how fomo can stop us from staying organised
Staying organised can sometimes be more tricky then ‘getting organised’. We’ve all seen things on Instagram & Pinterest that look fabulous, which naturally makes us want that new bin or the new can dispenser for our perfectly colour-coded La Croix selection. But I’m here to tell you that FOMO is the enemy of authenticity…& the latter is what will keep you organised in the long run.
I encourage clients to first think about the problem they’re experiencing & then to imagine their ideal state. In between the ‘problem’ & the ‘solution’ we have the ‘process’ which is how our daily habits & lifestyle influence how we maintain our homes. These 3 things need to jive if we want to create systems that are realistic for you to maintain. This involves taking an honest look at how you want to spend your time (& money).
For example, if you’re feeling completely overwhelmed by clutter in your bedroom & you’re a busy parent with not a lot of free time (problem) & you’d like a perfectly organised wardrobe (solution), it’s important to think about how much time & effort (on a daily/weekly basis) you’re willing to give to maintain your space over time. For instance, hanging versus folding can be a real timesaver on a weekly basis. Also think about what you enjoy!
When I first had my daughter during the pandemic, I can remember seeing a home organisation TikTok about a Mom who didn’t fold her children’s clothes & instead just sort of tossed them into labelled drawers. I remembered thinking: OMG…good on her! This person obviously thought about how she wanted to spend her time, what she valued, & what type of system would work best for her & she went for it! It might not have been the most ‘Pinterest-worthy’, but it was a stellar system that worked for their family.
This is not to say that you can’t have nice things (like all those clear jars or the cereal dispenser), it’s just about pausing to reflect on whether the solution will make your life easier on the daily. If the answer is yes, then the TIDY VIBES gods approve.
As Christine Platt, The Afrominimalist, talks about: there is freedom in authenticity… in doing what works best for you. In choosing what matches your style & implementing solutions that align with it.
If you’re someone who loves La Croix & the cans rattling around in your fridge are bothering you, by all means, get that dispenser & use it for as long as possible. Just don’t let what other people have (who might have totally different lives than you) make you feel like you’re missing out. You do you.
