It’s January, and we all know what that means. Time to clean, purge, and organize! It’s no secret that I love a clean, organized home. If my home is disorganized and cluttered, I simply can’t function properly.
My mother and grandmother (who lived with us) were the same way. I have a theory. If we grew up in a clean and organized home, we either tend to be that way as adults or the opposite. Do you agree?
That’s not to say I have my act together all the time. In fact, I felt I could use a few tips from super organized folks out there, so I asked/looked/read and found some useful ideas I thought I would share. Nothing earth shattering here folks, just some tips that I thought might jump start your organizing process this month, so here goes.
Thinking you can organize once and be done with it is like thinking you can exercise once and you’ll suddenly have the body of Giselle Bรผndchen. If only. It is a continual process, which is why it’s so important to find systems that work for you and your family, not what some article in a magazine (or a blog!) is recommending.
Remember my bathroom organizing post from a couple of years ago? (Of course you don’t. That’s why I linked to it.) Basically, it stresses that you need to ‘find your path’. Go ahead and check it out for some ideas on developing organizing systems and come on back.
Now that you got the hard stuff out of the way, i.e., finding systems that work for you, there are several things you can do EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. to keep you on track.
I’m going to start off with my number one tip:
1 – LEAVE A ROOM AS YOU FOUND IT
I don’t know how many times I said this, but it’s worth repeating. Think about it. Once a room is organized, if you leave it as you found it, it will pretty much stay that way. Don’t leave mugs on the table, magazines on chairs, shoes on the floor. You get the idea.
2 – CLEAN AS YOU GO
Don’t wait to clean once a month, or even less. Do the quick and easy stuff daily, or at least a few times a week, such as wiping down bathroom and kitchen counters, giving your kitchen sink a quick wipe down after rinsing dishes, etc.
3 – PUT THINGS AWAY WHEN YOU’RE DONE WITH THEM
This isn’t rocket science, but it always surprises me how many people don’t do this!
4 – KEEP IMPORTANT ITEMS IN THE SAME SPOT
Guilty as charged. Just ask Fisherman. I’m constantly looking for my glasses and phone! But one thing I’m good about is always leaving the keys in the same spot, so we NEVER lose track of them. Keeping them by the door is handy, and I highly recommend it you have the space to do this too, but if not, maybe a small hanging basket would suffice.
5 – CLEAN UP AS YOU GO ALONG WHEN COOKING
One thing Rachel Ray does is have a ‘garbage bowl’, and I have to admit it’s a handy way to cook. Just put everything in the bowl that will end up in the garbage or compost as you cook. Saves time and steps in the kitchen! Another time saver? While the cookies are baking (or whatever), clean up the mixing bowls. The sooner you do it, the easier it will be.
6 – WORK ON ONE THING AT A TIME
Unless you’re super organized, trying to do two things at once rarely works out well. Focus on one task at a time and I promise you’ll feel less stressed and you will accomplish more, and as an added bonus, each task will be performed more efficiently.
7 – DON’T PUT OFF SMALL TASKS
They’ll only pile up. I know from experience, because I’m not very good at this. One thing I am good at is throwing away junk mail IMMEDIATELY. It barely hits the table before it’s in the recycling bin. Try it. It’s also very helpful to write things down so you won’t forget. I use my Evernote app for that, and I love it. Oh, and don’t forget to label items if you’re not sure what’s inside. It really helps!
In other news…
Our trip down to Florida (we left on the 26th), was uneventful, and when you’re driving a 35′ sexy beast and towing, that’s a good thing. We had LOTS of traffic and it took us four nights to get here, but that was sort of expected.
We have been in Naples for a week now, and unlike last year, the weather has been beautiful! We’ve gone to the beach, done some bike riding, and we’re playing pickleball almost every evening. The resort is a different one than the one we stayed in last year, larger and with nicer facilities. We attended their New Year’s Eve party, and at $32 a COUPLE we didn’t expect much but were pleasantly surprised. We ate, drank and boogied all night long. New Year’s Day Fisherman went to the Community Center and watched football while feasting on pulled pork, coleslaw, beans and root beer floats while I spent the day making enough meatballs to feed the entire resort (I froze most of them).
We are here for a month then it’s off to Venice, where I hope to continue to enjoy the same activities as last year…painting, jewelry making, photography and biking, among others.
I have a few posts prescheduled, although not as many as last year. I hope to write a couple about our travels while we are down here rather than wait until we return. In the meantime I’m concentrating on enjoying the sunshine and our surroundings ๐
Stay warm and happy…
Brenda Kula-Pruitt says
You two nomads! Have fun. I’ve always been a clean as I go cook. I just completely reorganized my two closets. So we’ll see how long it is before I fear walking in and having something fall on my head again!
