Coping with clutter is rarely easy. There's more involved than just catching up on overdue housework, and staying focused and motivated over the weeks or months it may take to get the job done can be one of the biggest challenges. Here are some tips to help you stick with it until it's done:
1. "How do you eat an elephant?... One bite at a time!" That's a good way to approach clutter clearing: one "bite-sized" task at a time. An entire house, or even a room, of clutter can be overwhelming. Instead, focus on a single small area - one shelf in a bookcase or one drawer in the kitchen, for example - before moving on to the next.
2. Don't expect to get it done in a weekend. It probably took a long time for all that stuff to pile up, so make peace up front with the fact that getting rid of it is going to take some time, too. Plan to do a little bit every day over a longer period of time, rather than waiting until you have a large chunk of free time available to devote to clutter-clearing (which may never happen!).
3. Set time goals, not task goals. If you've decided to declutter the kitchen cabinets on Saturday morning, for example, but it's really an all-day job, you've set yourself up for failure. Instead, set a goal to work on the kitchen for three hours on Saturday. That way, when the time it up, you'll have met your goal even if the task itself is not entirely completed.
4. Use a timer to get over the "don't-wannas." Tell yourself you only have to focus on clutter for 5 minutes. Pick your bite-sized target (one drawer, one shelf, or one pile of paper) set your timer, and go go go for five minutes. When the timer chimes, you can stop? or keep going, now that you've established some momentum.
5. If you just can't make a "keep or toss" decision about something, put it in a "for now" box and plan to return to it later when you are feeling more decisive. Items that you do wish to keep, but that have no "home" in your home, go in a separate box with other things you need to make space for. This way you end up with pre-sorted boxes of stuff you still need to deal with, rather than leaving things where you found them (which is not where they belong, or you wouldn't have a clutter problem).
6. Be prepared to make more of a mess before things look better. You can't do a thorough job of clearing out a closet, for example, unless you begin by removing everything that's in there. That means you're going to create a big heap o'stuff while you are sorting and purging. Don't mistake the temporary mess for lack of progress; just keep doing a little bit at a time until you've gone through it all and made decisions about what to keep and where to keep it.
7. Get rid of the excess first, before you think about organizing and storage. One of the most common mistakes people make is to buy more storage containers before they've decluttered. Eventually, they end up with a home cluttered with boxes and bags and bins of other clutter. Sort and purge first, then tackle storage.
8. Reward your accomplishments, both great and small. Finished the hall closet today? Good for you; now make an appointment for that manicure you promised yourself. Plan in advance what treats you will earn as you reach your clutter-clearing milestones; knowing you have a specific reward coming will help you stay motivated to stick with the process until it is done.
Of course, the biggest reward of all is the joy and convenience of living in a home that is free of clutter. Don't wait another day to get started!
? 2005 Stephanie Roberts
GOT CLUTTER?!? Reclaim your space and your life with Stephanie Roberts' highly-acclaimed Clutter-Free Forever Home Coaching Program, which includes the Clutter-Free Forever ebook, weekly lessons, membership to an online support group and bonuses. Find out more at clutterfreeforever.com.
expert residential cleaners Park Ridge ..We previously noted that papers must be sorted before they... Read More
Take a look around you right now. Look away from... Read More
An organized living lifestyle can cause you to weed out... Read More
Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have... Read More
In part 1, we discussed a system you could use... Read More
A lot of us grew up with Mom taking care... Read More
Ever feel overwhelmed by all the papers, notices, artwork, and... Read More
? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the "stuff" in... Read More
Sometimes the task of keeping a clean, tidy house just... Read More
I talk about the mail a lot in my newsletter,... Read More
How many of us have enough time to do everything... Read More
Do you ever sit down at your desk buried in... Read More
One of the hardest things for most individuals working from... Read More
We hear it every day."Buy this product, and simplify your... Read More
Spring is here and the garage door is open. This... Read More
Obviously, productivity involves producing. Producing widgets, events, reports, sales. The... Read More
? Are you embarrassed when you walk into your home... Read More
1. Sink to their level. Get on your knees in... Read More
1) It's easy to have a good clear out: Not... Read More
Here's a little lesson I experienced while packing boxes for... Read More
1. The Law of the 1st StepA good first step... Read More
Last year I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and... Read More
Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... Read More
A daily journal will save you time, reduce stress and... Read More
(This is the second in a series of three articles... Read More
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..How to do keep track of all you have to... Read More
Clutter is a big problem for many people. At a... Read More
A daily journal will save you time, reduce stress and... Read More
Feeling Overwhelmed and Unorganized? - How to Use Index Cards... Read More
I recently had a conversation with a friend about clutter.... Read More
Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have... Read More
Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
Are stacks of papers, mail, newspapers, and growing "to do"... Read More
Do you like storing your papers on top of your... Read More
What's in a Name?Everything.What do you do with all the... Read More
Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... Read More
We are in a society where people are applauded for... Read More
Technology has given us the tools to reduce routine tasking,... Read More
Collections are the outward manifestation of a deeply-felt principle or... Read More
Much of my time as a Professional Organizer is spent... Read More
So you've decided to get organized, but you just don't... Read More
I'm sure most of you have heard of Zig Ziglar... Read More
Cindy looks at the calendar and sighs. Ah, the end... Read More
In your quest to get 'up and running' so to... Read More
An organized living lifestyle can cause you to weed out... Read More
The Mexican VillagerThe American investment banker was at the pier... Read More
Today you have almost as many choices of spice racks... Read More
Nature loves clutter. Just think of all the stuff that... Read More
Spring is here and its time to sweep away the... Read More
There are 3 kinds of clutter: Inner (between our ears);... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |