dishes are dirty; an empty (open) dispenser means they’re clean.
Keep ingredients for 1-2 quick meals in stock
Some of my go-to meals are minestrone soup or cheese enchiladas (the ingredients keep for a long time, and the meals require only 10-15 minutes of prep time.
Layer pot holders between stacked nonstick pans
Protect them from scratches.
Clean as you go when cooking
It will mean less to do later. And who wouldn’t rather work in a tidy kitchen than a dirty one?
Put leftovers at eye-level in fridge to use soon
Out of sight, out of mind. So if you want to make sure nothing stays in the fridge long enough to grow fuzz, keep second servings front and center, where you’ll see them and be reminded to use them up quickly.
Store similar items together (think zones)
Some of my zones include a space for arts and craft supplies (scissors, glue, markers, tape, colored pencils, paint, brushes), another for bread baking (grain mill, mixer, rolling pins, mixing bowls), a tote for gardening (spade, handheld hoe, plant food, gardening gloves, trimmers, nippers), a closet for sewing (sewing machine, needles, thread, straight pins, fabric, fabric shears), etc.
Use shoe pouches on pantry door for snacks, etc.
This is a great option for small pantries — and keeps snacks (granola bars, apple sauce pouches, fruit rollups, beef jerky, nuts) within easy reach of kids.
Use baskets on shelves for onions, potatoes, etc.
We store bananas, apples, oranges, and avocados in baskets, as well.
Keep shoes on shelves near back door
It will prevent people from tracking dirt into the house while keeping footwear organized and all in one place.
Store socks near the exit, as well
We keep a nightstand near the door for this purpose (and a laundry basket right next to it, so dirty socks can be deposited there before the family comes back into the house once they return).
Use a large doormat outside every entry
The more steps the doormat will accommodate, the more likely guests will have wiped off all the dirt before entering.
Store sporting supplies in baskets by kind
We keep balls in one basket, bike helmets in another, tennis rackets in a third, etc.
Use pegboard for storing tools in garage
Keep hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, and levels all within easy reach.
Pegboards also work well for crafting supplies
I keep a piece of pegboard framed in my closet for organizing scissors, duct tape, hole punches, framing and sewing supplies (see below).
Group books by genre
We keep children’s books in one cabinet, homeschool curriculum in another, marriage and family books in a bookcase, history and biographies in a closet, etc.
That makes 50 tips for becoming better organized. Can you think of one you’d add to my list? Tell me in the comment section below. And if you’d like a printable version of these suggestions, just click on the image below.
Want more planning, goal setting, and organizational resources like this pretty 50 Ways to Get Organized printable? You’ll find plenty in my Life Balance Bundle. Just click on the link below for details.
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