Everyday Breezy

Let’s get right to it–here are my three favorite organization tips that actually work for me as a busy working mom!

1. Baskets, baskets, baskets. I have baskets in almost every room of our house. One of my favorite things about them is that they also look pretty and double as decor. Some of my baskets are pretty organized (e.g., only blankets, or only toys) but some are catch-all’s for whatever items have ended up in that room. Tossing these items in a basket reduces visual clutter, makes me feel less overstimulated, and allows me to return to them when I’m ready to deal with whatever clutter has accumulated there.
2. Work with your natural flow. Pay attention to the areas of your house that seem to collect clutter the fastest. For us, that is our kitchen counter and our bedroom dresser. This clutter tends to be items that don’t have a “home” anywhere else–things like an opened piece of mail I don’t want to forget about, or an item I need to return. Try working with this natural flow instead of trying to fight it. Place a basket or other storage container in these spaces so that these transient items have a temporary “home.” Again, this reduces visual clutter (while not hiding things away completely so that you don’t forget about them) and gives you time and space to return to it when you have the energy and time.
3. Give everything a “home base.” Make things as easy possible for yourself. Designate a place where certain items “live,” and then you won’t have to waste valuable mental energy and time debating how and where you should put things away. It sounds simple, but it really helps. For example, my keys ALWAYS go on the key hook by the door. I don’t have to think about it, and I don’t have to wonder where they are. Another example: clean laundry that I haven’t folded yet lives in a laundry basket in our master bathroom until I’m ready to put it away. By contrast, I haven’t yet found a home base for my headphones, so when I’m picking up, I often stand there awkwardly trying to figure out where to put them (and I also waste a lot of time trying to find them when I need them).

I hope these simple tips are helpful!