Pre-Set Organizing Systems

A friend messaged the other day and asked to see my kiddo file box. It's a paperboard box I setup years ago to pre-set just before he started kindergarten.  I can't remember exactly where I saw the idea but its a space setup for all school years.  So instead of just creating a kindergarten folder I created a folder for each school year K through 12.  For our personal space I even added a few extra folders in the front for special education enrollments and child-care facilities. Now that I'm living with a high-schooler I couldn't be more thankful for the ease of this system,  especially at the start of each new school year.  

This conversation got me thinking about other pre-set systems for organizing wins.  My other file box is the same with January through December folders but it's come to my brain that this expands outside of files and papers.  Meal prep and planning is a thought.  There is a stock spot for prepped meals to go at the beginning of each week and specific containers we use for daily school lunches.  When that space is empty in the fridge (i.e., the weekend) it's still avoided when getting things in and out of the space because it's known that the pre-set plan of meal prepping uses that area specifically.  

Tools are another spot that came to my mind instantly. Forgive if I get the details wrong  (tools are my best knowledge) but just follow along with the concept.  Ratchets and sockets typically come in sets with various sizes and attachments.  If you're pre-setting the garage space you wouldn't just have one small spot for a single pairing,  you'd have the idea to let the space be a little larger and or have multiple spots for each sized piece to go.  Those details would depend on your personal organizing style in the garage.  I'm a pretty macro girl so I designated a medium sized bin to just dump all the bits into and I'll just fiddle in there when I actually need them.  My dad may have more of a micro system setup with 12 individual spots for each size socket and probably pre-set in way that makes sense to him.  

Gaming controllers are another example, or at least in our home it is.  We rarely get just one controller when getting a new system.  Gaming together is one of our things so the pre-set planning includes having space and plugs for at least two controllers.  If we're looking at charging stations, it's always the two outlet stand that we choose because we know,  even if the system comes with the one controller, at some point, we're going to get a second so we might as well pre-set the space.  

Do you have an organizing question or topic you want to talk more about? Connect with me here and let's get the conversation started!