Some people live and die by color-coded lists, label makers, and timed schedules. They are uber-organized and ultra-efficient, and they can handle any task put in front of them as long as they have a supply of sticky notes and Sharpies.

And, then there's the rest of us.

Life doesn't always need bullet points. Sometimes it is OK to wing it. Or, fake it. Organizing a storage container is one of those times. Here are a few tips to help anyone give the illusion of being organized when they are really just making things up as they go along. 

1. Label the Boxes

If you were organized, you might make a detailed list of everything in each box, print one copy to adhere to the box itself, and save a copy to the cloud. If you aren't nearly that meticulous, you should at least know that the best labeling hack of all time is to label the side of the box, not the top. When you write 'Kitchen' on the top of a cardboard box and then stack another box on top of it, no one sees the label.  

2. Load Items Largest to Smallest

Another tip to an organized storage container is to load furniture items into the unit from biggest to smallest. In other words, the tall items, like armoires, china cabinets, and mattresses, go along the back wall. This is something that can easily be done on the fly with zero advance planning.

3. Create an Area for Staging

Using a kitchen or dining table as a staging area is also a quick tip to organization. You can set boxes there temporarily while unloading a moving truck and you can store fragile, yet bulky items, like table lamps, there for the long term. You'll look -- and be -- organized without any effort.

4. Build a Pathway

A planner might put blue painter's tape on the floor to create a visual pathway around the storage container. Heck -- they might even plot out where each individual piece of furniture should go. No advance planning is needed, however. As you and your crew of helpers unload, simply leave space between rows of furniture and boxes for people to walk. This makes it easier to get in the unit and find things later.

5. Get Insurance

The Type-A person in your life probably called 12 insurance companies before the storage container was even rented, got itemized quotes, and filed them alphabetically. You do not need to be that prepared -- seriously. The key takeaway is that you need insurance. While the storage container company has its own insurance, the policy does not extend to your belongings. It only covers their container. Call your current insurance agent and ask about a rider to cover the things in the storage unit.

While you could have color-coded lists, a move into a storage container does not have to include excel worksheets. You can wing it and be just fine. Get in touch with a company that offers storage container services for more information.