Confessions of a Chicago Home Organizer: Four Things I Can’t Live Without
As a Chicago-based home organizer, I've discovered that maintaining order and balance in my day-to-day routines is essential to leading a healthy, productive life. There are four practices I simply cannot live without, each contributing to my overall well-being. These indispensable elements are 1.) a morning routine, 2.) a designated place for everything in my home, 3.) a habit of decluttering regularly, and 4.) evening room resets.
Here’s a closer look at how these four practices enhance my life. I hope they inspire you, as well!
#1 A Morning Routine
I’m not going to sugar coat it; this habit requires some self-discipline. Specifically, it requires me to go to bed on time so I can wake up 40 minutes before my family every day, even on weekends. My morning routine is a sacred time of solitude that sets the tone for the entire day. If I miss it, things are harder; plain and simple. So, I protect my morning practice against my evening self who wants to stay up late watching TV or scrolling videos on my phone.
After a lot of trial and error, I have settled into a series of five short activities that flow seamlessly from one to the next and tend to end just I hear my family stirring from sleep.
Tongue Scraping and Oil Pulling: These practices feel like a ritual detoxification to start the day. The ancient Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling involves swishing oil (I use high-quality coconut oil) in your mouth for a few minutes, and then spitting it out. (Tip: Do not spit the oil into the sink! It will harden and clog your pipes.)
Warm Water with Lemon: Drinking warm water with lemon hydrates and further detoxifies my body. I heat the water and slice the lemon while I’m swishing oil.
Spiritual Practice: In our distracted, ego-driven world, connecting with a power greater than myself subtly refocuses me and sets the tone for the entire day. I do this while I’m sipping my lemon water.
Meditation: Five to ten minutes of pure silence, or guided meditation has been a game changer for me. I set a timer and recline in a comfortable chair with a sleep mask over my eyes. The mental, emotional, and physical benefits of daily meditation are backed by science.
Sun Salutations: Ending my morning routine with a short series of yoga poses called sun salutations gives my mind, body and spirit an extra boost to start the day.
These are the activities that work for me right now, but I’ve tried different things over the years. Here are some practices that work for others.
A Gratitude Journal: Listing things for which you are grateful shifts your mindset from scarcity and abundance.
Writing “Morning Pages”: Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way has inspired many people to write three pages, stream-of-consciousness, each morning. For whatever reason, this practice has the power to transform lives.
Stretching or Walking: Gentle physical activity like stretching or a morning walk can get you out of your head and into your body.
12-Step Work: If applicable, this is also a great time of day to do the work of a 12-step program.
If you have a strong morning routine, I’d love to hear what works for you!
#2 A Place for Everything in My Home
My entire business is devoted to the practice of organizing homes to promote personal well-being, and I practice what I preach. One of the best strategies for doing this is ensuring that everything I possess has a designated place to go when it’s not in use. Without this basic principle in place, I’ve found maintaining order is very difficult and leads to stress.
What most people don’t realize is that this is something that needs to be edited over time as our lifestyles and stuff changes. Whenever I find it increasingly difficult to put things away and return to my preferred level of tidiness, I ask myself: do we need a new system or place for storing something?
When I work with my Chicago home organizing clients on creating homes for their items, here are some of the tried and true strategies I use.
Categorization: I group similar items together. For instance, all kitchen utensils in one drawer, office supplies in another.
Labeling: When appropriate or helpful, I use labels for storage bins, shelves, and drawers to identify what belongs where. This is particularly helpful for shared spaces.
Storage Solutions: In encourage my Chicago home organizing clients to invest in organizing products that will support their needs. This might include shelving units, drawer organizers, or baskets.
Accessibility: I store frequently used items in easily accessible places. That item you only use for Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be taking up a square foot of storage space in your kitchen’s prime real estate.
Declutter First: I always start with decluttering, which is covered under number 3 below.
By ensuring that everything has a place, I eliminate the visual and physical clutter that can cause stress. This practice not only keeps my home tidy but also saves time and energy in my daily life.
#3 Regular Decluttering
Decluttering is not a one-time event but a continuous process. Regularly purging items that no longer serve a purpose or bring us joy is vital to maintaining a home environment that supports my family. If there’s too much stuff, there’s no amount of organization or organizing products that will solve the problem.
I encourage people to declutter in the manner that works best for them. Some people have no difficulty scheduling a seasonal home decluttering session and sticking to it, but most of us aren’t that regimented. I say, if the mood strikes, go for it while you’re in the right frame of mind. I’ll occasionally be in the right mood to declutter a drawer, so I’ll take care of it right then and there. If I scheduled this activity, it’s very unlikely I’d stick to it.
A lot of people hire home organizers to help them with decluttering because without the added motivation of a “body double,” they wouldn’t be able to initiate the task. If the clutter is significant, they may not know where to start. Home organizers are great at helping you get started on a big decluttering project and encouraging you to keep going through items and making decisions.
If a client has a significant backlog of items they need to process through, decision fatigue can be a problem. I encourage my clients to work in two- or three-hour increments over the course of multiple organizing sessions and take lots of breaks. Many people find it easier to do “maintenance” decluttering once they’ve gotten through a larger backlog of items.
#4 Evening Room Resets
Ending the day with evening room resets sets our family up for success the next day. This practice involves tidying up spaces before we go to bed, ensuring our home is ready for the next day. Here’s how I do it:
Living Areas: Spend a few minutes putting away items, fluffing pillows, and straightening up.
Kitchen: Ensure all dishes are washed or in the dishwasher, counters are wiped down, and any food is stored.
Bedroom: Make the bed (if not already done), pick up clothes, and ensure nightstands are tidy.
Bathroom: Wipe down surfaces, hang up towels, and ensure toiletries are put away.
Quick Sweep/Vacuum: Do a quick sweep/vacuum of high traffic areas to get those crumbs, dust bunnies, and dog hairs picked up.
Evening room resets take just a few minutes but have a profound impact on the start of the next day. Waking up to a tidy home sets a positive tone and reduces morning stress.
In conclusion, the things I can’t live without aren’t things at all, they’re habits. If I had to choose which is the most important to me, I’d say the morning routine, no question about it. There is a dramatic difference in the quality of my day when I have this foundation in place. The second most important is decluttering. People just have too much stuff; we all deal with it. But all four of these practices are important to me, and they can be practiced in any kind of dwelling.
If you’d like support getting started with any of these habits, I’m here to help you.
Need a little more order in your home?
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