DECLUTTER WORKBOOK

COPYRIGHT@2020

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR HOME, YOUR MIND, YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FUTURE WITH
THE DECLUTTER STRATEGIES
 THIS IЅ A WОRK ОF FICTION. NAMES, CHARACTER, PLACES АND INСIDЕNTЅ АRЕ ЕITHЕR
THЕ РRОDUСT ОF THЕ АUTHОR’Ѕ IMАGINАTIОN OR ARE USED FIСTITIОUЅLУ, AND АNУ
RЕЅЕMBLАNСЕ TO ACTUAL РЕRЅОNЅ, LIVING ОR DЕАD, BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS,
ЕVЕNTЅ ОR LOCALES IЅ ENTIRELY СОINСIDЕNTАL.

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION

CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER AND CLEAR YOUR MIND

DECLUTTERING LIFE

THE MEANING OF DECLUTTER

TAKE THE DECLUTTER CHALLENGE!

DE CLUTTERING BENEFITS

TIME TO DE-CLUTTER?

THE CLUTTER MADNESS

REDUCE CLUTTER – INFORMATION

CLUTTER IS NATURAL

CLUTTER & CREATIVITY

THE AGE OF CLUTTER

REASONS TO GET RID OF CLUTTER

LOOSE THAT CLUTTER BEFORE YOU MOVE!

CLUTTER CONTROL TIPS

UNDERSTANDING CLUTTER
A GUIDE TO DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME

DECLUTTER YOUR HOME TO GET ABUNDANCE IN LIFE

DECLUTTER YOUR HOME AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY

DECLUTTER AN OFFICE

HOW TO ORGANIZE AND DECLUTTER A KITCHEN

CREATE A DECLUTTER DAY FOR YOUR BEDROOM

DECLUTTER YOUR ROOM AND DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE

HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT BY DECLUTTERING YOUR BODY

DECLUTTER YOUR MIND AND FREE YOURSELF

DECLUTTER YOUR MIND

STEPS TO DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE

10 WAYS TO DECLUTTER YOUR MIND

HOW TO BRING MORE MONEY AND MORE PEACE OF MIND TO YOUR LIFE

RULES FOR "UNCLUTTERING" YOUR LIFE

DECLUTTERING CHRISTMAS
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INTRODUCTION
You just don't seem to get things tidied up, or you get things tidied up but they
never stay that way? It seems that every time you make things nice and tidy, they
get tidied up almost immediately? Why even bother with that?
Have you ever felt like this before? Of course, you have, we all have. Why
bother with it at all, it just gets messy again - and that is the case. It happens to
all of us.
The trick is not to tidy your place, the real trick is to keep it tidy. To maintain a
tidy environment. The key word here is maintenance. Let's see what the
dictionary has to say about the word perpetuation. It says, reason to carry on. So,
we want to continue with the state of De-cluttering out.
There are different ways in which this can be achieved, but it all starts with a
strong foundation. But unlike a building with solid concrete as a foundation, we
will use ideas or beliefs or desires as a foundation. The only problem with these
things is that, unlike solid concrete, they are ephemeral, fleeting and changing
phenomena. You can have the greatest intentions today and completely clear out
your house, but tomorrow you will have forgotten why De-cluttering out was so
important and the mess will rebuild itself. Up and down like a roller coaster.
That is because we do not have a foundation for the De-cluttering out that is as
solid as it is concrete. We use fleeting wishes. They are here today and gone
tomorrow.
So how do we get a solid foundation to "continue" the flawless state of the De-
cluttering? I really hate to tell you this, because it's so easy you'll kick yourself
in the butt if you don't think about it. Maybe you should guess before I tell you
so you don't kick your ass. Have you made one or two guesses? Are you ready
for me to tell you the obvious? Okay, ready or not, here it is. Make yourself a
clean slate and use it as a solid foundation.
When you first took the trouble to clean your home, you had your own reasons.
Quickly get a piece of paper and a pen (or better yet, use your computer), think
back and record the reason(s) why you cleaned out your home, room or office.
Do you have them? Can you see them? Good, now write them down. Do you
have all your notes? Good, now look again and think of other reasons or wishes
for De-cluttering out your apartment and write them down. Congratulations, this
is your clean-up list. This is your solid foundation.
But wait, before you print this thing out and stick it on your wall, let me add a
few more things to your list.
I have and maintain a tidy living environment because... by the way, write it as if
you already have it, as in this example, as opposed to what I will or will have...
Don't ask why, this is a story for another eBook, just do it like that and it will
happen for you.
There are many benefits of De-cluttering out that you probably are not aware of,
and these benefits must be added to your De-cluttering out list. Feng Shui claims
that the following benefits are true, and they are even supported by solid
evidence.
When you clean out your home, you get more energy, better health, you even
earn more money, you are in control of your environment and not the other way
around, you gain more self-confidence, you become more attractive not only to
the opposite sex, but also to money, customers, clients, friends, abundance, etc.,
and yes, you even lose weight. Believe it or not, in fact almost every area of your
life is affected if you maintain an undisturbed existence.
So you can put just about anything you want on your clean-up list, and you
probably won't be wrong. A tidy existence is the basis for the rest of your life,
and the basis for this is of course your list. So, your tidy list is pretty much the
basis for everything. Are you laughing now? Well, I'm laughing too, but it's still
true.
So make your De-cluttering out list and read it every day until you have and
maintain (continue) a spotless, undisturbed, messy existence and then slow down
your reading to once a month. When the mess starts to build up again, read your
list again daily and keep the mess small.
 CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER AND CLEAR YOUR MIND
De-cluttering out is such a popular idea that every year in October there is even a
"De-cluttering out week". But often it is just that - an idea - and the thought of
organizing our possessions and getting rid of everything we no longer need or
want is often too daunting a task to know where to start.
But why do we all have so much confusion anyway? Well, in part, it's because
we are a nation of buyers. Shopping, which used to be a necessity for items we
needed, is now one of the nation's favorite pastimes. And the stores are so good
at enticing us to buy that we often return home with things we don't really have
room for. Add to this the instinctive human desire to hoard, and very soon our
homes begin to fill up. Lofts and garages become extended storage spaces that
we fill with items we often forget we even own.
WHAT IS DE-CLUTTERING OUT?
It is simply getting rid of everything we no longer need. Apart from seasonal
clothing and seasonal items such as Christmas decorations or garden tools,
anything that is not regularly used or displayed is potential clutter. Other
exceptions are photographs, CDs/DVDs and books that are not frequently used
or viewed, but are a collection of memories and cultural pleasures. De-cluttering
out is not about throwing away our memories, but about throwing away
everyday objects that are no longer useful. So if we know what our mess is, why
is it so difficult to clean it up?
THE BENEFITS OF DE-CLUTTERING IT OUT
People are often only forced to sort everything they own when they move. But
why wait until you move? Making space in your home can help create a peaceful
environment that calms your mind after a busy day. And if your home is
organized and tidy, it will lead to an organized, tidy mind that sees daily
problems more clearly and calmly.
After all, your home is a place of refuge from the outside world, and controlling
your privacy can be the first step towards taking control of your life. But to
tackle the tedious task of De-cluttering it out, we need to feel motivated that a
messy home will be worth all the effort. If you don't appreciate the benefits of
de-cluttering, you never will. We also need to understand that de-cluttering is
absolutely not about throwing away items of any sentimental value, however
small, but it is about knowing the difference between cluttering and items of
sentimental value. Many people never start De-cluttering out because they don't
understand this difference, but there are options such as self storage if you really
can't bear to part with some possessions but have no room for them in your
home.
THE 4 MAIN ADVANTAGES ARE:
A quiet, organized living space leads to a quiet, organized life.
The satisfaction of supporting a charity that is close to your
heart
Earn money by selling your unwanted goods
Recycling and its contribution to the environment

