Why You’ll Never Get Organized

Okay I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer.  However, I want to be the voice of reason.  I hear from a lot of readers and clients that they want their homes to look like the Pottery Barn catalog or one of the Pins they have found on Pinterest.  I’m here to be the bearer of bad news, it’s not going to happen.  However, if you avoid these organizing mistakes, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel 🙂

If you avoid these organizing mistakes, there's a light at the end of the tunnel 🙂 Click To Tweet

1.  If you take everything out of the closet, or the cabinet, or the desk and dump it on the floor, your chances of getting it all back together are slim.  Even if you feel full of energy, resist the urge.  Organizing is physically tiring and it takes more time than more people think.  If you start small and tackle one task, you can certainly move on to another.  However, if you create one big mess and can’t finish the job, you’ve move in the wrong direction.  I’ve had more than one frantic call from someone who has a bed full of clothes and no where to put them!

2.  It’s never going to be perfect.  If you are looking for a magazine style organizing system, you’e got to let go.  While places like catalogs, website and Pinterest are great for inspiration and unique ideas.  However, those photographs are staged for the camera.  A professional photographer has provided lighting, styling tips and possibly retouching.  There are no kids in the photos and no one is living there.  Accept the imperfections.  After all, you love your family!

3.  If you don’t have a plan going forward you will never stay organized.  I’m sorry to say it takes more than a weekend in the garage to become an organized person.  Organizing is an ongoing journey. It takes time, every single day, to make these habits stick and to keep your home organized.  I like to spend ten minutes a day putting things back into where they belong.  Once you have the organizational system in place, it’s easy to do this.  Instead of sorting through piles and figuring things out every day, you’re simply putting things where they belong.   Think about how you empty the dishwasher…you have a predetermined spot for everything and it’s just a matter of putting things where they belong.  If you get organized, your whole home can be that easy to tidy.