Recent research tells us that being consistent may be one of the most important things on which to focus our efforts. A study done at Harvard indicates that consistent exercise leads to better health, improved eating habits, a more positive outlook, and even a longer life. From my experience as a Certified Professional Organizer, I’ve seen that when a person is consistent with organizing, their home is noticeably tidier.
What Does This Mean in Real Life?
Simply put, the small decisions you repeat on a regular basis help keep your life running smoothly in multiple areas.
Small Decisions to Repeat
Sort the Mail
When you make the small decision to regularly sort the mail—recycling what you don’t need and placing important items in the same designated spot—you always know where to find it.
This prevents mail from being scattered throughout the house and reduces the overwhelm and anxiety that can come with large stacks of paper.
Put It Away
Putting things away after using them helps keep every part of your home tidy. This principle applies whether you’re at home or in the office.
How does it work?
Imagine you are working on a project at the dining table. You gather cleaning supplies, scissors, a ruler, and glue. If you put everything away when you’re finished, your dining table is immediately ready for your next meal.
If you leave everything out, you’ll need to clean it up later—adding one more task to your list.
The same applies in your office. When you finish using a reference book or files, putting them away prevents clutter from building up as you move on to the next task.
Put It Back
Growing up in a family of five children, if we borrowed something from our mother, she would say, “Make sure you put it back where you found it.”
It turns out, this is an excellent rule to follow. It teaches us that it’s easier to find things when they are consistently kept in a specific place.
When you repeatedly make these small decisions, they become habits. You no longer have to think about them—you simply follow through.
3 Great Reasons to Be Consistent with Organizing
1. It’s Easier to Maintain
Organizing is never a one-and-done task. Our homes are where we live, work, and play—so there is always something to reset.
However, when you are consistent with organizing and don’t allow clutter to accumulate, your space becomes much easier to maintain.
2. The More Consistent You Are, the Less You Have to Do
When you stay on top of everyday tasks like laundry, dishes, and mail—items that tend to pile up—you avoid overwhelming backlogs.
Instead of dedicating an entire day to catching up, you handle things in manageable increments.
If you have children, regularly editing their toys as they outgrow them not only reduces clutter but also teaches them the value of letting go and sharing with others.
3. The Less You Have to Organize, the More Free Time You Have
This is where happiness comes into play.
When you are consistent with organizing, you can invite people over without stress. You can say “yes” to spontaneous plans because you’re not weighed down by unfinished chores.
Consistency gives you something incredibly valuable—time.
Ready to Be Consistent with Organizing?
If this sounds appealing, know that it is absolutely within reach.
Contact me, and together we will create simple, sustainable systems that make it easier for you to be consistent with organizing your home.
FAQs
1. How do I start being consistent with organizing?
Start small. Choose one area—like mail or a single drawer—and build a simple routine around it. Consistency grows from small, repeatable actions.
2. What if I fall out of the habit?
That’s normal. Simply start again. Consistency isn’t about perfection—it’s about returning to your routines.
3. How long does it take for organizing habits to stick?
It varies, but with daily repetition, small habits can begin to feel automatic within a few weeks.
4. Do I need a lot of time to stay organized?
No. In fact, consistency reduces the amount of time needed. A few minutes each day is often enough.
5. Can a professional organizer help me stay consistent?
Yes. A professional organizer can help you create systems tailored to your lifestyle, making it much easier to maintain consistency.
A while ago, I recognized that one of my traits is that I’m a completer. So if I start something, like bringing in the mail, I can’t just put it down. I feel compelled to sort, recycle, shred, and route. If I take something out, I put it away when I’m done with it. I look at this as ‘Full Circle Thinking.’ Most things have a beginning, middle, and end. In general, I like to go through the entire cycle and enjoy experiencing that dopamine rush when I complete something.
I recognize that these are habits I developed over time. And while they are natural for me, they aren’t necessarily easy for everyone. However, they can be learned.
That is a great way to explain this, Linda – as a completer. I am also. It feels awkward and uncomfortable to me when something is left half-done. You’re correct – this is learned behavior!
When correcting a bad habit like dropping the mail anywhere, I think of the adage – “A stitch in time saves nine.” It’s difficult to make people understand that taking the time to do a maintenance task actually saves them time.
So true. Thanks, Jonda!
I used to have a long commute which meant leaving no later than 6:30 am and arriving home no earlier than 6:00 pm. As you can imagine, by the time we prepared and ate supper, we had little energy left to deal with anything else, so anything we brought home would just pile up until the weekend when we had time to deal with it. I later learned about Minimum Maintenance (from Totally Organized The Bonnie McCullough Way) and it changed my life. I wish I’d known about it back then!
A quick reset of a space takes very little time and effort and yields a big result! Thank you for commenting, Janet!
I think that disorganized people feel it takes too much time to stay organized. But like you, I disagree. Doing a little each day feels manageable, while delaying turns into a big (and sometime overwhelming) project.
The routine really is everything. Once you get in the habit, it doesn’t feel like a burden or a task to remember, but just the normal way you move through the day.
Definitely a fan of this!
Absolutely! Even if you don’t have time or energy to do everything you thought (or wanted to do) doing a little something is better than letting everything accumulate and pile up! Thank you for commenting, Seana.