Starting Small: Organizing in Baby Steps

Organizing is so overwhelming if you look at everything you want to accomplish as one big task that all has to be done at once. That’s why we recommend starting small and organizing in baby steps. When you break down a great big organizing project into little 10- or 15-minute to-dos, it seems much more manageable. There are some big organizing jobs that can be broken into multi-day, small organizing tasks that are more manageable and less stressful. This time, we’ll focus on how to break down the job of organizing your bedroom into manageable baby steps.

ORGANIZING THE BEDROOM IN BABY STEPS

Instead of walking into your bedroom and thinking that you can never get it organized, don’t look at it as a whole room. Break down the individual tasks that need to be done. Make a list of them if it’s easier. And then commit to spending 10-15 a day working baby-stepping your way to a better room. Example tasks:

Let’s Talk Laundry

One of the quickest ways to make your bedroom look more organized is to hang up and fold all the clean laundry that currently has a home on a chair or table. Next, collect all the dirty laundry and put it in a hamper. It’s immediately gratifying and an easy habit to keep up on.

Declutter

Declutter your bedroom and you’ll see a huge difference. Throw away all the old makeup and products on your vanity, put the rest in a basket, and wipe down the vanity. If you have nightstands or a dresser top that are filled with “stuff,” sort through it. Put everything you can in a container, drawer, or other more practical storage space. Get rid of any knick knacks or decor that just collect dust without adding to your room.

Work Closet Magic

Depending on your closet size and situation, you may want to make multiple tasks out of tackling the closet to eliminate overwhelm.

Start with the shoes.

Get rid of any that hurt your feet that you keep out of guilt over how much you paid. Get rid of any that are worn, torn, scuffed, out of style, or simply take up space. Use containers to carefully store dress shoes you don’t wear often. Use a shoe rack, container, or shelf to store your every day shoes. They should be accessible but out of the way.

It’s time to let go.

Are you still holding onto clothes that don’t fit, just-in-case outfits, or clothes you received as a gift but wouldn’t ever wear? It’s time to bag them up for Goodwill. Be honest with yourself as you go through your closet. If you haven’t worn it in more than a year or it doesn’t till fit, say goodbye.

Your closet is not a storage unit.

It’s ok for your bedroom to be more oasis and less storage unit. Starting with your closet but going through the rest of the room too, get rid of anything that has simply ended up in your room. Find a place to store it (attic, garage, goodwill, trash), and don’t refill the space. Let the room breathe.

INSTANT BEDROOM ORGANIZATION

As you work through your bedroom organizing in baby steps, there is one thing you can do every day that will instantly make your room look more put together: make your bed. It isn’t a hard thing to do, and it doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does make a big difference.

What’s your biggest bedroom organization challenge?