Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
email: jean@jeanlinderorganizing.com
phone: 631-806-4852
Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Located in East Quogue, Serving all of Suffolk County
I came across this question the other day, and not for the first time: Why does MY house seem to be the only one where nothing has a place, or if it has one, no one puts it there? Never do I go into other homes and see their dresser tops and counters piled with boxes, hangers, toys...and corners with laundry, kids' rooms with stuff just sitting around! No order.
In its most basic sense, the answer would be “Your house is NOT the only one!”
This I know for sure. I’m a Professional Organizer who gets called in to ‘fix’ these situations in homes and offices. A good Professional Organizer is not the same thing as hiring a cleaning person to help. Chances are, if your space got to a point where you need help with it, you could benefit from having a PO come in and help you get it back in order quickly. Importantly, she will teach ways to maintain order after she leaves. We POs have an arsenal of tips filed away neatly in our brains, and the more we can share with you and you implement, the more likely the changes we make will last, and that you won’t have to call in the cleaning person to help with a huge mess again in 6 months. We also listen to your underlying issues, and keep them in mind at all times while aspiring to help you meet your goals.
“Why does my house seem to be the only one where nothing has a place, or if it has one, no one puts it there?” An Organizing principle is Naming to create boundaries. All items should have a home. Sunscreen goes with sunscreen in a designated part of the house , conveniently located. Same with books, hair supplies, papers to be addressed, memorabilia, etc. etc., really everything. The level of convenience of where its stored depends on how much you need to access it.
What is so important is to be mindful. I’ll use myself as an example. I’m busy with my family, work, and life, so when I put something down, I pay attention to what I’m doing. I know the alternative is that I’ll forget where I put it and waste a lot of time trying to find it again. The more homes I’ve created for Like items, the easier this has become and the less thinking is involved. Are you in the habit of putting something down and not paying attention to where you put it? If you could stop that today, it will make a huge difference in your life.
Regarding no one putting their stuff away, if you’re the Mom, you really have to suck it up and help them keep up with it. ;) Make putting stuff away easy by keeping the most used things the most conveniently located, in No Fuss containers, baskets and cabinets. Make it easy by not having complicated lids, things put too high, etc. Like goes with like. Mobile containers are great. Piling is a No-no. If you have the right systems in place, it’s easier to keep up with than if you don’t.
If you have a two story home, give the most used items homes on both floors. For instance, my daughter’s hair styling supplies are in a cabinet in her armoire, but we also have a basket near the kitchen so that no matter what level of the house she is on, accessing these often used items is just a few steps away. There are only two places a specific item would be, so if it’s not in the upstairs hair styling area, it’s in the downstairs one.
As a Mom, if you emulate neat habits, your kids will too. I’ve seen it in my own life. As I follow the Organizing principles I’ve learned over the years, my kids have too. Until you have your house in order you really can’t expect your kids to do it.
As a wife, I tell people, “You knew what you were getting into when you married him!” ;) Maybe he wants to become neater and can learn from you. Maybe he doesn’t care. Until the magic wand for fixing this is created, and it hasn’t been yet, I advise people to accept their husbands for who they are. If the Moms clean up their act, the Dads will be inspired to varying degrees, and you will just have to pick up the slack. Consider this the bad that goes with the good and be grateful for his good traits. J
In upcoming posts, I’ll address misconceptions some people feel that they are the only ones with clutter problems, keeping surfaces clear, laundry and kids’ rooms. If you want to be sure to catch them, visit www.jeanlinderorganizing.com, Contact Me, and indicate that you would like to receive the next article in this series. Happy Organizing!
