evox Television - get organized

Health Benefits of a Clean and Organized Home

evox Television — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 21:49:47 +0000

The state of our home has a significant effect on the way we feel. When our living space is a mess, that usually indicates that we are not completely satisfied with our state of mind. Addressing such issues will significantly improve the quality of life and help us get rid of many bad habits. By optimizing the space and decluttering, we can enjoy many health benefits of a clean and organized home. We will get sick less, have more focus, be more productive, and be motivated to work on our well-being and personal improvement.

Decluttering = De-stressing

Our homes are often full of things we don't use or need. Usually, those items are memorabilia of some moment from the past. Such memories perhaps linger in our minds, and the objects associated with them clutter our living space. Getting rid of these things is not easy for most people. However, only after we realize that less is more will we begin to enjoy our life.

Now, imagine how much time you waste searching for something in a cluttered and messy space. Not to mention all those times you don't find what you're looking for, but you know it's there, somewhere in the house! Believe it or not, research shows that we lose 2 hours a week on such activities. Two hours a week makes 8 hours a month. Eight hours a month is 96 hours a year! That means four days of our lives a year could be spared with a little bit of planning and space maintenance. Home decluttering is the first step in the right direction when it comes to cleaning out the junk and bettering our lives.

A clean home prevents asthma and allergies

Keeping the home clean is one of the basic steps to take if you or your family members have asthma or allergy problems. Every household has hundreds of triggers for these conditions. Most common are animal hair, dust mites, pollen, mold, and mildew. Washing sheets and bedding often and thoroughly cleaning all surfaces in the house can help you maintain a safe environment and keep the symptoms under control. When it comes to fighting asthma, it's also essential to air the rooms as often as possible and perhaps even introduce air humidifiers to your home.

You will get sick less

Viruses and germs reside on many surfaces, sometimes even sticking around for hours. Whether it comes to furniture, personal possessions, or even floors, getting in touch with contaminated surfaces is often inevitable. Considering 80% of illnesses are contracted through direct skin contact, it's crucial to maintain our homes in spotless condition. The health benefits of a clean and organized home are many, but the fact that you will get sick less is perhaps the most important one.

A clean environment improves productivity

Our brain is the most powerful organizing machine. From sorting out our thoughts to planning seconds to years ahead, it's constantly working on conscious and subconscious levels. Moreover, everyone enjoys order and a spotless environment. With clutter and other chores off the list, you'll be able to focus more on the things that matter, whether it comes to work or creativity. A study from Wageningen University in the Netherlands shows that cleanliness also leads to higher work efficiency and satisfaction. It's easier to relax and achieve your full potential with better focus, less stress, and the elimination of different diseases in your space.

Everyday chores will help you stay active

Let's face it — not everyone is a fan of cleaning. For some, it's a relaxing and satisfying procedure, while others hate doing it. However, keeping the home clean is necessary since it will affect many aspects of your life, from personal hygiene to health and time organization. Therefore, to ease the burden of thorough cleaning, take some time off every day to do a few chores. No matter how busy you are, if you organize well, you can dedicate half an hour a day to improve your living space by cleaning, disinfecting, vacuuming, or dusting.

That way, you won't have to spend a lot of time on thorough cleaning. Doing a small but useful thing every day will help you develop a healthy routine as well.

Needless to say, cleaning is also a form of exercise. Thus, it's a great way to stay active and burn some calories, especially if you make it fun by putting some music on and letting your body lead you.

It will improve sleep

A healthy sleep schedule is vital for balancing mental and physical health. Our bodies and minds are very active during the day, and they regenerate and reset during the night. However, with too many things on our minds, it's impossible to sleep well. Stress is everyone's worst enemy, as it can inflict many negative consequences on our well-being. When you organize and tidy up your home, you will be pleased with your achievement. Going to bed with a feeling you've accomplished something, even if it's small, will help you relax.

It can kickstart healthy routines

There are many physical and mental health benefits of a clean and organized home. However, the best one is the correlation of such an environment with the improvement of our well-being. When the space around us makes us happy, productive, and focused, we can achieve great things. Maybe even kickstart some healthy habits and mindfulness. Keeping in mind that a positive mindset attracts positive results, we must set goals and plans in our lives. Bettering our living space will reflect on our motivation and desire for change. This will also create new opportunities and improve our quality of life.

Susan Thornton currently works with All Season Movers as a consultant. She is passionate about helping her clients get the services they need. In her free time, she likes using the experience she has gathered over the years to write articles related to home improvement, moving, and various other topics.

