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.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAfter more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More
What does "quality of life" mean to you? If you... Read More
"My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am... Read More
I have a huge white board in my home office,... Read More
Whoever thought you'd be able to get organized in just... Read More
It is 5:00 pm and Cindy has no idea what... Read More
1) It's easy to have a good clear out: Not... Read More
The Productive Environment Scorecard?Read the statements below and rate your... Read More
The National Association of Professional Organizers has dedicated January to... Read More
Professional organizers and helpful-hint sources often recommend storage solutions such... Read More
Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More
One of my mother-in-law's many oft-quoted and wise declarations was... Read More
In most homes, paper causes clutter. And it seems to... Read More
* Cupboards and drawers should contain items that are grouped... Read More
Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... Read More
When I tell people what a FREEING experience moving is,... Read More
Have you ever been totally overwhelmed by a massive task... Read More
The Law of the 1st StepA good first step in... Read More
Laundry. You sort, you wash, you fold, you blink ?... Read More
You start each week with great intentions. You are determined... Read More
Back-to-school time ? what does that mean to you? For... Read More
Has your polished mahogany (or modular plastic) desk been buried... Read More
The following procedures will insure an organized and well run... Read More
Decluttering is a simple-to-learn process, once you break it down... Read More
EVERY HOME NEEDS AN OFFICEYes, it is true that every... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..For some reason, Americans think they have something to prove... Read More
I know I have a problem when I have to... Read More
Helping people clean out their closet is something I love... Read More
Ever feel overwhelmed by all the papers, notices, artwork, and... Read More
You arrived on earth without clutter. Your parents and doting... Read More
From time to time I hear this question from an... Read More
What does "quality of life" mean to you? If you... Read More
The Law of the 1st StepA good first step in... Read More
Spring?. Fresh breezes through open windows, sleeping trees come awake... Read More
Do you like storing your papers on top of your... Read More
I followed my boss to a co-worker's cubicle where my... Read More
? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the "stuff" in... Read More
Clutter in any area of your home is a sign... Read More
I recently conducted a survey to look at the relationship... Read More
Working for one of the top Marketers online (David Ledoux)... Read More
Staying organized can be a constant battle. The following organizing... Read More
If you have piles of paper all over your desk,... Read More
Decide When And Where To StartDecide when and where to... Read More
De-Cluttering our lives can be an extremely liberating exercise. There... Read More
A daily journal will save you time, reduce stress and... Read More
The following procedures will insure an organized and well run... Read More
I recently read an article that had some interesting but... Read More
Cindy looks at the calendar and sighs. Ah, the end... Read More
How do you know if you need to clean out?... Read More
What's in a Name?Everything.What do you do with all the... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |