February is National Time Management Month and yet it’s the shortest month of the year. So what will you do to make the most of your time? One way to manage your time is through organization.

There’s lots to be said for getting organized – you can buy containers and bins, clean out your closets, sell or donate a pile of used stuff, and read advice-filled books on the subject – but where the real battle begins is in maintaining that level of organization in your day-to-day existence. Once you’ve found a home for everything, and have everything in its place, then what? One week’s worth of mail, one pile of laundry, a scrapbook project, a few dinners and sippie cups later, and you’ve lost your mojo.

So here are my 10 Tips for maintaining an organized life…

1. Take 15.

Whether it’s right when you get home from work, or after the kids have gone down for bed, find the time that works for you to reclaim order in your home. Take exactly 15 minutes (use an egg timer if it helps) to do a sweep of each room checking for problems. Pick up all the clutter, straighten pillows, put the magazines on your coffee table in a neat stack, return rogue cups and such to the kitchen, take out the trash, toss dirty clothes in the hamper, and deal with any noticeable sources of mess. If you get lost and find yourself polishing your silverware, you’ve strayed from your mission. Don’t focus on one spot for long. Move through each room, giving attention to areas that need it while doing broad strokes of housekeeping elsewhere. With time, you’ll get a rhythm for it, and enjoy the refreshed appearance after a 15 minute sweep.

2. Don’t buy it.

There’s a host of organizational do-dads and thing-a-ma-bobs out there, most of which can be useful in the right situation to help organize your stuff. But put on the breaks when it comes to bringing home another gadget. It’s tempting, but see if the organizational slip ups you’re experiencing can be resolved with a change in behavior first. All the organizational gear in the world won’t organize itself. It’s up to you. First, think. Evaluate the trouble spot. What’s causing the clutter and chaos? Second, act. Without adding anything else to the equation, what can you do to resolve it? What can you take away? Third, shop. Once it’s under control, then buy that whatchamacallit to keep your stuff in order (if indeed you still need it).

3. Schedule a purge.

Have a plan of action to clean your filing cabinet. Go through your nicely-filed papers and file folders. Schedule a time to purge your documents as needed – monthly, quarterly, annually, etc. Mark your calendar to remind you. For instance, it’s recommended that you keep your records from your tax returns for seven years. Each year, remove the file that is more than seven years old. While you’re at it, discard receipts, bills and pay stubs that you no longer need on file. Find more guides on how long to keep financial documents at Bankrate.

4. Pick a day.

Designate one day out of the week to clean up your home and office. Stick to it as best as life’s roller coaster will allow. And like they say, “What you have to do expands to fill the time you have to do it in,” so limit yourself on time, and get as much completed as you can. You’d be surprised how much you can do when you power through it in one (short) event. However, if tackling chores all in one day is too much for you, develop a routine that breaks it up.

5. Share your methods.

It’s important for all members of the household participate in the organization and housekeeping. Not only should you not try to bear the burden alone, you should aim to include others so that everyone can contribute and benefit. Whether it’s with your spouse, kids, roommate, or office mate, share your methods of keeping order to your shared space. Find ways that each person can chip in. Teach your kids to put their toys away when they’re finished playing. Teach your husband to do the same. Communicate. Speak aloud and write down your guidelines for keeping peace and order, or let others know what you’re doing. Collaborate and utilize everyone’s unique set of personal strengths to benefit the entire household.

6. Out with it!

What goes in, must come out. Some people forget this and only realize how much stuff they’ve accumulated when they box it up to move. Take a lesson from people who live in small spaces and appreciate each inch. For each new thing you bring into your space, take something out. Erika Lenkert suggests telling your kids “it’s time to make room for the new toys that will be coming in” before Christmas. Whether it’s new clothes, a new coffee mug, new books, or a new handbag… Select a similar item to pass along to a friend, sell it secondhand, or donate it to a shelter or other worthy cause. Granted, there’s no harm in collecting things you cherish, but create boundaries for your collection. After 500 bobbleheads, draw the line.

7. Like goes with like.

As a rule, remember to keep like items together. When you have a dozen magazines, filing them in a magazine rack or placing them neatly in a stack together minimizes the clutter to your space – both physically and visually. In addition to objects, take your chores and tasks in the same dose. Avoid piecing up your projects too much. Doing so will only make you feel busier, less productive and less organized. Pay your bills or make phone calls all in one sitting, file things away, and be done with it. Grouping similar tasks together in one block of time brings order to your to-do list, not to mention the chunk-method helps you feel mondo-productive.

8. Write it down.

Jotting things down will save time and frustration later. Various factors like stress, age, and lack of sleep effect your brain’s ability to file, store and access short-term memory information. So help yourself out. Write down important notes, phone numbers, and appointments in one central location – a date book, journal, calendar, planner or a digital version of these. Making notes on scraps of paper, mail, or the palm of your hand is less than efficient.

9. Hide!

Keeping things put away and out of sight is the best way to feel organized,  especially for those who are visually-focused, right-brained personalities. Doors, drawers, cubbies, baskets, cabinets, and bins are your friends – use them to keep things hidden from view and put away. Sometimes, just by having your desk free of clutter and your work stashed away in a drawer, you’ll feel more organized than you really are. Feeling that way sure helps because when in a healthier state of mind, you’ll be able to work more productively.

10. Re-evaluate.

You can be certain that life will change. And with it, your tools for organizing might need some adjustments along the way. When you realize you’re heading into new territory, re-evaluate your home and work spaces. Find what works at keeping order to the chaos, and what’s not. Make room for new additions, and plan on your routine changing. Like Brandie Kajino said, “Lean into the turn” when life throws you a curve. “Babies are born, people get married, kids go off to school, people pass on and leave their stuff and grief for those that loved them, new jobs… and the list goes on.”

Are you feeling inspired to start your Spring cleaning early? Happy organizing!

Posted on 1/31/2014

Written by Meredith Mathews

Meredith Mathews is Creative Director at Half Price Books, America’s largest family- owned new and used bookstore chain. Fourth generation SMU alum, she graduated from the Temerlin Advertising Institute. She is a copywriter, designer and strategist. Meredith’s favorite things in life are spending time with family, autumn breezes, snow-capped mountains, stringed instruments, hats, and baking. You can follow her on Twitter at @msquare21.

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