Being organized isn’t about perfection; it’s about peace of mind. When your home runs smoothly, life feels easier, safer, and less stressful. Staying organized can also help you downsize with confidence, locate items more quickly, and maintain a comfortable and clutter-free space.

So grab your reading glasses, a favourite pen, and maybe a cup of tea. Here are 20 fun (and truly helpful) ways to stay organized and simplify life!

1. Make Your Bed Every Day

Climbing into a clean, made bed at night feels more inviting and can help you relax, promoting better rest and sleep. You deserve it!

2. Create a Command Centre

Set up a simple “home base” in a visible spot — like the kitchen wall — with a large-print calendar and notepad. Use it to track appointments, birthdays, medication refills, and downsizing goals. Visual reminders can help you stay on track with less mental clutter.

3. Sort for Just 15 Minutes a Day

Keep organizing stress-free by setting a small daily goal. For example, after lunch or during your favourite television show, sort one drawer or one cabinet for 15 minutes. Small efforts add up quickly!

4. Declutter = Less Searching

We spend thousands of hours in a lifetime looking for misplaced items. Every drawer you declutter saves you time and frustration later.

5. Decorate and Donate

As you go through holiday décor or seasonal decorations, keep only the ones that make you smile. Donate the rest! You’ll make space and brighten someone else’s home.

6. Shred in Bulk

Save time by taking sensitive papers to a shredding service (like Rip n Shred) — It’s often under $20 for a large box. Less paper means less clutter!

7. Declutter your manuals once a year.

Sometimes we end up keeping manuals for things we don’t even own anymore, so declutter your manuals once a year. Many are now found online.

8. Store Things Where You Use Them

It’s a small trick that makes a big difference. Keep cleaning supplies where you actually clean, your reading glasses by your favourite chair, and locate your bookshelf where you enjoy reading. You’ll be more likely to put things away and find them again easily.

9. It’s “thyme” to let them go.

Check your spice racks once a year and declutter those that have lost their smell and flavour. Did you know the shelf life for ground spices is one to two years? Dried herbs last up to two years, and whole spices last up to three years.

10. Rethink Souvenirs

Memories live in your heart, not in your cupboards. Keep a few favourite mementos and consider gifting or donating the rest. On future trips, choose useful or consumable keepsakes like tea, soap, or candy!

11. Don’t Turn Your Home into a Storage Unit

Surround yourself only with what you love and use. The less you have to maintain, the more time you have to enjoy.

12. Try the 10–10–10 Challenge

Find 10 things to donate, 10 to toss, and 10 to return to their proper place. It’s quick, satisfying, and keeps clutter under control. Repeat as necessary.

13. Open and Sort Mail Daily

Create a simple mail station with a recycling bin, shredder, and a tray for bills. Sorting as you go prevents paper piles from taking over.

14. Recycle Those Old Boxes

Recycle your large cardboard boxes rather than keep them for decades, just in case. They create clutter, too!

15. Use a Shoe Rack

It keeps shoes tidy and makes getting ready easier — especially if bending or reaching is a challenge. Bonus: You’ll be less likely to trip over stray shoes!

16. Clear Flat Surfaces

Tables and countertops can quickly collect clutter. Keep them clear by using small baskets to group similar items; it makes cleaning easier, too.

17. Organize Your Car

Spend some time today organizing your car trunk. Vacuum, then be prepared for the upcoming winter season by tucking in a snow scraper, a warm blanket, an extra pair of mitts and booster cables. A clean, ready car = peace of mind.

18. Declutter Your Clothes Closet

Try the “backwards hanger” trick: hang all clothes with the hanger facing one way. After wearing an item, hang it back normally. In six months, you’ll clearly see what you don’t wear — perfect for donation!

19. Keep Donation Bins Handy

Place labelled bins by the back door or in a closet for donations and recyclables.

When full, drop them off on your next errand. Easy and automatic!

20. Use the Vertical Wall Space You Have Available

When organizing in small spaces, think vertically by utilizing tall shelves, over- the-cabinet holders, wall hooks, magnetic organizers, pegboards, and hanging storage bins.

Final Thought:

Staying organized is about creating a space that feels calm, safe, and joyful. Celebrate your progress (no matter how small) and remember: you’ve already mastered the art of living; organization is just the finishing touch!

About the Author

Nicole Skiba is a Professional Human Ecologist (Home Economist) and a Trained Professional Organizer. She is the owner of Eazy Peazy Downsizing and a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM). Nicole regularly presents on the topics of organizing and downsizing. Learn more about what she does at www.EazyPeazyDownsizing.ca.

Decluttering for a Fresh Start