How To Find the Best Organization Method for Your Needs

These days, we are all spending more time at home due to circumstances that are out of our control. Occupations are now remote and so is our children’s education. Events such as birthdays, graduations, weddings and even just ‘hanging out’ has become – you guessed it – remote. Ever since the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020, the divide between what happens at home and what doesn’t happen at home has become a blurry, thin line that barely even exists anymore.

With no clear end in sight, this blurry line will continue to get fuzzier. We are each living every fraction of our lives in one centralized location rather than in the different environments we did prior to the pandemic’s start; thus, clutter and disorganization are running amuck. Don’t deny it! So much more is going on in our homes than ever before and very few of us can add more space to further compartmentalize the activities in our lives and create order. With that said, this is just one of the many reasons why it’s time to get organized, declutter and put a method behind the madness.

Why is getting organized important?

Getting organized has serious impacts:

• It reduces stress. According to an article on verywellmind.com, disorganization and clutter cause low-grade stress which can be damaging to our health over time.
• It saves time. Rather than spend our time looking for something, we know exactly where it is (or where it should be). Minutes add up!
• It encourages creativity. In an article written by The Productivity Experts, Teresa Amabile, a Harvard business school professor stated, “When you work under the gun, creativity is the first casualty.” Clutter induces a stress response within our body – when our body is stressed, we are not calm. Creativity is proven to come in states of peace or tranquility.
• It can increase productivity. An organized person is often someone who meets their deadlines and has a place for everything which means less focus on their environment and, in turn, allows them to focus their attention on the task at hand. Ergo, they’re more productive.

Just because we want to get organized and we know the benefits, does not mean we know how to get organized. You might be asking yourself: are there different organization methods? What are they? How can I find what method works best for me? Below, we have outlined the most common types of organization approaches so you can discern which is yours.

The 5 Different Kinds of Organization Methods

Method 1 – The Purist

The Purist is who comes to mind when you think of the archetypical “organized individual”. They have a specific place for everything they own and, everything is somehow always in its right place (typically labeled). The Purist is not only very organized, but they have a precise, systematic approach to their decluttering. They prioritize organization and it is instilled in every element of their life, whether it’s home, work or health related.

Method 2 – The Gazer

The Gazer is the kind of person who is not bothered by clutter because clutter is part of their organizational style. A Gazer organizes by leaving items out and clustering them in piles. This is different than a Purist, who is compelled to put things away, either in bins, drawers, plastic tubs or in another manner. Indeed, the Gazer has an inner need to see things and have them out. The Gazer will, however, organize those items before they allow them to continue to sit out. A Gazer is also often very creative and will organize their personal belongings in ways that often don’t align with conventional methods.

Method 3 – The Wild Card

The Wild Card lives by their own rules. The Wild Card does not feel compelled to organize or declutter. The Wild Card also does not prioritize organization or decluttering in the same way a Purist would – but they will organize. The organizational approach a Wild Card chooses must be done on their terms and you might come to know them as someone who has a method to the madness. Spontaneity is the driving force behind their moments of organization, as is a lack of stress. A great pro to being a Wild Card is they understand and listen to their own limits. They can stop decluttering at a drop of a hat. A potential con? You might not know when they will start again!

Method 4 – The Keeper

The Keeper love things – trinkets, knick-knacks, mementos – you name it, they will keep it! What’s great about a Keeper is they see the potential value in everything. The only downfall would be the space that is needed, because Keepers always need more space. While organizing, the Keeper’s “keep” piles will be the biggest, but they genuinely have a planned purpose for the items they intend to hold onto. Keepers are also great because they will keep boxes and bills, for example, that others may toss. So, when it comes time to return a broken mixer or if you need a copy of a bill from 5 months ago, the Keeper will have the box (plus the receipt) and a digital copy of the bill safely stored in their home.

Method 5 – The Giver

They keep very little but give a lot. The Giver is a minimalist at heart and does not own much. They don’t see the need to hoard and are thrown off by having too many things. When they organize and declutter, you can guarantee their donation bin and trash piles are the biggest. The only issue with Givers is they may toss too often, underestimating the need to hold onto something when it could be beneficial. The Giver is also so focused on physical clutter reduction that they may pitch items that are valuable because of their sentimental or emotional value rather than its tangible purpose.

The best way to determine which organization method above works for you is to read through each and honestly ask yourself these questions:

• Which do I most fundamentally identify with? More than likely, you will be a combination of 2 of the methods, as nothing is black and white.
• What can I achieve? Consider your current circumstances, such as the time you have available, the tools you have at your disposal and your abilities. These may sway you from one method to another purely based on feasibility.
• What would I enjoy doing? The goal is to get organized but not at the expense of your sanity or your smile. As much as we all may dream of being a Purist Giver (methods 1 & 5), don’t force yourself to execute your organization checklist under a different guise. If you’re truly a Wild Card (#3) or a Gazing Keeper (#2 & #4), embrace those methods. It’s better to swim with the current than push against it.

Disorganization is common, not purely because of COVID but because we all live busy lives. There aren’t enough hours in the day, and with so much of our days being spent at home, there’s no longer enough space either. The benefits to knowing your organizational method or style will help you in a number of ways. From reducing the amount of stress you have towards decluttering, to giving you more confidence when you do decide to tackle an organization project – to know thyself, as Plato once wrote, is crucial to enjoying life, regardless of where that wisdom is applied.

Interested in learning more about getting organized or The Closet Works’ custom organization solutions? Contact us today for a free design consultation with one of our professional Designers.