5 Steps to STAYING Organized

It occurred to me that so many books, TV shows and Google searches are out there about “getting organized”. Today I’d like to give you some tips on staying organized.

Most people have read a book or two about organizing - heck, some people have purchased 2 or 3 books on the subject. Getting organized can be overwhelming! So what if you get motivated, declutter, donate, toss and generally whip your home office into shape… then 6 months later, you are right back to where you started? Sound familiar? It’s not that uncommon, and yep, there’s hope.

So, how do you prevent stuff like this from happening? Here’s some tips to help you get organized and stay that way:

1. Be realistic: if you don’t want to color-code files, then good grief - DON’T. It’s not a law! Use whatever system you feel you can keep up long term.
2. Take little “bites”: If you’re on hold on the phone, pull out the junk drawer and sort through it. Sort through a small box of pictures while watching a familiar movie - set a goal to be done with the box by the time the movie ends. Smaller bite-sized projects can be a great way to start a large project,   avoid the “crash and burn” syndrome of overhauling your entire home in a weekend as well as a great way to keep things under control.
3. Keep up your system: If you put in a new filing system, use it. If you assign homes for jackets or keys, be sure to use them. Try them out for 30 days before deciding to change it.
4. Maintain: Don’t let your clutter pile up again. Make decisions, and stick to your plan. Remember to be consistent.
5. Lean into the turn: It’s a fact of life that sometimes unexpected stuff happens. Babies are born, people get married, kids go off to school, people pass on and leave their stuff, we take on new ventures or jobs … and the list goes on. Sometimes life throws you a curve, just lean into it and come out the other side without throwing away all your hard work.