Living La Vida Cluttered
Filed Under: Happy, Healthy Living, Personal Development, Productivity, Solving Problems
Living La Vida Cluttered
What’s Slowing You Down?
It’s all your stuff! Do you realize that your stuff owns you, not the other way around? Well I’ve been realizing this lesson once again as I pack for a small move. Every piece of stuff that you own weighs you down a little bit, and when you add it all together it can weigh you down a lot, not just physically, but mentally too. Clear the clutter and you clear your mind!
Imagine, if you will, all your stuff packed into a Grinch-sized sack, and then imagine dragging that around behind you through your day and your life. Of course this is a little dramatic, but the point I’m trying to make is that you can make your life enormously easier and your mind tremendously clearer if you pare down your possessions. Then, going forward, resist the urge to accumulate things you don’t need.
De-Cluttering Tips
- Start with the easy stuff first to get the ball rolling.
- After getting momentum from the easy stuff, dive into the tougher areas. Do this each time you work on this decluttering.
- Think in terms of areas, and just take one at a time, say one every Saturday morning: Kitchen, Bathroom, Closets, Bedroom, Office, Garage, Living Areas, Guest/Kids bedrooms, Playrooms, etc.
- Usage Rule: if you haven’t used it in years, donate it (Freecycle.org or local Salvation Army ), sell it (Ebay, Craigslist ), or chuck it if it’s no good anymore.
- You don’t have to eliminate things that are meaningful to you, but do get rid of things that don’t add value to your life anymore.
- After decluttering your desk area, make a habit of never touching a piece of paper more than once. Your choices: handle it now, add it to your to-do list and file in your tickler file, file as a reference, delegate it, or trash it.
- Ask for help from a friend or family member who you know is good at organizing. (This is what I usually need to do!) There are even services these days that will help you for a fee if you’d rather go that route. Go to National Association of Professional Organizers for a referral.
- Focus on why you are doing this, so that you can stay motivated. The why is about having a simpler, easier, more serene life.
- Turn on some music and have a little fun while you do it!
- Just do it!
Great Resources on De-Cluttering
Zen Mind: How to DeClutter
Case Study: Desk Reorg with Pictures
Clutter Clearing Pays Off Big Time!
How to Declutter
Declutter 15 minutes a day
Create a relaxing and clutter-free home
Declutter, declutter, declutter
Declutter your life
Declutter/Simplify
Please Share!
Please share your best practices for DeCluttering your life! All comments big and small are very welcomed!
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Technorati Tags: Clutter, Declutter, Getting Things Done, Organisation, Organization, Getting Things Done
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- From Anonymous | Jun 17, 2007
- From How to Stop Being “Busy” and Live Your Dream Life « बस यूà¤? हीं ♣ RAHUL ….. | Jul 10, 2007
probloggermom | Jun 18, 2007 | Reply
I’m a piler. I make a ton of piles! I try and keep one drawer in the kitchen clear so I can keep the pile in there and try and go through it each week, other wise the pile would just continue to grow on my counter top!
Agentsully, also wanted to let you know that I have moved my blog from blogspot to http://www.aprobloggermom.com. Would you be so kind as to update your blogroll when you get a moment? Many of your articles sure came in handy during the move! Thanks so much!
agentsully | Jun 24, 2007 | Reply
Hi probloggermom! Thanks for stopping by. Link is updated. Hope all is well!
Ken | Jun 24, 2007 | Reply
It has taken me years to get rid of 50% of my physical junk. And I find I don’t miss it one bit. The manufacturing guys over at Evolving Excellence also commented on home clutter this weekend.
http://www.evolvingexcellence.com/blog/2007/06/less-storage-sp.html
Ken
agentsully | Jun 26, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for sharing this Ken!
Ray | Jul 24, 2007 | Reply
I’m a huge pack rat so it’s really hard for me to get rid of stuff. I usually have more success with putting things away in storage. If there’s something I need I can always dig it out again. For everything else after a good amount of time has passed without me ever needing it I can pull all the junk out and get rid of it without feeling so bad.
agentsully | Jul 24, 2007 | Reply
Hi Ray, Sounds like a great strategy! It’s hard for me too!
Recycle Donate | Sep 14, 2007 | Reply
Great article. If you give away the things that you don use anymore, not only you will help some body, but also you will be helping yourself.