When you think of getting organized, you most likely think of a magazine picture which shows a room with pretty little containers perfectly lined on a shelf. But getting organized is so much more than buying pretty containers to keep your stuff in. It is learning new strategies that will help your life, work and stuff flow. Clutter represents a clog in the flow of your life, work or stuff. Beating clutter requires building new habits, applying new organizational methods, and creating new routines.
Leave room to grow. Don't buy containers that are the exact size for what you have to store. If you don't leave room for growth, within no time your stuff will be laying next to the container instead of in it because you've run out of room.
Too many files. Don’t make your filing system overly complicated by having too many files, or the filing just won’t get done. Rather than having a folder for each of your 3 cars, just have one folder for all 3 of them together.
Too far to go. If you recycle and the only place you have designated to hold your recycling is in the garage, chances are that the recycling will pile up in your living space because it’s too far to go to the garage each time you finish a can of soda. Invest in a second kitchen sized trash can to hold the recycling until you can take it all to the garage.
Landing place. Designate a landing space, just inside the door you use, for your purse, keys, book bags and mail to land. If you choose another place that is further away, chances are things will just get set down wherever. This will add to your stress when you’re in a rush and can’t find these things.
Cute containers. Avoid buying all of the cute containers that you just know will work great for something. They normally don't. Wait until you know exactly what you need a container for before buying one.
Consolidate items. Combine open containers of the same item together into one container (i.e., lotion, Q-tips, bandaids).
Paper piles. Take steps to stop junk mail. Determine what action is needed on each paper. Keep papers that require the same action together (i.e., calls to make, bills to pay, current projects, etc) until you have time to take the necessary action.
Make decisions. Clutter is delayed decisions. The more decisions you make about your things, your schedule and your tasks, the less clutter you'll have to deal with.
Good intentions paired with no action. Sound familiar? I'm gonna fix that. I'm gonna fit back into that. I'm gonna drop that off at the donation site, I'm gonna return that to the store/family member/friend. Either take the action you say you are gonna or let go of the item.
"But it was a gift." Just because someone bought you something as a gift doesn't mean that you have to keep it. If you don't love it, or you know you won't use it, you shouldn't keep it.
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