Organizing Imperfectly

The Beautiful Chaos of Getting Stuff Done 

Let’s face it: perfection is overrated. Whether it’s your desk, your closet, or your entire life, the idea of perfectly organized spaces is a myth we’ve all tried (and failed) to uphold. We scroll through Instagram, watching the neatly arranged, color-coded spaces of minimalist gods and goddesses, and feel a pang of guilt. How do they do it? And why does my sock drawer look like the aftermath of a tornado? 

But here’s the thing: Organizing Imperfectly might just be the best way to get things done. It’s not about pristine order or obsessive tidiness—it’s about creating systems that work for you, even if they’re a little messy. So grab your cluttered coffee mugs, your mismatched socks, and let’s talk about embracing the beauty of imperfect organization. 

1. Accepting Imperfection Makes You More Productive 

The quest for perfect organization often leads to procrastination. You don’t want to start until everything’s in its perfect place, which means nothing ever gets done. Here’s the paradox: The more you strive for flawless organization, the more you freeze under the pressure of it. 

But when you embrace imperfect organizing, you free yourself from that weight. You’re not worrying about whether every paper is in the right folder or every book is facing the same direction. You’re focusing on what actually needs to get done. 

Try this: just start. Throw things into boxes or baskets. Pile up your clothes in a corner and sort through them later. Organizing imperfectly means being willing to jump in without knowing the outcome, trusting that the mess will eventually sort itself out—maybe not perfectly, but well enough. 

2. Focus on Improvement 

It’s not about landing at the “perfect” place—it’s about getting better, bit by bit, every single day. Improvement says, "You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." 

We often think organization is all or nothing. We look at a drawer full of junk and think, “I’ll never get this under control. It’s too far gone.” But here’s a secret: perfect organization doesn’t have to be the goal. Improvement is the goal. Maybe your desk isn’t spotless, but if you can find your keys and your favorite pen within 30 seconds, that’s a win. The key isn’t to organize perfectly—it’s to organize just enough to make your life easier. 

The beauty of imperfect organization is that it’s flexible. It’s not an all-or-nothing scenario. That sock drawer? It might not be “Pinterest perfect,” but if it keeps your socks from getting eaten by the laundry monster, it’s doing its job. Progress over perfection means being okay with your space being “good enough.” 

3. The 80/20 Rule: Getting More Done with Less Perfection 

We’ve all heard of the Pareto Principle—the idea that 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort. Well, when it comes to organization, this is your best friend. Trying to perfect every single item in your closet or every single document on your desktop is a fool’s errand. But if you focus your energy on the areas that matter most—like your work zone or the kitchen counter where you unpack your groceries—you’ll get a lot more bang for your organizational buck. 

It’s not about making everything flawless; it’s about making the right things work in a way that gets you through the day. If you organize imperfectly, you can still hit 80% of your productivity goals without stressing over every last detail. 

Organize imperfectly, and you’ll have more space—mentally and physically—to do the things that matter most to you. 

Go Declutter and Organize! 

So let go of the myth of perfection. Stop obsessing over the idea of being perfect and start relishing the process of improvement. That’s the stuff that will get you somewhere worth going. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day—but with some consistent improvements, it’s still a pretty good place to visit. 

Now, go out there and improve. Just a little bit. Every day. And remember: You’re already doing better than you think. 

Sustainable Simplicity Organizing's goal is to help you feel more peaceful and calm through the process of decluttering and implementing practical organizing solutions.   If your work or home space is stressing you out, Sustainable Simplicity Organizing can help you take a personalized step by step approach at decluttering the excess. Experience the joy of getting organized and taking the time to enjoy what matters most!   Jen Heim is a Professional Organizer in Portland, Oregon at Sustainable Simplicity Organizing.