Home Organization Ideas - Organizing Rule #3
If you’re looking for home organization ideas to maintain order in your home, prevent clutter and clear clutter, learn these rules. They’re simple. They’re effective. They’re easy to learn and remember. I’ve already covered the “one in one out organizing” rule. After that one I discussed the “pick a number” organizing rule. The third specific organizing rule is…
Organizing Rule 3: Finish What You Have First.
This one gives you a reason NOT to stock up at sales and through bulk warehouse purchases such as at Sam’s and Costco’s. You will see good sales throughout your life. That doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea to grab items now while they’re on sale. Often they will go on sale again. Sometimes the sales aren’t even that much different in price than the regular price. So why clutter your home and use prime real estate in your home for essentially—storage?
Your home is where you live and relax. It’s not a storage shed. These items you may stock up on don’t pay you rent or pay your mortgage. Don’t keep too many items on hand, even for replenishment of items you use regularly such as paper towels and pasta.
A comfortable home is functional for you to enjoy and use it for relaxation and doing daily stuff like cooking, entertaining and working on your hobbies. It’s not really just a place to collect and store your stuff. At least it shouldn’t be if you’re making the most of your home. So finish what you have first before buying more of the same items.
And choose your bulk purchases carefully. However, there may be exceptions, such as if you live in a rural area away from stores. Then sure, stock up to make less trips. But if you live in the suburbs, don’t impulsively stock up on sale items or bulk warehouse store purchases. Finish what you have first.
I also could add to that “finish what you start first”. I’m certainly guilty of this one. Sometimes I buy things that need assembling. Then before I assemble it or use it, I buy something else, a different item that needs assembling. Then I end up with multiple in-progress assembly jobs and items laying around my home. This is an example of where “finish what you start first” can be a handy rule to keep my home organized and clutter-free.
You may find you do the same thing with for instance hobby items. Do you start multiple craft projects, not finishing any completely? Sewing projects? Wood working projects? Even organizing projects. If you start one home organizing project, get bored or sidetracked and then start another different organizing project, neither gets done. And sometimes you’re left with a bigger mess of in-progress items laying around your home.
The secret to finishing what you start is simply self-discipline and focus (unless it was a bad idea and you’ve reconsidered the project. In that case give yourself permission to change focus or scrap that particular project.).
The other “secret” is maybe use a few tricks and incentives such as using a kitchen timer to maintain time periods of organizing. And plan a reward as incentive afterward.
Use these home organization ideas and rules to get organized now and clear clutter. And feel free to post comments below if you find these home organization ideas helpful or want to add to this topic.