Brand Category:

Living

10 Ways to Nurture Your Mental Health

Mikkie Mills — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 20:50:39 +0000

Prioritizing your mental health can be difficult in a fast-moving world, but it's essential for personal wellness. Your mental condition defines how you experience and live each day. Therefore, it's important to set aside time for assessing your cognitive state. Unfortunately, this can be hard to tackle. So, here are ten ways to begin nurturing your mental health.

1. Stay Organized

It's difficult to stay mentally well if you're regularly worried about losing track of important items. Therefore, it can be a boon to stay organized in every aspect of your life. Methods like using a pay stub template to organize your finances help to keep you informed at all times. An organized individual has far more time and energy to spare each day.

2. Find Unproblematic Friends

The people you spend your time with have a large effect on your mental health. If your friend has toxic tendencies like pushing aside your issues, it isn't worth staying with that individual. Seek out friends that support you and your mental wellbeing. In the event that your mental health declines, you'll have a safe person to go to.

3. Talk To Someone

Sometimes it's best to let your feelings out. Keeping an issue inside, especially when it's one that hurts your self-esteem, can be emotionally corrosive. Whether it's a therapist or a companion, a second party has the ability to give an outside perspective. It may be much easier to decide on the next step after receiving this viewpoint.

4. Love Yourself

Loving yourself can sound basic and, unfortunately, extremely difficult for many, however, it's vital to accomplish. You can't begin to heal until you feel it's deserved. When you begin to experience negative emotions, focus on what you enjoy about your basic personality. It's tempting to think that you should analyze your negative thoughts, but positive emotions are far more productive.

5. Create Goals

Mental health is a vague subject that can be arduous to navigate. You can make this process easier in one regard by creating clear and attainable life goals for yourself. Having a set destination in sight is likely to make you more efficient day-to-day. When you achieve one of these goals, you may also gain more self-assurance.

6. Give To Others

Confronting your mental health requires a fair amount of hope and positivity. Helping others is an excellent way to boost these traits. After all, doing so is usually a selfless act that improves the life of a stranger. Volunteering your time can also distract your thoughts from unpleasant mental spirals.

7. Calm Your Thoughts

Dealing with the multitudes of thoughts crowding your mind, particularly when many are negative, may cause substantial anxiety. This is why calming your thoughts is a helpful daily ritual. It's easier to navigate cognitive minefields with a cool head. From meditation to personal prayer, there is a multitude of practices made for this purpose.

8. Keep Active

Other than improving your physical health, which is certainly important to maintain, exercising is excellent for your mental state. Physical activity releases endorphins in your body, which are basically hormones that make you happy. Exercise also distracts your mind from any destructive thoughts. Your brain tends to become more focused on the workout than anything else.

9. Make a Schedule

If your life isn't already based around a hefty schedule, you're likely more susceptible to falling into a depression. It provides more time to become trapped in a negative mindset. When your mental health is at risk, it's best to stay busy. Give yourself productive tasks throughout the day, even if it just involves reorganizing your space. Schedules also help you achieve more during the day, which creates a sense of accomplishment.

10. Eat Healthily

Poor physical health isn't just detrimental to your body. It can also devolve your mental health. A healthy diet may keep your body from developing numerous mental conditions, including Alzheimer's.

Mental health is a tricky issue to deal with, but it must be addressed regularly. Be honest with yourself and know what needs to be done. The sooner your mind is content, the sooner you may find success in life.

Brand Category:

Evolve

Mindful Monday: 3 Ways to Get Past a Struggle

Andrew Mellen — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 18:51:31 +0000

“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” ~Napoleon Hill

Sometimes I wish that weren’t true.

I can accept that continuous effort is required to achieve something—it’s the idea that growth involves a degree of struggle that can sometimes sap my energy and make me want to take a nap rather than move forward.

If organizing ourselves and our time were easy, we would always be on time and never waste a second looking for anything.

Unfortunately, Americans waste 1 year of their lives looking for lost or misplaced items. Time is a precious resource and the best way to maximize it is by simplifying our lives and staying organized.

One of the common threads I hear from those I consult is: overcoming struggle and re-engaging when you feel overwhelmed.

It’s notable that struggle is present at every stage of a process—at the beginning of a project, when a bump in the road occurs, and even when the finish line is in sight and it would seem easier to complete the project than to walk away.

When you hit a wall, it can be hard to get up and try again.

Most of us (myself included) would rather avoid the wall and move onto something new—the low-hanging fruit. It only grows more complicated when another person or people are involved and potential conflict becomes part of the struggle.

