Tips and Tricks to Get (and Stay) Organized

January 7, 2021

Looking to start fresh this year and truly get organized? Many of us want to have a more balanced, orderly system but it can be hard to maintain throughout the year. We know everyone has to find what works for them, so here are four tips and tricks that we hope will help you.

Tip 1: Declutter

2020 impacted us in a variety of ways. Some of us picked up new hobbies, some of us left terrible habits behind, and some of us might have reinvented ourselves entirely. Start 2021 by decluttering your home to create space for a more organized environment, and to leave room for all the hope and possibilities that come with a new year. Marie Kondo, the author of the best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, employs a decluttering method that has gained mass popularity worldwide.

In the “KonMari Method,” you start decluttering by category rather than location. She recommends starting with clothing then moving onto books, papers, miscellaneous items, and finally, sentimental items. The next step is to identify items that are no longer needed. Marie Kondo advises that you only keep the things that spark joy and discard the ones that don’t. You then end the decluttering session by thanking those items for their service and letting them go. Not only does Kondo have philosophies for decluttering, but she also has dozens of tips on how to optimize spaces for efficiency while preserving the aesthetic of your household.

Tip 2: Buy or Create Excellent Containers

We know there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to getting your home organized. Everyone is different. However, one stand-alone tip that can be implemented by anyone wanting to organize their space is to use practical, durable containers. You can even turn this into a crafting session with your kids where you decorate or create new containers to hold small miscellaneous items in your house. We recommend translucent containers if you’re the type to store often-used items in bins and then forget which one you put them in. Mason jars are an excellent way to organize everything from pens to Q-tips to beads. Another translucent storage solution: a hanging shoe organizer. They’re great for shoes but if you’re tight on space, the pockets can also be used for toiletries, gardening tools, cleaning products, or toys.

Tip 3: Build New Habits

Give you and your family their best chance of manifesting a better and brighter year by building new habits! The extra time we've spent at home has left many of us sluggish and uninspired. January is the best time to begin building behaviors that will help you achieve your personal goals and stay organized all year long.

James Clear has dozens of tips and tricks on forming healthy habits. One, in particular, is called the 3 R’s: reminder, routine, and reward. The reminder is the cue that initiates the behavior, such as an alarm or a notification. The routine is the act of doing the action. The reward is the benefit you get from practicing the behavior. Whether it’s meal prepping or getting your kids to do their chores, the 3 R’s is a framework that applies to any action you want to integrate into your daily life.

Tip 4: Use MIT to Master Time Management

Do you ever look at all the things you have to do and get so overwhelmed that sometimes you don’t even get any of them done? Looking at lists of to-dos can drive you crazy. One of the most helpful tips for this is to isolate the 3 most important tasks for the day. This method is called MIT (Most Important Task). On your to-do list, some tasks are a high priority, and others are lower priorities. The MIT method suggests that you identify two to three of the highest priority tasks and focus on the first, finishing lower ones afterward. Implementing this method can be challenging, especially when it feels like all of your tasks are urgent. The MIT is usually the task you write down the night before. So if you’re thinking about all of the laundry that needs to be done when it’s time to head to bed, that should be the first thing on your list of to-dos the next day.

We wish you all a healthy, happy, organized start to 2021!

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10 Ways to Make the Most of the Rainy Season

March 4, 2025

Rainy days in the Pacific Northwest aren't for everyone, but there are many ways to make them more enjoyable. And, as we head into spring, keep in mind that this darker rainy season is temporary. Soon, we'll have more daylight hours, and spring flowers will be blooming. Check out these ideas for making rainy days as fun as possible. Stay active Whether it’s joining a local gym, starting an at-home gym practice, or going for a walk despite the rain, staying active is essential for your mental and physical health during the rainy season. Also, nature is the Pacific Northwest’s playground. Many local trails have thick forests that provide shelter from the rain and shield you from the worst of it. Invest in proper clothing and gear Similarly, if being outside and staying active is your preferred activity method, don’t let the weather stop you. Investing in proper clothing, shoes, and gear can make almost any day an outside day. 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There are also many local indoor play spaces to choose from in the area. There are play spaces for toddlers , indoor trampoline parks , laser tag venues , and arcades for teens. Lean into seasonal sports Enjoying a winter sport can mean everything from watching it live to watching it on TV to participating in it. Living so close to the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier means various options for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing, and more. In addition, for those looking to watch sports live in the winter, Seattle is home to many professional teams, as well as minor league and college teams. If you prefer to stay off the roads and in the comfort of your own home, invite a couple of friends over to watch a game together. Start a new hobby For many, the rainy days provide a little more time since there’s often less running around. You can use that extra time to pick up a new hobby. Perhaps you’d like to get on the sourdough bread bandwagon, pick up woodworking, or learn how to knit. Maybe you’ve never made a mosaic but want to give it a try. Whatever you choose, these slower days provide the perfect opportunity to give it a whirl. BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) hosts a range of workshops in an incredible space. Be sure to check them out. Choose an indoor home project to complete Meanwhile, if you feel stuck at home and don’t feel like picking up a new hobby, then why not tidy up your home a bit? Since this is the time of year when you may find yourself at home more, think about doing something that will make it feel more inviting. Purge old clothes, household items, and toys no longer being used. Pick a room to reorganize or rearrange the furniture. Hang up the pictures that you’ve been meaning to get to, or re-paint your home office. Tackling and completing a home improvement project will create a great sense of accomplishment. 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Plan a future trip Having something to look forward to can help pass the time during long rainy stretches. Think of an activity or trip that you’d like to do in the future and start planning. It could be an overnight trip or your weeklong summer vacation. It can be a camping trip, a day at the spa, or an upcoming concert. If all else fails, plan next year’s vacation to somewhere warm during this time to escape the cold days. It doesn’t matter where you go, or when you go, or for how long. Simply put something on the calendar you’re looking forward to and start making it happen. We know the rainy season isn't for everyone. Keep in mind that longer, sunnier days are on the horizon. In the meantime, take advantage of some of these ideas to make the next few weeks (and future winters) not just bearable but enjoyable.