Rewards for clearing clutter.  First, clearing clutter moves you out of the past and into the future--so you can easily step into the downsize process.  Second, because you're no longer dealing with the physical, mental and emotional energy it takes to manage your stuff...you immediately increase your personal energy-- you begin cutting all those individual threads attached to you and all your stuff and immediately begin to feel lighter, which results in a simpler life.  And third, when you let go of the possessions and stuff that no longer aligns with what you really want or that you no longer need (lawn mowers and snow blowers, memorabilia, papers and books, and clothes that will never fit again) you make room for new things, exciting things, new opportunities and new experiences to come into your life.  No matter what your end goal: decluttering, simplifying, or getting ready to downsize to a smaller space, here is the first of my Six Tips for De-cluttering and Downsizing Success.

Homes for everything. My 30-second promise is that you can find anything and everything in 30 seconds or less if everything has a Home and it's always living there.  Put things back in their Homes as soon as you've finished using it.  As you're packing use a basket or shoebox as a Home for all your packing supplies: tape, scissors, marking pens, paper for notes, and labels. Put the packing supplies back in their Home so you can find them in 30 seconds or less. 

Home ideas. If it doesn't have a Home, build one.  Consider these options.  First, Plastic Envelopes (string, Velcro or snap/button). I use them for Travel Homes. When planning a trip, e-tickets, passports, activities, maps, tour packages, people's addresses and phone numbers, directions, and articles about the area all go in my travel envelope. Then when we're ready to head out, the envelope goes in my carry-on bag. While we're gone, all our receipts go into the envelope. When I get home it gets reviewed and purged, reconciled, and ready for the next trip.  You can use them for projects, presentations, meetings, or any other project to keep everything in one place. 

Next, poly Project Pockets  (closed on two sides) are used for short-term projects. You can also use poly File Jackets (closed on three sides). I currently have a red project pocket for our 'Move Project'. We are getting ready to sell and find a smaller home. My folder includes realtor information, wish list for what we want in the new home, to do list for getting current home ready for market, information the realtor wants, remodel projects and contacts, and communications. I never have to guess where something is if it relates to our 'move', and I can easily find it in 30 seconds or less.

I love my January-December Accordion File for receipts.  I quit micro-filing years ago (one file for insurance, files for each credit card, utilities and on and on). Now all receipts, invoices, paperwork goes into the accordion file.  It's easy to retrieve and review for refunds or budget info or for tax prep at year's end.

We keep a separate "Taxes" folder throughout the year (plastic file jacket, above) to simplify tax prep. Donation receipts and thank you letters, check registers, W-2, 9, 1099, and stock info all goes into this folder.  I can get our taxes ready to hand to the preparer in less than 90 minutes.

This week consider the rewards for letting go of items that you no longer love, use or need (no Function) and build Homes for things you need to find in 30 seconds or less. And as you navigate your daily activities, ask yourself if each item has a Home and a Function?  Maybe that file has a Home but it is outdated information so no longer has a Function. Perhaps the broken lamp has a Home on the work bench, but it's been there for two years. Does that lamp continue to have a Function?  Maybe that pile of papers on your desk has a Function, but no Home.  This week celebrate rewards, create Homes, and question the Function of your stuff.

Until Next Week