Avoid Excuses
Once you have convinced yourself of the advantages of De-cluttering out the
clutter and are motivated to get to work, look out for the typical excuses we all
make up when we don't assign an item to the clutter pile:
1. you may need it later - in a cluttered house you probably won't find the item
exactly when you need it, so dispose of it now or put it in a self-storage room.
2. it was a gift from someone you care about - you will probably never notice it
is gone, so don't keep it so as not to hurt your feelings.
3. you hope that an item will increase in value - if you really think it could be
worth considering a self-storage room (many of them have excellent security
measures for valuable items)
4. it reminds you of a particular person or place - while De-cluttering out is not
about throwing away valuable memories, it is about getting rid of items that have
little meaning in your present life. Keep photos of the person or place if you
want to relive the moment.
5 I will still have too much stuff even after I have cleared out the things I no
longer want - cheap self-storage is easy to arrange and has easy access whenever
you want to retrieve an item.
 DECLUTTERING LIFE
WHY BOTHER WITH DE-CLUTTERING?
If you have a persistent problem with cluttering in your home or workplace, you
may not see any real value in a clean, tidy environment.
Maybe you are a businessman, for example. How would a clean and tidy home
affect your business? Your home could look like a city dump, but your business
could thrive on a large scale. There are two different places, and one place has
absolutely nothing to do with the other.
That's a logical argument, I admit. How do you answer this question?
Since you are a logical person, I will not ask you to step outside the logical
framework. In fact, I think I might ask you to do that. But only for one minute.
It is true that your home and your office are actually two different places, but
your home environment influences your business environment and your business
influences your home. This may not seem logical, but it's absolutely right.
One area of your life certainly influences all other areas of your life. While this
may not be within the realm of logic, I will not ask you to take it on faith, not
even for a minute. You do not have to believe it, not if you can see it with your
own eyes.
Are you a businessman (if not, you can use it in any other area of your life) who
has a confusing environment at home? Do you do statistics about your business?
If so, then start de-cluttering your home and watch your statistics rise. That's
right, all you have to do is start de-cluttering, and (if everything else stays the
same) you will see your statistics rise. Clean up your home a little more, and
then a little more, and you'll see your stats go up... even though you haven't
changed a single thing at work.
Not at work? Let's take another example. Let's say you're a single person trying
to find someone else who matters. Let's say you're a man trying to get a
girlfriend. Your prospects are poor and there is no hope on the horizon. But you
also have a confusing domestic environment. Start by de-cluttering the clutter.
Now you suddenly have a few girls smiling at you. Wow, it's been a while since
a girl smiled at you, and it feels good. Keep on cleaning and tidying up a bit and
now some girls give you the time of day and so on until you finally get the girl
of your dreams. Wow, how great is that? Just from de-cluttering at home.
De-cluttering at home has the effect of de-cluttering a lot of areas outside your
home.
One area of your life has an absolute impact on all other areas of your life. What
is the logical connection? Maybe someone can answer this question for you, but
I am not. The great thing is that you don't have to believe it, because the statistics
will prove it's true for you. Maybe you need a certain amount of faith to believe
that it was the de-cluttering that pushed your statistics up. But as long as they
keep rising while you clean them up, don't drop them, just keep doing what you
are doing and watch them keep rising.
Now do you see the value in cleaning and de-cluttering your environment and
making sure it stays that way? The worst thing that could come out of this is that
you have a nice, tidy environment to stay in. But that won't be all that happens.
Test it yourself and see how things are improving in other areas.
 THE MEANING OF DECLUTTER
I have tried to get the definition of "de-cluttering", and certainly I have not been
able to look up the results in any dictionary of English vocabulary, no matter
how many people use it. Similarly, for "unclutter", both terms would be
synonyms.
I found the exact interpretation for "declutter" through a free online dictionary
(people post definitions there). The explanation is "to simplify and/or remove
clutter, mess, obstacles, etc.".
Since in almost every language term would be integrated into a dictionary by
convention, I believe that as a result of the frequent use of "Declutter", there will
probably be a world of "de-cluttering" one day.
In all dictionaries, the term "clutter" is the best and most obvious explanation for
this: "filling or possibly covering with scattered or cluttering objects that both
hinder movement and minimize effectiveness". What a great description of the
term "clutter"!
Clutter is the opposite, it is really about sorting objects and creating de-
cluttering. It means to de-cluttering objects, to put things where they belong.
What exactly does organising mean then? Did they get exactly the same
meaning?
Let's take a close look at what organizing means. It implies: "To put things
together into an de-clutter, cleverly designed, structured whole".
Whenever we organize, what we do is to place objects within a structure (De-
cluttering) that provides an efficient and useful solution for storing these objects
(Organizing).
I could then say that we should clear out the rooms of our own homes in an
organized way, the smart way. Therefore, the meaning of organization perfectly
adds the idea connected with the description of de-cluttering.
Whenever I find out about de-cluttering, it is usually combined with
organization, simply because it is really an extension of the idea, which is why
most people will use both de-cluttering and organization almost indistinctly.
An additional term that complements the description of de-cluttering is "clean".
It seems that whenever you clear a room, it appears cleaner, but this does not
necessarily mean that the area is clean.
Clean is actually the process of removing dirt, soil, dust, and so on. It is
recommended that you clean the room whenever you clear it out because in the
end it will be much healthier for you and your loved ones. Can you see how
cleaning also complements the actual clearing up?
Next, there is an additional definition that I occasionally notice when I am
looking for clutter and it is "hoarding", let's see exactly what this particular term
really means. In almost any dictionary, you will see that "hoarding" means
"keeping (than his thoughts for himself)".
There are certainly several levels of hoarding, but overall, a hoarder is much
more serious when it comes to accumulating cluttering, when he imagines that
his items are usually much more priceless in money, or not necessarily so
priceless in money, but emotionally very important.
In the past, the majority of hoarders have experienced a psychological problem
that needs to be addressed. If you belong to this classification, you will need a
psychologist to help you, do not waste time contacting him or her. You will end
up with a benefit for yourself.
I really hope that you find this eBook informative and that you will have a much
better idea of what de-cluttering is.
 TAKE THE DECLUTTER CHALLENGE!
If you're at the end of your overloaded house and don't know what to do about it,
why not give yourself a week-long Declutter Challenge? A week-long Declutter
Challenge is exactly what it sounds like. You dedicate a whole week to regaining
an organized and tidy space. A week isn't very much time, is it? Think of the
months, years, and possibly decades that have passed while you looked at this
mess every day. Surely you can dedicate a short week to the cause of clearing it
out! Below is a description and some advice on how to take on such a challenge.
Take up the challenge and get your house (or a particular room) back in de-
cluttering and organized!
Step 1: Set yourself a challenging goal. Depending on the level of cluttering in
your house, you can set a goal for a week-long "Whole House" clean-up
challenge. However, most people find that it works best if they focus on a
particularly crowded area during the 7 days. For example, a week-long
competition for de-cluttering the bathroom, a week-long competition for de-
cluttering the bedroom, a week-long competition for de-cluttering the basement
or a week-long competition for de-cluttering the garage.
Step 2: Clear your social calendar. If you want to do this, take it seriously and
take the time to clean up the mess. Turn off the TV (or record your shows on
tape so you can watch them the following week when your challenge is over and
you have a tidy house to enjoy). Consider asking your family members or friends
to help you meet this challenge by assisting you with your external
responsibilities. Or ask those who live with you to take on their own one-week
declutter challenges and encourage each other to spend time together!
Step 3: Do serious DECLUTTERING every day. This means getting rid of
"stuff", not just carrying it around! Have a plan ready before the beginning of the
week so that you can make the most of your time. There are many de-cluttering
techniques, so choose some that are right for you! (Some of these tips can be
found under the links below).
Step 4: Do not allow interruptions. Although this may not look like a real "step",
it is a real "step" because as the week progresses, the challenge aspect of this
one-week declutter challenge becomes more and more important. You'll want to
get back to your daily activities, you'll miss being able to relax in the evening
with a book or a movie, and there is a chance that you may occasionally feel that
you are not really achieving much. Do not give up! And do not allow
distractions and/or interruptions! Get on with the de-cluttering!
Step 5: Get it done! Get your tidy items out of the house for good. At the end of
the week, take a trip to the local charity, landfill or recycling depot. DO NOT
consider your contest to be over when your discarded items have simply been
taken to the garage or when six bags of donated clothing are still piled up at the
back door. Chances are that they will simply stay there for days or weeks.
Step 6: Take the time to enjoy your newly tidied and organized home! Buy some
flowers to brighten up the freshly cleaned homes! Arrange a lunch and show off
your immaculate and inviting kitchen! Or just relax and enjoy the calm and
relaxed feeling that comes with a clean and tidy house. Congratulations on a job
well done!
My dear, I urge you to undergo a week-long de-cluttering campaign soon! You
will never regret the time spent. In fact, both you and your family will be thrilled
with the results of your hard work and dedication, and you may even find that
you would like to do another one-week decluttering challenge in another area of
the house next week! Why? Because Declutter Challenges REALLY WORK!
 DE CLUTTERING BENEFITS
De-cluttering may be a tedious task at first, but once it is done, it would delight
you with its great advantages. This eBook lists the benefits of de-cluttering to
motivate you to clean up your mess.
Save money
Clutter sucks your money. More clutter leads to you spending more money to
buy storage space. When you get rid of your clutter (whether by giving it away,
throwing it away or recycling it), you don't need to spend large sums of money
to buy a new cabinet to store unnecessary things.
Save time
You may think that a large cupboard for storing your things can solve your mess
problem. This may seem realistic at first glance, but as time goes by you will
find that new clutter builds up inside the cabinet. As a result, you would waste
much of your valuable time digging up the clutter in search of needed items. In
worse cases, you might not even find it. This would eat up your precious time
again and again as long as the junk is not touched. On the other hand, if you
solve your clutter problem, you will gain more time for yourself to devote to
your daily routines such as hobbies and other leisure activities.
Increase productivity
Once you get rid of the clutter, you could easily find the items you need and get
the job done in no time.

