| When you walk in the front door of your home after a | | | | out of the closet or drawer. Vacuum and/or clean out |
| long, hard day, do you feel soothed, comfortable, and | | | | all dust and dirt thoroughly. Have rags and antibacterial |
| truly at home? Or does it look like a scene from the | | | | cleansers handy and perhaps an air freshener. Polish |
| film Animal House? | | | | the furniture. You may wish to line drawers with paper, |
| Imagine looking around you and only seeing, feeling, | | | | and/or add organizational dividers. |
| hearing, and smelling appealing things. Imagine coming | | | | 4. Next, sort items into piles of (A) must keep because |
| home from work to a home where you love every | | | | I use it frequently, (B) not sure; haven’t used in a |
| single thing you see. Where every single thing has a | | | | while, and (C) haven’t used in years and frankly |
| purpose and a space, and you know exactly where | | | | forgot I had it. |
| everything is, and it all functions beautifully. | | | | 5. Put all of C items in a garbage bag and label for |
| You CAN live this way! | | | | your favorite church, charity, homeless people, shelter, |
| Do you have clutter in your home or office? Are you | | | | mission, or Salvation Army. Alternatively, you can make |
| behind on bills? Are there stacks of papers or other | | | | labels for these items for a future garage sale. . |
| items that have been there since the 80’s, and | | | | Remember, nothing is gone forever. If you find later |
| you are waiting to get “a round tuit?” | | | | that you discarded something you still need, you can |
| Are you simply a busy person, or are you a packrat or | | | | get another….perhaps an updated, better one. |
| a hoarder? If you are a chronic packrat or hoarder, | | | | When we hold onto the past, we deny the future |
| you may consider seeking professional help and/or | | | | possibilities of improvement |
| medication to feel safe without the | | | | 6. Sort A items in an organized fashion: color code, |
| “protection” that all your | | | | size, etc. You can get very inexpensive racks and |
| “stuff” provides. | | | | containers for drawers and closets that will keep all |
| There many times is a direct psychological parallel to | | | | your items neat and orderly. Call me anal, but my |
| “stuff” out there; whatever is going on in | | | | closet is arranged (and labeled) DRESSES, SUITS, |
| your head is generally reflected in your house. Certainly | | | | BLOUSES, PANTS, SWEATERS, and all color coded |
| some of us are more affected by our environments | | | | within the respective category. A REAL time saver |
| than others. Some of us are more sensitive than | | | | when I want to mix and match. |
| others. Some seem to frankly be completely oblivious | | | | 7. Revisit B items and rate each on a scale of 1-10 in |
| to mess. Some actually swear that they do better with | | | | attachment, 10 being you really feel attached/scared to |
| a mess, but it is generally an organized mess, yet | | | | let it go. Anything scoring 5 or lower goes you know |
| they’d be even more functional if their | | | | where - - in with the C items for recycling or garage |
| environment were more efficient. Yet underneath it all, | | | | sale. Another way to deal with the Bs is by asking |
| they are simply comfortable with the familiar. | | | | yourself: Is this item a reminder of my past, or in line |
| Many people would love to have an organized | | | | with my future? |
| environment, but keep procrastinating while their piles | | | | 8. Repeat this cycle in every area of your home or |
| of stuff and their guilt, fear and anxiety increase! Here | | | | office, for each drawer, closet, area that is cluttered. |
| are Ten Simple Steps to get you motivated to clearing | | | | You will probably feel like your home has “lost |
| clutter and having a cleaner house, head, and life: | | | | weight,” as indeed it has. Enjoy the feeling! |
| 1. Make a list of every closet, drawer, etc. that needs | | | | Celebrate with that favorite meal, beverage, flowers, |
| to be cleared. For example: Master bathroom: 8 | | | | etc. You’ve earned a treat. |
| drawers, one linen closet. Home office: 6 desk | | | | 9. With all the items you are letting go, have a garage |
| drawers, 5 filing cabinets drawers, sofa stacked with | | | | sale and make a few extra bucks. Consider having an |
| papers. This crucial first step is not to overwhelm you; | | | | eBay seller handle this for you, and make some |
| quite the contrary, it’s to give you the big | | | | money. Or give away the items to a friend, a college |
| picture so you can break it down into easily | | | | student, to a shelter or Salvation Army or a church. |
| manageable baby steps. Allow yourself all the time | | | | Remember, you are not losing these |
| you need; I’d recommend at least one or two | | | | things…..you are recycling, sharing with others |
| hours a week. This entire project may take you | | | | who can really use them. You’ve outgrown |
| several weeks or even months to complete. But you | | | | them. Others need them more than you do now. |
| will feel better every single step of the way. Just | | | | 10. If just the thought of this project is overwhelming, |
| imagine the burden being lifted by simply starting this | | | | you might consider hiring a master of Feng Shui, a |
| project! Some couples and families find creative ways | | | | personal organizer, or a clutter buster, to come in and |
| to do this together. | | | | work with you patiently through every step of the |
| 2. Next, prioritize your list to see which areas need to | | | | process. Be prepared for emotions to come up. A |
| be tackled first. If you are close to bankruptcy, you | | | | good Feng Shui master or organizer will know how to |
| might want to handle your office first. If your spouse is | | | | walk you through this crucial phase. Keep a journal |
| researching divorce attorneys because of the | | | | close by if you are working this alone, and write out |
| bedroom clutter, you might want to start there. Get | | | | your feelings. Bottling them inside you is exactly what is |
| your list in order, and choose one room, one area to | | | | bottlenecking your home’s energy. |
| make your debut. Pick your favorite time of day and | | | | After you’re done, you will want to put a |
| day of the week to work on this project. Write it in | | | | maintenance plan in effect to insure continual comfort |
| your calendar/datebook/Blackberry and honor this | | | | and psychological health. Once a week, more or less, |
| date with yourself as if it were as important as a | | | | check in and survey your home. Throw away or file |
| dentist or doctor appointment so you are | | | | away everything you can. Organize bills in a |
| psychologically geared up for it. If letting go is already | | | | chronological fashion and keep in some sort of TO BE |
| difficult, why not set yourself up for success by | | | | PAID stack. Look at it every week and see what |
| making it easier in every way possible? Enroll a friend | | | | needs to be paid. Debts (like excess pounds!) are |
| of family member to help you, but only if he/she can | | | | definitely a form of clutter. Check out your closets and |
| be lovingly decisive. If you have children, allow them to | | | | clothes drawers with every season’s change, |
| help you. Know that you are modeling excellent | | | | or at the New Year, to clear out the C items, and |
| behaviors for them to take on and pass on to their | | | | survey the B items. |
| children. You are training them to be more decisive, | | | | A healthy psyche can flow as easily as a ship on an |
| organized, and let the small stuff go. Wear comfy | | | | open sea. Imagine how difficult it would be for a ship to |
| clothes, put on your favorite upbeat music, and have | | | | sail through cluttered waters. It would take enormous |
| your favorite meal and beverage (or fresh flowers, | | | | energy and time to maneuver around obstacle after |
| etc.) ready for you as a reward when you complete | | | | obstacle. |
| this. | | | | Here’s to smooth sailing on the sea of life! |
| 3. On D-Day (De-clutter Day): Take every single thing | | | | |