I frequently hear people apologize for their perceived lack of “proper” storage or organizing solutions.
They might say something like:
“I know our system isn’t ideal, but it works for us.”
“Martha Stewart definitely wouldn’t approve, but it works for me.”
“I wouldn’t want anyone to look inside my closet, but it’s organized enough for me.”
I also get so many questions like:
“Should I scan all of my pictures, recipes, files, and documents into my computer?” (even though they already have a really great system for keeping the physical copies organized)
“Should I organize my closet the same way you organize yours?” (even though their current system is working just fine)
“Do you think I should buy all matching storage containers for our pantry?” (even though the shoe boxes they currently use do the trick)
“Would it be better to replace all our storage tubs with clear tubs so I can see what’s inside?” (even though they currently don’t have an issue finding what they need in their opaque tubs)
“Should I try to meal plan on a monthly basis instead of only weekly?” (even though they are managing just fine planning on a weekly basis)
The list could go on…
All of these are legitimate questions, however in my opinion…
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Maybe your home doesn’t look like the pages of a magazine (or even as nice as your friends’ homes) — but if things are neat and organized enough for YOU and your family to enjoy spending time in your home, then it’s good enough.
Maybe your pantry or your storage room wouldn’t win any awards (I know mine wouldn’t) — but if you know where things are, can quickly find what you need, and quickly put it away again, then it’s good enough.
Maybe your meal plan isn’t color-coded and written out on a laminated card for the entire month — but as long as you don’t feel stressed out when you think of cooking dinner every night, then your system is good enough
And honestly, this goes for almost every area of life…
If your marriage isn’t filled with romantic date nights and weekly gifts but it’s loving and meaningful and good enough for YOU and YOUR spouse, then consider yourselves blessed and very fortunate.
If your exercise routine is simply 5-10 minutes of stretching each morning because you know you’d never stick with any type of formal exercise plan, then I’d say you have the perfect exercise routine for YOU at this point in your life.
If your parenting style isn’t the same as your friends, coworkers, or relatives but it works well for YOU and YOUR family, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.
I love thinking about better, more efficient ways to keep my home and life more organized — but I usually don’t start looking for a more efficient way until I feel like my current system isn’t working anymore.
If my current system, ideas, containers, etc. aren’t “broke,” then I’m not going to waste any of my valuable time trying to fix them!
The next time you see another fancier, prettier, “better” organizing idea on TV, in a magazine, or on Pinterest, first stop and think if you really NEED a new system or container… or if your current systems and containers are working well enough.
Carrie Willard says
Yes! we don’t need to be like squirrels chasing the latest “Thing” when what we’re doing works just fine. I agree. I love new ideas, but one can’t and shouldn’t implement every new thing – it’s also a great idea to make sure you’ve tried the old thing long enough before even thinking about switching it up. Not everything can or should be optimized. 🙂
Mara Yager says
AGREE!! Happy weekend 🙂
Andrea says
Thanks — you too! Life is just simpler when we aren’t always trying to be better or do more or strive for perfection!
Abra says
Thanks! I needed this today!
Janet says
‘THANK YOU!! It’s so silly that we spend so much money to store all our “stuff” that wew need to thin out anyway. We’re taking boxes from Aldi to try using them for organizing our disaster of a linen closet. Our son is responsible for putting towels away. Problem is he just throws all sizes together. Hope the boxes work.
Janet.
Tara says
Ha! Great advice. Yes, somehow we all need reminders that if something is working well for us we need not try to fix it up by changing it all up with bells and whistles that may work for others. So true about so many things.
My household systems really weren’t working for me. I realized after my 2nd baby was born that I had never really organized our house to be child friendly. You and I emailed about it a little. We moved in here before I was ever pregnant and I hadn’t changed our systems up when they were born. It was causing me a lot of extra work and time to keep up with it all. So I’ve been systematically going through my house zone by zone to restructure things.
I literally take everything out of an area, scrub it down, then only put back what belongs there (and that I am willing to spend another single moment of my life cleaning and maintaining) and everything must have a proper home. I’m trying to put things where they are at the most logical/useful place in each space.
When I got to our kitchen I struggled with how to organize everything and wanted to rearrange it all but got overwhelmed by the task. I brought my husband into the process because he cooks as often as I do and he laughed and told me that we’d spent 5 years cooking in the kitchen and most of the things we used frequently were already put in the places we found them most convenient.
After I thought about it, I realized he was right. The kitchen is one area where we tend to rearrange as we go, out of convenience. It was nice to have that perspective and I could quickly put most things away right where they had already been kept. I did change a few things up or upgraded to better storage tools (pot lid rack, clear bins for snack foods etc.) and got rid of a number of things that had slid to the back of cupboards and never got used. It was amazing how easy it was once I realized my system wasn’t broken, just needed a tad of sprucing up. :o)
Five4FiveMeals says
It’s refreshing to know that you, a professional organizer, feel this way. I am probably the least organized person on the planet. But since I had a baby I have had to force myself to become more organized. My system might not work for everyone and it might not look organized but 9 times out of 10 I can put my hand on something as soon as I need it.
No I just have to go grab a trash bag and clear out all this paper in my kitchen.
Andrea says
I know MANY people who say they got much MORE organized after having a baby… I feel like I’m LESS organized now after a baby than I was before 🙂
LoriB says
Amen!
Jessica says
This truly is refreshing! We can all learn from this because I can just think of the many ways this would save us time and LOTS of money this way.
Liz says
I’m constantly looking at better ways of doing things…either to simplify or reduce cost. But I try not to be neurotic about it. Lol
After an event, or a big family meal, or a hectic week…I jot down a couple of notes in a handy dandy notepad I carry with me all the time. Maybe a 3rd 9 x 13 dish would have made Thanksgiving easier. Or less soda more juice. Or special band aids that wrap around a knuckle. Or a better way to make cole slaw that doesn’t involve the loss of fingers.
I’m not going to go out of my way to find these things or make the changes. But the next time I’m at a yard sale maybe there’s an old Pyrex dish that would help. Or the clearance at cvs has weird shaped band aids. Or I’m waiting for dd somewhere that has wifi and can search a topic.
It keeps me organized and for the most part always improving how we do things.
Andrea says
This is awesome Liz. I actually do much of the same thing — always taking notes so when the opportunity presents itself, I’m prepared. And I LOVE how you utilize your “dead time”. So many people don’t realize how much stuff they can accomplish in that dead time!
Laurel says
It’s this attitude that keeps me coming back to your blog before going to others. I love this message. Thank you!
Andrea says
Thanks Laurel!
Ashley says
Love this! Without really thinking about it, this is basically how I approach organizing, too. Something will get to a pint that I just can’t stand it anymore, then it’s overhauled. I’m one of the “crazies” that think it would be fun to upgrade organizing systems frequently but really–who has time?? 😀