This week we're looking at one of the quietest problems in storage rooms: how things move..or don't. Most storage spaces work like a one-way street: things go in, they get tucked away, and somehow they just… stay. Today we're talking about intentional rotation. The simple idea that what you store should actually come back out into your life, and how building even a small retrieval habit changes not just how you store, but why.
In This Episode We Talk About:
- Why storage rooms become one-way streets
- The concept of intentional rotation and how to build a simple retrieval rhythm for seasonal, sentimental, and activity-based items
- How thinking about the “out” before you put something “in” completely changes the way you store with intention
Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
Review Transcript:
[00:00:00] Okay, so let's talk about those items in your storage room that you love. So it's not necessarily the things out of guilt, you know, that we always talk about that you're keeping, or maybe it was because it, it was expensive. Uh, it's the what if you need it someday. Not those things, but it's something that you genuinely like and love.
It's usually some dishes that you got at an antique market that you shopped for, or that you asked for from a loved one. Uh, I've seen, like, camping gear from trips that still makes you smile. It was from a time period where you saved up for this one particular tent or something, or it's usually the accessories, like, for camping.
Or maybe it's the holiday decorations that feel like you're family, and that you take pride and you love every time you see and open them, right? Or, um, maybe it's the craft supplies for those things that used to make you really happy, and you do wanna do it again. You [00:01:00] just haven't found the time. So it's like the stuff that you genuinely love.
And when did you actually last use it? That's what we're going to talk about this episode. So if you really had to think about it, trust me, you're not alone. If you had that pause of, “Yes, I love it,” and then when I asked you, “When did you last actually use it?” You paused. You're like, “I don't remember. I just keep it because I love it.”
Well, let's take a deeper dive into that subject. Um, you know, this whole year we've been going inside these spaces, the storage rooms, the closets, the offsite, uh, locations that you hardly go into, and they slowly turn into these catch-all. So we've talked about what to keep and why we keep it. We've explored the just in case holding, the grief, the attachment, the containers that we choose, and some of those action steps that actually move things forward.
But today I want to [00:02:00] talk about that pause, something that we haven't addressed yet. Not what you keep, but how it moves, and sometimes when it just doesn't move at all. It just stands still. Like, it's just there truly as an archive almost. So we are going to talk about that, the, that how most storage rooms are one-way streets.
Things go in and things don't really come back out. So let's dive into it, shall we?
Welcome to the Organize and Cherish podcast with the Organized Flamingo. I am your host, Stephanie, your compassionate and efficient professional organizer. Whether you are part of the sandwich generation, helping a loved one declutter, or just trying to simplify life, this is the place for you. Together, we will tackle those overwhelming piles of stuff, uncover purpose in what we keep- And let go with dignity and care.
[00:03:00] Because it's not just about throwing everything away, it's about respecting memories and simplifying life. Sound like a plan? Let's jump in and get organized. So something that I've noticed over the years of working with people in their spaces is that most of us, and I'm including myself in this conversation, okay?
Because, as you know and I've talked about, especially for this year of the year of the storage rooms, I am tackling my own storage rooms and areas. Okay? So I am going through the motions with you, and even though I do this for a living, I am also a person who has stuff and who has inherited stuff from my loved ones.
So I'm going through all of these, uh, at the same time, which is not something that I always do. I'm not always on the same topic that I'm educating people on or helping them with. But this year, I happen to be going through the same motion. So I do talk a lot about us because I'm including myself in this, um, in this discussion.
So okay, so going back. So something I've noticed is that most of us are really [00:04:00] good at the in part of the storage, right? We're really good at moving things into storage rooms, like putting it there, um, finding a good deal of, on an offsite storage, um, finding some space for the, for it, and just acknowledging that we just need a extra storage.
