Tag Archives: Clutter

An Olympic-Sized Clean Up

23 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by in Clutter, Personal, Residential

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Olympic - 2Can you imagine how many people and how much time it’s going to take to clean up Sochi after 100,000 were there?

Just cleaning a teenager’s room could be considered an Olympic event, especially if doing closets and under the bed!

Our living areas can become a jumbled mess and we find ourselves stepping over objects or looking for space to put down a drink We step into the kitchen and need to clear a spot to just to begin preparing a meal.

Are you overwhelmed when walking into a room? Do you need to “train before you jump in?

Do you wonder “How did this happen?

Do we, as Americans, “over own”? Based on the Pareto Principle, we only use or wear, about 20% of what we own. So why do we keep all this STUFF?

Here are several justifications we use… 

Reason: “I may not use it, but I paid a lot for it.”  Neiman Marcus

The Challenge: Then why are you keeping the evidence? If you keep it another year, will you have paid less for it?

Reason: “It’s valuable.”

Challenge: Its value is based on what somebody else is willing to pay for it. If you keep a lamp in the attic, it has no value. If you sell the lamp, it has/had value (not to mention you have more space).

Reason: “It was a gift.”

Challenge: The person who gave it to you didn’t mean for it be a burden, it’s o.k. to let go; it doesn’t mean you don’t love the person. (If it makes you feel better, take a photo of it before you “let it go”.)

Reason: “I don’t have time to deal with it.”

Challenge: But you can have your time burdened with facing it everyday? Even if it’s not right in front of you, you still KNOW it’s there and that if you put one more item in that closet or attic you may trigger an avalanche.  (The burden is still there.)reduce, simplify, donate, etc

Here are 6 ways to “Reduce Ownership”

Give-away – it’s a much better feeling to pass on treasures to loved ones
Donate – a box of items here and there is sometimes easier than trying to do it all at once (this is my preferred method)
On-Line – eBay, Craig’s List, Facebook or community boards
On-Site – garage sales and auctioneers
Recycle – Google to find the site closest to you
Toss – call your local city office to see what, where and when to take items or you may want call a refuse company to bring a container to your home
 
Need a little help or encouragement?  Feel free to phone or email!
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Name Your Space!

16 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by in Clutter, Residential

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Pack Rat? Neat Freak? Mr. Clean? Or Perfectionist? 

Are you able to relax in your living space? Do you have ample room to spread out for puzzles, board games or entertaining? Or is your living space a little jumbled and in a muddle?  

Clutter in your physical surroundingsCan you sit down and enjoy your surroundings or are you still semi-consciously seeing the toys strewn and the magazines & newspapers all over? 

Worse yet, do you panic when the doorbell rings and you haven’t had time to “prepare”?

Here are 8 QUICK TIPS to a neater space. Plus, you end up with a clearer MIND and you cut your cleaning time later in the week!   

  1. Have a “home” for everything you own and let everyone know where it is!
  2. Put all your like items together & decorate a box so it feels good to put something away.
  3. Use a basket at the top/bottom of the stairs so the next person by takes the items with them.
  4. Use attractive baskets for hat, mittens, backpacks, etc.  or small dishes for keys at the door etc.
  5. When a friend phones to chat, open a cabinet and find a few things to toss out, we all have a few too many plastic containers or pens that don’t work.
  6. During an evening of television grab a drawer during the commercials and you’ll be surprised how much you can get done.
  7. When it’s time to empty the dishwasher or fold a load of clothes, time yourself!  When you realize how quickly you can get it done, less chance you’ll procrastinate next time.
  8. Finally – If it takes less than 2 minutes, do it immediately, don’t put it off!

 Pour that glass of wine and toast to a tidier room and a tidier mind!toast

10 Christmas Gifts That Don’t Clutter

01 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by in Clutter, Money, Personal, Residential

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It’s that time of year and we’re all being inundated with gifts (and sometimes we are the “inundaters” of gifts) that we won’t know what to do with when the tree comes down.  In the spirit of the season here are some ideas for gifts that almost anyone would be thrilled to receive and won’t take up any space after the holidays.

