Organizing What Comes In and Goes Out of Our Home
Every day we have things coming in and going out of our home. This might include mail, permission slips, invitations, gifts, bills, backpacks, library books, borrowed items, store returns, keys, sunglasses, phones, etc. Having an efficient, clear system that doesn’t clog up the space by the front door, yet keeps all these items easily accessible is key to staying organized.
If you’re struggling with this exact issue, you’re not alone.
The National Association of Professional Organizers reports that American spend one year of their lives on average looking for lost items.
Approximately 1 in 4 adults say they pay bills late (and incur fees) because they lose them. A 2020 doxoINSIGHTS survey found that the average household pays $577 in additional, hidden costs each year on top of their regular bills (including late fees, overdraft fees, fraud expenses and the overall cost of bad credit).
A 2018 NPR/Marist Poll reports a majority of online shoppers say they've kept purchases that they actually intended to return, mainly because returns are a hassle (https://maristpoll.marist.edu/npr-marist-poll-results-june-2018-digital-economy/)
Setting up systems that work for you and in your space takes some thought and time to get right. (Don’t forget that each member of your household may function differently in your space!) But, I promise you, new systems can be established, taught, and maintained with some patience and practice. Here are a few strategies to get you started…
Everything Needs a Home.
I say this a lot with my clients. This is why bins with labels have become a key strategy for many organizers. Think about it … when there is a hook for keys, the keys are more likely to be on that hook when you need them. It may take everyone some practice to get items back to their homes on a regular basis, but having a place where something belongs is the first step.
Think Grab & Go.
Place items by the door that you can grab quickly if you need them. Think about what you might need for the current seasonal weather. Place return items in a bin with their receipt, name of lender, or packing slips for mailing, etc. Leave sports/gym bags packed and ready for a quick transition out the door. Put a bag for library books where books are read, so kids can return the books to the bag when they are done reading rather than dropping them on the floor (and then accidentally kicking them under the bed).
Drop & Sort Papers Immediately.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found unopened mail from 20 years ago in clients’ homes. Establish a system for processing mail and other currently active papers. Putting an attractive file box on your desk and immediately sorting in-coming papers significantly improves your chance of dealing with or finding those papers when you need them. Keep the categories simple … Bills To Pay, Up-coming Events, Coupons, Active - School, Active - Mom, Active - Dad, To File, Receipts … you decide what works best for you. This isn’t the place for medical reports, previous year tax filings, or keepsakes. Keep only active paperwork here and sort through it regularly.
You Guessed It… Now Teach Everyone the System.
If you don’t want to be the clean up police, or the “find it” detective, or the “I forgot my …” driver, then everyone needs to know the systems that have been put in place and the expectations for following them. As cheesy as it sounds, call a household meeting to explain the changes you are putting in place and practice making the system work well. Give incentives (or disincentives) for compliance. It could be fun!
Hopefully these few tips can get you started. You can tweak and adjust your systems as needed in the future, but start with your most common every day hangups and create a system that will help you.
