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13 Organizing Lessons

Learned from Horror Films

by Maria Gracia Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest Organizing Article is available. I've seen lots of horror movies in my lifetime, ranging from the old classics to the newer ones recently out in theaters. And wow, there are a lot of lessons to be learned from these flicks. Here are some organizing lessons I learned from horror films. 1. Lights on! Have you noticed that the lights are out in every single horror movie? In light of this (pun intended), don't go into a dark, dank basement holding nothing more than a candle, tip toe from one room to another squinting to see in the dark, or leave every single light out to save money on your electric bill. If you have electricity and you need to walk around the house at night, make sure you turn those lights on. It's also a good idea to use night lights. No electricity? Keep a flashlight easily accessible in every room...those you can shake that don't need batteries are ideal. Even if doing so helps you from accidentally stepping on a Lego (which will surely result in a blood-curdling scream), this tip will be worth your while. 2. Know where your sneakers are. As you know, in horror movies, there is always something to run from. Running is not ideal in high heels. Be sure your sneakers are in their proper home when you're not using them so you can grab them in a moment's notice. By the way, untie your laces when you're done wearing your sneakers and before you put them away. It's really inconvenient to grab your sneakers and be forced to undo a knot when you're being chased by a corpse. 3. Tend to your outdoor property.  Someone is always bound to trip over unkempt weeds or bramble, especially when in a fleeing frenzy. Don't make this someone 'you,' or someone you know. 4. Buddy-up. Having a buddy (or a group of buddies) by your side is always a good idea--as a general rule of thumb: the bigger the buddies the better. Don't fight demons alone. By the way, buddies are a really good idea when the house needs to be painted too! 5. Always kill monsters TWICE. They nearly always come back after the first attempt. Especially paper monsters. 6. I'm baaaaccckkkkk. If you throw away one of your possessions, like your daughter's old doll or your husband's old chainsaw, and you find it again in your house, you have two options: a) Move immediately because your house is possessed, or b) Apologize to your daughter or husband for tossing something they weren't yet ready to get rid of. I'd go with choice two...it's cheaper and less trouble. 7. Check your calendar every day. Sure, you can use it to earmark Friday the 13th and Halloween as questionable days, but it's even more beneficial to use it to remember your wedding anniversary! In many cases, forgetting that would be truly scary. 8. There is a monster under EVERY bed. In addition to the common foot-grabbing, blood-sucking type, there's also a good possibility of a clutter monster, a big, hairy, dust bunny...or a moldy sandwich! Clean and vacuum under the bed often, but always have a wooden spike handy. 9. Be prepared for the worst. Keep a 'ready-packed' travel bag just in case you have to dart out of the house. Be sure you have your cell phone charged and have an extra power cord with you (you know it's going to die just when you need it), fuel-up (the car will run out of gas the second you turn onto that eerie country road)...and always, always, always have garlic available...for vampires...or a late-night garlic bread craving. 10. Don't dismiss turtleneck shirts. They prevent vampire bites...and cold winter drafts! 11. Avoid spooky circumstances. It is never advisable to go into an old, abandoned, Victorian house at 2:00am alone, visit a foggy graveyard at midnight, walk through a spooky forest on a dark and stormy night, take a dip in a murky lake, or hang out with people who are icy to the touch and never sleep. Use a pro/con list as a tool if you're not quite sure whether a decision is good or bad...and have a logical friend look it over. 12. If you suspect there is something evil behind a closed door...DON'T open it.  Gosh, you would think this would be a no- brainer, but just about every horror film has a scene where a trembling hand is slowly reaching to turn the doorknob of the door that is between her (or him) and the evil presence. No matter how many people in the audience scream, 'Don't do it!' the person opens it anyway. The door is then violently yanked open by an invisible force and the victim is sucked into the dark room as the door slams shut. Sigh. It could have been avoided so easily. Don't open the door. However, if the only evil behind that closed door is simply a cluttered closet, then muster all the courage you can to open it, empty it, and organize it. Sometimes you just have to face your fears. 13. Don't go back! Against all odds, you have miraculously escaped from the haunted or monster-infested house. You are outside, finally safe in your locked car. You start the car and are ready to slam down on the accelerator to flee from the horror. Just then you realize...you forgot your favorite shoes and matching Gucci purse. While understandably tempting, you must push those thoughts aside and never, never, never go back into the haunted, horror house. Just 'don't' do it! Make sure you have a map or GPS so you get to your safe haven quickly and easily. Oh, and you might want to call ahead to be sure your intended destination is available! Back to Organizing Articles Index