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On Organizing Cords

I spend 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday mostly in front of dual monitors as a marketing director for an insurance agency. On my lunch break, I’m normally working on something for my photography business, or for the blog. When I come home, I normally end up back on the computer by the end of the night, to, surprise surprise, get my blog post ready for the next day! Since I end up working on my work computer during my lunch break, and my home computer in the evenings, with a laptop thrown in there sometimes, too, there’s no point in keeping my docs on one computer. As soon as I do that, I’ll need the docs on another computer.

So, everywhere I go I take along a portable hard drive and two jump drives.

I also have a Kindle, an iPad, an iPhone and an iPod. All of these have cords. And the iPod even has a set of headphones. And never know when I might need one or the other. So of course, everywhere I go I take along all of the above.

Now, here’s where it gets tricky. And messy.

Yes, I keep everything together in a small pouch, so it stays together…

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…but sometimes it’s TOO together, ya know?

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And then it just gets ridiculous. All I want to do is charge my phone so I can make a call, and I have to stop and untie the phone charging cord from the iPad charging cord. Or from two or three cords all at once.

So I decided to fix it. Here’s everything I have in the bag.

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(Of course, an extra pen and pencil for emergencies, right?) I grabbed some rubber bands and pulled each cord together.

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Isn’t it amazing how much space just some bands a clip offer?

Now everything fits nicely in the pouch without knocking around or bulging out the sides!

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I realize this may seem like a small thing, but, when it only takes a couple seconds to grab exactly what I need, instead of having to dig and untangle and stretch the process out…it makes all the difference in the world.

What small thing can you organize today to make your life easier? I bet it would surprise you if you stopped to think about it!

For more great ideas, visit Called to be a Mom’s blog for her Weekly Link Up, where I’ve linked this post! http://www.calledtobeamom.com/2013/11/weekly-link-up-humble-homemaker-abode-5/

44 thoughts on “On Organizing Cords”

  3. Some of us only carry one cord- and have cords for each of our appliances in multiple locations. (I have three offices- I have a computer charger, a cooler, a universal USB to charge devices from my laptop or desktop.)
    Only on a trip do I need the cords- and I’ve managed to limit it (also in a bag in my bag to another laptop charger- and a universal USB cord.)
    Not because I hate the mess- but because I hate the MESS I have when I need the cord I don’t have…

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  4. Ahhh, rubber bands, amazing inventions! Thanks for the post! I also label some of my seldom used chords – so when I’m looking for the charger for that one item we only use once a year, I can find it. Otherwise, it’s a lengthy process trying to figure out what fits!

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  5. Thank goodness for bands and clips!!! What a great idea for packing cords when you are on the Go!! This gives the make-up bag a whole new meaning!! LOL!! I love it. Great pictures too by the way! 🙂
    Healthy blessings

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  6. I love that little bag! Its soo cute. I have my cords everywhere!! I have a laptop, ipad, cell phone, camera and my cords are in 50 different places! I go here for that one, and over there for the other one. I really need to start being more organized.There is a slight method to my madness, but there is always that “what if”. I can’t get upset with anyone but myself if any of these cords get lost. Thanks for this simple trick to keeping things organized!

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  8. For me it would definitely be my purse. I have a full sized spiral notebook in there but I still tend to write notes on smaller pieces of paper and before I know it, I have a purse full of paper!

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  10. I have been doing this for years now! It is the greatest way to travel with these items. I use hair bands instead of rubberbands–they last longer. This was always a life saver for me when I was going back-and-forth for hospital stays with Rory. LOVE your piuoch, super cute. 🙂

    Pinned!

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

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  11. Nicely done! I can relate to the cord issue, although I don’t have to go anywhere with all mine on a regular basis, but they still end up a mess if I’m not careful. I like your jump drive idea too.
    The pouch is quite cute.

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  15. Cords have been a modern day technology problem maker we can’t live without. I bring one pocket “dedicated” for a camera, an ipad, an iphone, a blackberry cords and plug on traveling. My dad made a special hanger roller for each of his cord.

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  16. I can so identify with this post. Your life sounds as crazy as mine. I spend 40 hours a week at work in front of the computer as well. Then come home and do some more for my Lilla Rose business and blog. I just carry a cell phone with me so I don’t have the cord mess. Great job organizing those by the way. I just type my blog posts up in an email on my phone. Then email it to myself. Then copy to my blog and edit, add pictures etc.

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  17. Oh Wow, you are quite the multi-tasker! I love the elastic idea (always have plenty of free hair elastics from couponing), My ‘work’ office is a disaster with everyone’s cords EVERYWHERE. I am going to bring in some elastics and get everyone ‘wrapping’ first thing Monday. I think I even have some extra bags to bring in to store them in a nicer place 🙂 Thanks for the great tip! Looking forward to more.

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