The Process of Getting Organized and Staying Organized
Home Organization DeclutteringSimple Living
The Process of Getting Organized and Staying Organized
You did it. You organized your closet — and that feeling? It's everything. No more avoiding it, no more shame when someone asks to grab something from in there. You built something to be proud of. But here's the question nobody talks about: what happens next?
Because staying organized is its own journey — and I want to help you navigate it with grace, not guilt.
In this post
1. There Is No Right Way or Wrong Way
Let's get this out of the way first — there is no perfect organizing system. The best system for you is the one you actually use. The one that makes your everyday life easier, not harder. The one that feels natural, not forced.
Stop comparing your closet to someone else's Pinterest board. Your system just needs to work for you — and that's more than enough.
Remember this
If you open that closet door and you can find what you need without stress — that's a win. Full stop.
2. You Will Always Need to Maintain the Space
This is the part most people don't want to hear — but it's the most important truth about staying organized: it is not a one-and-done.
You are human. Life happens. Busy weeks happen. And when they do, your closet will feel it. That's not failure — that's just living. A good system is one you can easily come back to after the chaos settles.
A good system is one you can easily overcome the temporary disorganization and get right back to order."
— Darlene Illig, Organize You Inside & Out
3. You May Need to Tweak the System
Give yourself grace in the beginning. Before you overhaul everything, give the system a week or two of real use. You'll start to notice what's working beautifully and what's creating friction in your daily routine.
Maybe the bin placement doesn't make sense once you're actually reaching for things every morning. Maybe you need one more hook. That's okay — tweaking is part of the process, not a sign that you failed.
Pro tip
Give it at least 2 weeks before making any changes. First impressions of a new system can be misleading — your habits just need time to catch up.
4. Backsliding Is Normal
Backsliding — when things start creeping back to the way they were — happens to everyone. Even professional organizers. It doesn't mean you've lost everything you worked for. It just means you're human.
When it happens, resist the urge to spiral. Instead, take a moment to assess: what's working? What isn't? That assessment gives you a starting point — and starting points are powerful.
My personal approach: "I like to focus on my why. Why did I want to become organized in the first place? That question resets my thinking and helps me override the old habits that got me here."
5. How You Talk to Yourself Matters
This one might be the most underrated tip of all — but your inner voice has a huge impact on your organizing journey. Negative self-talk doesn't motivate. It clouds your judgment, keeps you stuck, and honestly? It can push you into a quiet rebellion against your own system.
On a hard day, encourage yourself. Put that one item back where it belongs — without judgment, without the lecture. Progress, not perfection.
Mindset shift
Instead of "I always make a mess of this," try "I know where this goes, and I'm putting it back." Small shifts in language create big shifts in behavior.
The journey is just beginning — and that's a beautiful thing
Getting organized is a wonderful feeling. But staying organized? That's where the real transformation happens. There will be good days and hard days. Good seasons and messy ones. And that's okay — because now you have the tools, the mindset, and the awareness to work through all of it.
You are not starting over. You are just continuing the journey. And you don't have to do it alone.
🧺 Tools That Help Me Stay Organized
Staying organized doesn’t require complicated systems — just the right tools that support your daily routine.
Inside the Keeping It Simple Membership, I share the exact tools and simple setups I personally use to keep things manageable and clutter-free.
✨ From storage solutions to practical organizing methods, everything is designed to work for real life — not perfection.
👉 Explore the tools inside the membership
💛 Continue Your Journey with Keeping It Simple
If you’re ready to take the next step in your organizing journey, the Keeping It Simple Membership may be a perfect fit.
This is a one-time, fixed-fee membership filled with:
Simple, practical organizing ideas
Helpful tools you can actually use
Encouragement and inspiration to help you stay consistent and clutter-free
My heart behind this membership is to support you in creating an organized home that works for real life—without overwhelm.
I would truly love to hear your thoughts.
If this blog resonated with you, please feel free to email me at:
📧 [email protected]
📲 Stay Connected!
For daily organizing tips, encouragement, and inspiration, follow Organize You Inside and Out:
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