10 Tips to Get Organized
…without emptying a single closet, drawer, or pantry
I’ve been organizing professionally long enough to tell you that it’s not all about bins, baskets, and hangers. Truly getting organized is a mental game and a physical strategy. Yes, you can move all the stuff around but you have to be willing to make some changes about the way think and view yourself. Be an organized person and you’ll have an organized home.
This post contains short, realistic tips to get (and stay) organized and you won’t have to empty anything out. No massive overhauls—just small, doable habits that build momentum and make life feel easier every day.
Let's dive in!
Design Your Uniform. Decision fatigue is real—especially in the mornings. Find 3–5 silhouettes and colors that flatter you and feel confident, then repeat that "uniform" formula. Analyze the clothes that you reach for all the time, that you are always complimented on and see what they have in common. If this doesn’t feel do-able, consider working with a stylist and getting your colors done to facilitate the process.
The goal is have more clothes that make you feel good and flatter you and not waste time or closet space on throwing darts blindly purchasing whatever trend the influencers are pushing. This will give you effortless style and less closet overwhelm. Become an Outfit Repeater.
Pro tip: Hang your go-to outfits together so they're grab-and-go
Add Every Event to Your Calendar. Birthdays, appointments, vacations, events—anything date specific should go on your calendar. Stop the last-minute panic of over-scheduling combined with forgetting events. Put everything in your digital or paper calendar (a digital calendar works great for reminders), and always include the full address.
Pro tip: Put the address in the “Location” field to help with allocating adequate travel time. Add any necessary notes like "park in guest lot." This tiny habit saves hours of stress over the year.
Write a Daily To-Do List. Otherwise your day gets away from you and you’ve accomplished none of the tasks that have been swirling in your brain. Keep it simple and realistic—3–5 key tasks max. Crossing things off your list gives a dopamine hit that keeps motivation high. Use a pretty notebook or a personalized note pad to make it pretty!
Pro tip: Write it the night before so you start the day knowing what you need to accomplish.
Invest in a Great Haircut (and Maybe Makeup Routine) When you look put-together, you feel put-together—and that energy carries into your whole day. Knowing what looks best on you (and how to recreate the expert’s handiwork) keeps you from wasting time and energy on products and tools that don’t work for you. No more impulse purchases on what should be a “no.”
Pro tip: Ask your hair dresser or makeup artist to give you the rundown on the right techniques and products
Make Your Bed Every Single Morning. It’s a foundation habit that sets you up for daily success. Most disorganized people don’t do it. So be an organized person.
Pro tip: Try it for a week—you'll be hooked.
Meal Plan Weekly. Ditch the nightly "What's for dinner?" scramble. Bad decisions are made when you’re tired. Decide ahead of time so you can plan accordingly. Get the family involved by soliciting their input on what they enjoy eating and helping to prepare it.. It saves money, reduces food waste, and frees up mental space—no more decision fatigue at 6 p.m.
Pro tip: Design it around a loose frame work so you don’t get bored eating the same thing. Assign a protein or theme for each day such as Mexican Monday, Chicken Tuesday, Salad Wednesday.
Develop a Wind-Down Routine. Better evenings = better mornings. Take care of your mind and body by shutting off screens to signal your brain to relax. Washing your face, brushing your teeth, applying your serums and potions all count as Self Care. Consistency improves sleep quality, which makes everything else (including staying organized) feel easier.
Put your home to bed (put away that stack of folded clothes, fold the blankets, clean the kitchen) so you have a clean slate to start your day in the morning.
Treat Your Closet Like a Boutique. Investing in proper hangers, neatly folding clothes, not leaving piles send the message that you’re important. A tidy closet reduces visual clutter and makes getting dressed a joy instead of a chore.
Promptly Process Purchases. Don't let shipping bags or boxes pile up in the corner. Set a rule to handle returns within a week so you’re not stuck with something that doesn’t really work by missing the returns deadline.
Set Up (or Upgrade) Your Home Filing System. We have fewer papers to keep track of but they are some that you’ll always need to find in a flash: passport, birth and marriage certificates, car titles, home deed, etc. Designate a drawer in your office or file bin in a closet. Sort the documents into categories (identity docs, taxes, medical, warranties, etc.), and use simple labeled folders. Once it's set up, maintenance is quick and painless.
These 10 tips aren't about perfection—they're about creating systems that work for *your* life. Start with 1 or 2 that excite you most, and build from there.
Which tip are you trying first? Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram (@neatsmart)—I'd love to hear!
If you want personalized help implementing any of these (or tackling bigger projects like home downsizing, closet redesigns, or full-home organizing), reach out for a free Discovery call.