Stop wasting time looking for things
We’ve all been there. We’re running late because we can’t find our car keys. Your husband’s sunglasses. Your son’s football cleats. Your daughter’s favorite blanket. When you bring a professional organizer into the mix, sometimes it’s helpful to simply have another set of eyes on your home. We are able to see and observe some new ways that may help your home function better.
Ben Franklin once said, “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” Think about it. When your life is in order, everything feels like it runs more smoothly. Did you know the average time spent looking for something is between 1 and 10 minutes? This adds up to over 6.5 months of our lives, which is equivalent to almost 5,000 hours looking for things.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
1. A CONSISTENT SPOT FOR CAR KEYS. This may seem obvious or too methodical, but each time you come into your home put your keys in the same place. Every. Single. Time. I have a large, clear glass coffee mug that we put our keys in. Of course, there have been a few times when we didn’t do that and we paid in lost time. But always having a spot for keys is necessary, especially for the 2 a.m. emergency room visit or quick run to the store for milk.
2. A TOTE FOR ALL THE SPORT THINGS. And it doesn’t have to be pretty. If you have multiple kids, get more totes. Each child can have a tote for his or her sports gear. Store shin guards, soccer balls, soccer socks, basketballs, uniforms, cleats, helmets, and all of the other athletic things in these totes. When your kids need to head to practice or to a game, it’s all there. Again, no more wasted time!
3. A DONATION BASKET IN ALL CLOSETS. Kids just keep growing, don’t they? Just when you buy them a new pair of jeans or a dress shirt, the clothes mysteriously shrink in just a few short months. If you keep a special basket or tote in their closet for the clothes that no longer fit (or feel itchy, “fit weird,” or are pink and now your girls hate pink), have them throw all those items into the donation basket. Check this basket periodically. If items are still in good condition, you can sell them to a children's consignment shop. This basket will decrease all the clothes that seem to spill out in your kids’ closets over time. This also makes the daunting task of switching out your kids’ clothes each season less scary.
Remember, time is valuable. We don’t want to waste any more of our time looking for lost items. Whether it’s your car keys, your kid’s uniform, or an outfit for school, if there are designated places for these things you’ll reap the benefits. You only have so many hours in a day. You owe it to yourself to get things in order so you can spend most of your time on what matters.
Feel free to reach out for a consult. I’d love to help you create systems in your home that will save you time. (And money! Raise your hand if you’ve bought something because you lost an item…and then you find the said item weeks later. Yep, me too.)
