Better Homes and Gardens
We all have different tolerances for clutter and different preferences for organization. Some people prefer their belongings displayed, while others want everything tucked away. Some keep meticulous file systems for paperwork; others prefer a simple labeled box. All of these approaches are valid. If your home doesn’t feel under control, try a simple principle:
Organized = Being able to find most anything you need in five minutes or less.
My friend Brandie taught me a useful definition of being organized: you should be able to find most things you need within five minutes. That simple guideline makes organizing feel achievable rather than overwhelming.
Being organized doesn’t require a perfectly ordered life with color-coded labels and elaborate systems unless that’s what you want. The goal is practical: find what you need quickly. Organization will look different for every person and family, and that’s fine. Adopting the five-minute rule can make even large organizing projects seem less intimidating.
When I was a younger parent I used a file box with 3 x 5 cards to catalog the contents of twenty Christmas decoration boxes. Every item had a listing and a box number so I could find it. Over time I realized that system was overkill — I had needed to find a single item from those boxes very rarely. Worse, the file box itself could get misplaced, making the whole system useless.
Most of the time, the simplest organizational plan is best.
You are far more likely to maintain a system that is simple and straightforward.
Now I group like items together — tree decorations, outdoor lights, serving pieces — and label the box with a simple name such as “Christmas Serving Dishes.” One label on one box is usually enough to find what I need quickly. A complicated filing system wasn’t necessary; common-sense grouping was.
Simple, like-with-like organizing is often all you need to find what you need in five minutes or less.
I love the five-minute rule. It removes the guilt and the pressure to create elaborate systems. Keep it simple, and focus on accessibility rather than perfection.
Can you find what you need in your home in five minutes or less?
Did you miss the previous two posts in this series?
Start with Step One, move on to Step Two, and you’ll be caught up with this series.
all photos: BH&G