Tag Archive for: reducing

3D Character and question mark

Two Most Common Organizing Issues

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One of the most common issues people face when organizing and downsizing is deciding what to keep. Here is a tool that is helpful during the decision making process. This tool is from the book, Organizing for Dummies by Eileen Roth and Elizabeth Miles.

When deciding to save or not use the acronym WASTE.

  • W = worthwhile
  • A = again
  • S = somewhere else
  • T = toss
  • E = entire

This acronym is a great tool because it prompts us to ask questions regarding the usefulness of the items on which we’re deciding. We need to be honest with our answers and with our assessment of the items in question.

  • Why is this item worthwhile to keep?
  • When will we use it again within the next year?
  • Can we find it easily somewhere else, if we need to?
  • What will happen if we toss it?
  • Do we need the entire thing? If not, keep what we need and toss the rest.

A second common issue people face when organizing and downsizing is deciding what to do with the items that aren’t being kept. The options are countless, but what I have witnessed over the years is that it’s helpful to find a donation destination that motivates us to let go of stuff. Let me share some of the most common ones that I use for myself and for my clients.

 

©November 2021  Janine Cavanaugh, CPO  All rights reserved

Let go of Someday

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Do you hold onto things because you think you might need them someday? It’s tempting to believe in someday. However, I want you to reconsider and think about these possible scenarios.

Someday arrives and…

  • You can’t find that specific item you’ve been holding onto for all these years. It’s not where you thought it was.
  • The thing you saved is no longer in working condition and you have to purchase a new one.
  • You can’t get at it because it’s buried under a pile of stuff.
  • You’ve wasted so much time looking for it, you’ve decided it’s easier to make do without or to find an alternative solution.
  • You’ve decided to let it go, but it no longer has any value. No one wants it, and you have to pay to get it out of your house.

In my 14 years of helping people organize their homes, these scenarios happen all the time. People cling to items thinking they will be of value at some point in the future.  They can’t pinpoint when that timeframe is, so they use the word someday. However a much more common occurrence is the someday they’ve been waiting, and waiting and waiting for, never arrives!

I do want to point out the difference between being prepared for possible emergencies and disasters verses holding onto items for a hypothetical someday. When you build an emergency kit you’re taking precautions to protect you and your family. When you cling to items that you MIGHT use SOMEDAY you’re avoiding making a decision on these items.

Therefore I urge you to let go of someday! Make room for today.

©October 2021  Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer   All rights reserved

Best way to decided about clothes

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Organizing tipThe cool weather of fall is upon us. It’s time to reintroduce sweaters and corduroy pants into our wardrobe. A great way to decided if you’d like to keep the summer clothes you’re packing away is to describe them. Limit your description to one or two adjectives per item. For example, hold up a summer dress and say, ” You’re colorful and fun. I’ll keep you.” or “You’re drab and dated. You must go.”

Try it and let me know if it works for you.

Would you rather?

Would You Rather

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Would you rather…

…wear a banana costume for a complete day (not on Halloween) or strategically remove all your clothes that don’t fit and flatter you?

…let go of 5 sentimental thing or let a tarantula crawl up your arm?

…thoroughly organize your junk drawer or jump off a high dive?

… have oral surgery or organize your kitchen cupboards?

…get rid of all your current tchotchkes or buy absolutely nothing for two whole weeks?

… wear a blindfold for a day or reduce your book collection by 50%?

…mow the lawn in your bathing suit or get rid of 10 items you’ve been holding onto for someday?

…donate 6 gifts you’ve received but don’t like, or shave your head?

…clear out and organize your file cabinet or tell your neighbors that you love them?

…spend $100.00 per month for a year on a storage unit or work with a Professional Organizer for 10 hours at a rate of $70.00 per hour?

 

So, what did you find out about yourself and your willingness to organize you spaces, places and stuff? I bet you realized that some decisions are easier than others. Please share your insights with me.

©September 2021   Janine Cavanaugh, CPO   All rights reserved

Most important question when deciding to keep

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Organizing tipEditing our possessions annually is a healthy organizing practice. This helps us prevent clutter build up. When editing our belongings there is one question we can ask ourselves to help us decide weather to keep or not keep something. That question is, “Would I buy it again if I didn’t already own it?”. If the answer is ‘no’ then let the item go.