Filing cabinets, storage containers, wall hooks, open containers.....there's no one way of organizing that works for everyone. You have your own unique organizing style and using any other system simply will not work for you. If you feel like you're messy or you just aren't an organized person, you're wrong! You're just not organizing the best way for you.

There are four distinct ways of organizing. Identifying which one is yours is crucial to having an efficient, easy to maintain, organized space. Some people are visual organizers. Others like things out of sight. Some like things organized in detail while some just want something quick and easy.  Figuring out your best organization system will save you time and money, while providing peace of mind.

My friend Cassandra Aarssen, aka Clutterbug, has created a simple quiz to help you figure out what your style is. Click here to learn what your style is and how to organize for YOU!

You also find Cas on HGTV's Hot Mess House and on her YouTube channel, Clutterbug.

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​1. SHIFT YOUR MINDSET
If you’re like me, you feel embarrassed and ashamed if your home isn’t up to par in your eyes. When visitors stop by, I often apologize for my house as soon as they walk in the door. No, I’m not living in filth, nor do I have belongings stacked floor to ceiling. But it is certainly not picture perfect. I put a lot of pressure on myself to have that Pinterest worthy home at all times. We all need to let this go. No more apologies for your home or the stage you are on. Breathe deeply, and accept your space as it is. If you want to make changes, go for it! But stop feeling bad for what is.  

2. WHAT TO USE & HOW TO USE IT
Being efficient is a valuable part of cleaning. No one wants to waste time in the middle of a cleaning task trying to figure out which product to use or how a product works. Take the time to learn which products you require for your cleaning needs and how to use them. Make a list for easy reference so you can tackle those messy jobs with confidence.  

Click here for a free printable about which cleaning supplies to keep on hand and what they do.

3. MINDFULNESS
Minimalism is all the rage right now. That does not mean having very little in your space. It means being aware of what items you bring in to your home, what memorabilia you’re hanging on to, how much seasonal décor you keep, etc. 

Think about the items in your home. If you cannot answer yes to at least one of these questions, the item needs to go.  

Do I need it?
Do I love it?
Would I purchase this again? 

4. MULTITASKING
Take, for example, cleaning the kitchen. You can have a dish of white vinegar steaming in the microwave while you clean the countertops. You could have the dishwasher running while you sweep and mop. Cleaning products can be soaking on the stovetop while you wipe out the sink. Multitasking will save you a lot of time and a ton of effort.  

5. START A ROUTINE
When your space is messy, the overwhelm makes it hard to know where to start. For some people, this may cause anxiety. The best way to get around this is to set up a daily, weekly, or monthly cleaning routine. Know what has to get done and when will remove the uncertainty out of the picture. It gives you a plan of attack for getting all the tasks completed.  

​Read to the end of the post for free daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning routine printables!

6. STAYING AHEAD OF THE GAME
Two tricks to this will keep your home clean and you stress-free.

Clean As You Go – When you have finished fixing dinner, put ingredients, dishes, and trash away. Do a quick wipe of the counter, and you have tidied up! Apply this to everything you do like putting on makeup, crafting, sewing, etc. When you’re no longer using something, put it back where it belongs.

Keep Up On the “Whoops” – We all have those “whoops” moments when an unexpected mess occurs. Keeping up on these as they happen will reduce how difficult things are clean and how much cleaning has to be done all at once. Mess attracts mess. Don’t let things build up. It will cause stress and disorder, landing you right back in the overwhelm of square one.  ​

7. ENLIST HELP
If you live with other people, including kids, everyone needs to pitch in and help when it comes to cleaning. Everyone contributes to making the mess, so everyone needs to help clean it. It is a shared responsibility. Have others pick which tasks they’d like to do. You can make a list of tasks and have them sign up for the ones they choose to do. No one person should have to do it all. 
 
8. NEVER EMPTY HANDED
When you’re leaving a room, check around for items that don’t belong there. Take them with you as you go and put them away where they belong. For example, there’s a pair of slippers and a cup in the living room. As you leave the room, take the items to where they belong. That is a great habit to get into and significantly cuts down on clutter build up.  

9. GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
While I’m talking to everyone when I say this, I particularly want to emphasize it to my fellow perfectionists out there. Things do not need to be perfect, and trying to achieve perfection will only lead to frustration, disappointment, and lack of motivation. Just do what you can as you can. Bit by bit, your space will be transformed. You have to allow yourself the time to develop new skill sets and habits. It may take a couple of weeks or a few months, but you’ll get there!