Organizing is a topic that can be overwhelming for part-time working moms, including me, so I figured it deserves some attention. Why talk about organizing? Spring time often brings up the topic of spring cleaning and organizing. And being organized is also advice that many moms have given during the interviews I’ve done.
Why organize or declutter?
Need some motivation to get started on organizing and decluttering? Of the many reasons, here are a few. For starters, it makes things easier to find later. Less time looking for stuff later equals more time to do other things – something fun with family, exercise, learn a hobby, time to sit and read, or, practically speaking, even getting a bit more work done. Second, you can save money. You won’t lose bills and pay late (yes, some people get hard copies of bills) and you won’t get duplicates of items you already have. And finally, it’s not based on a professional opinion that I found during my research, but it seems like organizing helps increase satisfaction. Don’t you feel satisfied when you’ve done some organizing and/or purged? I certainly do!
Different places to find information on organizing and decluttering
There are a lot of resources for getting your organizing adventures started and keeping things that way. There are books (check out Marie Kondo’s). If you want more of a summary on her book, take a look at this segment from the Today show. There are loads of magazine articles, especially in the spring – I feel like Real Simple in particular has articles all the time on getting organized. There are even websites dedicated to getting and staying organized. Just Google and you’ll find more websites than you an imagine. I’ve posted a few checklists on the Mompowerment Pinterest page to try to give you some easy resources on different rooms in your house.
What will you do with all the stuff when you’re done?
All of the articles and approaches seem to be slightly different. The consistent message in almost everything I’ve read or every podcast I’ve listened to says to make sure you know where things go after they leave your possession. After all, organizing isn’t only about putting things into their place. Some things simply need a new home away from yours. Ask friends or neighbors if they want/need anything you’re removing, take items to non-profits (there are usually various to choose from), or even sell them on Craigslist or at a second-hand shop. Make sure to not let the stuff pile up that you’re trying to remove. (That seems to be my current challenge – getting the stuff out the door.)
What’s working for me
I don’t usually give advice on getting organized because it’s something I struggle with, but I will share what has started working for me as a part-time working mom with two young children:
- Organize in small increments of time. With two kids in pre-school in the morning, I don’t have a whole weekend or solid days in general to dedicate to getting organized. I try to do a bit each day. Have a goal, though, whether it’s a room, a type of clutter, or whatever (e.g., clean off X type of clutter on your desk for 30 minutes).
- Put hard copies of bills and anything important you must hang on to temporarily (e.g., event tickets, invitation to an event, etc.) in designated spots. You might need them, even if you add them on your calendar. Or take a picture.
- Throw stuff away or recycle circulars, junk mail, etc. immediately. It adds up quickly and it sucks to go through bunches at a time.
- Stay on top of your wardrobe. Get rid of things that have holes, stains, don’t fit. No need to keep things around. Period.
- If you can only organize and declutter every once in a while, set a schedule (e.g., once a month). It can quickly overwhelm you if you let it go too long.
- And most importantly, figure out what works for you, regardless of what a book, article, or friend says. Not all approaches, whether for purging or keeping things organized, work for everyone and that is OK.
It’s Friday and no one wants to organize or declutter, but it’s worth it. Take 20-30 minutes and let your significant other watch the kids, preferably outside, for a short while. Get your short organizing project done, and feel some s-a-t-i-s-f-a-c-t-i-o-n as your weekend starts.
Have some tips or an approach that has really worked for you? Is there something specifically you struggle with when it comes to organizing? Share in the comments.
