Decluttering

Organizing Resources

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Over the years I have relied on the experience and expertise of many people to help me learn how to control clutter. Although I’ve never hired a professional organizer I have read many of their books and articles. There are other people such as Marla Cilley, aka Flylady, who have shared their own experiences to help others.

I plan on sharing these resources with you every Wednesday. These posts may include links to websites with lots of information and inspiration. They may be reviewing a book I have read on organizing. Please check out this blog every Weds. If you want, you can sign up on the right sidebar or here to receive new blog posts in your email.

I mentioned Marla Cilley above. She is know as Flylady. I first read about her eight years ago in an article in Woman’s Day magazine. I’ve use many of her tips and tools over the years.

Check her out at: http://www.flylady.net/

Marilyn Bohn is a Professional Organizer in Utah. She has lots of articles on her website and blog. She recently published the book, “Go Organize! Conquer Clutter In 3 Simple Steps.” You can read my review of the book here.

Check out her website and blog: http://www.marilynbohn.com/

Jacquie Ross is also a Professional Organizer. I recently met her through Twitter and now we correspond through email and phone calls. She also writes a lot of articles on organizing plus has a newsletter and ebook.

Check her out at: http://www.castawaytheclutter.com/index.html

There are so many ways to declutter and get organized. Sometimes it is trial and error until you find what works for you. Life is journey but you can lighten your load along the way.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://Twitter.com/jlscissors (Look for my almost daily mini Cut Clutter Tips.)

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Everyday Is Earth Day

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Yesterday was the official Earth Day. Because it was during the week many celebrations are taking place this weekend. I’m fortunate that my city (a suburb of St. Louis) has a large event that includes recycling of electronics, athletic shoes, and even shredding of paper documents. There also is a large event taking place for the whole metropolitan area plus many other individual suburbs. I googled my city and some surrounding areas to find out the details. Try googling your city so you can take advantage of these once a year events.

Earth Day was designed to remind us at least once a year of how important it is to be considerate of the home (earth) we all share. However, we should think this way everyday of the year. After all, we want our individual homes to be clean and uncluttered, why not the larger home we all share.

There are many things each of us can do that will add up to making a big difference in the long run. In the process you might save money, create a healthier environment for you family, and simplify your life. I think those are good reasons to make some little changes.

Things I have done:

  1. Switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs where I can.
  2. Use fewer harsh chemicals for cleaning. Vinegar, baking soda, shampoo/soap, and elbow grease are safer and less expensive.
  3. Use very few harsh chemicals for landscaping. My vegetable garden is organic.
  4. Recycle as much as I can with curb side recycling plus special events. I also recycle a lot of my food scraps and yard waste in a compost pile.
  5. I use reusable water bottles around the house. I still use plastic water bottles (recycled when empty) when my husband and I take our dog for walks at a park. I’m can’t decide what kind of reusable bottle I want to buy that will be easy and light weight to carry while walking. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

These are some of the changes I have made so far. They didn’t happen all a once but a few at a time. To some people it may seem like I am doing a lot of things to be “green” while to others may think it’s barely a grain of sand.

It doesn’t matter how few things we are doing now. What’s important is to slowly keep changing our habits so we can clean and declutter our homes and the earth. Those grains of sand add up to a whole shore line.

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“To see a world in a grain of sand
and heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
and eternity in an hour.”
William Blake

If you have children then this site below has lots of information and fun things to do regarding Earth Day and everyday. The more the next generation learns about the earth the better they will care for it when they grow up.

http://www.planetpals.com/pp_magazine22.html

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

Cut Clutter With Scissors Facebook Page

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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“Things” Can Be Freeloaders

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How do you look at your things? Are they valuable to you? Are they clutter to you? Do you wonder where all those things came from?

Most of the time clutter accumulates without us paying much attention to it. Then one day we look around and feel overwhelmed. Our things have taken over our homes! Now we start beating ourselves up wondering how we let this happen.

One reason is because we were too nice to our things. Yes, I said too nice. We have let these things take up residence in our homes even though many don’t deserve to be there. They are freeloaders!

