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Managing home, life, and money in small spaces with intention

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How to Become Organized (or Organizers Are Made, Not Born)

This may surprise many people, but I was not always organized. Growing up I did not line up my Barbies in neat rows or color code my Legos. 

I grew up with my grandmother, whom I loved, but to be honest – she was a pack rat. As a result we lived with boxes full of stuff. As we were moving between apartments a friend of my mother’s came and helped organize our space. For the first time I really saw our apartment for what it could be, organized,  things in their place, and beautiful.  

When I became a teenager I started to see the benefits of being more organized. The ability to find stuff when I wanted to. The joy of returning a book to the library without having to pay a fine because it got lost under the bed. Again.  

Interestingly, I think becoming a Christian helped me become more organized. I began to see that God is a God of order and peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). But I was most convicted when my teen worker at the time came over and saw my room. She shared with me the scripture when after Jesus had risen from the dead: “Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself” John 20:5-7, emphasize mine. She told me, if Jesus can make his bed why aren’t I.  I was convicted. (Side note: feel free to share this scripture with the teenagers in your life.) 

But for some becoming organized can seems like an impossible task. You’ve been so cluttered for so long have a place for everything seems like an HGTV dream. Take a deep breath. Start small and let these couple of organizing habits build on each other.  

  1. Make your bed 

I know what your thinking: what does making your bed have to do with being organized? Well, my friend, think of making your bed as the gateway drug to organization. It’s a daily habit that leads to more organization. Once you look at your nicely decently made bed, you’re more likely to pick up your dirty laundry on the floor and put in the hamper or clear off your nightstand.  

The key when first starting this habit is to keep is simple. There is no law stating that you have to have your sheets tucked under in perpendicular hospital corners. Martha Stewart isn’t going to show up at your door unannounced to check your bed making skills. She would send you a handwritten note three weeks in advance asks to pop by for tea, giving you plenty of time to perfect them. Honestly, I don’t tuck my sheets anymore. Mr. H&H likes to sleep with his feet free and tucking in the sheets was an exercise in frustration. Let go and let God.  

2. Have a place for your keys 

BBC / Via jamesstapes.tumblr.com

How many mornings do you run around looking for your keys? If the answer is more than one you need a place for your keys, now. Again, the key is to keep it simple and to use the same spot every day. If you have only one entrance to your home, find a place near the front door. It can be a small decorative bowl placed on a console table or as basic as a 3M command hook on the wall. It does not have to be Pinterest-perfect. If you have multiple entrances such as a garage and front door, pick the door you used the most and store your keys. When you enter, do not pass go, do not collect $200 – put your keys in the designated spot, then walk away. No more running around the house in the morning.  

This are small wins that can make a big difference in getting and staying organized. What small things make a big difference in helping you be organized and get out of the house? Leave a comment below.  

 

Weekly Overview Printable

Weekly Overview – Printable to help prioritize your week

Laundry for Apartment Dwellers (or Why One Load a Day is Foolishness) 

Photo by Félix Prado on Unsplash

I hate really don’t like doing laundry. But I like having clean underwear and avoiding tickets for public nudity. However most of the advice to conquer Mount Washmore is to do a load a day… which works great if you have a washer and dryer in your home. But most apartment dwellers don’t have the luxury. However I have some tips to make this dreaded chore I little less painful.  

  • If you have room, have two laundry baskets: one for darks and one for whites and delicates. Why fight the sorting battle? Also by adding the delicates to the whites’ basket, it’s easier to see what needs to go into the delicates bag.  
  • Keep stain remover near the laundry. I have a small bin with Shout (not a sponsor) and a 1:1 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water next to my baskets 
  • Have a schedule. As a family of two we do the laundry about every other week. Larger family might need to up it to once a week.  
  • Load up the granny cart the night before you wash. Just grab your quarters and go! 
  • Speaking of quarters, keep a separate change jar specifically for quarters. You don’t want to spend time digging out quarters out of your spare change jar/water cooler jug. 

So your laundry is pre-treated, packed, and ready to be washed. But how is it getting doing to get done? 

1) Outsource to another family member or laundry service 

My current situation. I’m a lucky woman in that Mr. H&H does the laundry (though I end up doing the folding…). If you have a spouse and/or grown-enough children (I leave that your discretion and Child Protective Service rules in your state), have them take on the laundry.  

Of course, you can also drop off your laundry at the nearest laundromat. It’s not for everybody; I also feel a little weird about a stranger handling my unmentionables. A workaround could be to do a small load of underwear on your own and send the rest out.  

If you have any qualms about having others do your/your families’ laundry, rest assured that I have yet to come across a scripture saying you have to do it all by yourself. Amen. 

2) If outsourcing isn’t feasible for you (or, if you want it done right, do it yourself), there are some other options depending on your building: 

      • If you have laundry inside your building 

Praise God! Your main objective is to beat your other neighbors to get the good (read: big) machines. Try to go as soon as it opens. You want to be there as soon as the super/doorman unlocks the door. You also want to scope out when the laundry room is relatively quiet.  If possible, wash on a weekday before or after work. Everyone else washing on Saturday. This is my my husband’s current routine. Our laundry room opens bright and early at 6am, so he’s usually there by 6:10am the latest. About 1 ½ hours the laundry is done with time to get to work. He I fold it when I come home from work/the next day/when I get to it.  

      • If you have to step out to the local laundromat 

I’ma pray for you. But I’ve been there. When I was a single gal the basement laundry in my building was a little sketchy, so I went two blocks down. You also want to get there early to beat your other neighbors and their three kids. It’s imperative for you to prep the cart the night before so you can head out early. Your goal is to work quickly so you can get in and out in 90 minutes flat.  

 

How about you? Do you have any tips for getting laundry done faster when you live in an apartment?  

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