Learn how to get organized, and keep it that way

It’s one thing to get your house in order, but another to make it habit

There is a lot advice out there (including my own) about how to organize your home, with strategies for dealing with individual spaces or categories of items that are frequent clutter culprits. If you haven’t worn a piece of clothing in more than a year, donate it. Every time you bring home a new book, give one away. Clean and organize your pantry twice a year. But in addition to those tips, people who continue to stay organized tend to share the following behaviors and habits.

Keep a to-do list

In our fast-paced lives, where work and home have become even more intertwined, having a to-do list is key to staying organized. Your list can be electronic or physical, but be sure to update it frequently and carry it with you.

There is no correct way to organize it. Some people will divide their list by personal and professional tasks. Others keep it according to deadlines: what needs to be done today, this

week, this month. Creating and maintaining a list will help you remember what needs to be done, and it will give you a sense of accomplishment every time you cross off a completed task.

Tidy every day

When you’re trying to get in

shape, you don’t exercise all day, then do nothing for the next three months. Instead, you start with a reasonable workout and create a routine to maintain your fitness. The same is true for getting and staying organized: Consistency is key.

People who stay organized don’t wait until they’re overwhelmed by papers, packages or laundry to take action. They spend 10 or 15 minutes each day straightening up and clearing off surfaces, tossing or recycling papers and trash, hanging up clothes or filing paperwork. Every little bit helps.

Consume less, shop mindfully

Having fewer items in our homes goes a long way toward staying organized. There is a limit to how much we can comfortably fit into our spaces. If every cabinet, closet, drawer and shelf is full, it’s harder to put items in their proper places, and it’s more difficult to keep track of what you have.

Organized people shop mindfully and limit their purchases to what they need and love. Before you buy something large, such as an exercise bike or a new piece of furniture, first consider whether you have the space for it.

Empty bags, open mail daily

Bags are not for storing items; they are for getting pieces from place to place. Take a few minutes when you get home to empty the contents of your bags and put the items away. Likewise, aim to open your mail every day and immediately recycle envelopes and junk mail. Packages should be opened the day they arrive. Put the contents away and recycle the box. Returns should be completed within a week. All of these tasks take little time, and doing them regularly will save you time and stress later.

Stick to routines

All progress is good progress. Regular tidying each morning or evening will keep clutter under control. Make a rule to clear your kitchen counters at the end of each day, make your bed each morning or put your laundry away after folding it. None of this is particularly fun or fulfilling, but it makes a difference and sets expectations for an orderly and organized home.

Identify your priorities

Prioritize the organizing tasks that give you a sense of control and simplify your day. If packing lunches feels overwhelming during the morning rush, put out their contents the night before. Or if your email inbox is a source of stress, spend 10 minutes processing emails each afternoon. I don’t like waking up

Please see ORGANIZE 8

Getty Images To keep envelopes piling up and making unnecessary clutter, try to open all mail and immediately recycle what you don't need.

Getty Images Every little bit helps, and figuring out what your organizational priorities are can help quite a bit. For this writer, that means tidying the kitchen before going to bed.