If you find yourself up against a wall, these three things will help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible with renewed commitment and even enthusiasm:

1) Accept the fact that struggle/frustration are a necessary part of the process.

To build muscle, you first have to rip it apart. And the more organized you become, the less you’ll struggle with physical clutter and the more you’ll struggle with emotional and psychological clutter. The physical stuff is always the easiest to tackle.

2) Remember that you deserve to be happy.

Happiness is available to us all. It doesn’t require money or talent or even great intellect—just willingness to experience it.

3) Showing up is 90% of the process.

So many people can’t even get into the on-deck circle, let alone take their turn at bat. Just showing up puts you in the game and once you’re in the game, anything can happen—and something definitely WILL happen. Don’t miss out on what’s possible by not even playing.

If you can’t avoid struggling, it’s helpful to know that everyone does it and that everything you see around you involved someone’s struggle to turn an idea into something real.

Now it’s your turn to do the same.

Brand Category:

Evolve

Mindful Monday - Pressure and Hellen Keller

Andrew Mellen — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 19:06:17 +0000

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.” ~ Helen Keller

How optimistic are you? Are you a glass half-full or glass half-empty kind of person?

When you wake up in the morning, are you generally hopeful about the day’s outcome or dreading something awful happening? Is that based on fact or story?

No doubt there are or will be events in our lives that will create a sense of dread or even stop us in our tracks. That should be an exception, not the rule—and based on something scarier than the sad corner in your basement or the box of photos under your bed.

Image what Helen Keller faced and overcame and suddenly that jumble of dead electronics on your closet floor seems rather tame.

Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right,” and bell hooks reminds us that 90% of the things we worry about never happen.

So if you are avoiding getting organized because you don’t think you can or are afraid you will never be finished, dig in anyway. What’s the worst thing that could happen? Something you’re finished with leaves. Not bad even if not perfect.

When you procrastinate, you may tell yourself that you’re only being a realist, that you’re anticipating all the things that might go wrong, but really you’re just talking yourself out of taking one step forward.

The strength of optimism comes from realizing that although there may be obstacles, taken individually and as they come, you can overcome each of them in time. Regardless of whether they are imaginary OR very real and staring us in the face like that box of winter clothes, the pile of folders with old bills, or your computer desktop filled with photos you’ve downloaded but haven’t labeled or filed.

When it comes to getting organized, somewhere between The Little Engine That Could and Eeyore is a good place to be and if you had to choose one, I’d say go with the engine. I think Miss Keller would agree.

Brand Category:

Evolve

Mindful Monday - Henry Ford and Productivity

Andrew Mellen — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 21:05:22 +0000

“Improved productivity means less human sweat, not more.” ~Henry Ford

So many productivity “secrets” seem to create MORE work, not less. We spend countless hours looking for ways to keep our outward focus, always searching for a magical way to get satisfaction AND simplicity from an external source.

We hope and pray that something will appear that won’t require us to change anything we’re currently doing—that somehow the faulty equation of outward seeking and increase will add up to internal serenity and enough. This is another example of bad math.

You can’t keep dragging things home or onto your hard drive while expecting there to be less clutter in your life.

No amount of enthusiasm for “getting things done” is going to break the cycle of clutter building up, you breaking it down, feeling exhausted and also accomplished—until the next time you have to do it all over again. It seems to be an endless cycle. You may tell yourself, “This is just a part of my daily life. I live in a developed country, there’s stuff everywhere. This is both the blessing and the curse of a consumer’s economy.”

I’m going to tell you that it does not have to be this way. There are steps you can take, if you are willing, to make your cleaning/organizing sessions less—less demanding, less involved and finished sooner. How much time do you want to spend interacting with stuff? The average person will WASTE one year of their life looking for lost and misplaced items. You may not think you’re average, but when it comes to stuff, you are probably also NOT the exception.

I never feel bad when straightening up my apartment or office doesn’t take me all day but rather an hour and leaves me time to meet my friend for dinner before a movie.

This has very little to do with the size of your family or your home. It has EVERYTHING to do with where your focus is.

Right now, look around your home or office and take stock. Don’t glance around nervously, not really seeing what is around you. Actually sit and breathe for a moment and see. Of all the stuff you see around you, WHAT IS MISSING? If you have too much stuff, it is possible that you have all the wrong stuff, but it’s more likely that you have plenty of both the wrong stuff AND the right stuff.

If this is true, then stuff, more stuff is not the answer to what ails you.

