What “organized” means to me

I don’t consider myself a “naturally” organized person. Before I got myself organized, I left used cups all over my room, only cleaned off the passenger seat if someone needed a ride, and never went through the old boxes of paperwork that I carted with me as I moved from one place to another. 

To me, “getting organized” felt like my parents telling me to tidy my room, which was a chore I didn’t like (and avoided). Years later, my clutter had piled up so much that I felt a constant hum of stress whenever I was at home. I finally decided to deal with my clutter and learned a lot about what it means to be organized. 

I used to think organization meant your spices were arranged in alphabetical order and every piece of paper you owned was in a labeled binder. But as I organized myself — and now help other people get organized — I realized the end results of organization looks different for everyone. For some people, organization does mean everything is in matching bins with labels. For others, it just means not having to search for their keys as they head out the door. 

Today, when I think about what it truly means to be organized, three phrases come to mind:  

I know what I have. 

I want what I have. 

I can use and enjoy what I have. 

Let me explain each of these more. 

I know what I have. 

When I started my organization journey, I had a 6-foot-tall cabinet stuffed with papers. I basically avoided looking in this cabinet (other than quickly opening it to stuff more papers in) because it was so messy and overwhelming. When I finally started going through the paperwork, I was surprised to find old car insurance policies and 401k plans I had rolled over years ago. I didn’t even realize I still had these things. 

Many of my clients also find things they didn’t even realize they had — like 12 unopened rolls of masking tape or a dress they bought 4 years ago and never wore. If you don’t realize you have something in your house, you certainly can’t use it or enjoy it — and you may go out and buy another one, creating more clutter. Which is why knowing what you have is the first part of being organized.

I want what I have.   

I used to keep a lot of clothing that I didn’t wear (or really even want) because it felt like a hassle to sort through my closet and take my unwanted items to the thrift shop. Ultimately, that led to a cluttered closet that made it hard to find the things I actually did want to wear. 

There are a lot of reasons we keep things that we don’t want or need. Maybe you feel guilty about getting rid of a gift you don’t like or just don’t know what to do with your old cell phone, so it gets stuffed in a drawer or in the back of a closet somewhere. When unwanted things start to accumulate, it’s harder to find the things we actually do want or need to use. 

I can use and enjoy what I have.  

To me, this is what organization is really all about — making your life easier and more enjoyable. And it’s ultimately what led me to get organized. I had stopped enjoying my apartment because my room was so cluttered. I wanted my friends to be able to jump into my car without having to excavate the passenger seat. 

Digging through a cluttered drawer to find your measuring spoons makes cooking dinner more frustrating. If you have a bunch of old photos stuffed in a paper bag somewhere, would you enjoy those memories more if your photos were displayed on your wall or in an album? Organizing makes it easier to access and enjoy the things you need (and want). Because if you can’t use or enjoy the things you need or love, what’s the point of having them?

When I work with clients, I always try to help them achieve these three guiding principles. I know that organization looks different in everyone’s home. But as long as you know what you have, want what you have, and can use or enjoy what you have, you’ll be organized. And you’ll get to enjoy the benefits of being organized — making every day a little easier and a lot more enjoyable.

Emily Beaversen

Emily is a professional organizer and the founder of So Simple Organization.

https://www.sosimpleorganization.com
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