Maintaining the Organized Life

Maintenance -- it is the key to keeping up the fruits of our labors. It doesn't matter if you hired a Professional Organizer or did major decluttering yourself, if you don't keep up the good work and maintain the systems, most likely the space will revert to disorganization. It is similar to dieting, exercise or any change in lifestyle -- you have to continue to work to maintain the results.

Are there any tricks to maintaining an organized space? First, implement the following policies.

• If you take it out, put it back.
• If you open it, close it.
• If you put it on the floor, pick it up.
• If you take it off, hang it up.
• If you use it, clean it up.

Easier said than done, huh? Maybe. But doing the above helps to reduce backsliding and adding disorganization to space that was organized. It won't matter that you've created a space for something if you don't let it be in that place. If you find yourself not returning items to where they go, perhaps their place is not effective or realistic, and the set-up must be reevaluated. And that's OK! If something doesn't work in the long run, fix it.

Be prepared to declutter on a regular basis. Remember, doing a bit ongoing allows you to avoid marathon sessions of organizing. Putting something back in its place in 1 minute saves you from having to deal with a big pile of random items over an hour.

You CAN do it!