Save space
Another great advantage of de-cluttering is the possibility to save space. De-
cluttering not only allows you to manage your items efficiently, but also to create
more space. This can be achieved by de-cluttering not only your small items, but
also large items such as furniture. By selecting and eliminating/repositioning
some of these large items, you will certainly save a considerable amount of
space for this particular area. You may find it difficult to handle such large items,
but you will be glad to see how big the difference can be.
Mental relief
You will undoubtedly feel comfortable and will not regret all the effort and hard
work you have put into de-cluttering your belongings. In fact, you will be glad
that you are persistent in your efforts to clean up. With well-organized things and
fewer things to think about and care for, your mind will be less burdened.
Better health
When you are free from clutter, you not only get a more comfortable living
space, but also create a stress-free environment that can motivate you to continue
with your current task or project. Since the purpose of de-cluttering is not only to
remove clutter but also to clean up the area, this can actually improve your
health as fewer bacteria causing health problems populate the area.
De-cluttering may initially rob you of your body and time, but it would bring
many benefits that would make your life more exhilarating.
 TIME TO DE-CLUTTER?
Living in a tidy, well-organized space can help bring peace and harmony to your
home and can immediately improve your lifestyle...
What is cluttering?
Cluttering can consist of many different things. It can be:-
Things you haven't used for years, but keep just in case
Bunch of old junk mail or newspapers and magazines that you
'maybe' still read.
Impulse purchases that you no longer like but don't want to get
rid of because they cost something.
An expensive piece of clothing that you've won only once or
not at all!
Old make-up and dried-up pots of nail polish
Hordes of empty jam jars that might be useful one day".
Broken objects that you will soon 'repair'.
Unwanted gifts.

