Somewhere under the pile of laundry, dirty dishes left in the sink, piles of mail and bills on the coffee table, and school books scattered among the rooms, you will find your home. A home you would love to show off to friends and family. Where did it all go wrong? When did our lives become so busy that we are running out the door, past these piles, and going on with our day? Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon.
Getting Started
To get started organizing your family, it helps to get specific. General tips are fine, but really knowing just what to do can help a lot with motivating you toward your organizational goals. Following are some tips on getting started organizing your family.
When you start the process, it will be helpful for you to have a clear direction where you want to go as you clean and organize.
Time
Organizing time is just as important as organizing your stuff. If each family member has his or her own calendar, it can become a major headache trying to coordinate everyone's schedule. Try having one big family calendar, such as a large, office-style calendar that can be put on the wall or laid on a desktop. If you put it by the front door, everyone can see what is going on before leaving and as soon as they come home.
Have each family member write his or her schedule on this master calendar. To make it easier, assign a different colored pencil to each family member. This helps you see at a glance who has the most activities and who needs to be where when.
Labels
Use labels to show the contents of toy bins, personal baskets/boxes, file cabinets, and even dresser drawers if you like. This helps you and your kids find what they want or need at a glance. This also helps as you delegate tasks to others - you won't be as likely to be driven crazy by kids not knowing where to put clean dishes or laundry.
Containers
It's okay to get creative with containers; just so long as everyone's stuff is contained! Clear bins are a natural choice; they can be stacked, they are clear, and they come with lids. Plastic drawers are another option. For those who have a lot of small things - beads, for instance, or small collectibles - egg cartons make great storage containers. They can be labeled and stacked as well.
Chore Charts
For kids and grown-ups alike, keeping a chart with chores/tasks listed can help a lot. If you rotate tasks, a dry-erase board is a good idea. Tasks can be crossed off or erased, and this helps everyone feel more accomplished.
Routines
This ties in with time organization. Establishing routines can help children feel more secure, and adults, too, benefit from knowing what comes next on a given day. Routines like reading the comics at breakfast or having a special snack after school can create lovely memories while teaching your child how organization can simply be made into a habit.
The SORT Method for Getting Started
When you start the process, it will be helpful for you to have a clear direction where you want to go as you clean and organize. One of the most direct approaches would be the SORT Method. Using 4 boxes, you can breakdown the items as you are sorting them by putting them in one of the labeled boxes.
1: Storage
In the storage box, or as I call it the sentimental box, these are items that have a particular meaning to you and you just can’t part with. Keep a list of the items you are placing in each storage box so you know going forward what is in the boxes that are being kept in the attic, basement, or garage.
2: Odds & Ends
In this box, we can put the items that are still usable, in good condition, but you actually can live without. All homes have old books they no longer read or toys that are outgrown. There are many options – family/friends who could make use of them, a book drive for local libraries or schools, donate items to a charity, or make a little extra money and treat yourself to dinner for all your efforts and host a garage sale.
3: Relocate
For this one I actually keep a box labeled for every room in the house. These are great for relocating items through-out the house that actually belong in another room. Once you have sorted the house, you can take these boxes to the proper room, and return them to their proper place.
4: Trash
This will be for the trash. These are all the items that have no value, no use, and are unacceptable for donation.
How Organizing Your Family Benefits Everyone
There are benefits to organizing besides just a neater home. In fact, the entire family can gain from getting organized. Here are some ways that organizing time, stuff, and schedules can benefit everyone.
There are benefits to organizing besides just a neater home.
Finding Stuff
How many family fights begin with someone unable to find something? For example, the ever-elusive remote control seems to be missing; the family member who wants to watch TV gets frustrated and starts blaming others for losing the remote. The blamed family members get upset and say it's not their fault, and then a big fight ensues.
Here's another scenario: you're trying to get out the door and your kids can't find their shoes, books, whatever. You become frustrated and so do they, and tempers flare.
So being able to find stuff can go a long way toward creating family peace. Designate a place for those "slippery" items that tend to cause controversy: shoes, remotes, adapters, books. Each family member can have his or her basket to keep miscellaneous things in, and you can put a shoe rack or big basket/bucket by the door for shoes, especially during the school year. You can also keep a list by your front door of what to check for before you leave: library books, glasses, keys, etc.