Like, we just have acknowledged it, right? Um, we wrap up the holiday decorations kind of thing and then carry them downstairs or wherever you're going. And then we, we kind of forget about it, uh, until whenever we need them again. We tuck the camping gear into the corner after the trip, right? We have full intention of cleaning the tent properly before the next one, but we just never do, so we just tuck it in the storage area.
We are very practiced at putting things away, and if you're listening to this podcast, you probably don't necessarily, uh, uh, have a problem with putting stuff away. Now, you probably have a disconnect with everything has a home. That might be one of the problems. Like, it… You just kind of stuff [00:05:00] everything on a shelf or in that room, but at least you put it in the vicinity that it's supposed to go.
So we might need some help with the exact home for the items, but at least putting stuff away somewhere is not a, is not necessarily the biggest problem. It's the retrieving. That's a different skill entirely. And most of us, most of our storage rooms have never really developed that skill. There is a definition of organizing that I've loved over the years, and that is the, you are organized when you're able to find what you need when you need it as efficiently as possible.
Meaning not the fastest, not that you know exactly where everything is, but that you can get to it in the mo- in the least amount of steps as possible. You kind of know the vicinity, you kinda know where to go. You find it when you need it, as you need it, right? Because you can only remember where everything is…
You know, you can only hold so much memory in your brain to, uh, [00:06:00] as to where everything is. But if you can get to it easily and retrieve it as efficiently as possible, I have always loved that definition because it's true. You know, think about your own space for a moment. When something goes into your storage room, what happens next?
What happens usually is that there's a moment where you think about where it's coming, like do you ever, you know, where it's coming back out maybe. Like, you might say, “Okay, I need this next, um, you know, the next Christmas time,” if it's for your Christmas decorations as an example, right? There might be a plan for how you'll find it, how you'll know it's there, and but for a very quick, you know, minute at the most.
But that's it. I mean, you might think about it in a split second, and then after that, you just forget about it. Because for most people, the answer is not really. Things go int- in there with, like, a vague intention. Yeah, you know, I'll bring it out next holiday season. I'll get it out when I need it. And then something subtle happens after that.
The item just settles. It gets buried under [00:07:00] the next thing that comes in, and that season passes, and then it stays because it's really hard to retrieve when you need it. And then another year goes by. Eventually, even if we completely forget it's there, we do feel it because we, we know there's a bulk of items, a, a physical, visual items.
You know there's a big box that's there. It… You can't miss it every time you open the door. You just may not know exactly what's inside it. So you feel it, and you remember, and that discomfort of a storage room that has absorbed so much but giving so little back can be really heavy. And I wanna be really clear about something before we do go further, though, is that because this is the heart of what we do in this show, you know, which is not necessarily get- getting rid of things, our goal of the year of the storage rooms has never been to empty your storage space completely and be a minimalist overnight.
Like, that [00:08:00] is not our goal. If that's what you become through time because you have found that that's the system that works for you, wonderful. It's intentional, but it's always been to make the whole process intentional, the end game, but also the process, to make sure what's in there is actually serving your life, okay?
Here's what I've come to believe, um, in your storage rooms, that it's full of things you never really retrieve And so it's not actually serving your life. It's just archiving, and it's like a big warehouse. It just keeps piling stuff. Um, it's holding them for you, but it's not being intentional, and it's not serving you.
Hi, Cherish friends. Life can get overwhelming, especially when you're juggling caregiving, clutter, and everything in between. That's why I created the Organize and Cherish weekly email that goes out every Wednesday straight to your inbox to help you keep the momentum, inspiration going with tips and reminders of our upcoming events.[00:09:00]
All you have to do is head on over to organizeandcherish.com and sign up for the email newsletter. It's free, and you can unsubscribe whenever you'd like. It's my way of helping you simplify your life and respecting memories along the way. Now back to our show. So with that, let's talk about what intentional rotation is and what it isn't.
Intentional rotation is kind of the idea that what you store should move. Um, not necessarily like constantly and, and not like frantically. Um, also not as a project. So you're not like moving from one place to another and, and for you to just m- move it around aimlessly. It's more about the kind of like the rhythm.
