De-Clutter to De-Stress Your Life
Piles here; Piles there; Piles, piles everywhere! Can you relate?
Does this sound like your home, office or car? Can’t find what you need when you need it because…well, you forgot what pile it’s in or is it under? Think you can never get out from under all this mess?
Packrats just love to hold on to things and that’s really all they are – just things. And we leave this world taking not one single thing with us, yet we take up every available inch of counter space, closet space, attic space, desk space, and drawer space until there’s literally is no room to jam just “one more thing.” And all this causes is a lot of stress. God forbid anyone just drops by to say hello – they really need to call far enough in advance to give you all the time you need to throw all that “stuff” into a closet or drawer – any place here it’s not so visible!
Here are some ideas to help you with the fear that keeps you immobilized, unable to even begin this monumental de-cluttering task:
• When in doubt, throw it out.
• If you haven’t worn it at all this season, give it to someone who can really use it!
• Handle each piece of paper (i.e., mail) only once. Either file it, act on it or throw it out!
• Invite some guests over for dinner – a sure-fire way to get you to clean it up!
• Don’t be too sentimental – keeping every single art project your son did in grade school is not sentimental – it’s crazy! Pick the “best of the best” and toss out the rest!
• Attack your clutter in small chucks so you don’t become overwhelmed – or worse – discouraged and unable to complete a task. Keep it bite-sized, just like your food!
The key to a clutter-free anything? Simplify, simplify, simplify. Once you get there – you may find it’s actually much easier to stay there! So what are you waiting for? Get going!
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