LET'S GET ORGANIZED

S T A R T T H E Y E A R R I G H T ,

LET'S GET ORGANIZED

Another year in the pandemic finally comes to its long-awaited end. Lockdowns, remote learning and work-from-home have upended everyone’s routines. Take back your life in 2022 by creating new, healthy habits and by following these quick tips for getting and staying organized.

CATEGORIZE IT

Another year in the pandemic finally comes to its long-awaited end. Lockdowns, remote learning and work-from-home have upended everyone’s routines. Take back your life in 2022 by creating new, healthy habits and by following these quick tips for getting and staying organized.

By Name

Grouping things alphabetically is a great way to organize books, files, spices, et al, and can save you time down the line as it will no longer require sub-categorizing.

By Color

This category works well as a sub-category when organizing closets, kids’ things or craft items. Creating categories by color will make it easy to know where to find and put away items following a specific order, especially with kids.

By Function

This approach requires grouping items that are typically used at the same time or occasion. An example would be bathroom items wherein you have products for oral, hair, face, etc. This can also be used as a seasonal storage guide for clothes—for winter, for summer or for the rainy season and the like.

By Similarity

Group items that are similar. For example in a pantry, we can group, canned goods, oils, snacks, etc. For clothes, we can use jeans, dresses, jackets, pants, etc. as sub-categories.

Bonus Tip:

It is best to identify your main categories based on function first, then later on sub-categorize depending on what works with your lifestyle.

SORT AND PURGE IT

After categorizing, prepare three boxes and label each of them as follows: Keep, Toss, Donate.

More commonly known as decluttering or purging, this step is a challenging one in itself. When purging, let go of what no longer serves you. Think about what you use and how it makes you feel. Keep only what you have used in the past year and those that make you feel good.

LABEL IT

SCHEDULE IT

Once you’re done sorting through your stuff, box up the items that you’ve decided to toss and donate. Now, assess your cleared up space if the items you have decided to keep would be in need of organizing solutions, such as new containers and bins to help maintain the system you have created.

It doesn’t matter what you’re organizing, labels are key to getting and staying organized. They save time, provide clarity, increase the chances of staying organized, reduce stress and frustration, increase productivity and save money.

Sounds easy enough so far, right? Now, the most important tip…

FOR EVERY MINUTE SPENT IN ORGANIZING, AN HOUR IS EARNED

- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Make sure to block out the time you need for this project. And most importantly, prioritize. Once you’ve set a free day you want to spend organizing, consider making a to-do list and then prioritize them so that you know which one you are going to do first. As you get interrupted during the day by other activities, keep returning to the list and go in order of priority. At the end of the day, whatever you didn't get done, add it to tomorrow's list.

There you have it! Make sure to try our easy-to-follow tips for an orderly and clutter-free home and be well on your way to a stress-free new year!

Anna Dumana-Yu Asensi Entrepreneur | Freelancer

With all of the excitement that the holidays bring, there can also be looming apprehension about packing all the decor away and storing them back in the attic at the end of the season. Whether you’re sentimental, a minimalist, a color-coder and some other type of personality, try these tips to help you organize your holiday decorations in a way that your future self will thank you for.

TIP 1: INVEST IN PACKING SUPPLIES

TIP 2: SORT EVERYTHING

Well-packed holiday decorations are less likely to get damaged or broken. To keep your decorations safe, don’t skimp on these essential packing supplies: boxes or plastic bins, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, packing paper, tape, markers and labels.

Take advantage of the opportunity to declutter. Making this a regular practice can help you stay organized and keep stuff in your home at a minimum, particularly since holiday decorations stack up over time. Spend some time to think about which items you would like to keep and use again. If not, sell, donate or throw them away. For those that you do decide to keep, consider organizing them in the following ways:

·By type (lights, ornaments, garland) ·By room (living room, dining room, family room) ·By display (tree, foyer, mantle) By applying a categorization system, it will be easy for you to know exactly where to look for specific items.