My mother’s family breeds organization. I was raised on lists and the mindset that a clear space equals a clear mind. Everything had a place and my room was usually tidy. Halloween night consisted of grouping my candy together based on name and type (and yes, I still separate my M&M’s by color).
These methods have followed me into adulthood, motherhood, and continue to keep my life as organized as it can be. When our friends found out we were pregnant with our son, I remember so many of them telling me “just wait.” That I will have to get used to the bright primary-colored toys scattered over the living room floor.
I’m here to tell you it’s possible to avoid the chaos. Don’t get me wrong, there are nights and weeks where books aren’t put away and dishes go by the wayside. However, so far, we have been able to maintain our home as it was before our son was born. We have spaces for him, places for his toys, and I try to utilize every possible opportunity for storage. I must add a disclosure here that, I am still a hot mess on the regular. These helpful organization hints work for me, but it’s okay if they aren’t what’s right for you.
Organization Tips and Tricks
- Remove cumbersome packaging. I keep all of our extra bathroom supplies together in the linen closet, and, after a trip to Costco, I often have five tubes of toothpaste or six bottles of body wash to store. This is an easy way to save space, especially when you buy bulk like we do. PSA: don’t forget to recycle!
- Label! Everything! I have fallen for the age old trick of sorting through a stack of storage tubs and putting everything in its rightful place, and then life happens. A year later, shoot, a month later, I have no recollection of where those extra party hats are. So, stick a label on it. Even if you think you don’t need to. If you have a fancy label maker, that’s awesome! Maybe I can borrow it? But if not, duct tape and a sharpie will work fine.
- Slow and steady wins the race. You don’t have to do it all at once. Sometimes, as women, we need to be reminded of that. Don’t rush. Commit to one task at a time. You might not finish what you set out to do today, but that’s okay. It has been four months since I started going through our home, and, trust me, it’s still a work in progress. Start in your most-used spaces and remember not to be too hard on yourself if you’re pulled away. Just pick up right where you left off tomorrow.
Find What Works for You
To me, sorting is an outlet for my anxiety. There are few things these days I can control, so I spend a lot of time purging boxes of old, mindless junk we have accumulated over the past decade. It helps me focus my racing mind and forces me to put my phone down and turn off the news. It also feels good to know that the old towels and blankets we aren’t using are able to help some pups stay warm at the local humane society.
At the end of the day, organization looks different for everyone. In college, my advertising professor’s office was a mess. I am talking paper stacked to the ceiling. But, he knew where everything was. It never made sense to me but he had a system that worked for him. At the end of the day, isn’t that what matters most?
Happy organizing!