This list goes on, but basically, mess is really everything you don't use, need,
carry, refer to, or like.
Impact of mess
We are often overwhelmed by the amount of excess baggage we have
accumulated over time, and in some cases, this can affect how we feel at home.
Living in a disorganised mess can affect the way we work in different ways
throughout the day - not being able to find a clean work shirt or car keys when
you are already late can often lead to a feeling of stress and lack of control.
If you have allowed cluttering to develop, your home will no longer be the place
to charge your battery and relax; it will feel oppressive and depressing, and soon
you will avoid being there and having people around you.
Dealing with cluttering
If you do not know where or how to start, de-cluttering clutter can seem like an
impossible task. The first step is to estimate the amount of clutter you have. If
you are a compulsive hoarder, you may find it easier to call in the professionals.
If you allow the mess to occupy only certain rooms or areas of your home, then
it really is a matter of getting yourself and your family better organized and
treated more strictly.
Before you start your task, you should have assigned areas for the items you
throw away/recycle. It will be easier if you can put the items directly into boxes
or black bags labeled "charity shops", "trunk", "eBay", etc., because then you
won't have a chance to think.
Start in a room. Allow yourself at least one day. Decide where you want to start
and work methodically. Be sensible and understand that it takes time. Ask
yourself the following questions for each item you pick up - Do I need this? Do I
use this? Do I like this?
As you decide what to keep and remove, you may experience various feelings of
relief and guilt - this is normal, so don't be put off by it.
What you do and what you should not do
All sentimental items that you want to store, pack safely and securely before
storing them in the attic. Do not store any items that you "wanted" to repair. If
you have not already done so, it is unlikely that you will. Don't feel guilty if you
want to get rid of unwanted gifts - just let it go! Also invest in a small shredder
to help you rush through old bills and junk mail.
Once you've decided on the things you no longer need, make sure you get them
out of the house as quickly as possible. Bring unwanted items to a local charity
shop, or see if a family member or friend wants to take them from you. If you
want to make some money, go to a local trunk sale or advertise larger items in
your local newspaper or in a community newspaper.
Advantages
The new amount of storage space will be large, so keep control by making sure
that everything is in place and everything is in place. If you don't do this, you
will soon find yourself in the same situation again. Handling things as they
appear will help you keep your space organized, so make sure that all family
members are behind your efforts.
Once you have put things in de-cluttering, you will be amazed at the sense of
relief that this brings. You will feel that you are finally back in control of your
home and not the other way around, and as a result you will have a more relaxed
and welcoming home.
And the best of all? You will now have a home that almost seems to clean itself
up!
 THE CLUTTER MADNESS
We all have a life to live. It's not a walk in the park. It's not always easy. Life can
sometimes be overwhelming, and it brings with it many different
responsibilities. These include taking care of yourself, performing well at work,
maintaining the well-being of a family, maintaining a healthy social life, paying
bills, and so on.
It is fair to say that we are under a certain level of stress, so to speak, but that is
life, and there is not much that can be done about it. The only place that most of
us use as a refuge is our home. Yes, the home is the place away from all the
stress at work, in social life or whatever you need to escape from stress. If we
could simply return to a beautiful, orderly place, we would have peace, comfort
and serenity at the end of our day.
Now run home to get away from all this. As soon as you stand at the door, you
begin to feel relieved, and you feel comfortable. Unfortunately, this feeling will
not last long, although you want it to last at least until you have to leave the
house again. Unfortunately, the great feeling of relief you once had disappears
the moment you open the door.
When the doors open, you are hit by the result of disorganization. The first thing
you see is clutter, clutter that you may have left behind when you left the house,
or clutter that someone else who lives with you has left there. This clutter is the
first thing that welcomes you home and causes you more stress. You are draining
your already depleted energy and reinforcing your exhausted feelings with the
burden of depression.

