4 Simple Steps to Convince Your Partner to Embrace Organization
The cluttered countertops, overflowing closet, and overstuffed storage room keep you up at night. But your partner? Not so much. I hear this from my clients often: they desire organization and are ready to get started, but their partner isn't on the same page. Home organization is successful when family members share goals and use the space effectively, motivating everyone to develop new habits and maintain an organizational system. Here are some ways to get your partner on board with home organization:
FIND THE SHARED BENEFIT
As you look to declutter common areas of the home, it is essential to find the shared benefit in getting organized. What are the pain points you both experience in a room of your home? What would be some of the benefits of getting organized? Some examples could be:
You both could get out the door faster for work in the morning.
You would feel better about having people over/entertaining.
You would spend less money re-buying "lost" items.
You spend less time nagging at kids because they understand the home's systems and routines.
Understanding the pain points for your spouse in the home creates a shared goal and motivation to get organized.
TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR PREFERENCES
Although you may feel your structured lifestyle is normal, it may feel daunting to a partner with a different personality type and preferences. Our partner's upbringing may play a role where organization was not a priority, or they didn't learn the skills to maintain organization. If organization is more important to you than your partner, the reality is that you will do more to keep your home organized to the level you prefer. Recognizing that perhaps your partner has strengths in other areas where they can contribute equally to helping with the house. Fair Play Cards are an interesting way to begin a conversation with your partner about divvying up household responsibilities. This mutual understanding can foster a more considerate and empathetic relationship.
START WITH YOUR STUFF
When you live with a partner, some things are shared, and some things are yours alone. Before placing blame for clutter, ensure you've addressed your items. Once your partner sees the results of your work, they may become motivated to tackle decluttering their things. Start with a space that is primarily your domain (your closet, your office stuff) where there is less shared ownership of the possessions. This sense of independence and proactivity can be empowering.
LEARN TO COMPROMISE:
When it comes to equally shared areas of the home, a compromise may be in order when it comes to organization. For instance, in the kitchen, you could agree to keep the countertops clear, but allow one cabinet for 'miscellaneous' items that don't have a specific place. This way, you both have a say in the organization of the space. Alternatively, the beer mug collection can be kept, with a set number stored in a cabinet for use and the rest kept in a storage bin. When you have a shared goal as discussed above, it will become easier to find a compromise.
Still feeling stuck in getting your spouse onboard with home organization? Working with a professional organizer can help bring a neutral third party to the discussion. A professional organizer can help ask questions to get to the shared goals of the home and propose ideas to balance organizational preferences. After taking into account goals and preferences, the actual work of organization can then be delegated to the professional organizer, saving a couple a ton of time and stress. Reach out to How Neat! by Dana today to start the conversation!