Dear   ,    

Summer is here, and yard sales are springing up everywhere.  Could a yard sale help get you motivated to move some of the clutter out of your basement, attic, kitchen or bedroom? Or do you have high-value items that you would let go of if you could get some money back for them from a consignment shop?  The Recycling Corner this month examines some of these alternative ways to move things out of your home and into the hands of others. Read on to help determine which choices are best for you.  

In this month's feature article, read about how to change your organizing habits one step at a time.  Organizing can feel great, but it takes time to learn, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't all happen at once.  This article provides some tips to get you moving and staying on the path to organization.

Summer is another great time to clear out the clutter, so enjoy the beautiful weather, and take advantage of the longer days to make more space in your home by clearing out the stuff you no longer need.  I hope these tips help. 

- Maryann Murphy 

   One Step at a Time

Whether you're downsizing in preparation for a move, tackling a houseful of clutter, or trying to put a new organizing system in place, one common approach actually gets in our way and often leaves us feeling overwhelmed.  Trying to make major changes like these all at once tends to leave us frustrated and worried that we can't do it.

A more effective strategy is to take just one step at a time.  It took you more than a few days to accumulate all the things you own, so it's pretty likely to take more than few days to reevaluate it all, decide on what to get rid of, figure out what to do with it, and actually move it where you want it to go. 

Give your next organizing project its best chance of succeeding: 

• Give yourself plenty of time for decision-making.
• Focus on one room at a time, or even one part of a room at a time (one piece of furniture, one closet, etc.). 
• Be realistic about how much you can accomplish in a half-hour, hour, or even a full day of decluttering.  I like to set a timer to help keep focused and keep from getting overwhelmed.  For most people it's better to do a few hours once a week than to do one monster session that makes you never want to organize again!
• Expect to make multiple passes at decisions to be made.  Sometimes you decide to keep certain things the first time you sort through them, but upon a second look a few week later, you realize that you really don't need that item after all.  This is perfectly normal and part of the process.  Plan for it.
• Changing habits takes time.  As you develop your new organizing habits, pick one or two to work on for at least 3 weeks.  Don't try to change all your habits at once.  Once you've gotten used to one new organizing habit, THEN add another one.  You'll be more likely to keep these new habits if you give each of them your full attention for 21 days.

Lao Tzu said "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  Take your first (or next) step today, and then take it one step at a time!

How do you decide whether to donate, sell, recycle or trash the clutter you are trying to remove from your space? Each option has its place, depending on the item itself and its condition, the resources available in your community, and the amount of time and energy you have to deal with it. This month we'll focus on ways you can sell your unwanted items as a way to continue their useful lives while making some money back on them.

Consignment:  What a great concept - we can bring our valuables to someone else with a storefront and a regular supply of customers, and let them sell our things for us!  However, the standards for what consignment stores will accept are usually quite high.  Things need to be in excellent condition, and fairly new, except for vintage or antique shops, of course.  There are usually limits on how many items you can bring in at a time, and even how often you can go back with more.  If you're willing to have your things evaluated, knowing they may reject many of them, this may be for you.  You usually need to make an appointment or get there early to avoid waiting on line to get your things evaluated.  Read the guidelines for your local consignment shop in advance, so you don't waste your time or theirs bringing in items they cannot accept.  You'll also need to follow up afterwards to get paid if your items are sold.