Clutter Campaign - Maintain Your Success

To want in one's heart to do a thing for its own sake; to enjoy doing it; to concentrate all one's energies upon it-that's not only the surest guarantee of success. It is also being true to oneself. Amelia Earhart

Live Clutter-Free Forever. Have you noticed how clutter is like a boomerang--it seems to come back quickly? The best way to prevent the "boomerang effect" is to commit to a way of life that supports your new resolve to stay clutter-free forever. The five-step Clutter Campaign is not a step-by-step linear process. Instead, it is like a circle continuing in an unbroken line. You continue to design your vision, eliminate your excuses, commit your time, select your tools and maintain your success. As each new setting or challenge arrives, you know exactly what to do next.

Here are six options for you to explore:

? Revisit the freedom of your clutter-free, ideal setting. As you continue the circle of your Clutter Campaign, remember your picture of your ideal setting. Remember how that setting helped you feel and operate. Identify some symbol of how good your setting can feel. This might be a set of "before" and "after" photos, a piece of art, a special set of linens, fresh flowers. Revisit this symbol regularly and use it to help you stay committed to a lifetime of living clutter-free.

? Explore holding on and letting go. Record some of your thoughts and discoveries as you have had experiences with holding on to items and letting go of other items in this Clutter Campaign. What were three items easy to let go of? What are three you now have a renewed appreciation for? What are three things you can pass on to others to watch their pleasure in using them?

? Identify other users who will benefit from your surplus. List the organizations and individuals you enjoy donating to. List their contact information and terms of accepting donations from you. Does donating your surplus make it easier to let go of things?

? Schedule time/select plan for regular attention to organizing. Identify specific times for regular organizing tasks and time blocks for the intermittent ones. Is it better for you to set aside one week a year and get everything all accomplished, or do you prefer to do twenty minutes a day, three times a week to keep it all under control? No system is right unless it works for you. Note below the time and plan you will follow.

? Create systems of support and/or accountability. What does it take to keep your resolve strong? Do you operate better from attraction to your vision or from a desire to escape the Clutter Trap? Who encourages you in your process? What method, person or process keeps you on target? Do you use rewards or incentives to keep yourself going? List three elements of support or accountability that work for you.

? Celebrate successes. In every lifetime process, we need to take time out to celebrate our successes. This helps remind us how far we have come and strengthens our resolve to continue. Sometimes the celebration is small and private, sometimes is it extravagant and public. Do you allow yourself to a special pampering, take luxurious time with a friend, take time for a hobby or passion? List some of the ways you celebrate success. Ask other people too, and record some of their responses.

? Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.productiveenvironment.com

bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..

In The News:

Learn how to act against cybercriminals in 2026 with essential security steps like two-factor authentication, software updates and credit freezing.

Choose between OpenAI releasing Sora text-to-video model, the AI race heating up, or Waymo driverless cars launching in cities across the country

Learn how to set up Google Maps and Apple Maps on your phone to automatically remember where you parked. Step-by-step instructions for enabling location services and parking detection.

Phishing scammers use rnicrosoft.com domain to impersonate Microsoft by replacing "m" with "rn" in typosquatting attacks that steal login credentials.

OpenAI announces new teen safety rules for ChatGPT users under 18, blocking romantic roleplay and requiring extra caution on body image topics.

A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.

Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.

ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.

ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.

Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.

DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.

Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.

New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.

Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.

New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.

Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.

San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.

FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.

Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.

Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.

Clutter Campaign - Maintain Your Success

Get Organized - Organization