What it Really Means to Be Organized
To be organized does not mean you have to have every little thing you own micro-sorted into Pinterest-worthy, labeled containers. It does not mean you have to decanter your pasta and rice into those beautiful glass jars with wood lids. It does not mean everything is meticulously folded because honestly, that’s just being “neat.” If you enjoy organizing this way, that’s wonderful and I appreciate truly appreciate the aesthetics, but the world needs to hear what it actually means to be organized!
Being organized is the ability to know what you have and where it belongs in your home. It means you can find things quickly and put things away quickly. It means having the right systems in place for your particular organizational style and season of life. Being organized is actually a very personal thing and is different for everyone!
Here is a personal example. My husband and I share a closet and there are some shelves where we store our sweatshirts and sweaters. Only one of us folds… can you guess who? He he. Anyway, my husband shoves his sweatshirts on his shelf. It looks disheveled because it is. HOWEVER… it is technically organized! Say what??? He does not toss his sweatshirts on the floor or drape them across his dresser. He untidely puts them away on the shelf. In less than two seconds he can find a sweatshirt and put one away. Now I am not advocating that we should be untidy because that can cause unsolicited distractions and stress, but I am advocating for some grace and freedom, especially in shared spaces. Don’t let those influencers stress-paralyze you and prevent you from decluttering and organizing in a way that works for best for you, your budget and your lifestyle.
One of the best ways to approach being organized is thinking in terms of zoning. After a thorough decluttering, create zones in your home? Do you have a command center or basket where the mail, keys and sunglasses go? Do you have a shelf in your pantry that houses all of the snacks in their original packaging? Do you have one central location for all of your batteries, books or sippy cups? Declutter. Zone. Organize. You got this!