What is clutter?
Clutter is anything that you no longer need, don't want, or don't need that takes
up time, energy or space. You destroy your serenity. It can be old toys, outdated
papers, forced gifts, unloved gifts, inherited gifts, or objects that have grown out
of your clothes.
Clutter is everything we do not need, want or use, which robs us of time, energy
or space and destroys our serenity. It can be clothes that have outgrown our
clothes, outdated papers, broken toys, unwelcome gifts, meaningless activities,
old resentments or unsatisfactory relationships. In some areas we may be
selective, in others we are not. Items may be scattered or wedged in drawers,
neatly stacked or stored in the warehouse.
Do not worry that you are not the only one with this problem. Although there are
people who never have a problem with clutter, they are only a minority in today's
world. Most of us have some kind of mess problem. We are not alone!
The strange thing is that clutter seems to have a life of its own. Do you realize
that? Clutter is reproducing itself without your help. If you let it, it just builds up
slowly and slowly until you feel lost in it. You may be controlled by your
possessions, and no matter how you deal with them, Clutter can be a source of
pain and shame for you and those who live with you.
Despite this pain, the terrible feeling you get, and the stress of just looking at the
mess around you, you are afraid to throw things away. You think that you may
need it in the future, that you will one day fix it. You do not want to be
ungrateful or wasteful.
De-cluttering is a process. It takes time and focus. It is not simply about getting
rid of unwanted objects, but about changing your environment so that you are
surrounded only by things that express your intention. It means creating more
space, eliminating unwanted distractions and simplifying your life. What we
really long for is an environment of beauty, serenity and a balanced life.
Your home should be your source of joy and strength. Your home should be the
place where you can welcome friends and family. The look of your home is a
direct reflection of your mood and productivity. Your home is the first thing you
see in the morning and the last thing you see in the evening.
 REDUCE CLUTTER – INFORMATION
It is an extremely difficult situation when many things are lying around on our
desks, on our shelves and in our homes. We always think that we could have
been a little more organized in our lives. How do you come to the conclusion
what is cluttered and what is not cluttered, and even more difficult is how to
reduce what is cluttered?
Reducing clutter is a simple and easy thing; you just have to realize that you
have clutter to reorganize. The first place you can attack is in your closet. This is
a strange storage area where things accumulate, just like a magnet attracts iron
pieces. Lots of items like coats, winter cloths - everything starts to pile up in this
area, but because of the convenient space, things get cluttered there, and you
have to go through many things to identify and find what you need. The key to
reducing the clutter in a closet is to identify and find a solution that works best
for you.
There are cabinets available on the market that have a shelf at the top. It is best
to have one if you do not have one yet. Buy stackable boxes that you can name
and place on the shelves. In short, you have a place for everything, and
everything should only be stored in that place. Keep one place for your watches,
the second place could be for your magazines that you brought with you and
promised to read one day. Always remember that reducing clutter does not mean
putting things in order, but also getting rid of things that you do not need or that
you will probably never use.
There are smart ways to clean up the stacked magazines. Cut out the eBook you
think you will read at some point and keep them in a folder or briefcase. Maybe
you're a person who wants to do things yourself, and you've bought a magazine
that's about how to design something. Now you have to organize it yourself, but
always remember that your motto is to stay free of clutter.
The next place you have to aim for is the space under your bed, which is another
nightmare. Countless items such as shoes, empty boxes, toys and many, many
other things would be as cluttered as if there was no other place to store in your
house. When you have done everything in your closet, you must have gained
some space where you can store them and of course after removing the things
you don't need. There are many other simple solutions to your storage problem.
You can buy bed lifts to optimize the space you have under your bed for storage.
Space Bags are another clever solution for your seasonal beds, allowing you to
vacuum the air so that the bedding and the bag for storage become compatible.
Movable items are best suited to manage clutter, such as containers with wheels
that slide easily under your bed, and are best stored but always kept close to you.
All this depends on you, on how you assess the things and decide which of them
needs to be stored. An easy way to decide if you are too confused is to check if
you have used the items in the last 1 year. Do you own another item that is better
than the first one? Is there another item like this one that is broken and you keep
it only because you are guilty? Is it no longer on the market and out of fashion
and do you want to own it? There may be questions that are very difficult to
answer, but your primary goal and focus should be to reduce clutter and create a
nice, clean and organized environment. I am confident that you will be able to
honestly separate yourself from things that you really need to get rid of and live
a satisfying life.
 CLUTTER IS NATURAL
Nature loves clutter. Just think of all the things that fall from trees, are washed
up by the tide or blown into your garden by the wind. Birds molt, animals shed
their skin, snakes slip out of their skin, and they all just leave it lying around and
rot in the earth. Follow a two-year-old for a day and you will see that we are not
much better.
Living in clutter doesn't mean you're a slacker or an undisciplined loser. It means
you're human, and your origins are showing. Far, far back in the most remote
branches of your family tree, your ancestors lived a little more hand-to-mouth
than we did. It was wise to stock up on supplies when the antelope could not
walk your path for a while, and survival in a cold winter depended on how much
firewood and dried berries you had in the back of the cave.
The urge to buy is instinctive and completely normal. But the circumstances that
could lead primitive man to consume the supplies he had hidden away no longer
pose a great threat to us. I'm a big fan of Costco, eBay, and 24-hour convenience
stores, but we don't really need them, and the impact on our wardrobes and
garages (not to mention our waist!) is catastrophic.
There seems to be a consensus in our culture that life has always been "easier".
The longing for simplicity makes us believe that our mess is against things as
they should be. What was different in the past was that there were no credit
cards, no mail order catalogues and no internet. Most people only bought what
they needed and could afford. When was the last time any of us did?
Within a few generations the cost of goods has fallen dramatically due to mass
production. Take a moment to think about how much a simple T-shirt would cost
if it were knitted and sewn by hand. How many would you own then? What if
you had to make it yourself? Would you be so willing to believe that you needed
another one in a slightly different colour or cut?
The dispersal of the nuclear family, the lack of community spirit and the loss of
spirituality in daily life are lamented by many who lament today's social norms.
We feel disconnected, stressed, empty, and the mass media have taught us since
early childhood that we feel better when we have more things. At some point
someone told us, "Happiness can't be bought", but we didn't listen, because
everyone likes new toys, and when we buy things we feel safe, which is almost
as good as feeling happy.
So we shop and shop and buy more things for our homes (and our cars and our
cell phones) until we drown in the stuff. And then we shop for things that help us
manage the other things and organize and store them neatly. Usually, all that
results is an overabundance of misused, unused or wrongly sized containers that
metastasize to their own multitude of clutter.
Combine every week a new "pre-approved" credit card offer in your mailbox,
buy-in bulk storage stores, easy internet shopping, and cable shopping networks
that beam bargains into your TV 24 hours a day, with the hard-wired delusion
that it is a good idea to give in to these temptations and our once life-supporting
impulse to stock up is taking over. The problem is not that we lack judgment or
self-discipline entirely. The problem is that the original parts of our brains,
where the compulsion to stockpile, while present, resides, are not programmed
for a world in which there will still be more tomorrow than we could ever need.
And the next day... And the day after that.
Once we recognize this, it becomes possible to acknowledge the instinctive urge
to acquire and use the more rational parts of our brains to remind us that,
although we live in the midst of the greatest availability of consumer goods ever
seen in human history, we are fortunate: We don't have to buy everything today.
The overcoming of clutter happens in small steps from day to day, not in a big
