Paper clutter. It is the most frequently mentioned clutter in America! Whatever happened to going paperless? Instead, we all have our own printer-scanner-fax combos! We have super-sized our home offices. In fact, many of us now have a "home office" whether or not we have a home-based business. That is something to think about. While you are thinking, consider decluttering and simplifying the household paperwork filing system.
When my filing cabinets and paper storage boxes became full, I knew it was time to make another effort to unclutter the household paperwork filing system. As I hunkered on the floor, weeded out, reorganized, and making new files, I learned a lot about household files:
1. Some files can and do age out over time. Clutter happens because Life happens. Life moves along, but the paper file created by the life event (a purchase, death, job change, hobby...) lingers, and lingers, and lingers.
2. Files that get too thick can be split. One way to split them is to look at dates and separate them chronologically (2002-2007, 2008-). Another way is to give each subcategory its own file (A vacation folder might become: Vacations Abroad, Vacations USA, Vacations Local).
3. Several thin files on a related topic can sometimes be consolidated. I think I found a craft folder and a hobby folder that both held similar things, as well as a long-term plans folder and a retirement folder. Keep an eye out for redundancies that may creep into your filing system.
4. Finally, keep an eye out for files that can go to long-term storage in a file box. Not everything in the family file cabinet needs to be referred to regularly or even stored there. Tip: If you pull out files you aren't using very often, you can leave empty folders in the cabinet with a sheet in each that refers you to the location of the file box, or you can keep a file index listing of all your folders and indicate which ones are in the file box as opposed to the file cabinet.
If you can shred and recycle instead of purchasing another file box, that is great, but don't be hard on yourself if your choice is to get another file box. The trick is to keep your household filing cabinet from getting too crowded to be functional for you. Life happens and as long as it does, it will continue to generate paperwork.
Showing posts with label clutter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clutter. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Don't have time to declutter? Why to declutter today
Don't have time to declutter? We live busy, stressful, modern lives. Why bother with clutter clearing? Here are some important reasons to consider getting rid of the clutter today. Besides, not taking the time to unclutter may be costing you more than you think.
Clutter wastes valuable time. Literally. According to the American Demographics Society, Americans, as a whole, spend 9 million hours per day looking for lost or misplaced items. Do you have time to spare?
Clutter costs you money. When you can't find something, you go out and buy it. Why spend time and money to purchase something you already own. If you don't believe me, check out the duplicates in your spice rack, clothing closet, and bathroom drawers just for starters.
Clutter is the current American epidemic. There are television shows, magazine articles, and numerous books and experts out there. Still, we struggle. If technology helps us go "paperless," many of us still go through a lot of printer ink! Not to mention, our closets, drawers, and cupboards are still crammed full.
In addition to saving valuable time and money, a little clutter clearing offers many other benefits. Consider that it may actually take less time and energy to deal with clutter than to suffer from it. People consistently over-estimate the time it will take to make those piles go away--the piles that nag at them, wear them down, and prevent their homes from being the relaxing, restoring spaces they can be.
If the piles were gone, you could enjoy more control over your life. You would know where the things you own are, and you would only keep things that are beautiful or useful to you today. You would have greater peace of mind--you would have less, literally, to store, maintain, keep track of, and worry about. You would enjoy order and calmness. There wouldn't be frantic last-minute hunts for things. Finally, you would have more time and energy for your priorities, and a home environment that nurtures and supports you instead of dragging you down. Still can't take time to declutter? Think again!
Clutter wastes valuable time. Literally. According to the American Demographics Society, Americans, as a whole, spend 9 million hours per day looking for lost or misplaced items. Do you have time to spare?
Clutter costs you money. When you can't find something, you go out and buy it. Why spend time and money to purchase something you already own. If you don't believe me, check out the duplicates in your spice rack, clothing closet, and bathroom drawers just for starters.
Clutter is the current American epidemic. There are television shows, magazine articles, and numerous books and experts out there. Still, we struggle. If technology helps us go "paperless," many of us still go through a lot of printer ink! Not to mention, our closets, drawers, and cupboards are still crammed full.