It's the in and out and with intention. So some people call it, it's almost like a, uh, like a every couple months rotation, or some people will just call it like spring cleaning, and every [00:10:00] year is when they go and touch everything and, and move things around so that you can see what you have and touch and feel, right?
So that's kind of the rotation. So, um, it doesn't have to be like a whole system with labels and spreadsheets and color-coded bins, although we have done that for clients. Like we'll have an annual inventory check is what it's really called. I'm sure if you've worked in retail before, you're familiar with it.
Every so often, you just do an inventory check, um, to see what you have, what you need, what you need to reorder, and all of that. So it's very similar, but with your own personal stuff, you know. And, and so you can make it as fascinating and as in-depth as you'd like. But for this exercise, we don't need to go that deep, okay?
Especially if you're doing this on your own. So if you wanna go simple, um, you store things with the retrieval in mind. Because remember what I said about the definition of organizing here at the Organized Flamingo is getting the stuff that you need when you need it as efficiently as possible. So you are keeping that retrieval piece.
Like, how will I get this when I need it as efficiently [00:11:00] as possible? Like that's kind of the goal here. You think about the out before you think about the in. Um, so I'm gonna give you a couple examples of what that could look like. For seasonal items, this is one of the most obvious categories, right?
Probably the most forgiving to start with because it has a built-in rhythm already. Winter clothes, holiday decor, summer gear, holiday baking equipment. Um, those are the things that have a natural cycle, calendar cycle. So they go out for their season, and then they come back in when it's over. Where it gets intentional with the rotation is how we're going to change it a little bit.
Instead of just putting it back and then having to go retrieve it and see, hopefully it's in the shelf that you, you remember it being, but probably not, because you probably stuffed other things in front of it or around it. Um, so instead of just putting them away, you put them away with next time in mind.
So you will label not just what's in the [00:12:00] bin, but when it comes back out. You make sure it's accessible, not buried, not blocked, not like any of that, right? So you just put it away knowing that when you take it out, you will need to know what's in the bin, for instance. So you're going to label it. You're going to put it in a place…
For instance, I'll give you another example with seasonal items. If it's a very heavy box, um, I have a couple clients that have the wrapping paper and the bows and, and, and the ribbon and stuff, and that can get a little bit heavy, especially because it's paper. If it's wrapping paper and stuff, and I'm talking like the deep black bins, right, 27-plus gallon, then we want those to be in a lower shelf versus the top shelf because it's going to be easier for you to get.
It's not gonna be blocked. Um, I don't want it to be behind other things. Like, you want it to be easily visible, at least the label or at least where you will get it next. Intentional rotation for seasonal items kind of gives you a couple questions. See, these, these are a couple of the questions that I, I like to ask.
Um, how easy will [00:13:00] it be to get this back when I need it? If the honest answer for you in this case, for instance, is not very easy, then again, you will then put it in whatever, whatever will be easiest for next time, and it doesn't have to be super organized here. I'm just saying, think about the retrieval in mind.
Activity-based items, this category is a little trickier because it doesn't have the same built-in rhythm. Um, for instance, camping gear. Talk about it a lot for this episode, um, especially because I'm recording this when it's kind of in spring, and we are doing, um, a few projects for the summer, right? And camping just seems to be on top of mind for a lot of people.
Um, and then I, I do a lot of RV camping and things like that, and I've organized people's RVs and stuff, so have that in the top of mind. Um, art supplies is another one. Sports equipments, tools for hobbies. Those things live in storage because there isn't room for them in your everyday space, but it's not necessarily very [00:14:00] specifically seasonal the way that holidays are, because you might not always go to the same camping trip every single year at the exact same time.
