Organize This!

January is not typically a month that people wait for – anxious for its arrival. With the end of the holidays, many of us find January to be a little dull and a bit of a letdown.  That is, unless you are an organization maven,  then January may be your favorite month of the year. Recognized as National Organization Month, for many a New Year means a fresh start on tackling clutter. Magazine covers, Pinetrest boards and blogs are full of tips for making the task of cleaning up and cleaning out easy. I love these tips, but it can be overwhelming. If you are not a natural organizer, seeing a picture of a perfect, color coded junk draw may send you running for the hills. Instead of running, follow these simple tips for staying on task:

Be realistic – pictures in magazines are staged to show an idea or concept at its best.  The photo of a perfectly organized desk frequently doesn't even include the cords required to plug in a computer (figure that one out!) Instead of trying to replicate, pull out what draws you to the picture and figure out a way to include it into your home. Is it the bright colors? The pop of an unique piece of art? Focus on those things and don’t let the glossy perfection get you down If it isn't broke, don’t fix it – Sometimes when we read something online, we think to ourselves: “Wow, this person is right, this is the way it should be done.” Before you go changing everything, think: Is my process broken, or just different?   A great example for me is laundry. I recently stumbled upon a daily chore list that insisted that doing one load a day would make life easier. However, in my house, this doesn't work. First, we don’t really have a full load everyday (there are just three of us) and our current system of wash one day, fold the next allows my husband and me to divide and conqueror. The system is not broke, so despite the daily chore list I found, I won’t be fixing it. Go Room by Room, project by project – If January has spurred on a need to purge, then don’t go hog wild and dig through every closet on one Saturday afternoon. You will find yourself tired, with a big pile. Yuck! Instead make a list of projects you want to tackle. Prioritize the list and then start. When one is done, move onto the next one.

Being organized does not mean going broke – don’t get suckered into spending tons of money to get things organized around you. While beautifully matched desk accessories would be nice, they are not a necessity of an organized home. Instead, think of ways to re-purpose items you already have or think of cheaper alternatives to what you want.  A great example is Mason Jars. While these jars are wonderful when full of Grandma’s Bread and Butter pickles, they are also my secret organization tool – from cotton balls in the bathroom, pencils and markers with my daughter’s art supplies, to paperclips in my office these jars are pretty and cheap! Delegate – if you know anything about me, you had to see this one coming! Being organized is not about being a control freak (although I am sure there are some around me who would argue that it is a slippery slope) If you put your kids closet on your project list, don’t feel the need to do it yourself. Enlist their help! If it turns out neat, organized, but just not the way you would have done it, see tip #1 (be realistic)

If you are still overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional. While it may cost you some money, depending on your needs, it may be worth it! So, don’t let the January blues get you! Head to Pineterest, get your ideas and have fun!