We all have a certain amount of 'the packrat syndrome'. We tend to hang on to things that we don't use, feel guilty by getting rid of it and is so outdated, but we spent a lot of money for it. It is easy to see how disorganization can rule our lives and become uncontrollable.
Usually if our home is cluttered and disorganized, so is other areas of our lives. The clutter seems to be everywhere, at home, work, in our daily schedules and even our recreation time.
The scenario starts in the home with junk lying around the house that gets moved from one room to the other because we don't know where to go with it and what area it should be in. We then have the items that we can't part with because it belonged to mom or grandma and the ever standing 'guilt feeling' of disposing of it. We can't stick to a schedule because we keep adding more and more things to our list of things to do and places to be. Our desks at work are piled high with papers in 'half finished' stages of completion. We plan to do things and go places for an 'out' but either we don't have the money to do it the way we would like or we can't take the time to have some fun because of all of the jobs that we haven't finished yet either at work or at home.
Time management becomes a problem because we are constantly cleaning and picking up the same clutter from the same rooms. We spend countless hours in a year looking for items and can't find. We now have a money management problem because we can't find those things and are constantly running to the store to replace items that we have 'somewhere', but can't find. Our stress levels are going up constantly and we then have to go to the doctor, to get medication to keep our bodies under control, due to the stress. Our clutter has now controlled our lives!
Ask yourself four key questions in order to help to get clutter in your life under control.
Do I really need it?
When was the last time you used it and is it really necessary?
Will it change my life for the better or for the worse, if I don't have it?
If I keep it, where should I store it, display it and what area of the home or office will I use it?
These key questions will help you to decide which things are taking over your life and will help you to get rid of the hoarding that you are doing. It will give you space that you never had before, organize all of your storage areas and give you extra time (less cleaning) to enjoy the fun things in life.
Check those closets for clothes that are too small, out of date and things that you haven't another piece to match it too. Get rid of those magazines or cut out the information that you want to keep and put it in a binder for easy reference. Those pretty little knick knacks are nice, but they collect dust and it takes time to clean them, so why waste time that you could use out on the golf course, fishing or relaxing? Put all of those papers into a filing system that is easy for you to control. Receipts, statements, appointments, repairs etc can all be controlled, with the help of a filing cabinet, folders and a calendar.
Don't let clutter control your life; you control the clutter!
Jan Hayner is a Professional Organizer that helps you to control clutter, get organized and save time and money. Go to Organizing and Cleaning tips and Hints at http://www.organizingyourlifetheeasyway.com for your free checklists and pamphlets to help you take back control and organize of your life the easy way.
Jan Hayner is a Professional Organizer, Easy Home Organizing offers tips and hints on home organizing and house cleaning shortcuts for men, women, parents, senior citizens and kids. Monthly newsletter, checklists and free pamphlets '50 Things to Organize in 10 Minutes or Less, GuiltBusters for Working Moms and 50 House Cleaning Shortcuts' are available to guide you. You can read more about her at her website http://www.organizingyourlifetheeasyway.com.
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» left by Kimberly(623) Kimberly (195 days 21 hours ago.)
It sounds like you have visited my house. I'm trying to stay with the 4 second rule. If I can't decide in 4 seconds if it is keep or throw, I throw. Of course everyone else in my family has their own clutter problems, so my house still has it's share.
Very good suggestions. Kimberly Respond to this comment
» left by Jan Hayner(4,961) Jan Hayner (195 days 6 hours ago.)
Thank you for the comment Kimberly. I know what you mean, I have 4 grown kids and 8 grandkids, but grandma's house is the meeting place (and thruthfully, I don't think anyone has really moved out). However, now I have things under control and it is a blessing. Use small techniques at a time, and no one knows that you are changing their lives!
Jan
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