December 26, 2008
Getting Rid of Clutter Before the New Year Begins
Being organized is about having your life functioning efficiently, not about having your “stuff” stored neatly in beautiful boxes. It's about having your things in a place where you can easily locate and access them; having systems set-up that allow you to pay your bills when they’re due, make it to appointments on time and prioritize the demands on you in the most productive way possible. The first step in getting organized is to get rid of clutter so you can establish a comfortable framework to operate from on a daily basis. Just as binge dieting only has short-term effects, decluttering without setting up workable systems based on your habits and personality is doomed to fail in no time at all.
The New Year always brings with it a feeling of promise and new beginnings and is a perfect time to declutter. It will give your home a fresh look, you a fresh outlook, pave the way for establishing new systems and provide a reality check with respect to your spending/acquiring habits. Here are some tips to guide you through the process.
TIP #1 – PANTRY AND FRIDGE: Start the New Year off fresh by getting rid of all food that you have not used in 6 months to a year. If you haven’t used it by now, the odds are that you’re not going to. Get rid of all of your old herbs and spices. Haven’t used that bottle of cardamom that came with your spice rack? Not even sure what it is? Toss it. Plan meals to use all of the food in your freezer that’s been there a couple of months so you can replace it with new items. You may even find you have some potential meals lurking in there that you forgot about!
TIP #2 – LINEN CLOSET: Now is a great time to go through your linen closet and get rid of anything that’s seen better days. Animal shelters will be happy to have your old sheets, towels and blankets. January White Sales are just around the corner if you need to replace anything you’ve given away or tossed.
TIP #3 – READING MATERIALS: Never got around to reading that stack of newsletters, magazines or newspaper articles from the first half of 2008 and before? Toss them; recycle them or donate them. Resist the urge to say, “but I might need it”. The odds are that you probably won’t, that more will be arriving and the pile will just continue to grow. Be tough with yourself or you’ll thwart the process before you’ve barely begun.
TIP #4 – PROJECTS: Don’t let clutter stand between you and that project you’ve been meaning to work on. If you really want to work on it, declutter whatever you need to so you can get to it. If you don’t or you’ve lost interest, be honest with yourself about it and move on to something else.
TIP #5 – LIQUID REFRESHMENTS: Since the holidays have just passed, you probably have a good handle on what you used and what you didn’t. Any old and/or opened alcoholic items that didn’t get used this year – and haven’t been used in a while – probably should be tossed. Flavorings and other additives begin to break down once they’re exposed to oxygen so if yours have been hanging around for a while, it’s probably time to replace them. If you entertain regularly, keep the basics in stock like red and white wine and a few select bottles of spirits you think you’ll need. If you don't know anyone who drinks scotch, for example, don't buy it. You’ll save money and space.
TIP #6 – TELEVISION: Do you tape TV shows to watch later? Do you have a lot of them piled up that you haven't watched yet, but you still keep taping new ones? It's probably time to toss, tape over or delete some of them. If you really need to know what happened, you can probably find out online.
TIP #7 – KIDS: If your kids didn’t go through their rooms and closets before the holidays and declutter, have them do it or help them do it now!
TIP #8 – GROWNUPS: Ditto for you!
TIP #9 – MENTAL CLUTTER: The most important things to toss at year's end are your self-limiting ideas. If you think of yourself as always overwhelmed and in a state of constant chaos, you will be. Your most valuable assets are self-confidence and a positive attitude about your abilities. Before you can have an organized home and life, you must believe that you can. A wise person also knows when they need the help of a professional. Just as you would consult a doctor, lawyer, financial planner, auto mechanic, personal trainer, etc., you can feel confident turning to a Professional Organizer for reliable, skilled and confidential help if you're having trouble getting or staying organized. There's no substitute for being guided by an expert in the field who will calmly help you without judgment, provide you with motivation and keep you focused and on track.
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MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved.
14 Stuyvesant Oval
NYC, NY 10009