Does your space need a tune-up?

I suppose even a professional organizer can become stuck in a rut J.  A couple months ago I tried to stuff some unruly plastic bags back inside themselves under a deep kitchen cabinet.  Suddenly, I asked myself why on earth I had not purchased a plastic bag sleeve.  Then I asked myself why this imaginary bag sleeve was not hanging on the inside of my kitchen cabinet. 

This solution, while so simple and intuitive, seems to have evaded me for the first year I have lived in my apartment.  The irony is that in a client’s house I would have seen the same issue a while ago and made the proper storage suggestion.  Why did it take so long?  Even organizers can get stuck in a rut.  We all do it.  We are used to using our space a particular way.  We are accustomed to viewing it a certain way.  This means that every space, even one belonging to an organizer, needs a tune-up every once in a while. 

Spaces that could benefit from a tune-up are highly used, high traffic areas such as an entryway, kitchen cabinets, a closet or an office drawer.  I like to open up a cabinet, step back and ask myself:

Does this set-up work well for me?  What don’t I like about it?  What would I change?

What can I do to suit my daily needs more effectively?

Is there a product that would make this space more efficient?

I would encourage you to perform a tune-up every six months unless the need arises earlier.  Remember that any well-organized space at some point needs a little reassessment to ensure it is working well and to its fullest potential.

Quick and easy drawer organizers not from the store

I was in the process of setting up my home office when I hit a snag.  There were no containers to separate and divide the space in my desk drawers.  It was silly to drive out to the store right at that moment to buy partitions and inserts when I had other tasks to attend to, but I didn't like the idea of placing all my supplies and necessities in the drawer where they could all mingle, get mixed up and become frustrating to use before I was able to shop.

I sat in my chair, letting my eyes wander hoping to get some sort of revelation.  My gaze fell to one of the check boxes I just received in the mail.  That was it!  I had about four check boxes from various accounts in my possession.  Why did the boxes need their covers?  Instantly my problem was solved.  I now had a neat little space for my extra pens, my phone charger cable and usb drive (not to mention the battery charger) and a place to neatly stack my index cards and sticky notes. 

My drawers were now easy to use and I could see everything at a quick glance.  The large hard drive and various other over sized items didn't bury my little office supplies because they were neatly stored in the check box covers.  This reinforced the truth that organizing solutions don't have to be pricey and from the store...Two months later I have not gone shopping for dividers because my drawers work just fine with a home-made solution!