There are a few things that organised people tend to do consistently — and the good news is, they’re all things you can start doing too. Let’s break them down.
1. Organised People Give Everything a Home
“A place for everything, and everything in its place.”
You’ve heard it before, and it’s not just a cute saying — it works.
So why do I, as an organised person, make sure everything has a ‘home’?
Honestly, because I’m lazy.
I don’t want to waste time hunting for scissors when I need them. So, I ask myself:
“Where would I use this most?” or
“What do I use this for most often?”
Then, I store it in a logical spot based on that answer. If no such category exists, I create one.
For example, scissors. They’re classic floaters — often found anywhere except where you need them. I realised I mostly use mine in the kitchen (for food packaging, etc.) and occasionally in the office. So, I store them in the kitchen. If I often forget to put them back or use them frequently in both places, I just buy a second pair.
This question — “Where would I use this most?” — is especially helpful for those with ADHD or a neurodivergent brain that sees all the possibilities of an item. It simplifies the decision.
Of course, remembering where you’ve stored things can be tricky. That’s why, in my WellSorted Home Course, I’ve created a downloadable list of common household items and suggested storage locations. I also offer tips for remembering where you’ve put things.
2. Organised People Regularly Review for Clutter
While Marie Kondo made it seem like decluttering is a one-and-done process, it’s really not.
That first big declutter sets the scene — but after that, it’s about maintenance. Regularly scan your space and ask:
- Do I still love or use this?
- Do I want to keep cleaning around this?
Over time, this habit becomes second nature. I now notice things I’m no longer choosing — the mug I keep pushing aside, for example — and get curious. Once I give it a moment of conscious thought, I usually let it go.
This ongoing decluttering process means you avoid huge, energy-draining cleanouts down the track. It’s just being mindful of what’s around you — and yes, that can absolutely be learned.
3. Organised People Let Go of the Excess
Decluttering is key. Organised people are willing to part with items that are:
- Multiples
- Unused
- Forgotten
- No longer loved
Why? Because the less you have, the easier life becomes. Fewer things to clean around, put away, or trip over.
I’ve also noticed this: organised people trust themselves to cope if they ever need something again. They’re confident in their resourcefulness. If they realise they actually needed that thing later, they know they’ll figure it out — borrow, improvise, or replace.
So start small: remove one type of item you have too many of, or let go of things you haven’t used in years.
4. Organised People Ask Questions Before Bringing New Things In
The tidy home starts before the shopping cart.
Organised people don’t let new things enter their space without a few internal checks first:
- Where will this live?
- Do I already own something similar?
- What will I let go of to make space for it?
The same goes for freebies, hand-me-downs, and gifted items. They have question habits in place to prevent clutter from entering in the first place.
So next time you’re offered something for free or tempted to buy on impulse, ask yourself a few quick questions first. These tiny pauses can make a big impact over time.
5. Organised People Do a Little Organising Every Day
This is the less glamorous side of organisation — but probably the most impactful.
Organised people deal with the mess regularly so it doesn’t build up. They do maintenance tasks like:
- Deal with a stack of papers lying around – is it being filed or recycled?
- Spend 5 minutes collecting rubbish and get it into the bin.
- Do a service level scan for donatable items.
- Put away a load of washing. If the clothes don’t fit in the cupboard, see if you can let go of a few items to make them fit.
- Create a home for an item sitting on the ‘dumping ground’ zone. Usually things are sitting out because they don’t have a home.
Just like cleaning, where you’d put on a load of dishes, clothes washing, or clean down a bench regularly, we want to get into the habit of decluttering and organising regularly. If we don’t we end up with an overwhelming amount to do.
Dana K. White’s books explain this brilliantly: if you skip daily cleaning, you end up with cleaning debt. Dishes pile up and now need to be soaked, scrubbed, and dealt with emotionally (“ugh, gross”) — which makes it all feel worse. What would’ve taken five minutes now takes 30.
Daily routines make cleaning quicker and easier — especially if you also have less stuff.
Not sure where to start? Try one of the above or:
- Soak that shirt that’s been languishing in the sink since last March. It’s clutter otherwise.
- Fix that angel figurine that needs its wing glued back on (that’s sitting on the kitchen bench, giving you the visual reminder to fix it…).
- Create some labelled files (or scan them in, and place in your newly created online home). This will mean next time you have more of these, you’ll have a home for them.
If you end up with a bunch of ‘but I have to do XYZ before that can happen’…. thoughts, start by asking yourself:
“What’s one small step I can take right now to get this closer to done?”
Tiny wins build momentum.
So, Which One Will You Try First?
Improving any one of these five habits can make your home feel calmer and easier to manage.
Share your thoughts or your ‘habit to work on’ inside the WellSorted Facebook Group — I’d love to hear what you’re tackling!