Beginner’s Guide to organizing: 5 Easy Steps
If you are anything like myself, the sound of getting organized can be so overwhelming at times. While trying to figure out this whole adulting thing, I have noticed how being organized plays a significant role in living a stress-free (as much as possible) lifestyle. I always love having a plan because it makes me prepared. I also think that is the teacher in me! When going into a new space that needs some organizing TLC I use my own 5-step guide to keep me in line. I love this approach because it makes me feel less overwhelmed when I can just focus on one task at a time and I also feel accomplished when I can check something off the list!
My 5-step guide consists of:
Brainstorm
Go through items
Categorize
Put away
Label
1. Brainstorm
First step is all about understanding what my goal is. The first question I ask myself is what is bothering me? Most often, the answer to that question is that I can’t find what I need easily or it takes too much time to find something. After I find my problem, I always think about my solution or how I want the end result to turn out. Key points I always touch on are downsizing or getting rid of items and what type of storage I would like to see. I find that figuring out your storage options before getting started helps out a lot towards the end. I always buy my storage products before getting started with the rest of the process.
2. GO THROUGH ITEMS
Second step is by the most dreaded but also the most fun. Most dreaded because it does take time (totally worth it) but the most fun because you get to see everything you have. If you’re like me, you sometimes forget what all you have so it’s like reopening presents! During this step is also when I find items that no longer serve my needs and get rid of them. I try my best to donate as much as I can (I ask myself will this item bring value to someone else’s life?). It helps me to feel less guilty about getting rid of items I spent money on.
3. CATEGORIZE
Third step can be done simultaneously with the second step to save you even more time! I truly believe there is no way around making a huge hot mess with a bunch of piles everywhere. It is the easiest and honestly most efficient way to organize. It helps when you can see everything you’re working with. I always have a donation pile. At the beginning, my piles start out very general but as I start categorizing items, they might become more specific. For example, if I’m organizing my pantry I would start off with snacks, baking, canned goods but might organize my snack category by granola bars, chips, crackers. You can be as general or specific as you would like, whatever works for you!
4. STORAGE
Fourth step is where I thank myself endlessly for brainstorming earlier in this process. If you’ve already thought about storage and have already bought or gathered up what you are going to use, then the hot mess with endless piles disappears quickly! You know exactly what stuff is going where.
5. LABEL
Fifth step is by far my favorite and so rewarding. For me, a major key in getting organized and staying organized is to label your storage containers. It helps to keep me accountable for keeping my space organized. Each container has a label on it describing the contents. My labels tend to be general enough to describe everything in a container. For example, my storage bin with all of my gloves, hats, and scarves is labeled Winter Accessories.
ENJOY YOUR SPACE
I know I only follow five steps but this step is the most important. I always make sure to appreciate the hard work and enjoy!
I hope you find this 5-step checklist helpful for the next space you decide to transform. I know it’ll be amazing :)
