Wishing you a very happy new year!
How are you? Is your new year off to a good start? I hope so. Although I’ve had a bit of a head cold, I’m gearing up for a great year. This January marks my 12th year in business and I thank you for your support and patronage throughout the years.
Ready to Get Organized in 2020?
Follow this path to success…
Make time in your schedule for calendar preparations. Use this time to mark special dates, write monthly bill reminders, and note meetings. Birthdays and anniversaries are the first thing I jot down on a new calendar, then work meetings, appointments, events, monthly bills, and tax payments. I also add reminders for events that require preparation. For example if I’m giving a class I give myself a one week and two week event reminder. I find this very helpful in keeping me organized and prepared.
When de-clutering there are two important questions that will help you create order quickly and effectively.
Buy what you need and use what you buy. This is a simple straight forward directive, but can be challenging to do. I use shopping guidelines and gatekeeper questions to help me buy wisely.
We’ve all said it. Even me, but not anymore, and after reading this blog you won’t say it either. I’m referring to the phrase, “but I might need that someday“. It’s a phrase that gets spoken when we think something needs to be kept, despite the fact that it hasn’t been used in a very long time. For some unknown reason we’re fearful that as soon as we get rid of this item we’ll desperately need it. We refuse to get rid of kitchen gadgets that live in the darkest recesses of a corner cabinet. We insist on saving the rarely used tools that are buried in the shed. We fantasize about using fancy linens that are still in their original packaging that has yellowed with age. We all own things that lay dormant in our homes, never being used or useful. So why do we hold onto them?
We hold onto them because we think they’re useful. BUT are they? What if someday comes and you can’t find it. It’s not where you thought it was. Will you waste valuable time looking for it? Will you go out and buy a new one? If so, you’ve not only wasted time, but money as well. What if someday comes and it’s not in the condition you thought it was in? Is it easier to make do without it or find an alternative solution? What if someday comes and you can’t get at it because it’s buried under a pile of clutter? How much time will you spend retrieving it? What if someday never comes?
Items are useful only if we can find them when we need them and they’re in good operating condition. It takes time and effort to organize and maintain our belongings. Why waste time and effort on items that haven’t been used in a very long time or at all? A guideline that I find helpful relates to how easy it is to replace an item and how costly it is to replace an item. If an item can be replaced in 20 minutes for under $20.00 then get rid of it. Instead of saying “I might need that someday!” please consider letting the item go.
The next time that phrase is on the tip of your tongue ask yourself these questions.
©October 2019 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organzier® All Rights Reserved
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