In addition to saving valuable time and money, a little clutter clearing offers many other benefits. Consider that it may actually take less time and energy to deal with clutter than to suffer from it. People consistently over-estimate the time it will take to make those piles go away--the piles that nag at them, wear them down, and prevent their homes from being the relaxing, restoring spaces they can be.
If the piles were gone, you could enjoy more control over your life. You would know where the things you own are, and you would only keep things that are beautiful or useful to you today. You would have greater peace of mind--you would have less, literally, to store, maintain, keep track of, and worry about. You would enjoy order and calmness. There wouldn't be frantic last-minute hunts for things. Finally, you would have more time and energy for your priorities, and a home environment that nurtures and supports you instead of dragging you down. Still can't take time to declutter? Think again!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Are you ready to reclaim your happy home from the clutter that has taken over?
Here is a discussion with Marti and Erin of GoodEnough Moms that you can
listen to at their website:
www.goodenoughmoms.com
There are simple ideas we can all do to prevent clutter from taking over our homes.
listen to at their website:
www.goodenoughmoms.com
There are simple ideas we can all do to prevent clutter from taking over our homes.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Clutter clearing for garage clutter and shed clutter
It is time to clear clutter in the garage and shed. We have had the whole winter (in Minnesota, anyway) to ignore the garage and shed areas of our home. If you are like me, those areas sometimes become dumping grounds for things you don't want to clutter up the more lived in areas of your home! Don't have a spot for it? Just take it out to the garage or put it in the shed...Here are some things to consider when clutter clearing the garage and shed.
First, let's sort out the problems with shed and garage clutter. To start with, it is important to recognize that we often aren't the only ones contributing to the clutter problems in those spaces. The garage and shed are often used as a dumping ground by everyone in the family!
Tip 1: You didn't get into this clutter trouble by yourself, so let's all get together to unclutter these areas. If you weren't the only one putting things there, it isn't fair that you be the only one deciding what gets tossed, donated, or relocated. Besides, it is really difficult to decide what to do with someone else's stuff (it often is hard enough to make those clutter decisions about our own things).
Second, people often dread this chore for a variety of reasons (some of these are addressed below). It can be hard to get other family members to commit to helping you. You may be dragging your feet on this one yourself! Who wants to organize a damp, dirty, messy, awkward place?
Tip 2: With garage clutter (and you already know this), it doesn't make sense to park a vehicle, worth thousands of dollars, out in the elements because of maybe a few hundred dollars worth of clutter in the garage. It also helps to take a positive approach to clutter clearing these areas! Start with a plan or goal of what family members want to use this space for! In the case of a garage, this is the last place you see every time you leave your home and the first place you see every time you come home! Make this a pleasant location for you and everyone else in your household. You deserve that!
Third, items thrown in these areas often aren't small and manageable. Bulky, awkward items often wind up in the garage or shed because, well, they don't store easily and they take do take up a lot of space.
Tip 3: Pick a sunny warm day when you, and the other family members helping you, can pull these items out into the driveway or yard where they will be easier to sort, clean, and organize. This won't work very well on a rainy, muddy, or cold day.
Fourth, it does take a lot of time to deal with the awkward clutter that winds up in the garage and shed. Things tend to be bulky, dusty, dirty, or broken. Sometimes there are chemicals that have been kept in these spots too. Clutter clearing is making a lot of decisions that have been postponed, and these decisions have already been postponed at least once--that's how they wound up in the garage!
Tip 4: Allow a large block of time to deal with garage clutter. It takes time to wash, repair, and haul away items or figure out how to properly dispose of any paints or other chemicals. If you set aside at least a half day, maybe more, you won't get frustrated at a job that only gets partially completed.
Finally, after the garage or shed has been emptied out, take the time to dust and sweep before organizing and putting things back. Knock down the cobwebs. Sweep out the sand and dirt! Clean the bugs out of the light fixtures. When things are back in place, go out for ice-cream! Give yourself credit for a difficult job well done.
First, let's sort out the problems with shed and garage clutter. To start with, it is important to recognize that we often aren't the only ones contributing to the clutter problems in those spaces. The garage and shed are often used as a dumping ground by everyone in the family!
