Compare instead of decide
When deciding what to keep and what not to keep, compare two items at a time. Do you like this item more than that item? Which one do I use more? Wear more? Feel better about?
Other helpful tips:
Tag Archive for: de-clutter
Keep only your favorites
Identify your favorite things and make space to enjoy those things. This will probably require the removal of unused, outdated, and unwanted stuff. By reducing those possessions, your favorite things have breathing room, and you have less to organize and maintain.
Here are a few suggestions:
Use instead of store
There is a distinction between using things and storing things. One signifies action and the other signifies stockpiling. For example, using up the big jug of laundry detergent you bought vs. storing the 5 jugs of laundry detergent you bought. Which situation requires less effort to organize and maintain? Go with that one!
Recycle more paper
It can be a struggle to determine whether to keep or recycle certain papers. So, I’ve devised a list of questions that will help you. Answer the following questions honestly and objectively. If your answer is no to 5 or more questions it’s time to recycle or shred that paper.
- Do you have a specific use for this paper?
- Does this paper hold current and up-to-date information?
- Did you request this information?
- Will this paper help you complete a project you’re working on now?
- Are there tax, legal, or insurance reasons to keep this paper?
- Is this information important to your life right now?
- Is this paper referred to often?
- Can this information be obtained elsewhere or again if needed?
- Would getting rid of this paper make your life more difficult?
Getting better at organizing takes practice
If you wanted to learn to play the guitar, what would you do? Would you look into taking lessons? How often would you practice? Would you expect to get better with only a few attempts? My guess is that you’d tell yourself to practice, practice, practice. Well, organizing is a skill, just like playing the guitar. You’ll make progress and get better at it with practice. I’d recommend practicing organizing for at least 10 minutes every day.
For some ideas on how to practice and improve your organizing skills look at these articles:
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