TESTIMONIES

 

 

I expected things to get organized and maybe, just maybe I could keep it that way, but the big "AH HA" moment was like a breath of fresh air, the sense of lightness  and freedom from all that stuff that was just weighing me down.   This has been an evolution of life for me.  I ask you to help me organize an office desk and you have changed my life forever!

FIVE CLUTTER HABITS WORTH BREAKING:  Just in time for Spring Cleaning!

Author Don Aslett, said that "Clutter is like yeast -- it grows by itself." It's true. Left unchecked, clutter can take over. I've been in a few houses where it did take over. It's possible to regain CONTROL. But first you must decide to change a few HABITS if you want the improvement to last. Here are five easy clutter habits to break:

SAVING TOO MUCH FOR TOO LONG

Sometimes people save things "just in case." Then when they clean out the attic, they find that the item has yellowed, become brittle, or has otherwise moved beyond the point of USEFULNESS. It's so much better to get your "extras" into the hands of someone now, before they're no longer useful. A good rule of thumb is: If you haven't used an item in a year or two, let it go. Review your COLLECTIONS. Are you still interested in them? If your interests have changed, pass them on or sell them on eBay. Watch out for kid clutter. As kids grow, pass on their clothes, books, toys and bikes to their younger friends or a local charity. Avoid filling every flat surface in your home. A good design principle is to allow some empty space so your eye has a chance to rest.

PROCRASTINATION

Let your mantra be: Do it NOW! When you return from the grocery store, put the groceries away the minute you walk in the door. When you return from vacation, unpack your bags right away. Deal with things promptly while the task is still easy. If you let the mail pile up, forget to hang up your clothes, or neglect the laundry, the task grows exponentially. MAINTENANCE is much easier done in small doses.

INDECISION

This is a subset of procrastination. If a person is unsure of what action to take, they DELAY. For example a woman may be unable to decide if she wants to keep a dress that she hopes to fit into again, so it remains in the back of the closet. A couple may not be sure if they want to go to a party, so the invitation lays on the counter for days. Or perhaps the family cook is vacillating about that stack of recipes crammed into the kitchen drawer, even though the recipes haven't been looked at in six months. Try setting a DEADLINE. If the task isn't completed by the deadline, it indicates a lack of interest.

EXCESSIVE CONSUMERISM

Every day, there is a full scale assault on each and every one of us to BUY. We are inundated with ads on the radio the moment we wake or while we eat breakfast watching the morning show on television. On the drive to work there are billboards making promises of a better life. In the office, there are pop-ups ads tempting us from the computer screen. Once home, there are catalogs and sales flyers. And credit card offers no doubt to help us pay for all of the products we've been instructed to buy. It's easy to fall VICTIM to advertising. The best advice is to avoid buying duplicate items, practice delayed gratification and to stop purchasing once you've run out of room. As Will Rogers said: "Quit buying things you do not need, with money you do not have, to impress people you do not like."

IMPULSE PURCHASES

It's easier to avoid making unplanned purchases if you isolate your personal TRIGGER. There are many possibilities such as weekly advertisements, catalogs, or internet shopping. Some people are lured in by a great sale or a two-for-one deal at the mall and as a result they over-buy. Garage and yard sales are a weakness for others. When shopping, pay attention to your MOODS. Resist making purchases to console yourself after a hard day. Become more aware of your habits and personal temptations and then avoid purchasing on auto-pilot.

NOT HAVING A PLACE FOR THINGS

Use the one-in-one-out rule. Which simply means if you bring something into the house, you need to take something else OUT? Once you've decided what will stay, give every single item that you own a place to REST. If it doesn't have a place, it will end up resting on a counter somewhere or under a pile in the corner. Create a specific place that is easily accessible for all of your possessions.