Tip 1: You didn't get into this clutter trouble by yourself, so let's all get together to unclutter these areas. If you weren't the only one putting things there, it isn't fair that you be the only one deciding what gets tossed, donated, or relocated. Besides, it is really difficult to decide what to do with someone else's stuff (it often is hard enough to make those clutter decisions about our own things).
Second, people often dread this chore for a variety of reasons (some of these are addressed below). It can be hard to get other family members to commit to helping you. You may be dragging your feet on this one yourself! Who wants to organize a damp, dirty, messy, awkward place?
Tip 2: With garage clutter (and you already know this), it doesn't make sense to park a vehicle, worth thousands of dollars, out in the elements because of maybe a few hundred dollars worth of clutter in the garage. It also helps to take a positive approach to clutter clearing these areas! Start with a plan or goal of what family members want to use this space for! In the case of a garage, this is the last place you see every time you leave your home and the first place you see every time you come home! Make this a pleasant location for you and everyone else in your household. You deserve that!
Third, items thrown in these areas often aren't small and manageable. Bulky, awkward items often wind up in the garage or shed because, well, they don't store easily and they take do take up a lot of space.
Tip 3: Pick a sunny warm day when you, and the other family members helping you, can pull these items out into the driveway or yard where they will be easier to sort, clean, and organize. This won't work very well on a rainy, muddy, or cold day.
Fourth, it does take a lot of time to deal with the awkward clutter that winds up in the garage and shed. Things tend to be bulky, dusty, dirty, or broken. Sometimes there are chemicals that have been kept in these spots too. Clutter clearing is making a lot of decisions that have been postponed, and these decisions have already been postponed at least once--that's how they wound up in the garage!
Tip 4: Allow a large block of time to deal with garage clutter. It takes time to wash, repair, and haul away items or figure out how to properly dispose of any paints or other chemicals. If you set aside at least a half day, maybe more, you won't get frustrated at a job that only gets partially completed.
Finally, after the garage or shed has been emptied out, take the time to dust and sweep before organizing and putting things back. Knock down the cobwebs. Sweep out the sand and dirt! Clean the bugs out of the light fixtures. When things are back in place, go out for ice-cream! Give yourself credit for a difficult job well done.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Do you have photo frame clutter in your home?
A large collection of mismatched picture frames on a table top or shelf can look like clutter. Plus, it becomes time intensive to dust the frames and the table top!
My solution was to buy large inexpensive almost poster-size frames and print out my favorite pictures and make photo collages. Chain retail craft stores often sell many frame options that are reasonably priced. A little acid-free double sided photo tape works well to hold them in place on the mat. I usually choose a mat, again from the craft store, that goes with the colors in the room where I plan to hang it.
I cut and trim each photo as needed to fit even more together. I can group photos together and display over 30 awesome pictures in one simple frame on the wall.
Another trick to reduce the visual clutter of multiple mismatched picture frames is to always buy one color of frame (black or white usually is easiest to find and be consistent). This draws the attention to the pictures rather than to their frames, and it ties the pictures together better as a grouping.
My solution was to buy large inexpensive almost poster-size frames and print out my favorite pictures and make photo collages. Chain retail craft stores often sell many frame options that are reasonably priced. A little acid-free double sided photo tape works well to hold them in place on the mat. I usually choose a mat, again from the craft store, that goes with the colors in the room where I plan to hang it.
I cut and trim each photo as needed to fit even more together. I can group photos together and display over 30 awesome pictures in one simple frame on the wall.
Another trick to reduce the visual clutter of multiple mismatched picture frames is to always buy one color of frame (black or white usually is easiest to find and be consistent). This draws the attention to the pictures rather than to their frames, and it ties the pictures together better as a grouping.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Article by National Home & Living Examiner
Yes, I am a new author, and I am thrilled and honored the National Home & Living Examiner posted an informational article about my book "Clutter Clearing Choices: Clear Clutter, Organize Your Home, & Reclaim Your Life" and some of my clutter clearing tips.
Click here to check it out!
Click here to check it out!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year! To a less cluttered and better organized 2010!
If I could, I would like to designate this "Be Kind to Yourself" Day. The holidays are over, and we may be feeling what? Satiated? Sad? Content? Cluttered? Tired and busy from packing up holiday decorations and party food? Overwhelmed by stuff?
