We’ve all been there. We work really hard to get an area neat and organized, and after a day of regular activity in our homes, it’s totally messed up and disheveled again. Sometimes it seems like we’re fighting an uphill battle when we’re trying to keep our homes clutter-free and organized.
This one simple trick to help you keep your home organized might make that uphill battle a little less steep.
The trick?
Always carry something with you when you move from room to room.
Running to the restroom? On your way, throw away that granola bar wrapper that was left on the coffee table.
Going upstairs? Take your library books with you and put them on your nightstand.
Taking a break from folding laundry? Bring the clean kitchen towels with you so you can put them away.
Walking to your mailbox? Take the trash with you and throw it in the bin before you get to the mailbox.
Getting out of the car? Grab a handful of trash, Goldfish crumbs, or whatever, and throw it away after leaving the car.
The possibilities are endless!
By always bringing something along with you to put away, you’re cutting down on the tidying up you’ll have to do later. Will it completely eliminate the need to clean things up from time to time? Probably not. But, it will lighten your load a little bit.
Building the habit of taking something with you isn’t always easy. It’s a completely different mindset that you’ll have to develop.
Sometimes, you just won’t want to throw away that random apple core that someone left on the sofa. For the third time this week.
But, if you can commit to taking something with you most of the time, you’ll make things easier on yourself, and you’ll enjoy a more organized, tidy home.
So, what kinds of things could you “take with you” during the course of the day. I’m sure there could be a lot of variety in the answers to this question (wink, wink).
Want more organizing tips delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Organizing Moms newsletter!
WANT TO FEEL MORE ORGANIZED & IN-CONTROL?
Join over 4,700 moms who found a way to run peaceful, well-organized homes by busting clutter, creating good routines, and focusing on what their families need - and get this printable guide free! It will help you jump-start your home organization, and give you some relief!
I’m going to try this! I am horrible at keeping things organized, especially with 3 young kids!
Rachel recently posted…Things I Swore My Kids Would Never Do {and how that’s working out for me}
Hi Rachel! I hope you like it! It saves me a lot of time. 🙂
This is all so true and I try and do this myself. I just wish I could teach everyone in my house to do the same. It would save so much clutter! When I see my husband walk past the things I have gathered by the basement door and just trot down the stairs…………..I have to go to my Happy Place.
Kim Smith recently posted…Up Close With A Paper Wasp Nest!
Kim, I totally know what you mean! Serenity now!
Sounds so simple! Now do you have a solution for when you bring something into a room and forget why you’re in there? lol!
Emma recently posted…Homework Without Tears
Haha! Sadly, no. I do this more and more as time goes on!
Love it. Super easy to remember and just as easy to do. I do this but only for certain things. I am going to bump it up and make sure I am doing it more often. Pinned and tweeted.
Sheila @ BrainPowerBoy recently posted…Is It Nothing to be Happy?
Hi Sheila! Thanks! You’re right – it’s so simple, but it works!
Love this! I try to do this as much as possible, it really helps. Throughout the day, I also set things on the bottom stairs, so as my boys go up they have to take what’s theirs and put it away. 🙂
Melissa recently posted…Caramel Apple Cake
This is one of those things that is so simple it is easy to overlook. I really need to amp up my efforts about doing this.
Micha recently posted…Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken
Hi Micha! I know what you mean. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I already do this. It really helps.
sweet recently posted…Essential car care caddy
I have found this to be so true!! My pet peeve is having trash in the car, so every time I get out of the car, I try to remove all the trash. Our car feels so much more organized!!
I do. I do! Now tell me the one simple trick to get the other 3 living in the house to do the same!!
Haha! I wish I had that one figured out!