You might need it as you go along. Now, the problem with activity-based items is that out of sight really does become out of mind. When something is tucked into a storage room, you stop thinking about it as a, it's available to you. You kind of know it's there because like I said, I mean, it's like a clump of stuff, so it's not like that's going away from your mind, but you don't know exactly what you have, so it starts to feel archived, almost like historical, like it belongs to a version of you that used to do that thing.
So you know that the theme is there somewhere, but what exactly do you have and what you don't have becomes a memory, uh, a long-forgotten memory. So intentional rotation for activity-based items will kind of ask you questions such as, like, how often does this actually come out? Um, if it comes out regularly, then, like multiple times a year, then it [00:15:00] really deserves an accessible spot with a clear path to retrieve it.
If it doesn't come out very often, just every couple years, and you really can't picture it coming out, that's kind of worth the, you thinking about, like, do I need it? Can I lease it? Can I borrow it? Can I buy it new whenever I need it, if it's every couple years? And I want you to kind of think about this as well, that the goal is not to pressure yourself into using everything you own.
I think that's another big mistake that happens in these storage rooms, that you go in, and then you start thinking you have to, you have to go back to this life that you had when you bought these items, and that, that is not what the ask is. The goal here is to be honest about whether the things you're using are actually part of your life, and to make them part of your life in the storage room, which can be really hard.
Um, another category that I just want to quickly touch upon is the sentimental things that you really love. Um, this is one of my [00:16:00] personal favorites, and also the most emotionally interesting part of this conversation, um, because we will store things that we love the most, right? Like heirlooms, meaningful objects, knick-knacks, things that carry a memory.
And the beautiful but heartbreaking irony is that by storing them so carefully, we sometimes stop experiencing them entirely. Like, we just don't get to have them be part of our lives. And I've worked with clients who have gorgeous things, really meaningful, beautiful things, wrapped up in acid-free tissue paper, tucked into archival boxes, stored in climate-controlled conditions, and they never look at them.
They never hold them. This is probably you. I know I've been guilty of this. They've been so focused on preservation that they've opted out of enjoying the thing. So intentional rotation in this scenario and for these categories of sentimental items will start asking you questions kind of like, [00:17:00] how do I want to actually live w- like, how do I want to live with this?
Like, do I want it to be part of my everyday life? For some people, that might mean bringing a piece of china out of regular, for regular dinners. You know, if it's, has lead or you really can't eat out of it, then just storing one and having it be displayed, um, instead of saving it for special occasions that never come.
Maybe, uh, maybe it means rotating meaningful photos or objects through your living space so they're actually seen, you know? And sometimes it could mean creating a ritual, like once a year you go through the storage room and spend an hour with the things that matter most. I've done this exercise with a couple people recently, and it has been such a success.
I think some people forget that you don't have to display everything to enjoy it. You can also go and have scheduled visitations with your stuff, as long as you're being intentional. We don't want to hide it. We just want to be really intentional. So just put it on, in a shelf where you can easily access it when you need it.[00:18:00]
Maybe you're feeling really sentimental in a, in a time of life and you can easily get the box, open it, and kind of go through it. You know, listen to the music that maybe you and your loved one used to listen to, and then enjoy all those items in an intentional way. Because that's not clutter. That is you being intentional with the stuff that you're keeping, as long as it's, you know, not, um, obstructing your basic living conditions, it's not hazardous.
Uh, we just want to make sure that it is a healthy environment for you, uh, both emotionally and physically. So as long as those things are met, it's not clutter, and it is intentional. Um, so that's kind of the, the, the theme for today. Um, you're deepening your relationship with what you're keeping. Let's do a couple of the practical piece because, you know, this is Organize and Cherish, and I always want you to be able to do something with what you hear and take action.
Okay, so let's talk about the retrieval habit, that it doesn't have to be [00:19:00] super complicated. Like, I don't want you to create this whole system that you can't keep up with. So what I would suggest is thinking about these, kind of these three moves, or these three, uh, things for you to do. So store with the exit in mind.
