Organizing Tips for Every Stage of Life
After my first few years of working with clients, it’s become more and more clear that each stage of life has unique organizing challenges. Transitioning from one life stage to the next is often when we organizers get called in to help lighten the load. Today I’m sharing some key strategies for each life stage to help ease the strain and bring more organization and peace to your life; no matter what stage you’re currently experiencing.
Childhood: Learning the Basics of Self Care
During childhood, your parents are responsible to take care of you and provide for you. As you grow physically, you are also growing in responsibility for your own room, stuff, and routines through the grade school and teen years. This is the season to establish foundations for lifelong good habits. Your stuff is actually your parents’ stuff, and it’s their responsibility to help you manage it. This means they should be providing for your needs, but not overwhelming you with more toys and clothes than you can handle. Believe it or not, kids are actually calmer and happier when they have fewer toy options. If you have young kids in your home, do them a favor and create a calmer environment by only introducing what they are equipped to handle and enjoy. Overabundance can actually produce anxiety. Grandparents need to keep this in mind as well! Kids are fun to buy for, but let’s make sure we’re equipping them for life with a right-sized wardrobe and toy box.
Young Adulthood: Accumulate Belongings Wisely
Young adults these days will sometimes move out for college and then back home. Or, they’ll get a place with roommates and establish their own household with all the related posessions. They may be building their careers and moving more frequently, and their family size may fluctuate as they marry, have children, or join households with extended family or friends. Accumulating furnishings, small appliances, and other household goods alongside the large purchases such as cars or a house can cause significant financial strain. It’s tempting to buy inexpensive items just to get by, but sometimes that backfires when you have to keep replacing item after item. The most important organizing tip for this stage of life is to be strategic about your purchases and develop habits of quality over quantity. Don’t be distracted by the latest “shiny new thing” but have clear goals about what you want your life to look like. Learn how to wait for what you want, and then you’ll enjoy it all the more!
Mid Life: Consolidate and Enjoy
Mid life is often marked by consolidation. You’ll possibly still be storing your kids’ stuff, but you’re interested in getting it out of your main living space. You may be at the height of your career, or rebalancing your relationships and social life. You’ll seriously consider retirement preparation, and possibly become a grandparent. Many find they enjoy prioritizing experiences over accumulating new things. They want to enjoy the homes they’ve built and refresh their spaces for a different kind of daily life. Organizing in this season is about pruning back what’s no longer needed, being more selective about what’s allowed in the home, and setting up systems that support more frequent travel or a different set of responsibilities. If done well, a full home reorganization during this season of life has the potential to yield decades of peaceful results.
Old Age: Legacy and Downsizing
As old age approaches, legacy becomes more important. You may want to pass along heirlooms and stories to younger generations. A lifetime of photos and keepsakes is waiting to be reviewed, remembered, and reduced to a more manageable load. Many older adults are downsizing to a smaller home. Or, if they plan to age in place, they are preparing for limited mobility and the possibility of in-home caregivers or medical help. If possible, it’s best to get organized before an emergency. However, many times older clients are caught off guard by significant life changes and need outside help to establish a new equilibrium. It’s so life-giving to take stock and look back, while also preparing to slow down and create a clutter free home to reduce the possibility of injury and ease the transition to receiving care as needed. Professional organizers can help bridge the gap for families who need extra help managing downsizing and adjusting to limited mobility.
No matter what your season of life, now is a great time to get organized! Use this framework to be strategic about your season of life. Preparing for the future and facing transitions can be emotional. Sometimes crisis or tragedy puts us in reactive mode, and we have no choice but to deal with the physical stuff of life that carries so much weight. If you need help with this burden, or if you feel like you’re drowning in stuff that’s no longer serving you, don’t hesitate to reach out today. We’d love to bring help and hope to your home through customized organization for your season of life.
Cheers,
Karina