Webster’s definition for freeloader is:  a person who habitually imposes on others for free food, lodging, etc.

If we look at our things from this angle how many of them could be considered freeloaders? They are living in your home for free if they don’t serve any purpose to make your life better.

To determine if something has earned the right to live in your home ask yourself these questions.

  • Does the item serve a practical function?
  • Does the item make you smile?
  • Does the item bring up good memories?
  • Does the item pamper you?
  • Does the item make a family member happy therefore making you happy?

Something may be a freeloader because:

  • You feel obligated to keep it because someone gave it to you. It doesn’t matter that you hate it or it doesn’t go with anything in your home.
  • It belongs to someone else but you feel too guilty to get rid of it or insist the owner take it back.
  • You bought something but realize it was a mistake. It’s too late to return it so you feel too guilty to get rid of it and waste all that money.
  • You don’t want to contribute to the landfill so you plan to recycle it. You just haven’t gotten around to finding a place to take it.
  • It no longer fits but it’s too good to get rid of. Maybe you’ll lose the weight someday.

There are all kinds of excuses that allows us to let the freeloaders take up residence in our homes. Don’t buy into those excuses. Kick those freeloaders to the curb!

Janice

 

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Transitioning Winter to Spring Clothes

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March is a transition month for clothing in many parts of the country. It’s been in the 60’s here all week. I pulled out the short sleeve shirts. Yea! But this weekend it’s suppose to get cold again. Boo!

So I can’t put away the winter clothes just yet but some days I need the spring clothes. Layering is the best way to go.

An easy way to transition your winter to spring clothes is to use babysteps. In the next week or two you can start packing away the heavy clothes you won’t be wearing again until next winter. Give away anything that wasn’t worn because it didn’t fit or you didn’t like it. No reason to take up valuable storage space.

Each week take a few minutes to go through your clothes and pull out more and more of the winter ones. At the same time you want to unpack the spring clothes, especially the ones that layer well.

By the time the warm weather is here to stay your closets & drawers will be transitioned over. And all you had to do was spend a little time each week to get it done.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Cut the Clutter One Layer At A Time

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When there is a lot of clutter laying around sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Most people have heard the saying “peeling an onion” applied to many different things. A few years ago I heard it applied towards clearing out clutter. I think it was Flylady (Flylady.net) but I’m not 100% sure. Either way, the idea has stuck with me and helps when I need to tackle some clutter.

 

You can peel an onion one layer at a time. The outer layers are usually easy to peel off. As the layers get smaller and tighter they take more effort. The same is true with clutter. The outer layers of clutter are the items that should be trashed or recycled without thinking about them too much. These might be old newspapers, magazines, empty food cans & wrappers, clothes that no longer fits, or any other item that is trash.

Once that layer is out of the house you can move on to the next layer. This layer shouldn’t be to hard either. It’s mainly putting the things you want to keep in their proper place. They are only temporary clutter because they haven’t been put away. These might be papers, toys, DVD’s, clothes, etc. that aren’t in the room where they belong.

As you get into the next couple of layers it will be harder to get rid of the items. The excuses to keep things start popping up. These are not the emotional excuses but the practical ones.

  • What if I need this item someday?
  • I’m always misplacing things so I need lots of extras.
  • I paid good money for this item. I can’t get rid of it even though I don’t use it.

The inner layers are the toughest to get rid of. These are the ones with emotional attachments. The reasoning behind these emotions may not make sense but that doesn’t make it any easier to get rid of the item.

  • I don’t like the item but it was a gift from my aunt so I can’t get rid of it.
  • I inherited the item. It must have been important to my loved one, so it must be important to me.
  • I’ve had it so long so it must mean something to me even if I can’t remember what that something is.

Keep things for the right reasons, not irrational ones.

When you cut an onion it can make you cry. The same thing can happen when you try to let go of clutter. The first couple of layers aren’t too bad but those inner layers will get to you and can take longer.  Go ahead and cry over the clutter, then get rid of it.

What’s left after you peel away the clutter are your precious things that add value to your life.

Janice

 

 

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