We all only have 24 hours in a day to get everything accomplished. If you want to free up some of that time to devote to things you enjoy doing, or that you really need to do, start by getting organized.

If reading that just made you groan, we feel you. Tackling what may be years’ worth of disorganization is daunting. Our organization tips will inspire you to take the first step to getting all your ducks in a row so you can enjoy more of your free time as we move into summer.

First Step: De-Clutter

It’s almost impossible to get and stay organized with a bunch of items that are old, unused, and un-needed laying around in your way. The organization game is won or lost with clutter.

Pick a room and start tossing out items you no longer use. Old prom dresses? Sell or donate them. Expired food? Throw it out. Be methodical and don’t let nostalgia (“Look honey, the shirt you wore on our first date!”) keep you from reclaiming your space—and your life.

Once you eliminate your clutter, don’t get overwhelmed by the rest of the house. Remember to…

Start Small

Begin with small steps and acknowledge every accomplishment. Don’t put pressure on yourself to get it all done at once. Set aside a certain amount of time each day to declutter and get organized—set a timer if you want! Clean out one or two drawers, throw away one stack of papers, put away the clothes laying in the spare room. Every little bit of effort gets you closer to where you want to be.

Make Every Closet Efficient

It may seem to make it worse, but take everything out of the closet and choose what you add back in. Consider purchasing extra storage bins to hide items in the top of your closets, and an organization system to hang and lay your belongings. Put your dresses, pants, shirts, and jackets together so you can find them easily. Buy a shoe organizer. It will save many hours of your life you’d otherwise spend rooting around trying to find that second boot or sandal!

Get Control of Your Laundry Room

Laundry rooms can become disastrously disorganized in no time. Hang shelves or an extra cabinet for organizing supplies and bins with labels for easier sorting of laundry. Create an area to hang clothes and a folding area. Install a drying rack for delicate items that can’t be put in the dryer. Make a rule that clothing doesn’t live in the laundry room, it simply stops for a quick visit. Designate each family member two baskets, one for their dirty clothes and another for their clean items to be transported back to their rooms.

Tackle Your Kitchen

Cooking dinner can take longer if you have to search for your mixing bowl, knife, and favorite baking dish. Find a place for everything you need for a fully functioning kitchen. Add shelving inside your cabinets to store more while making everything visible. Set up drawer separators so small items will stay in their places. Purchase a knife block and consider hanging your pots on a pegboard to find them easier. Finally, install a lazy Susan and add hooks on the insides of your cabinet doors to give you a bit more space.

Attack Your Bathrooms

Getting ready for your day can be a real pain in a disorganized bathroom. Throw away medicine and makeup that’s expired, along with anything that’s not used. Keep every person’s stuff in separate drawers if possible and group the other items in similar categories. Purchase some baskets to put under your sink to pull out and look through quickly. Add drawer spacers to keep your items separated and easy to put your hands on when you’re in a hurry.

Keep Outside Stuff Out

Remove everything from your house that lives in the storage shed, garage, or utility room. Tools, seasonal items, sports equipment, etc. falls into this category. If you take it out to use it, put it back in its place immediately after you’re finished. You’ll be surprised how much space this saves in the house.

Related Read: Unique Ways to Clean Up Your Garage

Finally…

Create A Sustainable System

Getting organized won’t help much if you aren’t committed to keeping everything that way. Make a rule that nothing sets out of place for more than a day, or have one evening a week that the family takes the time to return everything to where it’s supposed to be. Make sure laundry is put in closets and drawers as soon as its dried, and cleaning products are stored after use. Keep doing this until it’s second nature to keep your home neat and tidy.

An organized home can add precious minutes back into your super-busy schedule. Focus on one area of your home at a time and have a vision for the space to make it easier to reach your organization goals. Take the stress out of everyday tasks.