Tips on Getting Organized

2015 was a year of change for my family – we moved almost an hour away from my kids’ hometown, to be closer to nature and my husband’s job. Having prepared the house we spent ten years in for sale, and then having packed up said house to set up home in another, I’m no stranger to de-cluttering and organizing.

In the spirit of starting this new year off right, here are the organizing tips I’ve learned along the way:

• Constantly get rid of clothes – I take mental note of items my kids have outgrown, and keep a collapsible bin in the laundry room which serves as my “donate” pile. When I’m hanging and folding, I pile the too-small items in this bin, and bring it to a donation centre when full.
• If you can’t see it, you won’t use it – Don’t you hate when you come across items you would have eaten/worn/used/played with more, had it been more visible? A small investment in closet, cupboard and pantry organizers upfront can save money and heartache in the long run, and put everything front and center where it will be thought of, and used!
• Post a family calendar – Families are busy, and that can lead to undue stress, if plans aren’t communicated or properly noted-down. We hang an old-school paper calendar from the fridge, which we all consult before committing to plans, and on which we note any/all commitments.
• Keep things simple – You’ll have time to get, and stay, organized if you don’t overwhelm yourself. Try not to book more than one event per day on the weekend, and give yourselves some weeknights off from commitments if you can. When you start a project (like organizing the kitchen cabinets), don’t attempt to do it all at once. Make smaller, more achievable tasks (like the spices cupboard, then the cereal and soup cupboard, and so on).
• Make the tough choices – Someone’s got to. If your kids are like mine, they want to keep everything. That torn paper crown from the fast food restaurant, every cheap bubblegum machine toy, little umbrellas from drinks, soaps from hotels, broken toys, clothes that have stains, and so on. When my kids had trouble parting with things, I’d do a clean sweep and put things in a bin. They could have them back if they named specific items they “couldn’t live without”!

I hope these tips will prove helpful, if becoming more organized is something you plan on doing this year.

Happy new year!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Natalie Rea

Mom to two amazing daughters - a feisty teen in middle school, and an ambitious young adult in university. Originally from Montréal's West Island, I now explore the beautiful trails of Hamilton, Ontario. Proud Canadian, vegetarian, dog-adopter, & bleeding-heart liberal. I smile a lot because I have Resting Bitch Face.