releasing butterfly

Let Go Every Day

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Organizing tipLet something go every day. A good way to practice letting go is to do it daily. Here are some ideas to encourage you.

  • Take out containers, utensils, condiment packets, straws, and napkins
  • Junk mail, outdated catalogues, and other papers like this
  • Expired food, old leftovers, stale crackers or chips
  • Pens, markers, highlighters that don’t work
  • Plastic and paper bags (10 of each is enough)
  • All empty boxes

 

consistent action

Experiment with New Habits

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Organizing tipSet up a new habit as an experiment. This allows you to view the process as fun rather than a chore. New habits with a focus on maintaining order are always helpful. Here are two examples of experiments you can try.

  1. Experiment with collecting the mail daily and seeing how much you can immediately recycle without opening. Set a goal for yourself to recycle at least 10 pieces of mail a week. Keep a tally sheet on the fridge and get the whole family involved. Reward yourself with a family bonfire at the end of the month.
  2. Experiment with tossing one item a day from your junk drawer (or closet, dresser, medicine cabinet, or toiletries stash). Take a before photo. Do this for one month and take an after photo. How does it look? How much more functional is the drawer? How do you feel about your tossed items? Reward yourself with something fun and please share your before and after photos with me.

Someday

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Organizing tipSomeday is not a day of the week! When you find yourself using that word, stop and replace it with a definite date or time. If you can’t pinpoint a definite date or time, let it go. I use an exit strategy to help me get rid of things.

2 Word to Never Say

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There are 2 words I’d like you to eliminate from your vocabulary while organizing. They are:Organizing tip

  1. Should
  2. But

Do you think you can do that?

You can no longer say “I should get rid of this.” Instead say, “I will get rid of this.”

You can no longer say “But I might need that someday.” Instead say, I won’t need this in the future, and if I do I’ll get an updated version.

date book

Fear of Putting Away

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Organizing tipPut stuff away instead of leaving it out as a reminder or action prompt. One exception to this rule is if you’re going to take action within 12 hours. For example it’s a good idea to place your theater tickets for tonight’s performance on the kitchen table so you remember them, but it’s not a good idea to leave your sweater that needs to be mended on your dresser. I’d recommend that you put your sweater in a mending box and write on your calendar when you want to take care of it.