How to Get Organized in 2019

Take Command  

Set the tone for an organized year: spend 30 minutes turning your junk drawer into a command drawer. Say goodbye to miscellaneous pens, coins, odds and ends. Odds are you won’t miss them. Make intentional spaces for the supplies and gadgets you commonly use (I.e. tape, scissors, sharpies, twine, batteries, etc) and you’ll feel like an organizing superhero, ready to conquer the rest of your home.

Artwork Archive  

Do you have stacks of artwork left behind from each of your child’s school years? You’re not alone! It’s easy to get attached to some scribbly lines when they remind you of the chubby-cheeked cherub who scribbled them. But the truth is, you don’t need – or want – 73 pieces of art from 3rd grade to trigger that nostalgia, right? Why not make a date of it; Grab some hot cocoa and start sifting through the collection with your child. Together, choose your favorites and file them away by grade in a personalized artwork bin (we love making these for clients). I have a feeling you’ll want to make it a tradition at the end of each year! During the year, display and store your child’s accumulating artwork in one of these Lil’ Davinci frames from Amazon. They can store up to 50 pages!

The Great Purge of 2018

So many parents have told us how the holiday season can be stressful as it brings a new dusting of items into their home. Where do the items go? Do they fit? Are they even wanted to begin with? This can be especially problematic with children’s toys. Try being preemptive by letting go of the items that no longer add value to your life: the toy your child doesn’t care for and only used once, the appliance you never use, or the old ratty towels that you’d be embarrassed to offer a guest. You can involve your kids and encourage them in the spirit of giving by talking to them about donating their old toys to children in need.

“I always do a big toy clean-out before Christmas, which often leaves me with boxes and bags full of gently used items that can go to a good cause. I like discussing each charity with my kids to explain where their old toys are going. By explaining how other kids can use their previously loved gear, my children get involved in the spirit of giving – and they love to have input as to where we donate their stuff.”  -Moneycrashers, Jacqueline Curtis

Pare down the Paper  

Let’s face it, we are living in a digital age. If paper is a problem for you, just download Google Docs or Dropbox on your phone and start scanning! The apps convert paper to pdfs. You can create custom files and folders to keep track of medical records, bills, payments, etc – and they’re accessible on the go! This came in handy for me awhile back. The hospital sent me a bill twice – but with two separate account numbers. Since I scan in all such documents, it didn’t take me long to find the invoice number and sort it out. They were shocked since they couldn’t even find the record in their system. I saved money and loved the validation that this simple process works!

Email Made Easy

Are you constantly weeding through an inbox of spam? Unsubscribing to every sender individually is a pain and could easily take all day. I recommend unroll.me to clean up your inbox. Instantly see a list of all your subscription emails and unsubscribe quickly from whatever you don’t want. So far, I’ve unsubscribed from 889 subscriptions. That’s a lot less spam. And at a $0 price tag…it’s a no-brainer.

About Mind Your Mess  

Julie is a professional organizer and native Houstonian who loves outdoor adventures, four-legged friends, and all things labeled. Mind Your Mess was born with the realization that life gets messy, but — don’t stress — order can be restored. We are passionate about helping people and organizing spaces. So, we’ve created a personalized luxury organizing service for those who lack the time or knowledge to do it themselves.