Habits and Rules to Keep You Organized (video below)
Staying organized isn’t just about getting organized once. You can declutter a space beautifully and then watch it slowly fill back up again if you don’t have a plan for making those changes stick long term.
Habits and rules like these can be a great way to make decluttering a mindset rather than something you do when things get out of hand.
“Always Be Ready to Move”
Think back to the last time you moved. Not exactly fun, right? Moving ranks high on the list of life’s most stressful experiences, and clutter only makes it harder. When someone with a clutter problem has to move, a few things often happen:
The move gets seriously delayed because there’s simply too much stuff.
They become overwhelmed and end up boxing everything—including the clutter.
They need to hire a small army just to dig out and get packed.
Even if you have no plans to move anytime soon, the idea of moving can be a powerful tool for controlling clutter. Instead of an emergency, it becomes a mindset. I’ve worked with many clients who were forced to move unexpectedly and were completely distressed by how much they had to sort, donate, sell, and pack. Regular decluttering—done a little at a time—can greatly reduce that stress.
The “One In, One Out” Rule and the “Container Concept”
Setting a few personal rules or “guardrails" can make staying organized much easier.
The “one in, one out” rule is simple but incredibly effective: every time something new comes into your home, something old needs to leave. I like to think of decluttering as a constant cycle rather than a big, exhausting project.
For example, over the holidays I received a new travel mug. I already own several, so the first thing I did was get rid of my oldest one to make room for the new one. The same goes for clothing—when I buy something new, I donate something old.
The “container concept” works hand-in-hand with this. The idea is that your space, not your stuff, sets the limit. A kitchen cabinet, dresser drawer, or basket can only hold so much, and once it’s full, it’s full. People who struggle with clutter often continue bringing items into a space long after the container is already at capacity. That’s how piles start forming, garages get packed to the ceiling, and basements become overwhelming.
Try one—or both—of these ideas and see how they feel. Small shifts in how you think about your stuff can make a big difference in keeping clutter under control.
📝Note: This content was part of a recent presentation I gave for the Chamber of Commerce.
🔥For more tips watch the video:
🔗Chamber of Commerce Organizing Presentation
