We all crave a home that’s not only welcoming but also organized and clutter-free. However, the reality of day-to-day living can make that seem like an unattainable dream. Tired of perpetually feeling like my home was in disarray, I made a commitment to change my habits. It was a process, but I was able to transform my living space by simply stopping certain practices that were contributing to the mess. Here are 14 things I stopped doing that made my home feel more organized.
1. Buying Items Without a Specific Purpose or Place
When I walked into stores, I often found myself picking up items just because they were on sale or caught my eye. But these impulse purchases ended up creating more clutter in my home. I realized that before buying anything, I needed to have a clear picture of where the item would go and what purpose it would serve.
Now, I practice conscious shopping. I ask myself whether I really need an item and where I would keep it. This not only helps me save money but also keeps my home clutter-free.
2. Letting Paper Pile Up
Bills, mail, flyers, receipts – they used to pile up everywhere in my house. It was easy to postpone dealing with them, but they ended up creating a lot of clutter. I decided to tackle this issue head-on and developed a system to handle paper.
I now sort and deal with my mail immediately rather than letting it pile up. Bills are paid online, reducing the amount of paper coming into my home. Receipts and other important documents are scanned and stored digitally, reducing the need for physical storage space.
3. Keeping Items ‘Just in Case’
I used to hold onto items ‘just in case’ I might need them in the future. This habit led to lots of clutter and disorganization. I realized that most of these items were never used, and they took up valuable space in my home.
Now, I apply the one-year rule. If I haven’t used an item in a year, chances are I won’t need it in the future. So I either donate, recycle, or throw it away. This has greatly reduced the amount of unused items in my home, making it feel more organized.
4. Neglecting Regular Decluttering
Decluttering was something I used to do once in a while when things got out of hand. But this approach made the task overwhelming and time-consuming. I realized that regular decluttering was key to maintaining an organized home.
I now set aside a few minutes each day to declutter different areas of my home. This makes the task manageable and less overwhelming. Regular decluttering has also made me more aware of what I bring into my home, helping me avoid unnecessary purchases.
5. Not Having a Place for Everything
In the past, I would often leave items lying around because they didn’t have a specific place. This made my home look disorganized and cluttered. I realized the importance of having a designated place for everything in my home.
Now, every item in my home has a ‘home’. This makes it easy to keep things tidy and find items when needed. It also reduces the chances of misplacing things and saves me time searching for items.
6. Buying Too Much Food
I used to buy food in bulk to save money, but I ended up wasting a lot because it expired before I could consume it. I also felt overwhelmed by the amount of food in my pantry and fridge, which made it difficult to keep these areas organized.
Now, I buy food in smaller quantities and only what I need for the week. This reduces waste and makes it much easier to keep my pantry and fridge organized. I also take inventory of what I have before shopping to avoid buying duplicates.
7. Not Using Storage Solutions
Before, I didn’t utilize storage solutions effectively, making it difficult to keep my home organized. I realized that using the right storage solutions could greatly improve the organization in my home.
Now, I use various storage solutions like bins, baskets, and organizers to keep things tidy. I also label these storage solutions for easy identification. These simple tools have made a huge difference in my home’s organization.
8. Not Cleaning as I Go
I used to leave chores until they piled up, making them overwhelming to tackle. I realized that cleaning as I go made maintaining an organized and clean home much easier.
Now, I try to clean up after each task. After cooking, I clean the kitchen. After using the bathroom, I wipe down the surfaces. This habit has made a huge difference in the cleanliness and organization of my home.
9. Holding Onto Sentimental Items
I used to hold onto everything that had sentimental value, even if I didn’t have space for it. This led to a lot of clutter and disorganization. I realized that I could hold onto the memories without holding onto the physical items.
Now, I keep only a few sentimental items and let go of the rest. I take photos of items that are hard to part with, allowing me to keep the memory without the clutter.
10. Ignoring Small Spaces
Closets, drawers, and other small spaces used to be dumping grounds for items I didn’t know what to do with. But these cluttered spaces made my home feel disorganized. I realized that organizing these small spaces could have a big impact on the overall feel of my home.
Now, I make sure to regularly declutter and organize these small spaces. I use storage solutions to maximize space and keep things tidy.
11. Not Having a Routine
Without a routine, chores and tasks would pile up, making my home feel disorganized. I realized that having a routine could help me stay on top of tasks and maintain an organized home.
Now, I have a daily and weekly routine for chores and tasks. This helps me stay organized and reduces the feeling of overwhelm.
12. Not Using Vertical Space
I used to neglect the vertical space in my home, leading to cluttered surfaces and disorganization. I realized that using vertical space could help me store more items without making my home feel cluttered.
Now, I use shelves, hooks, and wall organizers to make use of vertical space. This has greatly increased my storage capacity and helped keep my home organized.
13. Keeping Unnecessary Furniture
I used to hold onto furniture that I didn’t need or use, taking up valuable space in my home. I realized that getting rid of unnecessary furniture could make my home feel more spacious and organized.
Now, I only keep furniture that serves a purpose and fits well in my home. This has made my home feel more open and less cluttered.
14. Not Asking for Help
I used to try to do everything myself, which was overwhelming and led to disorganization. I realized that asking for help could make managing my home much easier.
Now, I enlist the help of my family in maintaining an organized home. We divide chores and tasks, making it easier to keep our home clean and organized. This not only reduces my workload but also teaches my children important life skills.
