I’ve learned that the process you use to organize the smallest things in your life, like your spices, is a metaphor for how you organize YOUR LIFE. American poet Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886) famously said, “If you take care of the small things, the big things take care of themselves.” Let’s look at the details to consider when organizing your spices, and how the decision-making process may apply to organizing your life.

Examine your space available and the spices you like to use.

Do you prefer your spices to be visible or hidden from sight?
If hidden from sight, will your spices be stored in a cabinet, a drawer, or a closet?
Do you prefer the symmetry of spices in same-sized containers, or do you like mixed shapes and sizes?
Do you use a large variety of spices, or do you prefer a limited palette?
How do you know when to get rid of spices or replace them?
Is there room for additional spices once you’ve organized what you have?

While you’re answering those questions, you may want to do a bit of exploring. Online, you’ll discover an array of products, from the simple and practical to the wild and ingenious. See, for example, the ones found in this link: Spice Organization, or this link: Vertical Spice. You may wish to create a craft project spice rack like the one on this Good Housekeeping link. You may prefer to design your own and have it custom built, as I did (pictured above). There’s no right or wrong way to organize your things. It’s YOUR way. The questions you ask to organize your spices are so similar to the questions to ask yourself when organizing many areas of your life.

I have been helping individuals organize their personal and work spaces, their private and confidential information on paper and digital files, and even small details like their spices. Each of my 700 clients has been unique, with intriguingly individual preferences. Some like visual systems, while others prefer their possessions hidden from sight. I help people of all ages discover the best organizing solutions to fit their needs, their space, their lifestyle.

Organizing your spices requires thinking, planning, and measuring.

Organizing the small details of our lives are worth the thinking, planning, and measuring. We may feel a better sense of control of our lives if we pay attention to the small details, especially during times of stress, discomfort, grief, right-sizing, or growth.

The hardest part is ALWAYS getting started. What project will you select to begin to organize? A seasoned organizer can help guide you away from overwhelm and motivate you to a successful finish. Do you want to feel good that you have accomplished your long-postponed tasks? Together, we can get those projects Under Control.

Will you share a photo of your organized spices on my Facebook post?