Clutter is a challenge for many people, both at work and at home. As soon as you get one space organized, it seems like another area is out of control. These days, getting organized means more than being able to find the items you need when you need them; it’s about living an organized lifestyle.
Total organization means organizing your schedule, your home office, your workspace, your garage, and whatever else around you feels chaotic. Implement these five tips if you’re ready to learn how to get organized at home.
Make Lists on an App
Using technology is a great way to get ahead in the organization game. If you’ve ever made a to-do list, only to discover you can’t find it on your messy desk or countertop, then an app is just the thing to help you stay on track.
With an app, you can keep a running list of what you need to accomplish, prioritize the tasks, and check them off as you complete them. Look for a day-planner app that you find appealing and convenient — Todoist and Smarter Time are two popular choices — and then make sure you put it to good use.
Declutter Your Digital Life
Your digital files can quickly become disorganized, and that can hamper your productivity. How much time have you spent looking for a lost password or trying to find an oh-so-important email? Invest a weekend in tidying up your digital domain, starting by making a list of your passwords for all your online accounts that you can store in a secure management tool, such as Dashlane or KeePass.
Next, make copies of your most important documents, such as your driver’s license, passport, social security card, and birth certificate. Create a PDF file with all your scanned documents so you always have them together in a file on your computer.
Finally, do a little spring cleaning in your email inbox. Delete those sale offers that expired and newsletters you saved two years ago to “read at a later date.” Create folders, file the emails you need, and get rid of the ones you don’t. You’ll be amazed how great you feel afterward.
Give Things a Home
Now that you’ve organized your schedule and cleaned up your digital space, it’s time to look at your physical space. Making sure you have a place for every item in your home is the first step. One of the biggest causes of clutter is that items just don’t have a home. Getting organized means finding a place for the things that seem to always end up on a counter or moving around from one room to the next. If you’ve ever spent a frantic few minutes searching for your keys as you’re on the way out the door in the morning, the value in this exercise is obvious.
Let Furniture Lend a Helping Hand
It’s easy for clutter to get out of hand very quickly; that’s where the right furniture can help. Look for pieces that serve double duty, such as a storage ottoman or a bookshelf that also serves as a room divider. Look for storage bins that can slide under the bed to keep that space under control. If you have kids and need to stow away toys quickly when guests show up, then designate a cabinet, sideboard, or bin for this sole purpose.
Hutches and shelves can store a lot of belongings, but you need to keep them tidy. If you want to maintain a clutter-free look without skimping on style, consider adding colorful fabric storage bins to your shelves.
Don’t Let the Home Office Off the Hook
Often, a home office becomes a catch-all for clutter. Pay extra attention to this space, and keep it from getting sloppy by having enough shelving and filing cabinets. Get in the habit of filing papers, bills, and receipts soon after receiving them. At the very least, schedule time to file papers at the end of every week.
CORT Furniture Rental can help you maintain your organized life by providing furniture options that let you store your important items in every room of the house.
