Living La Vida Cluttered

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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