Be organised and get out of the door in good time

If you often race to get out of the door in time, then this post is for you. Be organised and try to make sure there is a place for everything. Tidy up after yourself when you come in. Plan ahead and get ready for leaving.

Read on for more detail.

Is this your scenario?

Tearing about the house with your heart thumping, followed by a rushed scramble for the door is not a good start to any journey. Halfway down the path, halfway down the road, you’re asking yourself ‘Have I got my [insert name of something essential]?’ ‘Did I pick up the [insert name of something else essential or perhaps even not essential at all]?’

There’s adrenaline all over the place, it seems, accidents happen and then you’re suddenly exhausted.

A smooth exit is altogether a better look, and it’s one to pull off again and again. Much better for your state of mind and your state of health too, come to that.

Let’s work out how to be organised and do it.

A place for everything …

You probably know this proverb:

A place for everything and everything in its place.

This has the potential to be a game-changer, even though it’s been around since at least the early 17th century. A place for everything and everything in its place gives you a strong foundation for smooth departures from the house.

You need a good place for these important items.

1. Keys. Some people have a bowl by the front door, a key rack or a key press.
2. Coats. A cupboard, the back of a door, a rail – whatever you’ve got, make sure you use it.
3. Bags. Put them on a shelf, a cupboard or a special bit of floor.
4. Hats, gloves, scarves. Here are 12 ways to store them!
5. Packed lunch or snack things. You could use baskets or other containers, probably in the kitchen.
6. Your phone!

To get out of the house smoothly, it helps to get into the house smoothly

Even if all hell is breaking loose when you return to the house, take a few moments then (or slightly later when things have calmed down) to do the following.

1. Sort the post and recycle the junk mail.
2. Put the paperwork wherever you deal with paperwork.
3. Hang up your outdoor clothes.
4. Put your shoes out of the way.
5. Put the keys in their special place so you can find them. And the sunglasses too.
6. Put the shopping away.
7. Put your phone on to charge if the battery tends to run down quickly.
8. Be organised and have a system to process things (swimming stuff, for example) when they come back into the house.

Be organised and plan ahead

If you know you’re leaving the house tonight or tomorrow, run through what you’re going to need and get things ready in advance.

1. Do you need work or other special clothes? Choose them and lay them out or hang them separately. (I keep my decluttering clothes together, my gymn clothes together and so on. Having school uniforms together also helps a lot!)
2. Iron your clothes if you need to and clean your shoes.
3. Do you need to take a packed lunch, a water bottle or a portable cup for takeaway coffee? Get them ready.
4. Your ordinary bag, your briefcase, your gymn or swimming things, your library books? Anything else you need?
5. Have you got change for the bus or parking or a locker or a school trip? Don’t be caught out: not everything can be done with a card or a smartphone.
6. Lay the breakfast table the night before. It simplifies decision-making and cuts down on movement around the kitchen.

There you have it

How to be organised and get out of the door in good order. Even if there’s a last minute change of plan like I had this morning, laying these foundations will help you take off as smoothly as possible. Good luck!