Let’s be real, life is messy. And it comes with a lot of stuff: work bag, workout bag, lunch bag, grocery bag, diaper bag, soccer bag, ballet bag, pool bag, doggie doo-doo bag, and that’s just the bags! On top of all the stuff, are the people who bring the stuff in. We love them, but sometimes we don’t know what to do with the turkey feathers from the weekend hunt with the boys or the 5th art class masterpiece of the week. The key is not to ignore the items coming into your home but to create a system for how to corral and manage them efficiently.

How to do this? Meet my “3 boxes” system. Doesn’t matter if you’re single or have a family of seven, live in a small apartment or a suburban mansion, these three “boxes” are a must-have in every home. Each box will be unique to each household, but the guiding principles are the same. First up, the inbox…

The Inbox
The inbox is for anything that needs to be addressed or requires your attention. It’s not a permanent home. It’s a holding vessel until you get a moment to deal with it because we all know that it’s impossible to sort through your kids’ school work, pay a medical bill that just came in the mail, and get out the door to piano lessons all at the same time. Please do yourself a favor and stop putting that pressure on yourself! Instead, as items, especially paperwork, come into your household throughout the week, toss them in your designated box or bin, then come back to them once you have time to give them your attention. Ask your spouse and kids to follow suit and place their items in the box as well. It might take a little training to start, but with consistency, it will become a daily habit for all of you.  

Ideally, this box will live by your entryway, mudroom, or kitchen- think command center of your home. Where do you sort your mail or review your kids’ field trip forms? This is where your inbox goes. Just don’t forget the most important rule: you must, I repeat MUST, tend to and sort through your inbox once a week at minimum! If not, it will become the object’s permanent home and you’ll be drowning in all your clutter once again. Don’t forget this rule!! Pour yourself a glass of wine and sort through on Sunday evenings. That’s what I do!

The Outbox
As you might expect, the outbox is similar to the inbox but its main job is for corralling clutter or items that need to exit your home: overdue library books, Tupperware from the cookies your mom brought over last week, Amazon returns, etc. Again, it’s not a permanent home, but the holding vessel until you run your next errand. If you notice an item in your home that doesn’t belong, get in the habit of putting it here. 

The key is to make sure your outbox or designated zone is in plain sight to ensure you see it daily. This is a must! If you can’t see the item as you walk past it to run an errand you won’t remember it thus the accumulation of clutter will begin all over again. Get creative with your home, especially if you don’t have a formal mudroom where a basket or bin easily fits. It doesn’t have to be a physical box or bin either. The outbox in our home is actually the bottom shelf of a bench next to the garage door. But if you do use a box, make sure you can see what’s inside. Not a fan of clear plastic bins? Use a wire basket.

Lastly, hold yourself accountable. Don’t let this area of your home go untouched for weeks on end or it will turn into an Amazon warehouse. Aim for a weekly maintenance goal like your inbox.

The Donations Box
I saved the best for last. A very simple concept, but life-changing for most. Designate a box or bin (larger in size) in your utility room, storage room, garage, etc., as a place to temporarily store items you want to donate. Add to it as you come across items in your home that no longer serve you. Then once the box is completely full, take the items to your nearest donation center. The idea here is to make this habit part of your daily lifestyle. If you notice a shirt in your closet that you no longer love, add it to the donations box. Recently received a new set of drinking glasses for your birthday like me? (Thanks, sister!) Replace your old ones in the kitchen cabinet and relocate them to the donations box. What this does is eliminates the need for massive purges. If you are constantly editing your home, you’ll never need to dedicate an entire Sunday afternoon to a purge, something you don’t have time for! 

BOOM! You’ve got the tools, now go implement this into your household this weekend and set yourself up for success! And I’ll meet you at the Sunday inbox sorting party with a glass of cabernet. Cheers!