Take it one thing at a time. Please remember you can get more done in 10 or 15 minutes than you think. Whittle away at the post-holiday clutter. Above all, be kind and patient with yourself (and those around you)!
Was one of your New Year's resolutions to get organized? If you are looking for a little inspiration, please check out my book "Clutter Clearing Choices: Clear Clutter, Organize Your Home, & Reclaim Your Life" and the reviews of it on Amazon. If you would like a little ongoing motivational help for clutter clearing and getting organized, consider signing up for my free monthly clutter clearing tips newsletter.
More clutter clearing and home organizing tips coming up in 2010. Stay tuned.
Take it one thing at a time. Please remember you can get more done in 10 or 15 minutes than you think. Whittle away at the post-holiday clutter. Above all, be kind and patient with yourself (and those around you)!
Was one of your New Year's resolutions to get organized? If you are looking for a little inspiration, please check out my book "Clutter Clearing Choices: Clear Clutter, Organize Your Home, & Reclaim Your Life" and the reviews of it on Amazon. If you would like a little ongoing motivational help for clutter clearing and getting organized, consider signing up for my free monthly clutter clearing tips newsletter.
More clutter clearing and home organizing tips coming up in 2010. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
What does our stuff say about us?
Our homes, our cars, our possessions all make a statement to the rest of the world about us. People purchased status symbols hundreds of years ago and they continue to do so today. It has been going on a long time and it appears to be ingrained in our nature.
People buy pianos to put in their living rooms but they don't play them. The piano makes a statement. People buy cars. Even sitting parked on the driveway, those cars make a statement about the people who bought them.
Sometimes people intend their purchases, their stuff, to make a statement. Sometimes they don't intend their stuff to make a statement but it does any way. Why do we look at each other that way?
Is this true? Are we stuck with evaluating each other and ourselves this way? Do we make too many judgments about people based on the stuff that surrounds them? I think so.
I don't want to be judged by my clutter or to judge anyone else based on theirs. I also don't want to be judged by my car or house or stuff or to judge others based on those things.
After all, they are just things. Can we learn to see past the things? What do you think?
People buy pianos to put in their living rooms but they don't play them. The piano makes a statement. People buy cars. Even sitting parked on the driveway, those cars make a statement about the people who bought them.
Sometimes people intend their purchases, their stuff, to make a statement. Sometimes they don't intend their stuff to make a statement but it does any way. Why do we look at each other that way?
Is this true? Are we stuck with evaluating each other and ourselves this way? Do we make too many judgments about people based on the stuff that surrounds them? I think so.
I don't want to be judged by my clutter or to judge anyone else based on theirs. I also don't want to be judged by my car or house or stuff or to judge others based on those things.
After all, they are just things. Can we learn to see past the things? What do you think?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Vacation Clutter?
I am back from a spring break vacation in Colorado with my family. I love vacations but it is hard to get back into routines once we are home again. Clutter seems poised to attack: mail, laundry, paperwork, bills, reading that has piled up, housework, and basic errands like refilling the fridge and restocking the household staples.
Trying to stay calm, I try to work systematically and quickly through these catch-up tasks. I try to be kind to myself and give myself permission to not try to get everything done at once.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Trying to stay calm, I try to work systematically and quickly through these catch-up tasks. I try to be kind to myself and give myself permission to not try to get everything done at once.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Clutter Clearing Choices
Since 1998, I have been speaking and writing about clutter control and home organizing. My first book Clutter Clearing Choices: Clear Clutter, Organize Your Home, & Reclaim Your Life will be published by O books in January, 2010.
I would like to connect and problem-solve with other women interested in these topics. I believe that clearing clutter and improving home organizing can help us free up time and energy for our personal priorities.
If you have any clutter clearing questions, please post them, and I will try to offer a variety of suggestions to help that you can pick and choose from. If you see a question posted that you can help with, please respond to that too.
We can do this! Thank you!
I would like to connect and problem-solve with other women interested in these topics. I believe that clearing clutter and improving home organizing can help us free up time and energy for our personal priorities.
If you have any clutter clearing questions, please post them, and I will try to offer a variety of suggestions to help that you can pick and choose from. If you see a question posted that you can help with, please respond to that too.
We can do this! Thank you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)