Some seconds of your time used correctly may be the secret weapon in organizing your small apartment. Let’s see how!

You will probably always remember that decluttering tip that helped you out and inspired you to declutter your closet. Or maybe that piece of advice you got for getting rid of the TV cord mess? We’re here to give you another “aha” moment.

Let’s see what you need to do if you want to change your organizing routine so that it will keep your apartment tidy and cozy all the time.

Set a timer

Some tasks you may finish easier than you may think. By setting a timer before any organizational activity, you will stay away from procrastination. Being on the clock will directly improve your way of doing things, making you more efficient without switching from one activity to another.

We have a story from a lady who kept the ironing board in her bedroom for months, and it was bothering her this whole time. Well, finally taking it away took her exactly 40 seconds.

You can also set a timer for a specific time, and you can start with 5 minutes. When you see how much progress you make in 5 minutes, you’re motivated to go further, and your mood gets a big lift.

10 before bed?

You may have noticed how at the end of the day your room is cluttered again. Specialists are advising us to spend just 10 minutes before going to sleep to clean and declutter our place.

The biggest issue seems to be the kitchen countertop. Now, put your phone down and set your timer for 10 minutes to clear the surface before bed.

Waking up to a clean space is a game changer, and you’re going to feel full of energy to start the day. Routines like this will help you manage overwhelming tasks because we know you have more to do than just cleaning all the time. We also know how difficult it is to be in an endless wack-a-mole game when living in a cluttered space, so find the right habits that work for you and make your life easier.

Create an Essentials Caddy

Simplify your morning routine by setting up a single spot for your daily essentials. Bring a caddy and add all the items you use each morning, like a toothbrush and paste, shaving cream, or hairspray. This will help you minimize the number of small decisions you need to take each morning and save time in your organizing routine by having them all in one place.

What would an organized person do?

To keep it tidy, always wonder what an organized person would do. This will help you notice habits you may have, such as tossing your jeans on the chair instead of putting them away. Start with little things, like grouping similar items together after your groceries; take a moment to shred the old insurance policy when you get a new one. Investing a minimum effort at the right moment will make your life much easier.

The junk mail at the door

If you don’t manage your mailbox properly, it will quickly pile up. Place a bin in front of your door, especially for junk mail. Immediately toss junk mail or other unnecessary items before they clutter your counters. Recycle the old editions of magazines and newspapers as soon as you have the new ones. Moreover, to keep yourself even more organized, unsubscribe from mailing lists that are sending you too much junk mail. You can use these sites: smachoice.org and optoutprescreen.com.

One In, One Out

Keeping a home tidy starts even before you walk the door. A mindset needs to be created, and it starts with mindful shopping and being aware of what to bring into your home to not clutter it.

The best tip is—one in, one out. When you bring something new, get rid of something old.

Take some time to think about what you need to let go of before buying something, and this will even help you save some good money you used to spend on unnecessary things.

Mindful buying

It’s more important than you think to limit what you bring into your house. We know it’s extremely challenging with so easy ways of buying these days. We know you would love to order online this great new pillow that is just one click away, but ask yourself a few questions before buying online.

Some of them would be: “For what reason do I want this item? Do I own something similar? Where am I going to keep it if I buy it? How does it make me feel?

The Touch Test

Keeping your home clutter-free is also a whole intuition and cognition game, which means you will need to use all your senses. If you pick up something in your house that leaves you with a meh impression, just toss it in the donation bin or in the trash bin.

Hold the item and wonder how many times it has served you, or if it brings you joy, and if you use it regularly.

This lipstick doesn’t seem to be your color, and you never wore it again since you bought it? Oh, this book couldn’t manage to reach your attention. You don’t like to use this portable water bottle for some reason? Don’t just keep them there to fill your house with items that don’t bring you any joy. Find a new home for them.

Take them to the local donation center and keep a bin dedicated to donations in your house while you encourage everyone to add items that don’t serve them anymore.

The cords and wires mess

If you want to keep your place sleek and organized, a very important step is dealing with cords and wires. You can use command hooks to secure your cords on the back of furniture or store larger devices inside cabinets with all their cord labyrinth.

We recommend a Docking Drawer that will allow you to plug items totally out of sight. You can order this one via Amazon; it has great reviews and they are easy to install. If you feel you can’t do it by yourself, don’t hesitate to ask a specialist for help.

Use labels

It’s very useful to add labels to file folders, bins, and closet shelves. You can do the same with Lego containers or whatever other boxes you use to store items. This will take your organization’s game to the next level and will keep everything looking sharp. Such a small touch will reflect the care you put into organizing, and it will help you get what you need without searching too much and eventually creating a mess.

It’s said that labels are crucial in a place used by more than one person. Why? Because if you add something in a place, you may know where you put it, but other people don’t. So keep open communication when it comes to a clean and warm place and let the labels assure everyone knows what and where they should look for. From now on, it won’t be any excuse for putting scissors, toys, or chocolate chips in the wrong place.

We hope you found our article useful and that it motivated you to go and organize your place right away.

We invite you to read this article next: 6 Simple Home Renovations You Can Do for Under $1,000