I don’t remember how it came up. What could we have been discussing that would have led to this inane topic? I’m not sure, but I do know that my friend Michelle and I had a funny conversation about DVDs recently.
Somehow, we ended up talking about how we organize our DVDs. I organize mine by color, with movies in the same series placed together. Michelle, on the other hand, organizes hers alphabetically. But she also keeps movies in a series together.
When we talked about it, I had to laugh. Both of us assumed our method of organization was “normal,” and we’d never questioned why we did it that way or if there could be a better way. We just do it.
I’m not sure the way you organize videos says anything about you at all. And I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to do it. And yes, I realize that analyzing this tiny issue in the first place is a sign that I’m a little odd.
But it makes me wonder.
Do you organize parts of your house or office in a particular way – maybe without even thinking about it or realizing that nobody else does it that way?
When I set up my new office earlier this year, I did what I have done at every new job I’ve had since graduating from college. I brought in a mug for my pens and pencils, I lined up my Post-Its and notebooks, and I parked my tape dispenser right next to my stapler on the right side of my computer. My desk looks the same no matter where I work.
I think a of people organize their kitchens this way. My kitchen, on the other hand, doesn’t make sense to anyone. Every time someone new is in my kitchen, looking for a cup, I’m asked why I put the cups in the cabinet to the left of the sink instead of the right. I’m not left-handed. There’s really no good reason. And yet, it’s how I like it and I will probably never change it.
One shelf of my pantry is organized by food type. Canned veggies in one row, Mexican food items in another, canned soups in a row and canned fruit in a row. Chili season really messes that up, so I squeeze in an additional row just for chili ingredients. Some of the other shelves in my pantry, though? Total chaos.
Why do we pick and choose which parts of our homes, our office, our lives to organize? Why is one area so much more important than others? I mean, I really can’t handle it if someone moves my tape dispenser or puts a bag of rice on the canned food shelf of the pantry. But my filing cabinet is a hot mess, and don’t even get me going on my out of control CD collection!
What parts of your home and life do you organize in a particular way? What parts do you let go?
This post is part of 31 Days of Giving Up on Perfect, because even if I get my DVDs lined up perfectly, a certain 5-year-old almost always comes along and messes them up. DEEP BREATH. It’s okay. It doesn’t really HAVE to be perfect…right? Anyway, all month long, I’ll be writing about my fight against perfectionism and my quest to get on with life, already. For more 31 Days, visit The Nester.
You should see my sock drawer. It is perfect. However, if I took a picture of my living room right now, it is pure chaos. So, I understand about your desk. Our glasses are also on the left. I’d never thought about it…
Yes, exactly. One room is spotless and the other is a disaster – how does this happen? For me, I think it’s a matter of control. If I can control something, anything – like a sock drawer – it’s easier to accept the chaos of the living room (for example)…
People who visit my kitchen are more confused by what utensils/appliances I’m missing. ;) Also, I’m with your friend Michelle on this one: organizing alphabetically makes the most sense. :D I’m not sure about other things I organize… but I am DEFINITELY a creature of habit. Always put things in the exact same spot. But isn’t that also so I don’t have to think and will be able to find it right away and won’t forget it? Surely it isn’t obsessiveness or compulsiveness…
I am a creature of habit, too. I like things to go where they go!
My glasses and plates are also to the left of the sink because that puts them directly above the dishwasher. Unloading & putting away clean dishes is much easier that way!
Well, then, that makes perfect sense!
My kitchen is in perfect order for me. All glasses and dishes together, the coffee supplies in one place, etc. The pantry is grouped by like items. My spice rack is in alphabetical order. I can grab the right spice without even looking! (Although, ever since that time I grabbed the curry instead of the cumin, I look).
My CDs are alphabetical within genres, my DVDs alphabetical, but split between adult and kids, with series (like VeggieTales) together, but alpha within the series.
My closet is impeccable – each item not only has a specific place, but a specific hanger (don’t ask…all the hangers are the same anyway).
Other spaces I try to keep organized, but they never stay. Either I’m always there using things or my family is. So I don’t worry about it too much. :) Basically, I’m an order freak only about the things I use the most and would want quick access to. For the rest, anything goes!
“Perfect order for me” – I love that!
Most of the time, I group things in order of use/genre. My spice cabinet has pull-out baskets that have the pie-type spices in one, the chicken type-spices in another, the baking things in another.
My CDs are mostly grouped by genre. My t-shirts are hung on a different rod than my “nice” shirts.
The dishwasher is a fun one. I was raised to put a mixture of flatware in each compartment. My husband likes to put like things together to speed up putting everything away. And now we’re teaching the kids to load and unload the dishwasher, it’s more of a discussion than ever!
I order my spices by “genre” too! We’ve had that dishwasher debate in my house, but since I’m the one who loads it, I win. Or lose. Depends on how you look at it, huh? ;)