Updated Sep. 22, 2019.  Originally published Apr. 23, 2013.

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What Are We Organizing Today?

Just to be clear, we’re not actually looking to store all of our “stuff” today!  Rather, we’re looking at how to manage our storage records.  When you need the toddler’s coat, do you really want to have to dig through every box of everything you have in storage?  I’m guessing not.  What if you could just flip open a book or an index card box, glance over a list, and know exactly which box to look in (or at least narrow it down)?  That’s the goal for today’s project.

The principle is quite simple.  If you number (or otherwise label, with individually-distinguishable designations) all of your storage bins/boxes, and then you list the contents of those bins/boxes on paper or index cards, you don’t have to pull out the actual bins in order to locate something.  (You still have to pull out a box to take the actual item out, obviously, but you shouldn’t have to dig through a plethora of boxes to find it.)

Our steps for today are pretty simple, as well, although they may be something of a lengthy project, depending on how much you have stored and how specific you want to get with your lists.  Consider where you want to store these lists – perhaps in a section of your household binder – as the first step.  Then you have to create the actual lists.  (That’s the time-consuming part.)

STEP 1: Designate a place for keeping records of what you have stored.

STEP 2: As you have time, inventory the items you have in storage, labeling boxes (if necessary) as you go.

STEP 3: Transfer your lists into the location you designated.

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