The following is the first chapter in a new guide I’ve written called The Basics of Organizing Your Home. It’s available to email subscribers ^[2] for FREE. If you want to get a free copy of the entire guide, simply sign up in the sidebar on the right.

Organizing your home means developing an easy-to-maintain system for storing and accessing everyday items. Like everything else in your complicated life, this is easier said than done: many households are bursting with groceries, mail, newspapers, toys, electronics, and clothes, and a constant influx of new items adds to the mess. In some homes, organizing aids such as boxes and baskets seem only to add to the clutter instead of containing it.

The main problem is that too many people view organizing as an event instead of a process. They set aside a day, or even several days, to “get organized,” not realizing that maintaining order requires persistent vigilance over an extended period of time. It really is a lifestyle, but it’s a lifestyle that can be achieved by anyone.

Why Organize Your Home?

The best reasons to organize your home will become apparent when you finish and marvel at how good and neat everything looks. But there are other reasons as well.