I used to be a hyperorganizer. I was famous for it. Friends would ask me to help them weed through their closets, and there are still people who walk into my office and say, “It’s so…clean in here.” But sooner or later, life intervenes. Not long ago, at the end of a ridiculously stressful day, I was putting away laundry—I looked at the color-coded-by-season hangers in my closet and it hit me: Why? A long commute, a teenage son, a parent living alone and suddenly being a neatnik seemed less important. So I’ve let go of some things, and guess what? They were never worth the time anyway. Here are eight things I’ve decided I don’t need to do to keep my life in order.
Don’t…alphabetize your spices. They come that way in those prestocked spice racks, but how long can that last? Come on. If you don’t already have one, get your hands on a lazy Susan—a quick spin and you’ll find what you need. (See where they got the name from?) Beats spending 20
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Don’t…file papers as soon as you get them. Yes, I know every organizing expert in the world will tell you to sort your papers pronto. But you know what’s easier? Tossing all the non-urgent stuff into a shopping bag—it keeps your desk clean, and you only need to go back and file the stuff every few months. The real beauty of the system is that if it’s less than a few months old, you know where it is. Even better is realizing how infrequently you actually have to dig through it.
Don’t…use your computer to make labels. Can you say “waste of time”? A Sharpie and some masking tape and you’re done. And in less time than it takes to boot up.
Don’t…buy the perfect container for just about anything. Ever notice how many plastic containers you end up rinsing out and recycling? Those random take-out containers or butter tubs are perfect for paper clips, rubber bands, loose change or any other things that don’t have a perfect home.
Don’t…divide your drawers. Do you find yourself making micro-compartments for each individual item? Love those crazy sock dividers? You’re working way too hard. Just keep things in the same general area of the drawer and you’ll be fine.
Don’t…toss it if you haven’t used it in a year. This ranks right up there with the one about the filing. I know I’m supposed to get rid of clutter, but just because I haven’t been invited to a wedding in two years, does that mean I’m getting rid of the black silk pants? Black silk pants are forever—and so is some of the other stuff in the back of your closet. Think about it.
Don’t…use cozies to cover everything. OK, they’re cute, but when they start to get grungy, they look pretty uncozy. (Please don’t tell me you wash them.) What’s so hard about giving a toaster a quick swipe with a sponge?
Don’t…tie up sets of sheets with pretty ribbon before storing. Oh, ladies.
Related Articles at WomansDay.com:5 Common Clutter Culprits
13 Ways to Declutter Your Closet
12 Reasons to Unclutter Your Space
