July 22, 2010
Practical Rules for Staying on Top of Clutter
Most people have a clutter problem, as evidenced by the HUGE - and growing - number of "Get Organized" books and programs that are available. For some people, clutter is limited to their having a junk drawer in the kitchen. Others literally have to clear a path to find their way to the bathroom or sleep in a bed covered with clutter. Most people are somewhere in between.
There's nothing that will drain your energy faster than living with clutter. Staying on top of it takes time, energy, determination and motivation. Clutter won't disappear while your not looking, but you can be in control of your stuff - and not the other way around - by following these rules:
1. UNDERSTAND that your printer is NOT your friend. If you want to prevent or eliminate paper clutter, don’t indiscriminately print out anything and everything you find on online. Do NOT print out your emails unless absolutely necessary.
2. CHOSE quality over quantity. Always.
3. REQUEST clutter-free gifts - a membership to a museum, tickets to the theatre, a dance class, a dinner cooked by a personal chef, etc. If someone gives you “stuff” instead, feel free to donate, re-gift or give it away.
4. ASK colleagues and family members to help you maintain shared spaces.
5. LEARN to say “No, thank you” to all items people want to give you that you don’t want to take.
6. DISTINGUISH between what you "want" and what you "need".
7. RESIST collecting every business card, flyer, catalog, etc. that you come across and you will go a long way to stopping your paper clutter at its source.
8. RECOGNIZE that a space filled with "stuff" from the past, limits the future.
9. MAINTAIN your space and keep clutter at bay by practicing the "one in one out" rule: when you bring in something new, something old goes out.
10. STAY out of stores, especially discount stores or stores having sales. Bargains, good values and cheap items often equal clutter.
Professional Organizer in New York City |
Professional Organizer in NYC Professional Organizer in New York | Professional Organizer in NY
Professional Organizer in Manhattan
C
o
p
y
r
i
g
h
t
©
2005 - 2010
MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved.
14 Stuyvesant Oval
NYC, NY 10009
MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved.
14 Stuyvesant Oval
NYC, NY 10009