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How to Declutter Your Home by Letting Go of Your Clutter Excuses

By Jane Alais 

Decluttering superficial clutter is always easy but it's when you start to look at why you hold onto clutter you can begin to make huge changes and really get rid of clutter that has been sitting around for years. Here is a micro look at the five most common clutter excuses for holding on to the stuff you no longer use or love.

The first excuse is," I might need it one day" This thinking can fill up your garage, triple your craft materials and be the reason you hang on to clothes you really never wear. If you cannot think of a time you have used the item within a year, reconsider if you really need to keep it.

Another subtle clutter excuse is "just making do", this is the realm of shopping mistakes and second best choices. This breeds dissatisfaction and multiple purchases which just add up to clutter. Just ask, do I love this? If you answer no, begin to ask different questions such as, what do I love to look at, what makes me feel fantastic, what colors and style do I love.

A popular clutter excuse is keeping clutter because you spent a lot of money on it. Closets, kitchens, living rooms and garages are full of these items that are now redundant and not enjoyed. It doesn't matter if you spent two dollars or two thousand, if that item is no longer used or loved it is clutter.

A great way to keep longstanding clutter is to hang on to items from the past. This is wonderful when these possessions are cared for and stored with love or are displayed and the source of wonderful memories. Unfortunately things from the past can be a burden and are often kept in moldy damp basements and garages only to be uncovered years later too damaged to use.

Indecision and attachment are major reasons for holding on to broken, ugly, unloved possessions as well as staying stuck where you are. Taking simple small steps to declutter your home will shift you into making decisions so you can little by little let go of your clutter excuses, clear your clutter, get organized and live a wonderful satisfying life.

Want to know more about the clutter excuses? Click here and go to http://www.declutterbefree.com and get your special free report.

Jane Alais is a professional organizer, the creator of Declutter Befree.com and the author of Get Organized-Get Happy A Step by Step Guide to Clear Clutter and Organize Success. She writes about strategies and solutions to declutter, organize and energize your home and your life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Alais

 

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Making Time To Organize Your House

 

Photo Credits: By Barbara Raskauskas

Many people say they don't have enough time to get organized, but little do they realize that a well organized home or office environment will probably save them time in the long run. It may seem overwhelming if you think of organizing your whole house, but if you break down the work into smaller projects that can be realistically accomplished, it may seem like a feasible plan.

So many moms are extremely busy with their normal everyday homemaker responsibilities, such as taking care of their children, preparing healthy meals, running errands, grocery shopping, and routinely cleaning the house. In today's society many moms not only work hard in their homes, but they may also hold down a part-time or full-time job. Where do women find the necessary available time to actually complete organizing projects at home? No wonder women may feel stressed when they think of adding additional tasks to their already full daily schedule.

A positive way to plan your organizing projects is to write down some short-term and long-term goals of what you would like to accomplish and add a specific time period that you want the work to be finished. For example, one organizing project may be to clean out, declutter, and organize your bedroom closet. Short-term goals may include organizing one shelf or section of the closet for just 15 to 30 minutes a day until the whole closet is totally organized.

Another example would be a long-term goal of organizing your complete kitchen area. The short-term goal may be to declutter one shelf a day in each kitchen cabinet for 15 to 30 minutes.

Listed below are some other great examples of what you can possibly be motivated to organize or clean during a time period of 15 to 30 minutes.

Clean out and organize one desk drawer.

Wipe your kitchen and bathroom counter tops and make sure the surfaces are free of unnecessary clutter.

Sort and organize your purse.

Organize one to two bookshelves and check to see if you have any books you might want to donate.

Sort and organize one pantry shelf in your kitchen.

Organize your cosmetics and check for an expired dates.

Fold one or two baskets of clean laundry.

Make a meal plan for the upcoming week.

Make a current grocery list.

Wipe one or two shelves clean in the refrigerator.

Clean out and organize one dresser drawer.

Sort through a rack of clothes for any items you may no longer need or want anymore.

Organize your wallet.

Sort through and organize one bathroom shelf in your bathroom cabinet.

Go through your magazine collection to check for any magazines you want to donate.

Walk through each room in your home and look for any items that need to be put back where they originally belong.

These are just a few examples of what can be accomplished in a short time period. Just a little bit of dedicated time spent consistently each day will help you develop a good habit of organizing. One wonderful benefit that you will quickly realize is that once a certain area in your home is nicely organized, it will be so much easier to maintain that area. Home organization can be enjoyable and hopefully save you time and effort when you do your daily household chores in the future!

So, please don't think of “all or nothing” when you begin to visualize your organizing projects. Even a small amount of time each day should produce some long lasting beneficial results for you and your family.

I used to be extremely guilty of the “all or none” excuse for not starting many organizing projects in the past. However, I quickly learned there isn't hardly any occasion when a busy mom finds herself with 4 hours or more of uninterrupted time. So, recently I have gotten into the habit of doing a small amount of organizing each day and by the end of each week, I can appreciate my accomplishments.

I seem to feel more relaxed and productive with my work when my home and office environment are organized. I can focus and concentrate better on my tasks. I try to plan my organization for each room in my house while keeping in mind the main function I would like for each specific room.

For example, I divide my family room into three different zones, such as the reading area, the television area, and the computer area. I don't personally think there is just "one" correct way to organize a house because everyone will probably individualize their plans according to their own lifestyle.

Lastly, I found that once I had completed my organizational projects for the first room in my house, I was really motivated to continue with the rest of the house. And don't forget that you can reward yourself for a good job done by watching your favorite movie, reading your favorite book, writing your blog, or treating yourself to a great lunch. Positive reinforcement is a great motivator!