What simple steps can you take right now to remove everything that you see that doesn’t work, is broken or damaged, that you haven’t used in more than a year or two, or that you don’t like or don’t even remember where it came from? Set a timer or use an app and spend 15 minutes removing stuff. Don’t talk yourself out of it, just do it.

Then, every time you go to pick up something you can’t eat or drink or rub onto your body or someone else’s and bring it home, ask yourself: “Am I making my life simpler or more complicated by bringing this home?” Wake up to the fact that time is short and every delayed decision will eventually have to be made—either by you or someone who survives you.

Wouldn’t it be better to spend your precious time with the people you say are most important to you or doing the thing that brings you the greatest satisfaction and sense of accomplishment instead of accumulating inanimate things for someday or later … particularly when you have no idea if someday or later will even get here and I know that they don’t exist.

Brand Category:

Evolve

Where Will I Think to Look For This Later?

Samantha Bennett — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Asking yourself the question “Where will I think to look for this?” might be the single greatest organizational step you can take.

Asking yourself this question puts you in a state of awareness about your organizational style and creates an automatic mnemonic so you are even more likely to remember later on.

If I can imagine that the last time I put away a bottle of vanilla extract I thought, “Well, I’ll probably think to look for this with the rest of the baking stuff or maybe with the spices,” and then I put it with the rest of the baking stuff, well, I’ve got a better than fifty/fifty chance of finding it right away the next time I need vanilla.

Certainly much higher than if I just jam it on a shelf somewhere where it eventually gets shoved to the back (because it’s a seldom-used item) and where I’ll never find it because I’m not even sure I have any to begin with because I don’t remember the last time I put it away.

This leads to buying more vanilla extract, which, if you use the pure extract (and you really should; the imitation stuff is terrible) is pretty darn expensive.

So why buy two when one, well placed, will do?

Again, the question is not, “Where should this go?” The question is, “Where, given my actual life, would I think something like this might end up?”

This is also a great question to ask yourself in parking garages, although there it sounds more like, “How will I remember which spot this is when I return?”

A good system is practical, realistic, easy, and even fun.

A bad system is impractical, unrealistic, hard, and a bummer.

You, your stuff, your space, and your art all deserve great systems.

Brand Category:

Prosper

A Different Kind of Replacement Therapy

Andrew Mellen — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Someday

You know all those back issues of magazines you’re going to read “someday?”

Or those fabulous recipes you’re going to prepare “someday?”

Or that spectacular research project your going to finally start “someday?”

By the time you get around to starting, chances are that whatever it is you’ve been holding on to for that magic undefined day in your future is going to either be obsolete or remarkably easy to find again on the Internet.

For those of you who like to argue that that may be true for everyone else, but YOU have something that is so unique that if you made the grave mistake of letting it go, it would be lost forever …

Prove it.

Go to the computer now, search for the author, subject, or title of whatever you’re desperately clutching and see if you can’t find a digital version of the same information.

If you can, you’re out of excuses.

You could certainly keep a journal or a document of all the recipes you’d LIKE to cook “someday” and then look them up if and when you’re ready to break out your apron and toque. Ditto for back issues of magazines you didn’t have or make the time to read when they were current. Double ditto for research projects.

Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google says,

“Every two days now we create as much information as we did from the dawn of civilization up until 2003.”

That’s something like five exabytes of data, he says.

With that in mind, I’m betting that you could find that recipe for ginger lemongrass crème brûlée someplace besides your bedroom floor.

Photo credit: ollesvensson via Visualhunt / CC BY

Brand Category:

Living

Execution vs. Outcome

Andrew Mellen — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Here’s a key to unstuffing your life — plain and simple.

And this concept is from a trainer for the U.S. Olympics.

To be successful over the long run, he says, you need to shift your focus from desired outcome to consistent superior execution.

So in his world, it’s not about winning gold.

It’s about attacking your next ___________ thinking that it is going to be your best yet, based on everything you know and have trained for right up until this point.

It’s putting into play all the preparation and all your knowledge and experience each time you do something.

So applying this concept to unstuffing your life, I’m suggesting that you relax any demands you have placed on yourself or the process related to outcome.

Like saying to yourself, “I’m going to get organized once and for all.” Particularly if you add a “damn it!” to the end of that sentence.

Now, I believe that getting organized is NOT a life-long process.

But staying organized IS.

Dealing with historic clutter is one part of the process — and once that is completed, you should never have to address that kind of accumulation again.

But any day in which you interact with stuff will present an opportunity for stuff to become clutter.

