How to Create Systems That Work for Everyone
Our team works in many different types of households, but we most often work in a home that is shared by multiple people. More household residents means more people to help organize, right? Not so much, in our experience!
Any organizing system that we develop has to work not only for our primary client contact, but for their spouse, children, housekeeper, or even their pets. We have to take into account not only the most basic needs of these other members of the household, but their preferences, behavioral patterns, and organizational challenges.
We can do a lot to organize in a new home where we don't know the clients very well, but for a system to stick long-term we need to develop an understanding of the entire household ecosystem. This is why we always want to tour the entire home! Everything - and everyone - has an impact on the way that a household functions.
Communicate when something isn't working for you.
Everyone has a different "thing" that gets to them. It is so common in our work to enter households where no one is talking about what their things are! I have facilitated conversations with married couples with decades of history together who have never discussed what they value in a household. This can lead to a lot of little tensions that can really build up.
Direct communication isn't easy for most of us, so bringing in a professional can be a great way to get to the core of things! But if you just want to make your day-to-day a little easier, tell them that you hate it when their shoes are in two different places (or whatever your thing is!) before it becomes an even bigger Thing.
Lower the barrier to entry.
A system can't work for the whole household if it is being kept behind closed doors. Put your family calendar, grocery list, or chore chart in a common space. Get everyone involved if you want to try out something new to get your family more organized! You may be surprised about what others are willing to take on or the ideas that they may have to make things better. Sharing the responsibility of problem solving (even if that problem feels so simple that it isn't worth it) offers an opening for other members of the household to contribute in a new way.
Be willing to adjust.
The last step in our process is equalize. It isn't concretize – equalizing means making adjustments as your needs change. Shifts in hobbies, lifestyle, household members, and family dynamics are part of the joy of living! Welcome these changes with open arms and a willingness to shift your systems. One of the reasons that we are so enthusiastic about the Elfa closet system is its adaptability - we want you to invest in systems that work for you now and that can work for you later.
If creating these systems with members of your household still feels like too huge of a task, reach out to us for a complimentary consultation. We help navigate conversations and create versatile and adaptable systems every day!
