When you first move into your home it seems like you have so much space. As the years pass, it´s common to find yourself surrounded with unnecessary clutter. So how do we get rid of all the stuff we have accumulated?

Natural families tend to live with less baby gadgets and toys, right?….Well, not always.

Just in case you need some organization tips, I’m listing some easy ways to get back on track. It will take more than a day or even a week to get everything manageable, but once you do staying organized is an easier task.

Here some tips to get you on the clutter free track:

1. Start with the high traffic areas. The living room and kitchen are usually the two most used rooms in the house. Everything gets dropped on a counter or the couch in these two places. Concentrate on getting everything set up the way that you like it before moving on to another room.

2. Divide items into categories. You can use large cardboard boxes for this part. Everything that you find can go into a pile: KEEP, THROW AWAY, GIVE AWAY, and RELOCATE. Items that will stay in that room are to keep. Things that you don’t need or are broken can be thrown away. Clothes or furniture still in good condition can be sold at the second hand shop or donated to a charity organization. Anything that definitely belongs in another room can be labeled for relocation when you get to that room.

3. Remove everything from drawers and cabinets. This is a time-consuming process but it is easier to start with an empty space and fill it instead of simply pushing things around. If you line things up on the counter, someone else can help by putting the items in some type of order.

4. Make good use of of your available space. In the kitchen, for example, appliances or extra containers can be stored on top of the cabinets provided they don’t extend all the way to the ceiling. Keep objects with similar shapes together to maximize space usage.

5. Label your containers. Use tape and a marker to identify the contents of your storage containers. Avoid writing on the actual container in case they are reused and the contents are changed. Labeling also makes for easy identification if you decide to sell or give away a container. You won’t have to open each container to locate them.

Organizing your entire house takes time. But, once you get rid of all the clutter, returning everything to its proper place will maintain that same level of organization.

photo credit: Elsie esq

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Think you need more help with home organization and cleaning? Go check the Secret Confessions Of A Clean Freak to learn more on how to get clutter free so your cleaning time is reduced to just some minutes a day.

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Now that is back-to-school time in the North Hemisphere, unschoolers and homeschoolers might also be preparing projects and activities. Even if you adopt a more eclectic style of homeschooling, being organized in your routine and materials will prevent stress and aggravation in your day.

An important part of getting organized is making sure you are in compliance with your country and state’s homeschooling laws. Whether the place you live in is more restrictive or flexible will have a bearing on what kinds of records you keep.

If you’re required more stringent requirements, a homeschool planner may be essential so you can easily create monthly or yearly progress reports.

These are also helpful if you’re keeping transcripts. Of course, if you enroll your child in a virtual school or certain “in a box” curriculums, you can opt to have records kept for you. It may be an option to consider, especially if you have a hard time with paperwork.

Homeschool planners help you keep track of textbook and workbook pages covered, projects completed, unit studies you went over, field trips attended, books read, and daily attendance. These are a good idea even for unschoolers who have to fulfill state’s requirements. You can purchase these online, or create your own. A 3 ring binder would work just fine, or you can search online for free homschool planning worksheets. However, if you’re required for more documentation, it might be best to go with a more elaborate system for your peace of mind.

Reducing clutter is important when you’re homeschooling. In order to minimize the clutter, assess your situation and figure out what system makes the most sense for your family.

You can organize art materials, paints, paper, pencils and erasers in smaller tubs or containers with lids so everything stays together. You can also store materials in a cabinet in the kitchen, a filing cabinet, a shelf, a large plastic container, etc – most of us already have these in our homes.

As a homeschooling or unschooling parent, you might find that a weekly review/planning session before you start your week could help learning happen more smoothly. What’s working well? What’s not working? Simple adjustments can be very helpful in getting back on track.

Remember that learning can get messy! Relax your standards a bit and be ok with messies. Don’t hamper your kid’s excitement for learning by expecting perfection when it comes to cleanliness. One way to minimize the mess is to take learning outside or to the library. If everyone’s getting messy and you need a burst of energy, pack snacks and head out for the day.

photo credit: mia3mom

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