No Need to Strive for Perfection!

Maybe this will inspire you to think about life and organizing in a different way. Organizing is not about perfection 24/7 — it is more of a balancing act, or possibly even a mind game. We can get caught up in what we perceive in others, instead of being true to ourselves.

Before posting organizing blogs and videos, I thought I would share my thoughts and processes on organizing, and how some of them came to be.

As a child I would sort and organize my things over and over again — all like items needed to be together. Everything was a puzzle; all the pieces needed to be put together, or it was not complete. I also did a lot of extra cleaning. My favorite thing to do was wash the windows, and of course, they needed to be streak free.

I guess you could say I have some traits of a perfectionist. Sadly, some of those tendencies got in my own way. Over the years I have gained a better understanding of myself and the word "perfectionist." I continue to work daily on letting certain things go — it is an ongoing growth process.

The Trap of Comparison

I have read several books over the past 25 years, where I learned about fellow organizers and their practices. Many of the pictures I would see were of perfectly put-together living rooms and kitchens — everything was white, crisp, and not a thing out of place. My head was filled with unrealistic thoughts and visions, so I would compare my life to their perfect spaces.

Having small children, there were always toys in our living room. Having those pictures in my head of how I thought things "should" look made me believe I lived in a messy house. Eventually I recognized this was not the way to live. Not everyone goes about their business in the same way — it is up to the individual to figure out what works best.

Those toddler days are here and gone so quickly, so who really cares if things get messy now and then! Looking back, I wasted so much time worrying about things looking perfect that I lost out on quality time with my little ones. In the end, it was just a crazy head game. I finally realized it was okay that my home did not look like a showroom.

A More Realistic Approach

If you were to look in my closets and cupboards, yes, you would see nicely organized spaces. However, outside of those closets, things will get out of place. We cannot function without having things out and around our home.

As you read and learn about life and organizing from others, it allows you to see what you do or do not like about different methods. Trying new ideas and discovering there is more than one way to get things done will help you understand what works best for you.

Having a specific place for each one of your belongings does make "tidying up" a much easier process. I believe things need to be organized and look neat, but not to an extreme that it interferes with your everyday life. Many times, it takes two or three tries to get spaces organized to function the way you want them to.

Do not let wanting things to be "perfect" hold you back from life. My style of organization is functional and real.