Take the Get Organized Challenge: 5 Weeks to a More Organized You

We thought we’d start off the year with a healthy little dose of organizing inspiration. No, not the “you can makeover your house in a weekend” sort of inspiration, but rather the realistic and effective variety, which we think is a lot more useful.

So the truth is, being organized is not about a specific product or storage solution or even about the perfect routine or system. It’s about adopting and practicing healthy habits that help keep your stuff, your schedule and your life in check. When it comes to keeping your home and stuff in check, here are 5 simple ground rules you can practice to change your ways. The goal is that over time, these will become habits – the happy, amazing kind of habits that leave you feeling downright organized!

1) Buy less stuff. The less you buy, the less you have to unload, store, clean, maintain, return, dispose of and otherwise manage. And guess what, the less you buy, the more money you save – bonus! So THINK before you buy. Do I/does my home really need this item (now)? This thought should also apply to buying bulk quantities of things. If you grocery shop every week, you probably don’t need to buy 4 boxes of crackers now. Even little decisions like that can help keep your storage spaces and routines in check.

2) Do I need it, do I use it, do I love it? Only keep things in your home that you can answer yes for at least one of these questions. Period. If you just can’t part with something that you don’t need, use or love, put it in a “maybe” box and re-evaluate your choice in a week. If your “maybe” box fills up, it’s time to make some decisions – should it stay or should it go?

3) Create a home for everything. If something doesn’t have a home, it will clutter up a surface in your home. Clutter invites other clutter and before you know it, miscellaneous piles have taken over. So find a home for everything you need, use and love. Get everything else out the door.

4) Clean up us you go. When you’re done using something, put it away. Simple and hands down, the best thing you can do to stay on top of your space.

5) Follow the “one in, one out” rule. If you get a replacement for something, get rid of the old item immediately. And do not buy a replacement until you are ready to part with the old item. Also build in regular reviews of your stuff, monthly or at least seasonally – walk around with a donation box or bag and weed, picking out stuff that you no longer need, use or love.

If you’re new to this whole getting organized thing, don’t panic – we’re going to take it slow. We’ll practice a new ground rule each week, adding on to what we’re already working on. By Valentine’s Day, you will be rocking organizing skills that verge on super powers – now that’s something to love! Nobody’s perfect, but practicing these ground rules will go a long way toward taking charge of your home and stuff once and for all! Come on, let’s do this…

The Challenge – Week 1: Buy less stuff! Start by practicing buying less stuff for a week – think hard about every purchase you make and I bet you’ll leave a few things on the shelf that would’ve previously made their way into your home. Score!