Comments on: Organizing Rules Are Meant to Be Broken

By: Lelah

Lelah — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:00:15 +0000

Fantastic post. The problem with micro-organizing like alphabetizing spices is that once you pull the paprika from the back of the shelf, it's so much more tempting to just stick it in the front when you are putting it back. When you over-organize something, it gets harder to maintain and when the system breaks down it just depresses you and makes you feel even more disorganized than you really are. Better to organize the right amount for you! Thanks! Lelah’s last blog post..Preparing for every day: Purse

By: Moreen Torpy

Moreen Torpy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:00:45 +0000

Hi Debbie,

Well, you dashed (no pun intended) my organizational ideal of alphabetical spices, like in grocery stores. However, yours actually makes more sense, as long as the owner of said spices remembers where they’ve placed them.

Thank you for the eye-opener!

By: Your Organizing Business » Blog Archive » Professional Organizers Blog Carnival – June 2009 Edition

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:28:40 +0000

[...] To get us started on the right foot, Debbie Jordan Kravitz tells us why Organizing Rules Are Meant To Be Broken. [...]

By: Fia

Fia — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:05:39 +0000

I agree that there are really no strict rules on how you organize your stuff. Do whatever works best for you. As they say, different strokes for different folks. Just like Debbie, I arrange my spices according to how I use them. They don’t need to be arranged alphabetically, well at least for me. I group the ones I use often together. But I am a huge fan of organizing products to help me arrange my things accordingly. Simple containers for example are very helpful in organization; just store the item/s, label them and you’re done.

By: Organizing Your Way | Surfin’ the Net: 3/29-4/4

Organizing Your Way | Surfin’ the Net: 3/29-4/4 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:54:11 +0000

[...] from Virtually Organized shares this great post called Organizing Rules are Meant to be Broken. If you’ve been reading Organizing Your Way for very long, you know I agree with her [...]

By: I’m an Organizing Junkie » Organizing your clothes closet

I’m an Organizing Junkie » Organizing your clothes closet — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:45:46 +0000

[...] and this is so important, remember that organizing rules are meant to be broken. Debbie from Virtually Organized explains why. Do what works for you even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. [...]

By: Liz Jenkins

Liz Jenkins — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:39:55 +0000

I agree totally - some people get so focused on the "rules" that they can't see the forest for the trees. When I work in kids spaces, especially, I have to help people see that what they think is great is not necessarily what the child thinks is great. And many people get caught up in the way things need to LOOK over how they function. I'm all for aesthetics but if it doesn't work, then it's kind of useless. My husband tried to convince me to put my (fabulous bright yellow) mixer in a low cupboard because he thought it took up too much counter space. I use the thing at least twice a week. I told him that if that is where it went, he'd be the one hauling it out every time I wanted to use it because the thing is huge. Plus I love it and wanted it where I could see it. Excellent post and very important for people to read and learn. Liz Jenkins’s last blog post..staging seminar was great!

By: Debbie Jordan Kravitz

Debbie Jordan Kravitz — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:02:34 +0000

Thanks, Joan! You hit the nail on the head with priorities, whether it's stuff-loss or weight loss. And aside from establishing your priorities in the first place, only by sticking with them will you be able to actually maintain your organization, or smaller dress size for that matter. Debbie Jordan Kravitz’s last blog post..Organizing Rules Are Meant to Be Broken

By: Joan

Joan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:54:14 +0000

This is an EXCELLENT post. It really would be nice if there was a right or wrong way to organize, but what it comes down to is function. Even decluttering is personal - what's "junk" to one person might be a valuable keepsake and worth devoting space to, to someone else. It's funny, I'm a Weight Watchers leader as a part-time job, and weight loss works just like stuff-loss. Everyone has different priorities, and losing weight is not a miraculous set of hard and fast rules. It's "what do I want most, and what I am willing, and not willing, to give up to get it?" Sounds a lot like organizing to me! Joan’s last blog post..April showers bring May flowers; March showers bring... hail!