Routine
Experts point out that children feel much more secure when there's a routine. Establishing routines is part of family organization, and can definitely make for happier family members. Routines give everyone a sense of calm, because you know what's coming next (to an extent, of course). Adults and kids alike benefit from a regular routine and tasks that are made into habits.
Regular Family Meetings
As you establish a routine, work regular family meetings into the schedule. Maybe once a week or once a month works best for your family; whatever makes for a regular time to get together and air concerns, offer solutions, and brainstorm. Maybe tie it in with something fun, like pizza and movie night or serve a special dessert during the meeting (offices use this tactic by offering donuts at meetings!).
Meetings are a great time to get everyone's schedule worked out and understood, and for family members to speak up about things that are bothering them. It's also a good time to establish rules and make sure everyone understands what they are.
Better Communication
As families organize their time and personal items, communication tends to open up. For one thing, more time is available for spending together as a family - you're not wasting time arguing and looking for stuff. Also, since organizing involves family meetings, you will have more of a chance to talk things out with other family members.
Room by Room - Getting Your Home Organized Each room has specific organizational needs. That's why it helps to break things down.
One of the best ways to get started organizing your home is to go room by room.
Each room has specific organizational needs. That's why it helps to break things down. Here are some room-by-room tips to help you get your home organized.
One of the keys to successful bathroom sharing is organizing the space so that everyone's stuff is protected and itemized.
Bathroom(s)
One of the keys to successful bathroom sharing is organizing the space so that everyone's stuff is protected and itemized. Here are some ideas.
For family members sharing a bathroom, assign a clear bin for everyone's basic toiletries, such as make-up, hair brushes, razors, and hair clips. (Some family members might need two bins.) These bins can be stored under the sink or stacked neatly on shelves near the vanity. Family member's names should be on each bin.
In the shower, everyone can have his or her own hanging basket to store special soaps and personal shampoos. Wash cloths and towels can be color-coordinated per family member, or each family member can have his or her own special hook/rack to hang wash cloths and towels.
Bath toys for the kids can be stored in a plastic bin - just make sure it's uncovered so the toys can dry. A plastic dish pan works well.
The kitchen can be one of the more daunting of the rooms to organize, but it's one of the most essential rooms to get organized.
Kitchen
The kitchen can be one of the more daunting of the rooms to organize, but it's one of the most essential rooms to get organized. It really can save time if your kitchen is laid out in a way that makes sense, and if you know what you have on hand.
If you're not using an appliance more than once a year, give it away or recycle it. Consider the usefulness of various kitchen appliances before you take up precious space storing them - do you really need a citrus juicer, meat grinder, or iced tea maker? If you do, by all means keep them (more on organizing appliances in a moment). But if you don't, get rid of them.
Appliances can be placed in cabinets or on counter-tops; some homeowners like appliance "garages." These are basically sections of counter-top with sliding/closing doors behind which the appliances sit, hidden, when not in use. It's a variation on the old television cabinet.
Things you use often like salt and pepper should be nearby and have their own spaces. Few things are more frustrating than trying to cook, wanting to find the salt, and not being able to!
For kids, getting stuff up off the floor can be challenging - especially since you want to make sure small people can reach these items to get them down again.
Bedroom(s)
For kids, getting stuff up off the floor can be challenging - especially since you want to make sure small people can reach these items to get them down again.
Over-the-door shoe storage hangers are great for all kinds of items; they don't have to be for shoes. Fill them with your child's favorite small toys.
Stack clear plastic bins on shelves and organize them according to the type of toys in them.
A large, flat, plastic bin can hold all kinds of toys and be slipped under the bed for storage.
Adults' bedrooms can also benefit from organization. For under-bed storage, use the same method as for your kids; just make sure you don't have a pile of clutter under there.
Dresser tops can be organized with baskets, trays, and decorative boxes.
Get DVDs, videos, and books organized in labeled boxes or on shelves (organized by type).
Living Room / Family Room
Get DVDs, videos, and books organized in labeled boxes or on shelves (organized by type).
Magazines and catalogs can go into magazine racks; clean these out weekly or monthly so they don't accumulate. Check with local businesses such as doctor's offices to see if they are interested in taking your back issues for their waiting rooms.
While this may not happen overnight, I challenge you to at least leave your home cleaner when you end your day than you left it in the morning. It’s really that simple and It All Starts With You! If you have a personal challenge you have faced and would like to share your story with My Everyday Challenges, visit What Was Your Challenge and send me an email. I would love to share your story and make you the star.
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