Let’s face it—social media is full of influencers telling you that to be organized, you need to buy all these fancy tools, gadgets, and planners. It can make you feel like without that $50 acrylic storage bin or color-coded binder, you’re just destined to live in chaos. But let me tell you right now, you don’t need half the stuff influencers push to stay organized. In fact, most of it will just add more clutter. Let’s break down what you can skip and what actually works.
You don’t need five different planners for every single part of your life—fitness, meals, work, etc. Having multiple planners usually just adds more clutter and makes it harder to stay organized. Stick to one planner (or even just a notebook) and keep it simple.
2. Expensive Storage Containers
Sure, those clear acrylic bins look super chic, but they’re not going to solve your clutter problem. You don’t need to buy containers to hold onto clutter—you need to declutter. Save the money and use what you already have, or better yet, clear out what’s not serving you.
3. An Overcomplicated Bullet Journal System
Bullet journaling looks beautiful on Instagram, but let’s be real: you don’t need a hyper-detailed, color-coded journal with 50 trackers to stay on top of things. Most of us won’t keep up with that. Go for a simple, straightforward system that actually fits into your life.
4. Designer Office Supplies
A gold-plated stapler isn’t going to make you more organized. Fancy office supplies are just another distraction. Stick with the basics, because your standard notebook and pen do the job just fine. The key to organization isn’t found in a pastel-colored paperclip.
5. A Closet Full of Organization Tools
How many trendy organizers or drawer dividers have you bought, only for them to end up unused? You don’t need 10 different tools to organize your space. The less stuff you have, the less you need to organize. Keep it simple, and you’ll stay organized without needing a million gadgets.
6. A Pinterest-Perfect Workspace
Your desk doesn’t need to look like it belongs on Pinterest. You don’t need matching stationery, picture-perfect plants, or color-coordinated layouts to be organized. Focus on function—declutter, make it work for you, and forget about making it « aesthetic. »
7. A $100 Habit Tracker
You don’t need a fancy, expensive habit tracker to build better habits. Habits are about consistency, not fancy tools. You can keep track of your habits with something as simple as a piece of paper or a free app. The key is sticking to it, not the price tag of your tracker.
8. Color-Coordinated Everything
Color-coding looks cool, but let’s be real—it’s more work than it’s worth. You don’t need to assign every task a color or make your notes look like a rainbow to stay organized. Focus on clarity, not on making everything look pretty for the sake of it.
9. Custom Labels for Everything
Sure, custom labels can look nice, but you don’t need to label every container in your home to be organized. Unless it’s a specific system that’s helping you, labels are often just for show. The key is keeping things where they belong, not slapping a fancy label on it.
10. A Subscription to a New Productivity App
You don’t need to pay for the latest app that promises to make you more productive. Most of the time, we don’t stick with these apps long-term. Instead, find a method that works for you—whether it’s a basic calendar or a simple to-do list—and skip the unnecessary subscriptions.
11. Specialized Meal Planners
You don’t need a meal planner for every single meal of the day. You can plan meals with a basic notepad or your phone’s notes app. The key is having a general idea of what you’re going to eat, not investing in expensive meal-planning tools.
12. Wall-to-Wall Shelving
Sure, shelves are great for storage, but you don’t need to cover every wall in your home with shelving units to stay organized. Sometimes, the best way to get organized is to reduce what you own, not find more space to store it.
13. Over-the-Top Cleaning Supplies
You don’t need 20 different specialized cleaning products or gadgets to stay on top of your home. A few good all-purpose cleaning tools are all you need. Don’t fall into the trap of buying a separate gadget for every little cleaning task—it’s more clutter than it’s worth.
Getting organized doesn’t mean buying a ton of stuff, despite what influencers might tell you. You don’t need all these tools, gadgets, and systems to get your life in order—you just need to simplify, declutter, and focus on what really works for you. The less stuff you rely on, the easier it is to stay organized in the long run. So, forget the influencer noise and stick to what actually matters: systems that work, not stuff that looks good.
