Picture Perfect vs Effective

I was talking with a friend today about organizing and she told me about a comment someone had made about her home space.

She said when the person left, she took a good look at her space. She realized that while it may not have met with this other person's approval, it was actually a very organized space. She knew where everything was - when she needed something she knew exactly where to go to get it.

Which brings up a good thought about organizing. Being well organized is not about having a picture-perfect space. It is about living effectively and without a lot of stress.

As my friend commented, this is her personal and creative space (and she is definitely a very creative person). For her, having things laying around is part of her creative process. The way she has things organized might not win any home beauty contests, but it serves her well - and that's what counts.

So, as you think about organizing your home or office space, yes, it can be nice to have a neat and nicely decorated space. But if that interferes with being able to live and work comfortably and productively in that space, then maybe that's not the best goal to aim for.