If an orderly living space is something you strive for, everything in your home needs a home. Putting this into practice is not an exercise in futility, in fact the main benefit is that it will save you time. Research has shown that the average American spends 16-55 minutes per day searching for items that they have misplaced. Can you imagine freeing up an extra half hour or hour of your day? You are imagining the possibilities already aren't you? Let's get started.
The first thing to do when you come across an item that is causing clutter is ask yourself if the item even belongs in your home. Just because something had a place in your heart and home 5 years ago, doesn't mean it still does. Think of it as a friend that you let stay for a week. You had a good time, but you don't want them to stay forever. As with your item, the visit had its purpose and now it’s time to move on.
If things don't have a home, they will always be out of place. Any old place won’t do, the location needs to make sense. If the item is used often choose an accessible location so it’s easy to access. If it is something you can’t leave home without, put it by the door. If you only need it when doing home repairs, put it with the tools. When you tailor the locations to your family's needs, it will become user friendly.
Next, put like things together. It is not uncommon to find office supplies or tools all over the house. A much more efficient way to go about it is to have all of the office supplies in the office space and the tools in a toolbox. That way you don't have to go searching for the saw once you have finished searching for the measuring tape.
When you are done using the item, put it back where it belongs. This is the key to a sustainable system. If you do it, it will work. The intense sense of satisfaction you will have with going to the spot and finding what you are looking for will leave you smiling.
One mistake people often make is creating landing zones. These are areas in your home that are a catch all. You know what I’m talking about here, it’s that spot where everything goes to die. It can be a table, a shelf, a closet, or even an entire room. These areas might be nightmare inducing for you. They have become so cluttered and unmanageable that you simply chuck and go and hope for the best. Each item in these landing areas needs a home. If need be, tackle one item at a time and you will eventually conquer the beast.
Time is something that is perishable and one of the few things that cannot be created. Don't waste it looking for your stuff.
Does this seem like too much to take on all on your own? Call Free Time Manufacturing Inc. if you want to start taking steps to organize and declutter. We can do a few hours a week to completion and create a system that works best for you. Let's achieve your goals together!