Everything Has a Place

This is a phrase I hear a lot at work. It’s a concept I’m filling behind. “Everything has a place”. I manage the grocery area of a typical American big box store. Our back room area is organized in the same regard as our sales floor. Everything in aisle one is together, organized by section of the aisle.

There are several reasons for this. One of the major reasons for this is efficiency. It helps when we pull for replenishment, as it allows us to sort things in a way that when we hit the sales floor, we can take our vehicles along and fill. It’s saves steps, which saves time. Likewise, it also helps us find things when they go off location. Mistakes happen and this helps minimize their effects.

I take this concept home with me. I recently discovered what pantry organizing bins are all about. Furthermore, I expect to move in a few months and look forward to setting up my kitchen in a much more organized manner. I blame Ethan Chlebowski for this. The point is the same; placing things in an organized manner to make myself as efficient as possible, which in turn makes the space more enjoyable. It also keeps me from buying too much stuff. The bins keep me from buying too much pasta, for example, while also limiting what I buy because nothing should end up outside the bin. This saves me money in the long run.

I ebb and flow with all of this. There are times I get a bit cluttered. Items accumulate on a table. The sink fills up with dishes. Finally, the stress of clutter pushes me back in the other direction, where I take control of my space. The most recent conquest has been with my car, especially in the trunk. It has been a collection bin for nearly two years. That is, until yesterday, when I bought some milk crates to organize and corral the items I have in there. There’s space for maintenance items, cleaning tools, and a bin for my reusable shopping bags. I know where things are, and I’ve reclaimed some clear space for when I need it.

I wouldn’t quite call myself a minimalist. But, I’m close. I like clean lines and a minimal amount of clutter, while also enjoying a bit of character. I’m a bigger fan of when things get out of the way when I don’t need them and are there when I need them to be.