Gretchen Rubin’s Suggestions: Group Utilizing What You Already Have

In Outer Order, Interior Calm, I write about how clearing muddle and creating order could make us really feel lighter, happier, and extra centered. However getting organized doesn’t imply dashing out to purchase new bins or storage techniques. Usually, the very best place to begin is by taking stock and determining methods to use what we have already got.

Really know what you’ve got

What number of instances have you ever purchased a brand new pocket book solely to discover a stack hiding in a drawer? Or picked up extra batteries since you weren’t positive should you had any at house? Earlier than bringing in something new, take stock. Open each drawer, look by each shelf, and ensure you know what you already personal.

Preserve issues the place you employ them

Group isn’t nearly tidiness—it’s about making life simpler. Probably the most helpful issues are those which might be simple to seize after we want them. If you happen to’re at all times looking for scissors, don’t maintain them in a desk drawer throughout the home—retailer a pair the place you really use them.

A couple of simple changes:

• Retailer your keys by the door as a substitute of tossing them onto completely different surfaces.
• Preserve a small basket of workplace provides the place you’re employed, quite than stashed in a deep drawer.
• Place a laundry basket within the toilet if that’s the place garments are inclined to accumulate.

Like it, use it, or let it go

If you happen to don’t find it irresistible and don’t use it, why maintain it? I ask myself: “Do I would like it? Do I take advantage of it? Do I find it irresistible?” If not, I think about donating it.

To assist determine, ask your self:

• Have I used this within the final yr?
• Would I purchase this once more at this time?
• Is that this taking over house that might be higher used for one thing I really need?

Get artistic with what you have already got

When you’ve gone by these steps, chances are you’ll discover you don’t want to purchase new organizers or storage options in any respect—you don’t have something that must be organized. Past that, you may repurpose on a regular basis gadgets to assist maintain issues so as. You may even have fairly a little bit of enjoyable within the course of. As an illustration:

• Flip a wall or whiteboard into a visible to-do listing. Use washi tape and Submit-its to create a versatile, movable calendar or job board. Jot down duties or appointments and transfer them round as plans shift—no fancy planner required.
• Repurpose jars and bins. Mason jars can maintain pens, kitchen utensils, or make-up brushes. A shoebox can turn out to be a drawer divider, and an outdated reward field can retailer chargers and cords neatly.
• Use an outdated journal holder in new methods. Flip it on its facet to retailer reducing boards or foil and plastic wrap within the kitchen. Stand it upright to maintain notebooks or mail organized.
• Label with what you’ve got. As a substitute of shopping for new labels, use masking tape and a Sharpie or lower up an outdated cereal field into DIY tags for storage bins.
• Make a “put-away bin.” Designate a basket or tote bag as a house for stray gadgets that want to return to their locations—nice for tidying up rapidly.

After we take inventory, declutter, and get artistic, we frequently understand we don’t want to purchase something new to really feel extra organized. We simply want to make use of what we have already got—extra deliberately.