campaign to the death. It begins with the realization that clutter flows into our
lives every day. Take a moment to think about everything that has come in the
mail to your home or office in the past week. And the things you brought home
from the store. And the books, videos, and DVDs from the library that you've
borrowed (and that need to be returned in a few days or weeks, another task
made difficult by the mess).
If you have children of school age, you may feel that you need a bulldozer to do
all the papers and projects that come home with them every day. Not to mention
the Happy Meal toys. Then there's the takeaway food flyers that slide under the
door, the lawn service brochure that's in your mailbox, the Safeway and Home
Depot sales inserts that sneak in with the newspaper.
The prospect of dealing with the existing mess is exhausting enough. If you
think about it, the influx of clutter won't stop, you may feel an overwhelming
urge to just lie down on the floor and admit defeat - provided you can find a
large enough area of tidy carpet to cover.
Do not give up before you start! This feeling of being overwhelmed can actually
become the energy source that drives you to get out of this mess and stay out of
it. When you feel overwhelmed, allow yourself to be with this feeling and
explore it. Beneath the fatigue and despair lies a deep desire to be free, to
become the highest expression of your true self, to live your dreams and share
your unique talents with the world. Tap into this desire and you will have the
energy you need to overcome your confusion.
The secret is to abandon the misguided idea that you can do it all at once in one
massive effort. Accept that it has taken some time to accumulate all this mess
and that it will take time to sort it out. Instead of waiting until you have the time
and energy to start, you should start now. Start slowly. Proceed gently. Take it
one small area at a time. The clutter will diminish and your energy will increase.
One day you will triumph over the confusion. You will live in a tidy and
organized room. You will fall in love with your home again, and the incoming
clutter will be powerless against your conscious, caring attention to your
physical environment.
 CLUTTER & CREATIVITY
Look around right now. Look away from the computer screen and scan around
you - the surface of your desk or table, now continue scanning to view the rest of
the room. Close your eyes and imagine the rooms you can't see from here;
especially the room where you work most often on your creative projects. Take a
deep breath and really absorb the image. What is the effect?
If you're a reformed house-rat and clutter magnet like me (and I think a lot of
creative people are), you may even find it hard to breathe - almost as if the piles,
the mess, the unwanted and useless objects were sucking air. Well, they do!
Clutter, basically everything you don't need, use or love, affects your creativity
on many levels. Your workspace is messy and makes it difficult for you to find
and use what you need for your work. In your schedule it creates chaos and a
feeling of lack of time. In your mind it blocks the path to your intuition and
feeds fear and self-doubt.
In your heart it blocks love and peace by clinging to negative emotions from the
past. In your body, it weighs on you because it makes it harder for you to take
care of yourself and listen to the messages your body sends you. In your
relationships it clouds your communication and affects your ability to give and
receive.
Do you have physical clutter?
1. do you spend a lot of time looking for things when you try to work?
2. do you feel uninspired or even pulled down by what you see around you in
your workspace?
3. does the confusion distract you by reminding you of things you need to get
done (broken things that need to be fixed, half-finished projects, unanswered
mail, unpaid bills)?
4. are there things in your workspace that you haven't looked at for years?
5. does anything in your work area remind you of unpleasant experiences?
Apart from the space and freedom from clutter in our "home base" (the
workspace where we routinely write), it is sometimes OUT OF there where we
actually do our best work. We ride on trains, sit in cafés or are surrounded by
nature.
Do you have a lack of time?
Any day:
1. are there many things you've done that you didn't enjoy doing?
2. are there many things you have done that you did not have to do?
3. are there many things you have done that have not been good for you (maybe
you have even done harm)?
The clutter in our schedules can lead to a chaotic life, while things just "happen"
to us.
Do you have mental clutter?
1. are you distracted by thoughts as you try to write?
2. do you criticize yourself in your own head?
3. do you spend time reenacting conversations or events?
Four. Do you spend time speculating about future events?
Sometimes the chatter in our heads is constant and difficult to decipher. Other
times, the same rowdy and loud messages are repeated over and over again -
messages like "You can't do it!" or "You're no good! All these messages are
distracting and make it much more difficult to hear our muse.
Do you have emotional confusion?
1. "Brooding" over arguments long after they have happened?
Two. Do you hold grudges?
3. do you spend a lot of time focusing on the things in your life that you don't
like?
Emotional turmoil comes from the same habit of pack rats that won't let go.
Instead of clinging to an old sweater with a button missing, it clings to an old
emotion. When an emotion is over, it's over unless we choose to hold on to it.
That's a powerful ability we have - either to stay angry, sad, or scared about
something that happened three days ago or three years ago, or to let go and give
ourselves freedom.
Do you have relationship clutter?
1. is there someone in your address book that you would like to let go?
2. do you find it difficult to concentrate and listen to people attentively?
3. do you find it difficult to be open to what others are offering you (e.g. the
appreciation of your audience or a compliment from a friend)?
4. do you find it difficult to give freely (i.e. perform without being occupied with
your own thoughts)?
5. do you say "yes" to everything that is asked of you?
Sometimes we hold on to broken relationships for the same reasons we hold on
to broken things: because we believe they can be fixed (and that we will actually
take the steps to fix them), and because they are familiar and safe.
The mess in the rest of your life blocks your communication - it's just too hard to
listen with all your heart when layers of mess get in the way. This also affects
your inner listening - your ability to tune into your intuition, your "muse". Stage
fright is a BIG form of confusion.
Does clutter affect your health?
1. are you "too busy" to do sports?
2. is fast food easier because you can't find your kitchen counter?
3. do you get exhausted on a busy day and then romp around until late in the
evening to "relax"?
4. do you only notice (or pretend not to notice) symptoms of illness or injury
when they are so severe that you need to take drastic action?
5. do you find it difficult to fall asleep because your mind is spinning or your
emotions are rampant?
When we are surrounded by confusion and chaos, things like eating vegetables
or walking around the block just don't seem feasible or important. And yet, if we
don't take care of our bodies, everything else becomes much, much more
difficult and can lead to fatigue, illness, difficulty concentrating, pain, addiction
and weight problems.
Tips for removing the clutter
1. A simple way to remove the physical clutter is to make three piles (boxes are
helpful) which are labeled: Give away, throw away and clear away. If you wish,
you can add other categories (e.g. recycling, repair).
2. to calm your mental confusion, try writing. In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron
recommends writing three full pages every morning. Find your own method -
write to-do lists, poems, lists of everyone you are angry with, talk to your inner
critic, write about everything that is swirling around your heart. You can also
write down questions for your muse - help with a specific verse or a request for
general inspiration.
3. to deal with your time confusion, just say "NO". This is a muscle that may
need some exercise. Put yourself and your creative efforts first - just because you
are at home does not mean you need to be available.
4. If emotional turmoil is keeping your heart in knots, practice letting go.
Forgiving someone does not mean condoning their actions. It is about freeing
yourself and being open to positive emotional experiences.
5. To improve your relationship with your audience and fight relationship chaos,
think about what your audience hopes for from your performance - perhaps to be
transported by the music, inspired, put their feelings into words, soothed,
"rocked", energized or cradled. You have an enormous power to give them these
gifts.
 THE AGE OF CLUTTER
We live in an age of clutter. If you live in the United States, you must have
noticed how widespread self-storage has become. There's even a television show
about what people find when they buy the contents of storage units that have
been abandoned. Of course, these shows are often about unexpected treasures. In
real life, you can be sure that 99.9% of it is scrap.
The fact that self-storage is such a profitable business these days is proof of how
cluttered our lives have become. More and more of us simply don't have enough
space at home to store all our stuff! And this despite the fact that over the year’s
homes have become bigger and bigger.

