In my previous posts, we’ve covered 5 common roadblocks you may be hitting when it comes to organization. I mentioned that there are 11 common hindrances I have discovered that may be preventing you from getting organized. Let’s uncover some cleaning and organizing hacks but first, let’s unveil hindrance number six.
Hindrance # 6: Unorganized Family/Roommate
Despite the fact that you make the best intentions to create order in your space, you may have someone else right under your roof that is usurping your efforts. Do not let that discourage you!
Although it can be very frustrating to share a space with someone whose standard of neatness is far less than yours, it is doable. Organization can begin with you. If this particular hindrance is your biggest hurdle, you may have said the following…
-I want to be organized, but he/she will just keep messing it up, so why bother?
-She keeps borrowing my things and never returns them to their proper space.
-I need my own space. Living with messy people is so frustrating. I don’t want to argue about it constantly.
What to do? It is frustrating and you may have been tempted to give up and give in because you think it’s just not worth it. So what CAN you do? Without ridiculing or condemning your “messy” family member, simply voice your desire to maintain an organized space. Ask them to respect it.
Likewise, you’ll have to respect their desire to be messy if they are unwilling to change. However you experience it, nagging the guilty party never converts them. In my childhood home, I had to share a room with a “less than neat” sister. My side of the room was always in tip-top shape- bed made, shelves orderly and dusted, everything put away.
You get the idea. We just had to make it work. Later, my parents built onto our home and we each had our own rooms, but by then I was ready to leave for college.
So, speaking as a voice of experience, I can say, “I’ve been there. Done that.” I can also tell you that none of my nagging ever changed her messy ways. I simply had to learn to back off and respect her wishes. Today, she runs a neat and orderly home, as I try to do likewise. I doubt I influenced her ways. I think she simply discovered on her own that organization brings peace and clarity to our lives.
Your homework today is to back off of the nagging, complaining, fussing, grudge holding, and respect your loved ones. You are likely just driving a wedge into your relationships. Ultimately, people do what they want to do. Controlling other people, especially adults, will not work in the end and will cause strife and bitterness. This may sound counterintuitive, but trust me, people are worth MORE than things. Relationships matter.
How can you stay organized if other people in your home don’t want to?
Staying organized when others in your home may not share the same inclination can be challenging, but it’s definitely possible with some effort and communication. Here are some tips to help you stay organized in such a situation:
- Communicate openly: Start by discussing your organizational goals with the people in your home. Explain why it’s important to you and how it can benefit everyone. Encourage open communication to understand their perspectives and find common ground. Communicate kindly. Avoid nagging and yelling. This is rarely helpful.
- Establish shared expectations: Define clear expectations for shared spaces and establish ground rules for organization. This might include setting specific areas for personal items, creating a cleaning schedule, or agreeing on a system for shared responsibilities.
- Create designated spaces: Allocate specific areas for different purposes and ensure everyone knows where things belong. Having designated spaces for items can make it easier for everyone to follow the organization system. Don’t make organizing difficult. Look at simple ways to hide visual clutter, such as using a storage ottoman to hold extra blankets and pillows in the main living area.
- Use labels: Labeling can be a helpful visual cue. Label storage containers, shelves, and drawers to make it clear where things should be placed. This can help others in the household remember where items belong.
- Simplify and declutter: Reduce the amount of clutter and unnecessary items in shared spaces. The less there is to manage, the easier it becomes for everyone to keep things organized.
- Involve everyone in the process: Get others involved in the organization process. Hold regular family meetings to discuss and address organizational challenges. When everyone participates, there is a higher likelihood of maintaining order. Children can be trained to be more organized, but the likelihood of changing other adults in the home can be slim. Don’t harass your spouse. Nagging rarely proves to be helpful. Instead keep your spaces separate as much as possible. Allow them to be messy in their own space.
- Set a good example: Lead by example and demonstrate the benefits of staying organized. When others see the positive impact, they may be more motivated to follow suit.
- Establish routines: Develop daily or weekly routines for cleaning and organizing. Consistency can help create habits that contribute to a more organized living space.
- Be patient and understanding: Change takes time, and people have different preferences and habits. Be patient and understanding, and work together to find compromises that accommodate everyone’s needs.
- Seek professional help if needed: If the disorganization is causing significant stress or conflict, consider seeking the help of a professional organizer. They can provide expert advice and assistance in creating an organized and functional living space.
Remember, maintaining organization in a shared space is a collaborative effort, and open communication is key to finding solutions that work for everyone.
I hope you are enjoying this series on overcoming what is preventing you from being organized. Please join me again as we uncover all 11 common hindrances to organization. When you subscribe to my daily declutter series, you’ll receive cleaning and organizing hacks each day in your inbox.
Read part 7 here.
Cleaning and Organizing Hacks: Use checklists
Need to deep clean? I have lists for you to guide you along.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.
Also, to keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
Need to Declutter Every room? I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.
2022 update: The year long thorough declutter series is on video now. You can subscribe via youtube through the video shown in this post below.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price.
How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Attic checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.
Need some Inspiration to Declutter? You can sign up here. Join us for the Year Long Through Declutter Series by subscribing by email below.
Happy Decluttering!
To Subscribe to my Year Long Thorough Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price.
We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The Year Long Thorough Declutter Series is designed to help you declutter every room and every closet in your home. When you subscribe you’ll receive a daily task in the room or area we are currently working on decluttering plus a few cleaning and organizing hacks. To Subscribe, leave a comment below.
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