Organizing 101

Geez! I have been really busy these last 2 weeks, and apparently posting took a back burner. I am here now, so let's talk.

I have been in my house 3 years, and now that I am starting to make it my home, organizing is happening everywhere! It was a really chaotic move, and I will be honest, there are things I am still looking for! As I have been organizing, I thought to myself, "Maybe there are peeps out there that might want this info?"

So, I learned an acronym about 8 years ago that helps me with organizing. I wish I knew who to give credit to for it, but I don't. I know I heard it somewhere- I DID NOT come up with this on my own. It is a really simple thing to remember. Ready?

First things first... DO NOT reinvent the wheel. If you have a system in place for you, and you feel it works, use it. You don't have to be like the neighbor down the street and do it her way because it is different, or even brilliant. I think we stress ourselves out comparing ourselves as women, way too often. Sometimes what you have going IS brilliant. If you want to re-stylize it, go for it!

S.P.A.C.E.

Sort

Purge

Assign
Contain

Execute

Lets begin. Pretend we are going to organize a cupboard. That's easy enough right?

SORT: As you take things out, sort them. Groups, categories, how often do you use this item, storage, or garbage? Sort now instead of just taking it out of the space. Trust me. 

This is what it looks like when you start taking out without sorting!

PURGE: Get rid of what you don't absolutely use or love. If you haven't used it in 6 months (not as a result of it being seasonal) that might be a great indication you won't use it. Love yourself enough to get rid of it, and don't feel guilty. I just sorted through a cupboard in which I had a Pampered Chef Easy Decorator. I have had it for ten years. I have moved it from house to house thinking someday I would use it. It has taken much needed space and I finally got rid of it- and I don't feel guilty about it!

ASSIGN: Assign the things you are keeping to different spaces. Remember the frequency of which you might use items so you know how to arrange them. Some things are best stored in categories, assign them a place in your cupboard. Like mine has measuring cups, water bottles, and up on the higher shelves are things I use, but not as often.

CONTAIN: Items that are hard to store on their own might require a basket or two. I have put all of my measuring cups in a basket cause they don't stay together well when children use them. I also have the lids to all of my water bottles, and the springs that go inside Shaker bottles all in a basket. This way I don't have to use much needed drawer space to contain them.

EXECUTE: This is the most important step of them all. If what you have set up to contain your things, or where you have assigned them is something you won't be able to follow through with, your attempt to organize this space will fail. Your system HAS to be something you can execute.

Having a place for everything and everything in its place makes me feel like all is right in the world. There is nothing worse than trying to get somewhere, ON TIME, and feel like little ninjas have moved your things to various places (my ninjas like to play with my keys). Of course I would love to believe that little ninjas really are responsible, because that means I do not have to face my own inadequacies and realize I need a new system.This is what I have learned- take from it what you want, and leave the rest. No hard feelings here. :)