My organization secret

Do you ever wonder how you can make life a little more organized and a little less complicated? I do. Way too often, as a certain husband of mine would tell you. So instead of pestering him once again with my ideas, I get to pester you. And today, I’ve decided to share with you my secret to organization. But be ready, it is pretty complicated and fancy. Just like yours truly.

I think we all know that is a whole lot of lying in two simple sentences.

Anyway, back to my secret...

Get rid of it! Plain and simple, five things are easier to organize than ten. Period. Hence my secret for organizing--have less of it. The what-if-I-need-it-someday question needs to change to When is the last time I used it? The what-if-I-regret-throwing-it-away question can turn into When is the last time I even thought about it? Of course there are things that you do not use all the time and don't think about daily, that are important to keep. You know which things I am talking about. And you also know that board game that is missing two essential pieces does not qualify. Nor does the fancy wool jacket that you haven’t worn in six years because it doesn't work with your wardrobe. It stands to reason that the next six months are not going to be any different. Be honest with yourself and see what you can come up with that is cluttering your home and your mind.  For me, the perceived stress of parting with my “treasures” is so worth the glorious feeling of order when the garbage has been taken out and the donation box has been donated.

Try it. I promise you will like it.

My organization philosophy

Benjamin Franklin is credited with the line, “A place for everything, everything in its place.” More times than I can count, during a seminar or a friendly conversation, I am asked what I consider the key to organization. My reply is always the same, “Everything has to have its own place--and it needs to be there a majority of the time.”

I truly believe the key to organizing and simplifying our lives is taking the few minutes or seconds each day, each morning, each hour, to put things in their rightful place. When we do not know where something goes, we spend most of our time moving it around (pretending like we are actually accomplishing something with it) or passing by it several times a day, frustrated that we have not taken care of it. Both options are not only maddening, but chaotic.

Now it may sound like I am only referring to the order of your home or office. This same principle applies to memories, schedules and well, life. When we do not know where something should be put (the time to exercise, the photographs from two years ago, a visit from a friend, our home movies, a child’s soccer game, our mother’s birthday or a date with our spouse) we either rush around pretending something is being accomplished or pass by moments, memories and opportunities, missing them time and again.

Life does not have to be lived this way. I created this blog because I truly love to create order in all aspects of life. I know that when we discover a way to do something that works for us, we truly feel lighter and happier. Thus, a place for everything, is more than just the name of this blog—it is the philosophy that I have found that makes a lasting difference in my life. And I hope it can do the same for you.