All tagged simply sort

The Organizing Solution Often Overlooked: Putting Things Away

The Organizing Solution Often Overlooked: Putting Things Away

Jody Yarborough
My Organizing Journey

There is one aspect of organized living that I think gets highly under-emphasized by organizational professionals and how-to magazine articles and books. That is: simply the act of picking up after yourself. Or, put another way, putting things away. I know, it isn't a sexy answer, and even may sound overly simplistic. It isn't even really any fun, either, because it doesn't involve buying anything and it does involve the one commodity we all say we don't have enough of: time. Time we'd rather spend being entertained, relaxing, spending time with our friends, or doing one of our hobbies.

But trust me when I say this: The time you invest in picking up after yourself will greatly increase the time you have to do other things in the long-run. Putting things away is the most cost-effective, highly productive ways you can keep your home or office organized. And when things are organized, life is simple, and life is good.

Every Item Should Have A Home -- Strategies for Keeping Tidy

Every Item Should Have A Home -- Strategies for Keeping Tidy

Jody Yarborough
My Organizing Journey

There is one key component to efficient organization that no one ever really talks about. Mainly because it is often inconvenient, not fun, and often something we don't feel we are responsible for. What is it? Put simply: putting things away.

For many a household, including my own, after an exceptionally busy week, by the time Friday arrives it looks like a tornado has blown through the entire house. I can retrace my steps of projects worked on, meals prepared, mail received, clothes worn, etc. In addition to the steps of my husband, and well, lets not leave the family pets out of the mix. Everyone contributes to the family whirlwind.

Good news is, like at my house, there are strategies that can help make it easier to clean up and put things away. Dare I say, even making the process fun?! The two key components are assigning “homes” for your belongings and corralling them within domestic “zones.”

I Love Organizing-- Just Not Other People's Stuff

I Love Organizing-- Just Not Other People's Stuff

Jody Yarborough
My Organizing Journey

Nine years ago, shortly after moving to California, I made my initial venture into entrepreneurship by launching my own organizing business, Simply Sort. Inspired by clutter-busting shows like TLC's Clean Sweep, and those similar, I thought, "I have good ideas. I've helped friends and family. How hard could it be?"

Well, as I discovered, while it wasn't necessarily hard, it was by no means easy. Not that launching one's own business is ever easy. After all, I believe anything really worth doing, should have some hardness to it. With Simply Sort, it wasn't that I was afraid of the hard work, but rather, the work itself turned out not be what I assumed it would be. I learned to "fail fast" as the pros would say. Which for me, was a success all on its own.