Take the Stress out of Organizing

Skip the big stuff and focus on these six small spaces instead

If just the idea of getting organized makes you feel overwhelmed, think on the small side. Micro-organizing gives you the same sense of accomplishment—without all the hassle. Here's how it works: Instead of spending hours tackling the entire house, pick one small thing that you can put in order in a fraction of the time. Who knows? It might just spur you to do more.

Glove Compartment
Admit it: You're really not sure what's in there. Well, now's the time to find out. "Have a trash bag handy when you empty the contents so you can quickly toss old maps, stale gum and anything else you don't need," says Regina Leeds, author of One Year to an Organized Life. Once you have it cleared out, give the inside a quick swipe with a moist towelette to pick up any dirt and dust. Then neatly put back only necessary items. "The glove box is really meant to hold the car manual," says Leeds. "But you may also want to store your registration and any repair receipts in there as well." Add a battery-loaded flashlight. "And one of the most important and useful items to store there is the LifeHammer," she adds. "In the event of an emergency it can shatter a side window or cut your seat belt strap." ($15; lifehammer.com)

Makeup Bag
A quick way to streamline your purse is by purging your cosmetics. You don't need to carry so much with you at all times. "If you don't remember when you bought it, toss it," says Jamie Novak, author of The Get Organized Answer Book. "Most products are only healthy for six months to a year, and for mascara it's even less—about three months." Sort your remaining cosmetics into three piles: Everyday (go-to basics, neutrals, glosses), Daytime (alternate day shades to replace a neutral when the mood strikes) and Evening (deep, saturated or pearlized hues). "Use clear plastic bags for each group," suggests Novak. "That way you're not sifting through red lipstick to find your everyday neutral. And since the bags are clear, you can grab the exact one you need at a glance, toss it in your purse and go."

Family Bulletin Board
For many of us it's command central. But it's also a clutter magnet with so many papers tacked up haphazardly that you don't know what's actually there. Step one: Pull it all down and throw out anything that's outdated or no longer needed, says Lorie Marrero, author of The Clutter Diet. Step two: Create sections by family member or by category (like Schedules, To Do, etc.). You can even use colored painter's tape to create sections if you like color-coding. Now you'll know exactly where your son's soccer schedule—and everything else—goes.

Junk Drawer
Why waste valuable kitchen space with a drawer full of junk? Put this clutter catchall to better use. "First of all, don't just dump out everything and create a new mess," says Leeds. Be more methodical. Take items out one at a time, matching them up by category as you go. Next assess what you have—and be honest. Do you really need five pairs of chopsticks? That assortment of packaged condiments? Toss as much as you can. "And move as many items as possible to more appropriate locations," says Leeds. Found a hammer and screwdriver in there? Those should live in your toolbox. A sparkly barrette? Back into your daughter's room it goes. Wipe out the drawer and insert a clear acrylic drawer organizer; you can even use a kitchen utensil organizer. When you return the remaining items you'll actually use to the drawer, they'll stay neatly corralled.

Tired of battling the frozen tundra just to find something to defrost? Here's how to grab and go: "Group like items together: all veggies in one area, all frozen treats in another, all leftovers in another, and so on," suggests Novak. Clearly label leftovers' freezer bags or plastic containers with a dry erase marker. "And to prevent boxes or bags of veggies from toppling over, place them between two metal bookends."

Cell Phone
An alphabetized list of contacts is great, but a categorized one is even better. It's easy to organize your cell phone contact list this way. "Just add a letter representing a particular category to the front of the entry," says Novak. For instance, use R for restaurants, C for carpool…you get the idea. "Now all the entries will group together alphabetically, making it easier for you to find the person or place you're looking for."

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