The Berenstain Bears are a beloved family of bears that have sold over 250 million books worldwide since the first book was published in 1962, and they continue to delight children and their parents to this day. As someone who has loved these cuddly bears since I was a child, I can say that reading The Berenstain Bears taught me some valuable life lessons, including the following truths about home organization
1) Order makes everything simpler
Order is a beautiful thing – Thea Bear
I am not sure who taught me this lesson first. I know it was my mom and dad, but I also remember reading it in the famous children’s book, The Berenstain Bears. Regardless of the source, I think about this lesson often. It brings so much clarity to our chaotic lives and reminds us that order and organization is not just one-time task. It requires constant upkeep. In other words, we have to be intentional with how we organize our homes. And when we do, it helps us find what we need more quickly when we need it!
2) Everyone can help out
Everyone can help out around the house, and it doesn’t take much to make a difference. Whether you’re sorting through junk in the garage or organizing books on a shelf, chances are you’ll find that you actually enjoy working at home more than doing something like sweeping! With an organized house, you’ll be able to find what you need when you need it, which means less time wasted looking for misplaced items. You might even discover new ways of using spaces – now your attic has room for storage because your desk is no longer taking up space there! And cleaning will be so much easier without having to deal with piles of clutter in every corner of the room.
3) It takes time to get things in order
If you’re currently living in a cluttered home, take comfort in knowing that it’s normal and takes time to get things in order. When we first moved into our current house, there were piles of boxes everywhere. After over five years of cleaning, organizing, moving furniture around and so much more–the chaos is finally mostly gone!
4) You can find it if you try (and put it back when you’re done)
- When we go to a new place, it’s often nice to know where everything is. Make the most of this opportunity and place your favorite things where you’ll be able to find them when you’re looking for them.
- The best way to keep something clean is by using it often, which means that kids should be encouraged to make a mess so they can clean up too!
5) When you have a place for everything, you don’t have to waste time looking for things
I can’t count the number of times I’ve rummaged through my underwear drawer looking for a specific style only to end up pulling out three or four pairs and not find what I’m looking for. Why? Because they’re all bunched together in one pile, making it impossible to tell the difference between a brief and boxers. When you have a place for everything, you don’t have to waste time looking for things.
6) When in doubt, put it in a holding area until you can decide where it goes
Some objects can serve multiple purposes in a home. For example, one spot for books could also be designated as the breakfast nook. But there are some things that just don’t belong anywhere else. Here are things we’ve learned from the Berenstain Bears about home organization. 1) Put it away as soon as you’re done with it: Dishes should go into the dishwasher or sink after use, dirty clothes should go into the hamper, and so on.
