Where is Your Landing Pad?

‘Tis the season for back to school, back to routines, back to coming and going, and going and going. If your home more closely resembles the hustle and bustle of Grand Central Station than a family gathering spot, it might be a good time to establish your landing pad.

Remember: A landing pad is a place for everything and everything in its place.

When items have an established home, and everyone knows where that is, it’s more likely they will be put away where they belong and will be easier to retrieve when you need them. Figure out where mail will land, where important school papers will be placed and where you’ll keep must-have items such as car keys, cell phones, backpacks and briefcases, sports equipment, jackets and umbrellas.

Think vertical!

One of my many Neat Freak rules with my clients is that when it comes to paper, avoid putting it in a horizontal position. Paper in piles tends to quickly become an avalanche and it’s hard to distinguish between paper that needs urgent attention and junk mail. Utilize tools such as magazine sorters, mail sorters and three-ring binders to keep paper sorted, categorized and vertical so you can quickly tackle your to-do’s and put your hands on the paper you need.

Create routines.

You’ve heard it before: It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. Whether that’s true for you or not, routines do help! Encourage everyone in your home to work together to create and use organizational systems that are realistic for your family and that can be easily maintained. Also, know who will be responsible for going through mail, following up on school papers and taking care of action items so everyone understands their role in keeping your home clutter free and getting important tasks completed.

Keep neat!

Perri Kersh is the neatest, and sometimes freakiest at Neat Freak Professional Organizing, LLC in Chapel Hill. She works with individuals, families, small business owners and students to help them get and stay organized. When she’s not organizing for others, she frequently shovels up after her husband and children. You can read more about Neat Freak at www.neat-freak.com or reach Perri at (919) 824-8196.