Clutter and disorganisation, whether in the home or office, can sometimes feel overwhelming. Over the years, homes of many families through out the country have and will accumulate keepsakes and other items we are afraid to call junk. If you want to get more organised and rid yourself of the clutter in your home you will need to learn how to throw away or give away meaningless items that are just sitting around taking up space in your home.
Remember when you first moved into your home and the only thing in the house was furniture and necessities? That happens mainly when we move, because we just don’t see the need in carrying everything to the new home where you want to make a fresh start. Many times some of it stays in boxes, never to be opened, and others you throw or give it away. You can accomplish the same thing without having to box everything up and move to a new place.
Here is a list of tips you can use to organise your home. Of course this is not going to be completed all in one day. Think about it, it took years to build up and it will take more than one day to fix it. The job will not be quite as tough as you expect though, because you will be doing it a little at a time. You just need to start slow.
1. You will want to start out by doing a little bit every day, and you will want to use a timer. Watch out, because this can become compulsive. Once you are on a roll you won’t want to stop. Don’t burn yourself out! You only want to do a little at a time. Using a timer make sure you only do two sessions at a time. Your house didn’t get this away in a day, so you won’t be able to declutter it overnight. By doing just a little at a time, you will be surprised to see that in a couple of months you will have the entire house organised.
2. You will need some equipment so gather up three boxes, markers, garbage bags and a dusting rag. Label the boxes “Give Away”, “Throw Away” and “Put Away”. Then you can line the “Throw Away” box with a garbage bag.
3. Set your time for 1 hour (or you can set for a shorter amount of time). Then get started on the job working as quickly as you can. Do not overwhelm yourself be pulling out more than you can deal with in that hour. You may only get one drawer done, or just one shelf done, but you have made a good start. Don’t try to do them all at once.
4. It is usually best to start at the entrance of a room and work your way around the room clockwise. You will work better if you don’t skip around. You may be inclined to save the most dreaded job for last, but the best way is to deal with it as you get to it. Once you have completed that room, you can move on to the next.
5. Now you are ready to start! You have your boxes nearby and your dusting rag in hand, so start out by cleaning out and getting rid of the things that belong somewhere else in the “Put Away” box. As you come across trash, put it into the “Throw Away” box. All donations will go to the “Give Away” box. Don’t worry about not having a place for some of the things you will be keeping. By the time you are finished you will have a place.
6. You will need to ask yourself some questions as you are going through the clutter.
a. Do I really like this item?
b. Do I use this item often?
c. Have I used this item sometime in the last year?
d. Is it garbage or does it still work?
e. Could someone else use this item?
f. Do I have another one that I like better?
g. Do I really need two of these things?
h. Is there a sentimental attachment to this item, such as it once belonged to my mother or a loved one?
i. Does this item bring back bad memories when I look at it?
You may want to get rid of everything that makes you sad and keep only the things that make you smile.
7. Once your “Throw Away” bag is full, tie it up and take it out to the garbage bin or even the back of the truck. Just make sure it goes out of the house! Replace the bag in the “Throw Away” box and keep on going until the timer goes off.
8. When the “Give Away” box gets full you will need to tape it up and place it in your car, so you will not forget to drop it off wherever you donate items. This is another box you will want to get out of the house. Get a new “Give Away” box and keep on going.
9. Once the “Put Away” box gets full you will want to carry it around the house and distribute the items where they belong. If you have a designated spot for the item, put it there. If you don’t, then put it in the room where it should go, and you will be able to find a place when you are finished organising all the rooms.
10. Once the timer goes off, you will need to empty all your boxes, and put them away for tomorrow, when you will start again.
© Copyright 2009 Karen Perkins All rights reserved
Karen Perkins of Clear and Clutterfree is a small business owner based in Sydney, Australia. With qualifications in Counselling, Business Management and Training, Karen provides professional decluttering and organising services and is a member of Australasian Association of Professional Organisers AAPO.
For free tips and links visit http://www.clutterfree.com.au
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