Why so much clutter?

What are the reasons for so much mess? We could think of a few possibilities.
Even in difficult economic times, many things are still very cheap. Between
dollar stores, yard sales, eBay, Walmart’s and other box shops, even if you're not
rich, you can probably afford a lot more things than you'll ever need!
Regardless of why there is so much stuff everywhere, it can be interesting to
investigate what effect this has on us. Clutter can be devious - it rarely happens
all at once. Usually it sneaks up on us and gets a little worse week after week.
Then one day we look around our bedroom, office, desk or car and ask
ourselves: "Where does all this stuff come from?
There can be many sources of confusion - unwanted mail, magazines and
newspapers we fail to put in the recycling bin, projects we postpone,
unnecessary things we can't resist buying, accumulated mementos from our past
we can't part with... the list goes on and on. Generally speaking, if we introduce
more stuff than we get rid of, the result is chaos!
Getting rid of clutter
How do you proceed with the removal of clutter? You can't do everything at
once. You can make great progress by running a marathon to "clean up" or by
deciding to donate all your old clothes to charity. But it really does require a
change in the way you think. Otherwise, the mess will simply rebuild itself.
Instead of developing a fear or hatred of clutter, you should develop a love for
the opposite - clear spaces and simplicity. You don't have to push it to the
extreme and get rid of everything you own. Just remember that your goal is to
maintain a certain amount of order so that you can think clearly and work in a
more organized way.
The benefits of reducing clutter
What are some of the benefits of reducing (we won't say "eliminating" as this is
rarely possible) clutter? You may be surprised how far-reaching the benefits can
be.
A feeling of freedom, because you have more space around you

