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| When in doubt, throw it out! There are far too many opportunities in life for us to acquire things. Unfortunately, the price you pay for owning far too many possessions is far more overwhelming that one would think. You must take into consideration the cost of the item in the first place, the cost of storing the item (even if it is in your own home ~ real estate is expensive), the cost of cleaning and maintaining the item, the cost of moving the item, and the hassels involved with finding more space in your home. Use it or Lose It! "Use it" means now, not some time in the future. You do not have to use something everyday, but avoid the rationalization that it might come in handy some day Use Storage Wisely The easier you make it for things to get put where they belong, the less clutter will appear, and you will have a fighting chance of finding what you need. In the kitchen, for instance, move the silverware and plates to a drawer or cupboard between the table and the dishwasher, and put the glasses between the refrigerator and the dishwasher. Use similar logic elsewhere. Hot Items go in Hot Places Keep the things that you use most often in easily accessible spots. Your list of "hot items" will probably include measuring cups, keys, pens, notepads, spray cleaners, etc. Transfer them to top drawers, eye-level cupboard shelves and other convenient locations. Make Decisions Immediately This follows the "handle everything just once rule". This rule is necessary because of the excuse many of us use ~ "I will put this here for now and will get to it later". Once you say this, you are admitting that you are going to handle things more than once ~ which doubles your work load ~ stealing precious time from your busy life. Make decisions about where to put things right away. Use a Filing Cabinet Filing cabinets or bins are relatively inexpensive. Besides being a perfect storage place for bills, important papers, and correspondence, consider it for just about everything else ~ warranty cares, product information, instruction booklets, stationery, schoolwork, report cards, invoices, etc. Be sure that you have a proper filing system in place so that your filing cabinets don't become just one more place where you can lose things ~ alphabetically! Check out the revolutionary software program The Paper Tiger! Just Do It! I truly believe that Nike has the right idea ~ especially when it comes to getting organized. You may not now exactly what to do, where to start, what to toss and what to keep, but you do know you need to organize. Unfortunately, merely thinking about your mess can often lead to just that - inaction. Tacklethe areas of clutter that are bothering you the most. This will give you added inspiration to finish the entire project. Don't Procrastinate! * If you have brought anything into a room, be sure to remove it the very next time you leave the room (after you have finished using it, of course). * Take things upstairs or downstairs if you are going there anyway. * Take everything out of the car that was added during a trip. * Pick up things when they drop. * Wipe up spills when they happen. * Vacuum messes when they occur. * Wash dirty dishes and wipe off the counters before food dries on them. * Fold clothes right out of the dryer. * Iron clothes while they are still damp. Everything in its Place! Some of the clutter lurking in our homes is just stuff that belongs someplace else. Whether it's toys strewn throughout your home, magazines piled in the corner or papers stacked on the desk ~ these items become clutter as long as they are not in their proper homes. Not only can you reduce clutter by putting items in their proper places, you will always be able to find anything precisely when ~ and where ~ you want it. Give Yourself the Clutter Test Walk through your home and check each object display on coffee tables, counters, mantels, shelves or anywhere else. Ask yourself "Why am I keeping this? Does it work? Am I tired of dusting it? Do I have others like it? Do I enjoy looking at it every day? Items should justify themselves in function or form. if the antique mahogany clock on the coffee table no longer works, it has lost its function, but it may still be quite beautiful, so it may pass the test. If you feel attached to items that do not pass your test, put them away in a storage area for future consideration. When you clean out this storage area, you can make further decisions at that time. Use Labels How often have you gone to a closet to retrieve something from a cardboard box, only to find that there are now six identical boxes there? To avoid confusion, label them all as specifically as possible. Labelling the inside of the cupboard doors will help organize your groceries. It is also a reminder of where to replace things when the users are finished with them. Call the Professionals It may be worth the expense to hire an expert. A Professional Organizer can assist you in ways that you never believed possible ~ and pave the way to order in your life that you have longed for. |
| Controlling Clutter by Debra Milne |