And you can control that — stuff can’t.

Stuff just ends up where you leave it.

So when you shift your point of view from one of outcome to execution, you’ll see that each encounter with stuff becomes about using something for its purpose and returning it to its home when that purpose is fulfilled.

The focus is now on process rather than product.

And there’s an appreciation for, if not outright liking of, the work.

You recognize HOW being organized serves you in accomplishing the things that feed your spirit.

And you also recognize that that which feeds your spirit holds a higher value for you than that which you previously deemed tedious or tiresome or a pain in the butt.

And suddenly, One Home For Everything becomes that much easier to live.

Brand Category:

Living

Traveling Smart...From the Road

Andrew Mellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Getting Organized for Travel

Air travel these days is almost always stressful. Extended comforts or luxury are gone as airlines struggle to stay afloat financially. And staff seems to reserve what little courtesy remains for first/business class passengers and frequent flyers. For everyone else, being herded onto the plane and talked down to is the best we can expect.

As passengers, we also bring more than physical baggage with us. From clearing security to arriving at the gate, the experience is fraught with fear. Will I make my connection, will we crash, will there be room for my carry-on luggage?

There’s much we have no control over. But for those things within our grasp, how can we make traveling easier on ourselves?

Pack less. And pack smart.

Start by asking yourself, what do I absolutely need to have with me and available on the flight?

If you don’t check bags, it’s that much more important to ensure that anything you need is easily accessible in your ‘personal’ item.

Leave everything you don’t need at your fingertips either in your suitcase or at home.

The night before a trip, I lay out all the things I want accessible that will make the flight more comfortable.

Here’s my list:

Noise-cancelling headphones, an eyemask, a neck pillow, and a current book. Reading glasses, computer and computer charger (for longer flights), a pen that works, a notepad. Any work I hope to do while in transit. A jacket or shirt for cold planes.

If the headphones need to be charged or the battery replaced, do it now.

The day of the flight, I review the above items.

Is it a short flight? Have I overestimated how much work I’ll actually do? Do I even feel like working? Would I rather watch a movie or read? Or nap?

I run through these questions, weeding out any unnecessary items – if they’re things I’ll still want on the trip but not on the plane, they go into my suitcase. Remember, when packing for the plane, ‘someday’ or ‘just-in-case’ is not your friend.

I also pack some snacks and maybe a meal.

And stay hydrated.

Why is it that a bottle of water can’t clear security, given that flight personnel can bring water with them? Just asking.

Back to food. Even flying business or first class, what’s offered is often disappointing. Selections are overly processed and loaded with salt, fat, and sugar. So I always pack some nuts and maybe some cheese and some fruit. And chocolate!

For flights longer than two hours, I’ll make a salad or sandwich as well. I bring just enough for me and a companion (when applicable), but not enough to feed the entire coach cabin. Remember, we want the trip to be easy.

We may not be able to do much about surly, harried clerks or unhappy flight attendants, but we can control how much we load onto our backs and drag with us.

Conclusion: Yesterday’s flight to Houston was crowded but my backpack wasn’t.

Brand Category:

Living

10 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Memory-Cluttered Home

Bonnie Moore — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Spring is just about here and with the longer days and warmer weather come the annual itch to sweep out the little-seen corners and clear out the overstuffed coat closet. For those of us who’ve been in a home for a long time, however, our things can become laden with memories and that weight can make them much harder to get rid of than dust bunnies.

“If you have spent years in a house, you become the keeper of things and define yourself as the keeper of memories,” said professional organizer Janet Schiesl, who has been helping people get organized since 2005 with her company Basic Organization. “It’s a struggle because you’ve held on to an item to honor someone and you hoped to pass it on so the next in line could honor you.”

The reality is that the younger generations are less interested in antiques and hand-me-downs and more interested in living in smaller homes with fewer items. As we age-in-place and we start thinking about the next phase of life, it’s useful to start thinking about downsizing.

Since many of us are thinking about shared living, we need to make space for the new roommate. The really interesting part is that as you freshen up your home and clear out the unneeded items, it feels like a load has been lifted and you have a fresh start!

Here’s another thought. Look around and realize that you have everything you need and you simply don’t need to buy more stuff. Replace broken items, but don’t buy new. Replace clothing that is old, but don’t add stuff. Replace a worn out or broken piece of furniture, but don’t keep the old item. Give it away to someone who will repurpose it.

