Are there things that you want to get rid of that are cluttering up your home, but you are afraid you might, at some point, need them in the future?
The most common two questions I get as a professional organizer are:
“How do I figure out what to get rid of?”
“How do I know I won’t need that item again?”
In this article I am going to reveal a secret: knowing what to get rid of, what to keep, and where to get started.
What to Get Rid Of: Get rid of everything in your home that is not meaningful or useful. How do you know whether you’ll need that item again!? You don’t! You only know you don’t need it now. What you must believe is this: you’ll have the resources to get it again, because you had the resources to get it the first time. Trust the market place. It’s as eager as you are to exchange stuff. If you ever need that item again, you can easily find a substitute on Craigslist, eBay, or one of the many online free markets across the US.
Let’s say you get rid of an unused bookcase by selling it on Craigslist for $40 and that a year later you actually need a bookcase. Within a week or two you will be able to find one. Most of the time you will find one that suits your needs better than the old one. Plus, you got the benefit of having that $40 in your pocket for the past year.
What to Keep: Meaningful or useful items should be kept. If you are someone who loves memorabilia and cannot let it go, try this easy three-step process.
1. Prioritize the items you value and keep the top 10 things that mean the most to you.
2. Display your items to honor your memories. Frame a special t-shirt, hang unique items on the wall, or create a shadow box of meaningful jewelry, news clippings, etc.
3. Get a single, large rubber bin (less than 15 gallon) for each household member. Pick out favorites and fill the bins. Bless someone else by donating or selling all of the remaining items.
Where to Get Started: Write down all areas that you want organized. Start with the area you use the most. In one area:
Start by removing stuff that is definitely recycling or garbage. You will, most likely, get distracted but only focus on garbage; don’t touch anything else. Here is a tip for focusing: play your favorite song and have all garbage removed by the time the song ends.
Next, set out three large bins. Set out one bin for items to be donated, one for items to be sold, and one for items that belong in a different area. Get more bins if necessary. After sorting, move the bins out of the area.
After all items have been sorted you can begin organizing. Organize only the items you are keeping. Re-evaluate the area. What specific purpose should it serve? How can you make the most of the space? Is there a way to use the walls to display items and keep them off the floor? Let the answers to these questions direct the organizational process.
If you get stuck on one of these steps, or if you need help maximizing your space, consider hiring a professional organizer. Check with the National Association of Professional Organizers (napo.net) to find a qualified organizer in your area.
Heidi DeCoux is publisher of Life Made Simple e-Magazine, a professional organizer and creator of the Fast-Filing Method home office filing system. Heidi energizes her readers’ by simplifying their homes … schedules. For more info, free tips, and to receive her FREE Report: The Fast … Easy Way to Get Organized and Stay Organized Forever, visit ClearSimpleLiving.com
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