Brenda
Nana Diana says
I love Naples and used to go there when it was small and the only stores were on 5th Avenue. As a matter of fact, I was spokesmodel for Naples…lol…back in the good old days when I was young and cute. lol I LOVE LOVE LOVE Venice. One of my favorite spots. I hope you enjoy your winter down there and if the old boy here ever retires I will be picking your brain for RV parks! xo Diana
Nana Diana says
PS- I forgot to say- I agree with you-the home I grew up in always looked like a bomb had exploded in it….lol…my mother was CLEAN but clutter-bound. lol I like everything neat and organized!! (maybe to a fault)…lol
Emily McGriff says
Being organized is one thing I try to stay on top of, it just makes life easier. Glad you had a safe trip down and I hope you have a wonderful getaway, it sounds wonderful. It is snowing here, yes, we are getting snow in AL! Look forward to your vacations posts………….
Kim says
Great tips! My mom used to recite many of these to us when I was young (we never listened) and now I find myself saying the same things to my own kiddos. They don’t listen either. Enjoy your trips. I am pea green at the thought of both Florida sunshine and Venice anything!! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Marilyn @ Pink Paper Cottage says
Great post… and hope you keep enjoying your time in Florida! Sounds like a blast… as I sit here and look outside at our 2 feet of snow! We’ve been house bound for almost a week, but I finally went out today. I stay pretty organized, but I do have too much stuff and am continually trying to pare down. I have several tubs of “stuff” in the garage waiting for our next garage sale, but I’m tempted to just take it all and donate it! I so HATE garage sales! My bathroom once looked like yours.. we had plenty of room for everything..baskets and baskets of things that we mostly stored and never used… when we moved to central Oregon, I dumped almost all of it. All that’s left is what we can get under our two small sinks (2 bathrooms) and one little tupperware carry-all that is about a foot square with our extras. I really really love it this way, with just what we actually use close by in a little set of plastic drawers, that sits on each of our counters. We each have a wall unit/cabinet that holds our vitamins and things like bandaids and extra soap, etc. Now if I could just get my craftroom pared down like that!
Mary - the boondocks blog says
Doreen I am so glad you are down in Naples and all settled. I on the other hand am in New York visiting my sons.
I have to say this post could not have been more timely. I am sitting here in a living room that looks as if it has seen a tornado. I am of the opinion that people are genetically wired to be messy. I was a neat mom always about organization but I have two kids that could not be neat and put things back if their life depended on it. And so I will be spending part of my stay trying to organize the house… again! Because we are not Giselle. And I totally think she does nothing to get that body!
I’m looking forward to your future posts and stop cooking just enjoy the sunshine!!
AnnMarie says
These are really great tips! Number 3 is a huge pet peeve for me. I can come home and tell you everything my husband did while I was out…..because everything is left out. I say, just put it away when you are done!! Ok, thanks for letting me vent a little. Can I be a little envious that you are in the warm sunshine? It is 7 degrees here right now in Upstate NY!
Vicky says
Great tips for organizing. I too am a much happier person if everything is clean, organized, and in its’ place….both at home and school. I teach my kindergarteners to clean up after themselves too and they know where to return things when they are done. I have always enjoyed cleaning and organizing…to me it’s fun. Glad to hear you made it safely to Florida. It sounds as if you’re enjoying it so far! Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs,
Vicky
Cecilia says
Wonderful tips! Number three is one I tried (without much success) to drill into my children’s head or the clean up while the cookies are baking one. My children are ” messies” which I am not. They seem to be neater now that they are on their own. Now if I can just get Bruce to pick his socks off the floor. Lol.
Enjoy your warm weather!
tammy j says
well hi there BAM MAMA!!! you’ve been missed!
i’m so glad the weather is better this year for you.
we just got 4 inches of snow from something called helen or helene…
and since we’re deep in another drought we can use it!
have fun on your winter runaway! will look forward to any posts you post!!!
love ya! XOXOXOโฅ
sandy says
I typically organize in January, but with a very ill husband, those tasks will have to wait. Enjoy the warm weather. We are at a negative 16 degrees here in NW Wisconsin.
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
Always a clean as I go cook here ! ๐ You sound all warm and sunshine-y ๐
Cindi says
Love this post!
I read every tip and also the post about organizing the bathroom.
They make sense but I only do the one about the keys.
I will have to try to put the others into action.
I’m organizing my bathroom and it’s a challenge being 5 ft wide and 14 feet long with a clawfoot tub.
If I don’t figure it out, expect a photo. LOL!
Glad to read you are having great weather in Naples!
Love your photos on Instagram, especially the thong bathing suit! LOL!
It’s warmer here today, I think it hit 7 degrees….. :/
๐
xoxoxo
kim says
Sounds like terrific fun, Doreen. I do hope you show us photos of your time in Florida! Maybe just seeing them will keep me warm in this beastly cold place where I live…Thanks for the organising and cleaning tips. It’s what I’m working on before I start painting.
Carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
Great tips Babes! We’re pretty darn good about several of them over here. Some I’m definitely a continual work in progress. ๐ But they’re all spot on. My biggest issue right now is my office/craft space. It became the dumping ground over the holidays so it’s top on the list! Then going to give my kitchen cabinets some love and I have some fun organizing ideas for in there. My kitchen loves to fight me but I’m ready this year – it’s on like donkey kong!!
I”m so jealous of your warm weather life now! ::sigh:: I have the biggest warmest fuzzy socks on right now and I’m STILL COLD! But I’ll make you jealous with the fact that I haven’t had to shave my legs in a month – so there! ๐
Weekend blessings sent your warm weather way! xoxo
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
Great tips Doreen. I am a neat freak and very organized and found that if I keep up with things everyday it is less work in the long run. I have been working on decluttering my closets and organizing in there. Have a great weekend.
xoxo
Kris
Jane says
Love Naples! The downtown area is so fun. I am so envious of you two. And yes, scatter a few spontaneous posts in, no matter how short. In my little igloo I’ll drool over your fun!
Love these tips. My mom always said to leave a room better than it was. It fell on deaf ears with my kids but I’m guilty of tidying up the bathroom each time I use it. And I just recently got the drift on not multitasking when cleaning (and a lot of other things). It’s too distracting and you just don’t give it your best shot. I clean up as I go along. While some throw everything in the dishwasher, I do a lot by hand, especially large pieces and my good pots and pans. I HATE emptying the dishwasher! Like Rachel’s garbage bowl, I fill my largest mixing bowl or pot, whatever I’m using, with hot soapy water and then my tools such a spatulas and tongs, Super simple to wash and put away.
So glad you are having fun…keep the IG pics coming!
Jane x
Vickie says
I’m like you, Doreen, and I’m unsettled when things are unorganized. I follow most of the rules you’ve listed today, except for the work on one thing at a time rule. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to be that focused, but I try.
It’s bitterly cold her in northern, MN, so sunshine and bike riding sounds heavenly! Enjoy!
Melanie says
I’m a neat and (mostly) organized person, too, so you guessed it – I normally follow these tips! Except for #6 – concentrating on one task at a time. That’s hard for me to do. I’m usually a multi-tasker. Since I’m rather new to your blog, I’m not familiar with your Florida trip. Do you spend winter in FL? I’ve only been in Naples once – and that was over 27 years ago!
kelly says
This is certainly a good time of year to be in FL! So glad that you’re enjoying it so far. I’m kind of an organization nut year round. So, I practice those tips often. I feel like my house is clean if it’s organized.
Debbie - Mountain Mama says
Wow, you lucky dog down in sunny Florida! I woke up to ZERO degrees this morning!! I have to say I’m pretty good about keeping things fairly neat and organized but my weakness is paperwork – I detest it, I put it off, it builds up and then becomes a huge project. Hate, hate, HATE!! Sigh. I will have to try to get on top of it in 2017 and stay on top of it!!
Amy says
I definitely need a jumpstart this year to get organized, so thanks for the tips. I’m happy to say that the areas I organized last year have stayed that way! But – there’s so much more to do! And by the way, I DO remember your bathroom post! Glad to hear you are having great weather. Enjoying your Instagram pics!
Karen says
I completely agree with all the tips you gave here Doreen! Once you do these and make them a habit you won’t ever go back to not doing them. It also helps to have everyone in the family on board that way the load is not totally on one person. Life is so much better and less stressful in a clean and organized home. Have fun in Florida! I am originally from the small town, Wauchula Florida ๐
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
All those tips make perfect sense… But I’m guilty of not being good at following them!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
We are on the opposite coast in Floridaโฆit has been very windy with off and on showers. Enjoy your time here, I’m looking forward to reading about your trip. Good tips on daily routines, now if only I could be like that. ๐
Judy says
Hi Doreen. Trying to get this in before computer goes bust again! Awhile back I wrote about a card system that I use for organizing and cleaning. I have been using it steadily and it is really working well. We are working hard to get the kitchen up to par and when that is done, I should be able to take care of all the house in a short amount of time each day. I love it!!..Happy Thursday..Judy
feral turtle says
I agree with less stuff! Now if I can just get my house to agree….Have fun on your travels!
Vashti Q says
Great tips! I do most of these but there’s a couple I need to incorporate. Thank you! ๐
Red Rose Alley says
These are great tips, Doreen. I love the quote, “for the longest time.” When we moved, I think I gave away about 11 bags of stuff! It’s true, we don’t need so many things; it starts to look cluttered when we have an abundance of stuff lying about. But there are some treasures that I’ll never part with. : ) I like number five about cooking, and it makes sense, right?
Wishing you a Happy Belated Birthday, Doreen!
~Sheri