How To Organize Effortlessly

Organization is often viewed as an additional chore on our to-do list - an extra responsibility we have to fit into our busy lives.

But what if organization could be a byproduct of your lifestyle - a (positive) "symptom" of the way you live?

Organization can be a natural consequence of who you are and the systems you've set up to support you.

It can stop being something you do and instead be something that just happens.

 

So often the experts tell us to begin organizing by decluttering. This is starting from a mindset of elimination.

Sure, there are probably things in our space that aren't being used anymore that can be tossed or donated, but personally when I think about organizing from the mentality of getting rid of stuff it immediately fills me with dread.

It can be overwhelming deciding what I should throw out versus what to keep. Decluttering always brings up thoughts like:

- It's sentimental.
- I might need it one day.
- I don't want to be wasteful.

Decluttering creates resistance because it asks you to make permanent decisions. Each item represents a small emotional, practical, or financial calculation and your brain wants to avoid the friction of making the wrong calculation to discard an item. We're wired to hold on to things that might be useful or meaningful.

What if we give ourselves permission to skip this step temporarily?
Eventually we can come back to it and let go of some things if needed, but for now let's shift our mindset. 

 

Organization doesn't have to start with purging your things. What if it can start with simply containing your things.

Disorganization happens when things don't have a designated space. Everything we own should have a container or "assigned seat" - a place where it lives when not in use.

Professional organizers often start with decluttering, claiming that clutter is the primary issue.

But what if clutter isn't the problem? What if the real issue is containment - or rather, a lack of containment?

Does everything in your home have a home of its own?

Containment isn't about hiding your stuff. It's about defining boundaries and being intentional with your things. Containment is the difference between cluttered chaos and organized abundance.

 

This is where tools like baskets, bins, and - my favorite - pouches come in.

These tools give our things a home and contain the clutter in a more aesthetic way.

But these tools won't work unless paired with behavior changes that ensure everything stays in its place when not in use.

Start with one clutter hotspot. For a lot of people, it's the junk drawer.

You are not going to begin with throwing things away - unless it's clearly trash.

Start by separating your things into categories. 

If you're in the junk drawer take everything out and put it on your counter.
Make a tech pile: cords, charging blocks, flash drives, memory cards, etc.
Make a pen pile.
Make a tape and glue pile, and so on.

Once you've identified and separated your belongings by category you've done most of the work.

Organization doesn't necessarily mean having less, so long as what you do have has boundaries.

From there you can determine which pouches you need. Or bins and baskets I suppose, but I prefer pouches. ;) 

 

If you adopt one simple rule, your containers will serve their purpose and organization will be a process of maintenance rather than a regular chore.

The rule is "don't put it down, put it away." 
Say it again, "don't put it down, put it away."

Make this a mantra you repeat anytime you catch yourself putting something down when you could take a few more seconds to intentionally put it in its designated space.

At first it might seem like an inconvenience, a slight detour in your routine, but trust the process.

You will feel a small sense of accomplishment every time you put it away instead of putting it down. 

That small action signals to your brain that your environment is under your control, giving you a micro-hit of accomplishment and stress relief.

In other words you will start to feel like you've got your sh*t together - a sensation that I think far too many of us don't experience enough. 

 

That's how organization becomes effortless.

Not because you're trying harder or because you've dedicated significant time to it, but because you are implementing the right tools and behaviors that make order a product of your lifestyle.

I didn't start my business because of a passion for organization. 

I started it because I have a passion for life.

I want my things to support and enhance my life - not get in the way. 

So I created a solution that helps me contain my stuff until I'm ready to use it or even discard it.

Bins and baskets have their place in home organization, but my pouches offer something unique.

They're completely enclosed and their design always tells you exactly what's in them.

You can bring them anywhere or leave them in a drawer or on a shelf. 

It's organization that fits seamlessly into your life, providing structure without rigidity so organizing can stop being a project and start being automatic.