  1. Movie Tickets – Have a family you’re close to and don’t know what to do?  How about getting tickets for a whole family?  Tape them to a box of Orville Redenbacher’s and wrap in Christmas paper.  This is a real luxury for a family these days and they’ll think of you when they use them! 
  1. Food – There are so many possibilities, ranging from home-made to Harry and David’s Fruit of the Month Club.  The traditional fruit basket is always a hit and edible arrangements are as much a treat as an eye-catcher.  (Let’s ditch the fruit cake this year!) 
  1. Local Theatre – Do you have a friend you can never get together with?  Purchase tickets to an upcoming show and make a date to go together, you’ll make a wonderful memory for both of you and be much more inclined to “save the date”! 
  1. Massages & Facials – Here’s an indulgence that anyone would enjoy – a gift massage is even more relaxing than one that is purchased.  This is heaven to an over-whelmed parent! 
  1. Lessons – New experiences make great memories!  There are so many to choose from whether it is yoga, dancing, golf, ceramics, knitting, horseback riding or swimming.  If you really want to make this special, join your friend or be there to take some photos of them when the day arrives.  
  1. Manicures & Pedicures – another indulgence, but this one can be enjoyed for weeks!  
  1. Books – Does this sound boring? Not to a bookworm!  Receiving a gift card for a Kindle or Nook can be “just what the doctor ordered” to get through the months of January and February!  For a college student a gift card to their college library can take a lot of stress off facing the upcoming semester. 
  1. Gift Cards –retail gift cards are becoming the mainstay of America’s Christmas.  They may be the answer to everything, but take a moment to make it special in the way you give it.  If you have your children make a Christmas card to put this in, you’ll warm their hearts even before they see the gift.  
  1. Experiences – Are there any big events coming up in the next year that someone you know might enjoy?  A few years ago the U.S. Open came to Pittsburgh (Oakmont Country Club) and so I surprised my husband with tickets and another year with tickets to the Preakness.  I made up an official “invitation” to the event using parchment paper and wrapping a ribbon around it and voila!  What events would your friends of family enjoy? 
  1. For the Person Who Has Everything – Give a Gift of Charity in Their Name

The Gift of Remembrance – For the person who has everything, why not give generously in their name? There are so many wonderful opportunities whether it’s their favorite charity or a memorial in the name of their loved ones.

The Gift of Food & Life – Another way to give in another person’s name.   Options include Oxfam, World Vision, Feeding America and so many other great organizations (not to mention there is always your local Food Pantry).

The Gift of Education – School isn’t free or available everywhere.  (We just happen to be abundantly blessed.)  Why not sponsor a child’s schooling for the next year and have a friend receive information and letters of thanks from their child?  I especially recommend a child from Won By One to Jamaica as I’ve worked with this wonderful mission myself for the past 12 years.  (http://www.wonbyonetojamaica.com/school-sponsorship)WB1 - chalkboard

For as little as $25 per month you can open the door to opportunities for a young mind.

Remember almost any gift becomes twice as nice if you include a handwritten note!

Take a moment to thank a friend or family member for a kind word or deed from that year that meant something to you.  Recounting a special memory or a time of laughter with them will make them feel special and touch a chord in their heart (especially more than that Chia pet).

What’s weighing you down?

17 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by in Clutter, Time

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I’m not talking about the plate of strawberry french toast stuffed with syrup and whipped cream you had for breakfast.

I don’t mean the breakfast of strawberry french toast stuffed with syrup and whipped cream. (Which will wear off in a few hours.)

I mean “What is the burden on your shoulders?”   What is the undone thing that’s lurking in the back of your mind?

The more we put something off, the bigger it gets and sometimes it snowballs into guilt.  So we try not to think about it; but when it creeps back in, it’s bigger than before.    

So why do we procrastinate?   It could be that we’re overwhelmed by a project or task and don’t know where to begin.  Sometimes we’re struck by perfection paralyses and the fear of not doing it “well enough” prevents us from even beginning.  And sometimes it’s just because the job is unpleasant and we don’t want to do it. 

Now, how do you make it to “git r done”?  First, identify what you feel you should be doing.  If you can define it in detail, that’s half the battle.  Next, do you know WHY you keep putting this off?  Once you discover the why, you can begin the problem solving. 

If your basement is a disaster, can you visualize what you want it to look like?  Can you work at it in phases, by breaking it into smaller areas, or by similar items?   Can you “chunk” the project into doable time frames so you can celebrate the accomplishments as you make progress? 

If it’s something you just don’t want to do, estimate how much time it will really take and find a way to make it more enjoyable.  If it’s only 15 minutes, you may be able to phone a friend; if it’s a longer project, is there someone you can recruit to help or just keep you company? (Reciprocating with a friend always makes it more fun.)  Sometimes the best motivation is just to put the kitchen timer on and get laser focused to just get it off the list!

Let’s be honest, we all procrastinate, just for different reasons on different tasks. Here are some words to remember:

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.

Is there something you’ve been putting off and found a way to overcome the delaying?  Do you have any tips or suggestions?  Please share, we would love to hear from you!

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