Create Routines to Stay Organized

One way to stay organized is to work organizing routines into your usual activities. This is the time of year that many of us are tucking light-weight clothes into less accessible spaces and putting our winter clothes where we can more easily get to them. Save time next Spring by culling out the obsolete items in your Spring/Summer wardrobe while you are shifting them to another space. Discard worn out clothing and collect the items in good condition that you have not worn this season to give to charity. Many churches and charitable organizations are happy to accept lightweight clothing anytime of year for donation in tropical climates.

As you are gathering clothing to store, think about how you will need it next year. The slightly heavier pants tops and other clothing may come out in April while the skimpiest things in your wardrobe may not see light of day until June. Group the clothing according to when you expect to be using it again and you can bring it out for use a little at a time if you are dealing with a busy schedule. Also consider packing together items of like colors so that when you bring them out next Spring you can easily group them in your closet. Next year when you are looking for just the right white blouse, you can quickly review what your choices are and save time making the selection.

If you are lucky enough to anticipate travel to warmer climes in the middle of winter, put the items you expect to take with you in a suitcase as you go through your wardrobe. You will have a head start on vacation packing and will have an idea what you need to supplement your travel supplies so you can take advantage of special shopping finds.

Even if your closet space is large enough to accommodate all of your clothing and accessories, you will save time having seasonal clothing grouped together. The more clothes you have to look through to make a choice, the more time it takes. By limiting the items you need to consider before making a selection, you save yourself time.

If you follow this process every season as you rearrange your closets, you will establish a routine way of keeping your closets organized - and saving yourself time every time you chose an outfit to wear. Then you can use that time to organize the remaining clutter in your life, or to just enjoy the things you love.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net