Companies have caught on to this problem too, and are more than happy sell you the latest system or trick that's supposed to make organizing a cinch. Of course, they are also happy to charge an arm and a leg for it, and we only have a maximum of four limbs to spend.
Experimentation is the only way to know what works for you, so don't waste money on every new fad. Try them out using items you already have on hand, so you won't feel guilty when the results don't work for you. Even the smallest organizational upgrades can save you tons of time in the future.
1. Get your cleaning on a schedule.
Whether you live alone and need to tackle it all yourself, or have a family of helpers with no direction, keeping a home tidy can be the biggest challenge for organization. So upgrade your routine to include a weekly checklist, and bask in the dopamine released each time a box is checked. You can make your own or choose one of the hundreds of free printable options online.
2. Make a pretty memo board.
Using just a cardboard base, fabric castoffs and duct tape, you can make yourself a perfect place to store those bits of ephemera that fill our day to day. Use it to replace the magnet-covered fridge, to sort mail, or whatever else you may like.
3. Stop wasting time searching for the other sandal.
Hands up if this sounds familiar: flip-flop season comes and suddenly your front hall is full of single sandals with no matching pairs to be found. It's amazing how much time can be wasted in the morning when the simple act of finding footwear becomes a chore. So save yourself the hassle by making some of these cute flip-flop hangers. You'll be amazed at the time you save in the morning.
4. Corral those odds and ends.
Don't toss out those dip cups you get with your take out. They're the perfect size to hold those bits and bobs scattered at the bottom of every drawer. Clean them out really well and add a pretty label. No one will ever guess that adorable container once held ranch dressing.
5. Don't toss those Tic-Tac containers either.
Instead, use them as dispensers for those random rolls of ribbon left around from last Christmas. I think they'd also be great for washi tape.
6. Keep toothbrushes off the counter.
Streamline your morning routine and keep sink splatters away from your toothbrushes at the same time by using leftover PVC piping and some hooks to make simple caddies that can hang on a wall or cabinet. For multi-person households, each caddie can be personalized to prevent unfortunate mix-ups. I think I would also include a sticker with the date I opened the brush, to remind me to replace it regularly.
7. Make a standing desk organizer with cereal boxes.
This one's pretty genius. Instead of limiting yourself to the over-priced, small selection of organizers found at your local office store, make your own with cereal boxes and pretty fabric or paper.
8. Take it up a notch with steak box drawers.
This project is super neat! You would never guess that those cute, individual containers were actually for frozen steaks.
9. Don't get tangled in spare cords.
Leftover toilet paper rolls are the perfect way to keep spare cables from getting in knots while in storage. You can just use the rolls plain, or doll them up with washi tape, paint, whatever. I would also label the rolls for future reference.
10. Keep power bars in check.
Don't just focus on the spare cables though. Instead of pulling the wrong plug four times before finding the one you want, label the cords with cute washi tape flags.
11. Keep your command center simple.
Sure, you could try to create one of those fancy Pinterest command centers for your family that takes up a full wall, but for most people, that's too much. Start small with some hanging folders and a printed calendar nestled in the corner of your kitchen or entryway. You can always expand as you learn what components you really need.
12. Make a dry erase calendar.
With paint chips collected from the hardware store and a cheap poster frame, you can create this lovely, ombré calendar that's perfect for dry erase markers. For a new month, just clean the glass, write in the new dates and you're ready to go.
13. Once you go BuJo, you never go back.
My bookshelves are filled with pre-fab day planners I've tried valiantly to fit into my life. Thing is, they all either have too much room, leaving me feeling guilty about wasting the space, or too little room, forcing me to write microscopically to stay in the box. And then the Bullet Journal system came into my life. It's a simple, fully customizable planner that can be used in any notebook you may have handy. Start with the classic system, and once you're hooked, the sky's the limit.
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