Fall will be here in just a few short weeks, and it’s already got me thinking about the changes that come with the season. I always think of fall as a time of new beginnings. Whether you are moving, returning to work or going back to school, it is not uncommon to prepare for life transitions during this time of year. One of the ways that you can start the season prepared is to organize your surroundings. Take a look at some of my best tips on organizing for new beginnings below. They will help you develop good household habits and effective time management skills, so that you can transition into fall with a fresh perspective!
Rotate Your Storage
Be sure to take a practical look at the months ahead and change out your storage accordingly. With kids back in school, there probably isn’t much time in their busy schedule for pool days anymore. But the holidays will be here before you know it. You can store pool floaties in the garage to make room for holiday decorations in the house.
There are plenty of useful storage products out there to help you protect and store out-of-season items. I love these plastic bins for the garage or basement. They come in a variety of sizes, and the latching handles ensure that your items stay dry and dust-free when not in use. You can add these labels to make it easier to find things when you are rotating items in storage. They are waterproof and removable. Inside the house, vacuum storage bags are my go-to storage solution.
At work and in your home office, you can store files digitally to cut down on paper and save yourself some time and space. However, if you aren’t quite ready to go completely paperless, try to only keep important documents and organize files based on changes in your workflow. Files that you reference frequently in your day-to-day work should be near your desk, so that you can access them easily when you need them. This desktop organizer helps me keep papers from stacking up on my desk. Older projects can be stored in portable file boxes farther away from your desk.
With the devastating fires in Maui and the start of fire season here in California, I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of safe storage lately. A fireproof and water-resistant file box is the best option for storing important documents at home or at work. In the event of an emergency, you can quickly grab it and go. The box itself is made of silicone-coated fiberglass that can withstand extremely high temperatures, so you can have peace of mind that your most important belongings are safe.
Take Stock of What You Have
As you rotate storage items, be sure to take note of items that you already have. Your shopping list should only include items that you really need when you make a trip to the store. This will also help you save space (and money) and avoid ending up with duplicate items, which can make it more challenging to get organized.
Back to school season is the perfect time to practice this! Have your kids pull out any school supplies that they have leftover from last year. Toss anything that can’t be used, and save anything that they can reuse for the new school year. Then, make a list of new items that they need before you take them shopping.
This rule can apply to other categories, too. Check your desk and the supply closet at work before you purchase new supplies, in case you already have some hiding in the depths of your desk drawers. Good organization habits will help you maintain a clutter-free lifestyle and manage your time more effectively wherever you are. After all, there’s nothing more distracting than drowning in clutter when you’re trying to focus on work!
Don’t Store What You Don’t Need
Be sure to get rid of items that you don’t need to keep the clutter under control. If you only have a few of those 4th of July paper plates left over, don’t bother storing them. Chances are, you probably won’t use them again. Be willing to let things go, and things will be easier when next summer rolls around.
If you struggle with throwing things away, donating items can ease the pain of parting with them. You get the satisfaction of knowing that someone else will be able to enjoy the item, and you will have more space at home and at work for the items that you really do need.
Organizing for new beginnings can be stressful, but it is well worth the effort to start off the season prepared. Investing some time in organization now will help to ensure that your year runs more smoothly, with less wasted time and more opportunities to enjoy life. However, I know that this tends to be a busy time of year for most of us, so remember that I am always happy to offer professional support when it comes to tackling your organization and moving challenges. Give me a call at 310-904-9720 or contact me online to get the help you need for a fresh start this season!