How to Stop Being a Messy Person in 7 Simple Steps
If you always find yourself in a mess, don’t worry. You can become tidy and organized. It’s about learning the right habits and way of thinking.
In this article, we’ll show you how to clean up, organize, and keep your space neat. Whether you aim for a simple lifestyle or just want a neater home, these steps will help make your environment ordered and calm.
Are you ready to leave the mess behind and live clutter-free? Let’s dive into some easy yet powerful decluttering, organizing, and cleaning tips.
Set Your Intention and Visualize Your End Goal
Before starting your cleaning journey, knowing what you want and imagining your ideal organized space is key. This goal keeps you motivated and focused. You can find design ideas from sites like Pinterest or home organization blogs. Pick tidy room images that match your vision for your space.
If you dream of a minimalist living room, look for pictures that show this style. This vision helps you aim straight and makes organizing more rewarding.
Split your cleaning goals into smaller, doable tasks to not get swamped. Tackle one bookshelf or countertop instead of doing a whole room at once. This way, you’ll progress faster and keep your spirit up.
| Benefits of Setting Intentions and Visualizing Your End Goal: |
|---|
| • Creates a clear target to work towards. |
| • Boosts motivation throughout the cleaning process. |
| • Helps break down cleaning goals into achievable tasks. |
| • Provides inspiration for creating your own organized space. |
Declutter Mercilessly and Give Everything a Place
To maintain a tidy space, start by decluttering mercilessly. Be bold, and eliminate things you don’t want or need. Keep only what serves a purpose or brings you joy. This way, you create more space and clarity.
After decluttering, make sure everything has a place. Organizing is key to keeping things in order. Determine where each item belongs. This helps you find things quickly and keeps your space calm and organized.
In busy areas like the kitchen or workspace, creating a visual hierarchy helps. Use storage bins, shelves, or drawer dividers. A specific spot for each item prevents lost belongings and keeps the area clutter-free.
| Benefits of Decluttering and Organizing | Tips for Finding a Place for Everything |
|---|---|
| 1. Reduced stress and anxiety | 1. Assess your storage space |
| 2. Improved focus and productivity | 2. Group similar items together |
| 3. Enhanced aesthetic appeal | 3. Label storage containers |
| 4. Time-saving | 4. Make use of vertical space |
| 5. Increased peace of mind | 5. Regularly review and reassess |
By decluttering mercilessly and organizing, you create a harmonious space. This method reduces stress and saves time. It lets you enjoy your living space more. So, start decluttering and organizing for a positive impact on your life!
Ask for help and Plan Regular Purges
Letting go of sentimental items can be hard. If you struggle to decide what stays or goes, getting help is key. You might want to get a professional organizer. They have the skills to guide you in decluttering and making a system that works.
Another option is to have an accountability partner or “body double.” This could be someone close or even a professional organizer. They can help keep you on track, offer new ideas, and keep you focused on your goals.
It’s also important to plan regular decluttering sessions. Make time for this and turn it into a habit. This helps stop clutter from building up in your space.
Create a decluttering schedule. This could mean setting aside time monthly or quarterly to organize different areas. Having set dates helps you stay on track.
When decluttering, really think about each item’s value. Ask if it still has a purpose or makes you happy. This choice helps keep clutter away.
Getting a body double or professional help and doing regular purges can make decluttering easier. These steps offer support and accountability. They help you keep your space neat and clutter-free.
| Benefits of Recruiting a Body Double and Planning Regular Purges |
|---|
| Access to professional expertise |
| Motivation and support |
| Accountability and guidance |
| Consistent decluttering and organizing |
| Prevents clutter from accumulating |
Cultivate Triggers and Create Maintenance Plans
Making organizing a habit is key, so start by setting up simple triggers. Triggers are like little nudges that remind you to tidy up. For example, if you see a book lying around, put it back on the shelf without waiting. By doing this regularly, you’ll naturally want to keep your space tidy.
It’s also smart to make maintenance plans for different situations. After a dinner party, plan to clean up the dining area and put everything away. With this plan in place, you stop clutter before it starts, keeping your space neat.
View triggers and maintenance routines as your tools for tidiness. They establish consistent habits for you. Whether it’s a visual reminder or a planned activity, these methods keep your space in great shape.
