10 Ways to Create An Organizing Mindset

Today, I am going to let you in on a little secret. Most people think of me as being really super organized. But I can tell you that I am far from it.

Just like everyone else, I find that organizing is like a never ending treadmill. There is always something more to do or redo. It can be downright frustrating. So, for me, the key to being organized is NOT having everything put away and being on the top of your game.

Rather, the key is being able to function without succumbing to overwhelm, even when there is chaos all around you.

So, my best organizing advice actually has nothing to do with organizing at all. It’s really all about creating an organizing mindset so you can approach each task with the right attitude.

I think you get more done that way.

Before you even start tackling your biggest projects doing your daily organizing tasks, make peace with these 10 truths so you don’t give up before you even start.

1. Go Easy on Yourself

Clutter has a funny way of creeping up on you. You might be chugging along quite nicely and suddenly the holidays hit, or you go on vacation, the kids come home from college, or life just happens.

Suddenly, you can’t find things, the laundry piles up, and your paperwork is all over the place. It is not unusual and it is NOT you. Instead of berating yourself for being so disorganized, be kind and focus on the solution instead of the problem.

Often, a messy house is the result of just being too busy. Plain and simple. We have all been there. So, show yourself some grace, take a little time for some self-care. And jump back into your organizing project when you are refreshed and relaxed.

2. You Can’t Do It All At Once

When several areas of your life are out of control, it is very overwhelming. It is easy to get lost.

Where do you start? What do you do first?

Sometimes you have to look at the trees and not the forest. Because organizing a forest is crazy – but dealing with just one tree is totally doable. Break down your project into manageable chunks and assign yourself a due date for each one. Then make sure you put time on your calendar to actually do the work.

In this post, I outline a technique called “time-blocking”. Basically, you make an appointment with yourself (which you actually put on your calendar) during which you will work on the project in question. No ifs, ands, or buts.

3. Prioritize Based on Impact

This item is actually the most important, so give it special attention: give your biggest pain point priority. When you get the one thing that is causing you the most frustration out of the way, you open up mental space to do other things.

They say that the squeaky wheel gets the grease so you have to determine what “squeaky” actually means. Often, your top priority is something money or health related.

If you are not paying your bills on time because of disorganization, you have to fix it so you don’t lose money to late fees and bad credit. Likewise, if your health is suffering because of a disorganized situation, then this is the area that you should tackle first.

It May Not Be As Logical As It Seems

This might seem like common sense, but organizing according to priorities is hard. This is because the thing that you have to do first or should do first – well, this thing – is not always the easiest thing to do.

It might be something tedious like paperwork. No one really wants to do paperwork. It is far easier to put on some music and clear out the messy closet in the guest bedroom. But then your bills won’t get paid, and you will still have that stress.

So, don’t give into procrastination on the things that are impactful. Being busy and being busy on the right things are not the same.

4. Stay Focused

If you’ve ever started out cleaning the junk drawer in the kitchen, headed to the upstairs closet to put something away, and found yourself sorting linens you know how easy it is to lose focus. Instead, force yourself to get the junk drawer done and save your linens for another day.

The bottom line is start one project and stick to that project. If you find yourself getting distracted, make a quick list for a new project to do at a later time, and then get back to the task at hand.

5. Be Aware of Your Time

Sometimes we don’t finish an organizing project because we don’t allow ourselves enough time to do it.

If you have an hour to devote to a decluttering project – pick something that you can either reasonably finish in that time frame, or that you can do in phases. Set a timer for 50 minutes, and give yourself 10 minutes to finish up or put things away and prepare for what you plan to do tomorrow.

6. Be Aware of Your Capacity

If you have no time constraints, it might be tempting to allow yourself a whole day to organize. But halfway through, you might get bored or distracted. We all have a finite capacity for focusing on a single activity. We also have other roles and responsibilities that require our time and attention.

To set yourself up for success, be realistic with how much time you have available for organizing and also how much organizing you can mentally handle all at once. Then plan your time accordingly.

Also, keep in mind that some organizing projects are emotionally harder than others, which I talk about in the next point.

7. Brace Yourself for Emotions

Organizing a junk drawer is a different experience than organizing old photos, kids artwork, or  your parent’s attic. When you tackle organizing memorabilia, it has strings attached.

You will likely experience both good and bad emotions, taking you back along the path of a life well-lived. So be sure to allow yourself time to feel and decide what to do with those memories.

In her book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, author Margareta Magnusson advises to take your time, even up to a year, to enjoy your walks down memory lane as you discard and downsize.

8. Train Your Family to Follow Your Organizing System

Your family can be your greatest source of joy and also frustration. Those people that live in your house, the ones that you love, oh so much – well, you might think that they are out to get you.

After spending hours organizing, all it takes is one person to use something and put it back in the wrong place to set you over the edge. This drives me crazy, especially in the kitchen. I will be at a crucial point in a making a recipe when I open the drawer where an essential gadget, pot, pan, or utensil should be, and – lo and behold, it’s not there. Someone, probably with good intentions, put it away somewhere else, and now, while the food overcooks, I need to search the item out.

Training your family in your organizing systems is tricky. You can try using labels but often it comes down to hosting a little tour of the redesigned space, constant repetition, and a lot of patience and tact.

The thing to keep in mind is to show gratitude for their efforts, while at the same time being firm in communicating the type of help you need.

9. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

The comparison monster is just a saboteur no matter what area of life you are dealing with. Organizing is no different.

I was just reading an article about someone’s morning routine that involved workouts, healthy breakfasts, happy children, and a tidy home. Honestly, it felt like I was in the Twilight Zone as I sit here and type this in my pajamas at 11:00 am.

My schedule works for me right now, and I am ok with that. A completely orchestrated morning sounds amazing, but at this point, for me that would actually add a lot of stress.

Remember that most of what we see on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok is staged for the public. When we know people are watching, we always present our best face. So stop wasting so much time on social media and stop comparing yourself to everyone else!

The best organizing advice is to fix the things that are not working for you, specifically. If something is having a negative impact on your life then that is the thing you want to fix.

Leave the stuff that is working for you alone.

10. It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

I will leave you with this last point. Whatever you do, it doesn’t always have to be perfect. Sometimes, “good enough” is good enough. After all, we only have 24 hours to spend each day, it is up to you to choose where your time is best spent.

Organizing Is a Process That Starts With Mindset

In my Beginner’s Guide to Organization I discuss how to put reliable systems in place so you can get things done, find what you need, and put things where they belong to be able to get on with your day.

But what comes before all of that is mindset.

Marie Kondo begins her book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by stating that the root of the problem of disorganization lies in the mind, and that success is 90 percent dependent on mind-set. So, it is important that you approach your organizing and decluttering projects with a can-do attitude.

Banish the comparison monster, prioritize, stay focused, pace yourself, give yourself time to work through emotions that arise, and most importantly, show yourself grace.