Better Homes and Gardens
We each have our own tolerance for clutter and unique approaches to organizing. Some prefer displaying items openly; others like everything tucked behind closed doors. Some use meticulous filing systems for papers, while others toss things into a labeled box and move on. All of these styles are valid. If your home doesn’t feel quite under control, here’s a simple idea to try:
Organized = Being able to find most anything you need in five minutes or less.
My friend Brandie taught me how to think about organization differently: being organized means you can find most things you need in five minutes or less. I find that idea freeing.
Being organized doesn’t require a perfectly ordered life with color-coded labels and elaborate systems unless that’s what you enjoy. The real goal is practical — to locate what you need quickly. Organization will look different for every person and family, and that’s okay. Embracing the five-minute rule makes even big organizing projects feel much more manageable.
When I was a younger parent I once used a file box full of 3 x 5 cards to catalog everything in twenty Christmas decoration boxes. Every item had a listing and a box number so I could find it. Over time I realized that level of detail was overkill — I only needed to locate one or two items infrequently, and the filing system itself could be misplaced, which would defeat the purpose.
Most often, the simplest organizational plan is the best.
You have the best chance of maintaining a system if it’s simple and straightforward.
Now I simply group like items together — tree decorations, outdoor lights, serving pieces, and so on — and label the box with a clear name such as “Christmas Serving Dishes.” That single label saves time and stress. I don’t need a complicated filing system; I just need one clear, useful label on one box.
Often, common-sense grouping — putting like with like — is enough to help you find what you need in five minutes or less.
I love the five-minute-or-less rule. It removes guilt and frees me from overly complex organizing charts and systems.
Can you find what you need in your home in 5 minutes or less?
Did you miss the previous two posts from this series?
Start with Step One, move on to Step Two, and you’ll be caught up with the series.
all photos: BH&G