Here are some ways you can use this year’s spring-cleaning momentum to get yourself ready for your new roommate:

1. Identify a method of donating your unused items.

If you have a Freecycle group nearby, join it. This is an easy way to give something away and know that someone else will continue to get use out the item. Also think about charities, church groups, and certainly think about a yard sale! Yard sales are great…especially when you can donate your items to someone else’s sale. It makes it a lot easier to say goodbye to a favorite item if you know someone else will enjoy it. Have a spot where you collect “give away” items, and then give them away. It’s much easier to give away than to throw away. Our founder, Bonnie Moore, still goes through her house and garage annually looking for “goodbye” items…she loves to tell the story about how she finally gave away all of her camping gear to a Girl Scout Troop.

2. Question whether an item will support the future you.

Schiesl asks mature clients to envision their future: Would they like to spend more time enjoying life rather than taking care of stuff? Then she asks how a particular item will support that idyllic future. “It’s easier to let go of if you realize it’s not going to support you in the future than getting caught in the memories from the past.”

3. Focus on quality over quantity.

“You can keep things near and dear to you, but just keep the best of them,” advises Schiesl. Use the pristine guest towels and get rid of old toweling. Old towels can be donated to an animal shelter. Keep the most comfortable pair of black dress shoes and donate the other three pairs. Choose your son’s baseball trophy that means the most to you and take a picture of the rest of them and preserve them in a scrapbook. Do you have a favorite collection? Are these dust catchers? Could you choose to display two or three, and pack the others away so that you can rotate them annually?

4. Talk with your kids now.

If you’re holding onto an item for a child, call them now to ask if they want it. Perhaps they can take it off your hands. Perhaps they do want it, but don’t have room for it yet. And perhaps you’ll discover they’re not interested in it. No longer being a caretaker for an item lessens your attachment to it and allows you to discard it.

5. Embrace technology.

Take pictures of those items that no longer serve a purpose but whose memories you’d like to keep. Your grandmother’s hutch can live on in a scrapbook or a digital photo frame. There may be a learning curve, but much of today’s paper clutter can be eliminated with the use of e-readers, online subscriptions, and electronic file storage. Old magazines, books you’ve already read, newspapers you never got around to reading, copies of something that was once important…all of these things can go now.

6. Schedule your organizing time.

Schiesl warns that people woefully underestimate how long it will take to organize an area. Once you decide to start a Golden Girls Home, get that spare bedroom cleaned out, and keep going through the other rooms. Consider scheduling one room each month. Go through that room with a fine-toothed comb and get it organized. Schedule the next room for next month, and keep going. Do this every year and keep looking for items that someone else can use, bottles that are almost empty, duplicates, expired items, broken items…you know what we are talking about!

7. Allow yourself a “maybe” pile.

This is the technique Schiesl recommends when you get down to the nitty gritty:
— Go through a closet or drawer as quickly as you can sorting everything into three piles – “Keep” “Get rid of“ and “Maybe.” The “maybe” pile gives you permission to not have to make a decision about every item.
— Put the “keep” items away, throw out the “get rid of” items, and put the “maybes” in a box.
— Mark the “maybe” box with the date and a deadline, say two months out.
— Review all of the gadgets…remember how often it has been used, then either keep it and put it away properly, or toss it.
— Everything still in the box after two months, items not useful to your future, can now be peacefully discarded.

8. Create a home for items.

In shared-living situations, much of the stress of “I can’t find…” is eliminated when items are given a home – such as a basket for remotes and a drawer for keys – and everyone knows where that item “lives.” You can also create an area for “homeless” items or items that belong in someone’s room. A basket near the stairs can be a good spot to set items that need to be put away upstairs.

9. Bring something in, take something out.

After downsizing, try this… discard an old item every time you bring a new item home. You will never struggle with de-cluttering again! Schiesl said a beautiful set of hangers will keep you honest in your closet. If you only buy a blouse when you’re prepared to discard one and never allow wire hangers, your closet will never be stuffed by more clothes than you need.

10. Work with a professional or call a friend over.

Deciding what to keep and get rid of with an objective outsider can help lessen your emotional attachment to stuff, Schiesl said. A friend will ask you how often you have worn something, and she will be able to toss it when you can’t. A professional organizer can help you focus on your future goals instead of past memories and can help you stay on task until the job is complete. Professionals also can call in companies for jobs like junk removal, moving, and shredding, if necessary. Schiesl recommends checking the National Association of Professional Organizers for organizers in your area, and then meeting with the person before hiring to insure you are comfortable and feel heard.

Photo: Mark Wallace | CC License

Brand Category:

Living