With the right triggers and plans, organizing becomes easier. So, take the necessary steps to form these habits. You’ll enjoy the calm and order of a clutter-free home.
Reward Yourself and Celebrate Your Successes
Keeping up your motivation is key to organizing success. Rewarding yourself helps you stay on track. These rewards link good feelings with your cleaning habits, making you more likely to keep it up.
Make tidying up fun by enjoying things like music or podcasts. It turns cleaning into a happier activity. This approach helps you find joy in organizing.
Celebrate every achievement, no matter the size. Treat yourself after clearing out your wardrobe. These celebrations fuel your motivation and make you proud of what you’ve done.
- Treat yourself to a favorite snack or beverage
- Take a short break to do something you enjoy, like reading a book or watching an episode of your favorite TV show
- Pamper yourself with a bubble bath or a relaxing spa day
- Plan a fun outing with friends or loved ones as a reward for completing a major organizing task
- Buy yourself a small gift to celebrate achieving a particular organizing goal
It’s important to enjoy cleaning and organizing. Rewarding yourself helps keep you motivated. By doing this, you’ll want to tidy up and enjoy a cleaner space.
Start Small and Build Momentum
Organizing is all about starting small. Taking baby steps helps you get used to the process. This avoids feeling too overwhelmed. Try tidying up a small spot for a minute to see a change. Using a timer for a specific area works wonders. Just a bit of effort can make a difference.
Seeing your first successes gives you the energy to do more. Slowly add a few minutes to your organizing time each day. This way, you’re building a habit of keeping things clean and tidy.
It takes time to develop good cleaning habits. Don’t worry if you don’t see results right away. The key is to keep making small steps toward a cleaner space. Soon, you’ll see a positive change in your home and how you feel.
Small Steps to a Cleaner Home
Not sure how to start building cleaning habits? Here are a few easy steps:
- Begin with a 1-Minute Tidy: Spend just one minute to organize a small area, like your desk or countertop.
- Expand Your Efforts: Gradually increase organizing time to 5, then 10 minutes. Begin to cover larger areas of your place.
- Focus on One Category: Start with just one type of item, such as clothing or kitchen tools. It helps you stay on track without getting swamped.
- Create a Routine: Make organizing a part of your daily or weekly schedule. Choose a specific time for it to help your space stay neat.
- Celebrate Your Progress: Give yourself a pat on the back for the organizing you’ve done. Enjoy the big and small wins along your journey to a tidy home.
Beginning with small steps and gradually enhancing your cleaning habits makes a tidy home simple and fun. Never underestimate the impact of small, steady actions on keeping your space organized. Every little win gets you nearer to a home that’s both clutter-free and inviting.
Embrace Imperfection and Accept Your Natural Tidiness Level
It’s fine not to be tidy all the time. Understanding and accepting your natural level of tidiness is crucial. This approach helps you stay organized in a messy world.
Some of us are naturally a bit messy, and that’s totally okay. You can still have an organized space. Accepting how tidy you naturally are lets you find the right strategies for you. These strategies help make a space that meets your organizational needs.
Don’t chase perfection; it’s not realistic. Instead, focus on systems and routines that keep you organized. Pick organizational methods that fit your natural habits. Then, use them every day.
Be gentle with yourself during this process. It’s a journey with highs and lows. Celebrate every small win and step forward, even if things aren’t perfectly neat all the time.
Organization in a chaotic world is about finding what works for you. Embrace your imperfections, accept how tidy you naturally are, and shape your space to fit your needs and goals.
Conclusion
Anyone can learn to keep their space tidy. It takes the right methods and attitude. By planning and picturing your goal, you can keep up your motivation. Tidying up without mercy and assigning a spot for everything makes finding things easier. It also stops clutter from coming back.
Setting up a cleaning schedule and habits will help make tidying a daily routine. It will feel like second nature. Treat yourself for your victories to keep your spirits up. Starting with small steps and being okay with flaws helps you improve slowly. You’ll learn to live a tidy, organized life.
Being naturally untidy isn’t a reason to give up. With hard work and these suggestions, anyone can change their environment. You’ll achieve a clean, peaceful space that boosts your efficiency.