Before you put something into your storage room, you're going to ask yourself, “When does this come back out?” If you can answer that, you know, even approximately, like you kind of know the, the pattern or when, when you probably would, then you're already storing with intention. Like a statement could be, look like, “This comes out every November.
This comes out when we go camping, uh, which is usually in late spring. I want to look at this once a year around this person's birthday.” You know, um, so when you have an answer, let it inform you on how you store the thing, and put it where you can actually get to it. Uh, label it in a way that will make sense to future you, okay?[00:20:00]
Number two is to create a retrieval rhythm. So this doesn't have to be… Like a big checklist or anything like that. Like I said, d- we don't wanna complicate any of these steps, action steps. A retrieval rhythm is more of a moment, like a, a regular moment, so built into your calendar or seasons if, of your r- current routines when you deliberately go back into the storage room.
So some people do this seasonally. Every time the season changes, they spend an hour in the storage room bringing things out that belong in the new season, um, and then they'll put back the things that are from the past season, right? And then you can take that moment to also declutter and, and see if it's even worth keeping.
So some people do it annually, like a dedicated day, especially if you have off-site storage rooms. That's why, you know, the new year, spring cleaning, all that becomes really popular. But it doesn't matter when, it's just you being intentional about going in there and touching and looking and [00:21:00] feeling and smelling your shelves, your unit, but in an intentional way.
And then this is as op- as opposed to you going through a checklist, you're just kind of observing and making sure that everything in there is kind of what you remember it, what you remember is be- of, uh, as being there. And then make the retrieval easy. This is one of the, uh, the one that makes the biggest practical difference.
It's going to be don't go too deep into the shelf. Don't go too deep down into a bin. If it's really hard to retrieve, if it's buried or blocked or unlabeled, and I've talked about this, but if you have like, if you have to go more than three to five steps to retrieve the item, it probably won't come out.
So if you're in your head from the moment you think about when you need something, it takes you, okay, I think about it, I have to get up. That's one step. Go… You know, get up and go down to the, let's say, in the basement. I'm, I'm just thinking to the basement right now, or garage. Get up, go to the basement.
Maybe that's one, two steps. [00:22:00] Get a ladder. That's another step. Climb up and, and get it because it's way in the back. That's like three, four steps. And now you're getting towards the, like, four or five steps of trying to get to the thing before you even open the box. You're probably exhausted thinking about all those steps, and you probably won't do it at all.
So our brains are very good at deciding something isn't worth the hassle, and over time, not worth the hassle becomes, “I forgot it was even there.” And then it becomes, “I guess I don't use that anymore,” and, “Oh, yeah, I don't even need it.” And now you're just keeping it. So when you're organizing your storage room, and especially when you're putting things back in, ask yourself, “Is this set up for retrieval?
Can I easily get to it when I need it as efficiently as possible?” All right. So those are the three steps I want you to take for this week. And then if you're looking for one action, like just one simple action before you even get to those three, [00:23:00] is go into that storage room- Find one thing you love that hasn't come out recently, okay?
And bring it out. Think about how can I put this back in a way that when I need it the next time, it'll be really easy for me to get to. So if you haven't done this exercise and then do that for every other thing, slowly but surely. So pick like that one thing, get it out, look at it, feel it, smell it. And then when you're about to put it back in, decide where would I put this that would make it easy for me to retrieve the next time I need it.
That's it for this week. I will see you next week. As always, let us know what you're working on so we can cheer you on. And if you ever need anything from us, don't hesitate to message us at hello at theorganizedflamingo.com. Until next week, happy organizing. Thank you for listening to the Organized and [00:24:00] Cherished podcast with the Organized Flamingo.
If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd be so grateful if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast player. It helps others discover our show. For full show notes, resources, and more organizing inspiration, visit www.theorganizedflamingo.com slash podcast. Until next time, happy organizing.