Organizing Tips for Naturally Messy People

Almost everyone strives to be more organized. Even the naturally organized unicorns of the world strive to find better solutions and tips to keep their space clutter-free. Unfortunately, for the messy people of the world, most organizing solutions work better for the naturally organized. 

Declutter Continually
Organizing can’t happen when there are simply too many items in a space. It may be a difficult step to part with your belongings, but it will make your space feel significantly more manageable long-term. Messy people tend to have one large and exhausting declutter session very infrequently. This can be emotional and make decluttering difficult. Instead, declutter often to keep your items in check.

Try Macro Sorting
The impressive neatniks of the world tend to organize into precise micro-categories. This level of attention will not work for a naturally messy person. If you’ve tried the tiny containers within other containers and gave up, it doesn’t mean you can’t get organized. It simply means you need to sort items on a macro scale. Instead of separating allergy meds from cold medication, for instance, create a basket or box for all first aid items. This macro sorting makes items findable but keeps things easy to put away.

Go for Baskets
Baskets are a messy person’s best friend when it comes to organization. See-through or clearly labeled baskets make it easy to drop items in as you go. This requires a lot less work than a container with a lid that has to be managed. Kids and adults can easily sort items without taking a lot of time to clean up.

Change Your Habitat
The organizing adage “change your habitat, not your habit” rings true for everyone, but especially for the naturally unorganized. This rule means that you need to understand where you use and put items naturally. Instead of forcing yourself to change your habit, create a home for your items where you use them, even if it seems odd to store them in that area. If you brush your kids’ hair in the living room every day and the brush never makes its way to the bathroom, put them in a drawer or bin in your living room for easy access. You’re much more likely to put something away when you acknowledge your current habits and accommodate them.