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Tom McNulty, author of Clean Like a Man, shares nine quick tips to make getting organized and staying motivated easier.
A simple housekeeping "to-do" list is important for guys.
- It helps you stay more focused and goal-oriented, so you get done faster.
- It removes all doubt about what to do next.
- With a regular routine, you stay on top of cleaning tasks so they don't get out of hand.
- You see what needs to be done and realize that your chores are finite.
- It feels good to check things off as "done." Really, really good.
2. Keep cords and wires corralled
I loathe wires and cords with every fiber of my being, especially where there are millions of them (like behind the TV/entertainment center or computer station. Solution: gather them up and cinch them together with a hair clip, a velcro wrap, or by running them through an empty toilet paper roll.
3. Use multi-tasking binder clips
They come in several sizes. You can use the appropriate one for 1) a bookmark, 2) a money clip, and 3) keeping IDs handy at the airport by attaching to your belt or pocket with a binder clip.
4. Make your bed - make your day
Make the bed first thing every day (let it air out first to release moisture). It takes about two minutes and makes the whole bedroom look clean and organized. You also get a head-start on a productive day. Are you cool or what?
5. Make use of your old dresser
Stow an old dresser inside your bedroom closet - it creates oodles o' extra storage space for socks, t-shirts, bedding and more.
6. Streamline your reading material
Too many magazines lying around? Just rip out the articles that interest you, file them in a folder near your reading spot to peruse at your leisure, and recycle the rest of the magazine.
7. Organize a junk drawer
Put a plastic silverware holder inside, then group like items (change, pens, paper clips, etc.) together.
8. Do one thing well
Focus cleaning and organizing efforts on a specific area, not "the whole house." Tackle a desktop, the kitchen counters, the living room. Or even smaller areas...maybe just the coffee table. Being 100% done with one thing has far more visual impact (and inspiration value) than being 25% done with four things.
9. Handle your mail, don't let it handle you
- After grabbing your mail, give yourself just two minutes to deal with it. That forces you to be fast and efficient.
- Sort mail the minute you enter the house in a set location: in the foyer, on the kitchen island, etc.
- Never let your mail hit a horizontal surface - file or toss it, but don't pile it.
- Pay bills the day you get them - online banking makes it easy.
