{"id":4637,"date":"2014-11-06T06:00:25","date_gmt":"2014-11-06T11:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/professional-organizer.com\/WordPress\/?p=4637"},"modified":"2019-03-26T11:03:14","modified_gmt":"2019-03-26T16:03:14","slug":"5-basic-rules-of-organizing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/professional-organizer.com\/WordPress\/5-basic-rules-of-organizing\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Basic Rules of Organizing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"5<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wouldn’t it be nice to know the rules when you start a new project? When you put together that new bookshelf, it would be great if there were big bold letters that tell you to double check the front and back of the segments?\u00a0 Or when you are making a new dish, would you love to know that no matter what it will be delicious?\u00a0 When I think about organizing, I think there are some basic concepts that will lead to your success.\u00a0 Here are my favorite 5 basic rules of organizing.<\/p>\n

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Eliminate what you don’t love or use.<\/h3>\n

It seems simple enough this rule. Eliminating<\/a> and editing are the first steps to organizing. \u00a0 What interferes are the “what if’s” in life. What if I need it in a year? What if I lose 5, 10 or 15 pounds?\u00a0 We can “what if” ourselves into keeping everything.\u00a0 If you truly love an item, but have not used it, keep it in a less accessible spot.\u00a0 It’s possible to eliminate what you don’t use or love using the 4 box method<\/a>.\u00a0 Get clarity with this rule and your organizing will yield great results.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Store items at their point of use<\/h3>\n

The concept of keeping items where they are used frequently is nothing new. A little creative storage can be a good thing.\u00a0 Keeping items at their point of use means you can easily find what you need and easily put it away.\u00a0 You can create zones in a room to help you stay organized too.\u00a0 The kitchen is a great area to keep zones in mind. The breakfast zone is where the bowls and cereal are stored together.\u00a0 The coffee zone is where the Kcups, mugs and sweetener are.\u00a0 You get the idea that storing what you use together makes life easier.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Create limits and boundaries<\/h3>\n

When there are no limits, stuff becomes chaotic and stuff is everwhere.\u00a0 Having natural limits and boundaries for your stuff makes it easier to be organized.\u00a0 Your clothes limits include your dresser and closet.\u00a0 Keeping\u00a0 within these limits helps you with maintenance too.\u00a0 There’s less laundry to put away.\u00a0 Create natural boundaries with storage for items in your home or office.\u00a0 Have one drawer for extra office supplies, one location to keep school supplies and one shelf for extra pantry items.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"paper<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Get rid of paper. You know you want to.<\/h3>\n

Paper has us all overwhelmed! It’s the number one organizing project in almost everyone’s home.\u00a0 Our goal is not to store paper, but to get rid of as much as possible.\u00a0 Seek out other options for the information on paper.\u00a0 Can you find that information somewhere else?\u00a0 Can you make a note in Evernote <\/a>instead?\u00a0 How long do you need to keep that paper?\u00a0 Use this chart <\/a>to help you eliminate more paper.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Keep it simple sweetie<\/h3>\n

By far my favorite mantra to share!\u00a0 Keep it all simple<\/a>, whether it is stuff you are doing, stuff you are organizing, relationships you are in, and ways to live your best life.\u00a0 How do we keep it simple? By shedding the excess stuff, by eliminating toxic relationships, and finding ways to live life simply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Check out how these organizing rules come together on my Pinterest board Home Sweet Organized Home<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Looking for more organizing rules?\u00a0 Join my newsletter<\/a> for a monthly update on organizing tools, tips and rules!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Wouldn’t it be nice to know the rules when you start a new project? When you put together that new bookshelf, it would be great if there were big bold letters that tell you to double check the front and back of the segments?\u00a0 Or when you are making a new dish, would […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9],"tags":[1330,1332,1331],"class_list":["post-4637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-organizing-skills","tag-5-basic-rules-of-organizing","tag-organizing-rules","tag-rules-for-organizing-your-home-or-office"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Basic Rules of Organizing - 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