A tidy home can be key for helping families get, stay organized

Modern families seem to juggle more than ever before. When time is a luxury, the ability to stay organized can help families manage the hustle and bustle of daily life more effectively. Maintaining a tidy home with designated places for everyone’s belongings can be key to staying organized as a family.

Disorganization does not occur overnight, and neither will getting reorganized. But with some motivation, all families can become more orderly.

Manage mornings

Most families can use a little help getting out of the house in a timely manner each morning. Members of the household should each have a designated area where they keep the items they will need the next morning. Many homes offer drop-off areas with built-in lockers that can be used for this purpose. Parents can also make a drop-off area by installing a bench or shelf with a spot for each family member.

Backpacks and briefcases should be prepacked so they will be ready at their designated places come morning. In addition, make lunches the night before, and sort the next day’s clothes before going to bed. Such efforts should make it easier to leave the house on time each morning.

Sort the entryway

Home entryways are usually hubs of traffic. Such areas are the first and last place family members go when entering or leaving the house. As a result, these areas are in need of routine organizational attention. Use sorting bins for shoes, hooks for coats, trays for mail or homework, and other organizational systems to keep things tidy.

Embrace the purge

Bookshelves, closets and cabinets can be magnets for clutter. Families can clean such spaces and lighten the overall atmosphere of a home by taking a hard look at the items they use and do not use. Holding on to rarely used items can create a disorganized environment. Save only a few sentimental items, and donate, recycle or discard the others.

There are many methods of decluttering. Some experts suggest going through items one by one and asking whether the item has been used recently. Most things that have been collecting dust for a year or more can go.

Sensible storage

After purging items they no longer need, families can analyze what they have and find sensible storage solutions. Store belongings in the same place each day so items are easy to find when needed. Frequently used items should be stored in easily accessible places such as shelves and drawers. Seldom-used items, such as holiday decorations, can be stored out of the way in attics or basements.

It takes commitment and time to get organized. However, life tends to move along more smoothly in organized homes than in homes marked by clutter.