We’ve all heard that blondes have more fun, but do organized people have more fun? Think about this: what’s more fun, spending $75/month on renting storage space or going out to dinner once a week? What’s more fun, spending a ½ an hour looking for your keys or purse, or reading a good book?

While most would answer going out to dinner and reading, statistics show that many lifestyle choices result in a more stressful existence. That’s not fun.

The National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals survey showed that 65 percent of respondents noted that their household was at least moderately disorganized and 71 percent said their quality of life would improve if they were better organized.

There seems to be a disconnect between believing that being organized is a better way of life and actually doing it. So, how do we bridge that gap?

Boundaries. If you’re visiting the tigers at the zoo, you’re very aware of the benefit of boundaries. Boundaries also enhance your experience in sports, relationships, time management, and finances. At times we perceive boundaries as restrictive or cumbersome, but they spare us from stress, injury, heartache, and loss.

The same is true for boundaries in organization. They minimize anxiety and frustration. Here are a few common boundary pushers and some Timely Tips on how to combat them.

Timely Tips for boundaries

Collectibles:
Years ago, a client began collecting Hummel figurines. For each birthday she received more. What was once a joy, became a burden as she struggled to cram them into closets and keep the multitudes on display dust-free.

Setting boundaries for a collection means to:

Decide how much space you want to allot to it
Choose your favorites that will comfortably fit in that space
Release the rest
Give yourself permission to let people know you have reached your limit and offer some alternative suggestions for gifts like a gift certificate for a massage or dinner out, in other words, something you don’t have to store

Backup Supplies:
One woman emailed asking what to do with all the backup supplies that were spilling out all over her floor. She said she saves money by buying in bulk and stocking up when things are on sale.

Living beyond our means when it comes to our space comes with a cost. She was stressed with the clutter it was causing.

Designate a specific space for backup supplies. It can be even a bedroom closet, or shelf in the garage, as long as it's a designated and defined area
Honor that boundary and wait to purchase more until there’s room for it
Find someone to split the large quantity sales and supplies with--win, win!

Left-over Containers: Chances are you have more containers for left-overs than you have left-overs to put in them. They take up valuable kitchen space and cause stress when rummaging through a stuffed cabinet or drawer trying to match a lid to a container.

Determine how many you actually need and use
Match that number of lids and containers
Let go of the rest
Resist saving every lunchmeat container, just in case

Toys:
It’s easy for a home with young children to become overrun with toys. Just like you have rules about where food is allowed, you can set boundaries for toys.

Designate specific rooms/areas for play and those that are not for play
Establish cleanup boundaries-- like placing toys in designated bins every night before bedtime (the more frequent, the smaller the mess)
For outdoor bikes and scooters, “draw” a parking boundary with colored duct tape in the garage or patio
Maintain the amount of toys that fit comfortably in the designated storage areas (one in, one out)