Don't Organize That

How many articles have you read about organizing?

1? 2? 3? 4? 5? 6? 7? 8? 9? 10? 100? 1,000?

I am obsessed with reading about organizing (and writing about organizing and learning about organizing) (and planner porn, which is totally worthy of its own parentheses).

I learn a lot in my research. I incorporate lots of tips into my day. (Use totes. Have a launchpad. Write it down in your planner. Sort by color/style/size.)

But I also practice self-control.

(I looked through all of my archives for one picture of something in my life that is actually organized. I found this menu plan board. That IDEA lasted a week. A week! I plan meals while at coffee shops or in the grocery store - not at home. So this did NOT work for me, no matter how good the article was.)

Because, seriously, just because the blog says to organize does not mean that you HAVE to organize it. (See? I should listen to me.)

That's right. If your cluttered toothpaste/floss/hand cream/cotton ball drawer is working for you, no need to go out and get baskets at the dollar store.

As a personal example, my closet has phone covers mixed in with hairspray. It doesn't sound like it works, but the phone covers are rarely used and take up space that I am too short to reach. The hairspray, used daily, is at shoulder level. It works.

Don't waste time, money, or space organizing things that aren't bothering you just because someone else says to fix them. They are not broken.

Instead, make a list of problem areas. If something looks messy, or you are losing stuff, or your hairbrush is with your toothbrush and there are hairs in the bristles (gag), organize it. Otherwise, don't.

Etcetera.