People ask me, “How do I know if I’m organized or not? Does my room need to look like a magazine layout?” No! The main goal in organizing (whether it’s an office, bedroom, or bathroom cabinet) is to be able to find what you need when you need it.
Each person’s solution will look different. Personally, I am distracted by lots stuff lying about and will tend to hop from one pile to another with no real progress on anything. I have to put away the things I am not working on right now. Another person may work best with visual clues present at all times. Thankfully, there are some really good tools for pilers these days. The standard organizing principles still apply, with a few tweaks. Here are three hints for starters.
1. Keep everyday use items close by. Grooming items (shaving, make-up) will be in the front row in your bathroom. The coffeemaker is on the counter only if you use it everyday. Current work projects will have a priority spot in or on your desk (I prefer in, but be sure to contain if not, see #3!) The flip side of this principle is that you have permission to banish to some other side of your office or home those things that you only need on occasion. Seasonal items, reference files, extra supplies… shall no longer take up prime real estate where you live and work everyday!
2. Keep the same kinds of things together. Have fun with categories. Office supplies can be sorted into: writing tools, adhesives (glue, staples, tape), mailing supplies, filing stuff, paper, etc. Bathroom items can include products for hair, teeth, nails, skin/face, first aid, etc.
3. Keep the “piles” contained. Once you have sorted, find containers that work for your space. Whenever possible, use the same style containers to hold your different categories in a given area. This trick alone can fool your eye into seeing a pleasing order. Here is where the beauty comes in. There are so many options for decorative containers these days! Target, Staples, The Container Store are all competing for your business. Don’t forget to repurpose something you find beautiful to keep stuff contained in style.
When you get your area arranged, give yourself the 10 second challenge. Close your eyes and think of one item you just put away using the three hints above. Open your eyes and count to 10 as you search for it. Find it before you said, “10″? You found what you needed; you are organized.