The ability to think more clearly

Work more efficiently, because you no longer waste so much

time searching for things buried at the bottom of a pile

The ability to plan your life more effectively

You may be wondering if de-cluttering your desk will really improve your
decision-making ability? That could very well be. Clutter represents your state of
mind, and it also affects the information available to you.
If you have too much clutter, it is difficult to manage the different aspects of
your life because there is too much going on. Put more simply, you suffer from
information overload. By the way, since so much of our information is digital
these days, it is at least as important to clean up your computer's desktop as your
physical desk!
To reduce clutter, you need to make some conscious decisions about what is
important and what is not. In other words, the very act of clearing up forces you
to think more clearly and make better decisions! Once you have gained some
space around you again, it is easier to concentrate because you have gotten rid of
so much static.
Think of it like this - when you have a decision to make, which is easier: the
choice between A, B or C or between A, B, C, D, E, F... You have understood
the picture. Very often, when it looks like we have too many choices, it is
because we have not taken the trouble to eliminate the unimportant ones - that is,
the mess.
Confusion can take many forms. There is the physical clutter, which can take the
familiar form of a pile of junk mail catalogs. Then there is the mess in your head,
which can consist of unwanted or unproductive thoughts or emotions. You may
even consider overweight or toxins in your body as a mess! After all, isn't
everything that gets in your way without serving a helpful purpose a kind of
clutter?
How to clean up your life
There is no simple formula for de-cluttering your life. It's more of a lifelong
process that can be better managed with practice. Just as it can take months,
years or even decades for clutter to build up, it can also take time to learn new
habits.
Here are a few suggestions to help you move towards a less cluttered life:
De-cluttering Start by de-cluttering your body by eating less junk food and more
natural, organic and raw foods.
Spend as much time as possible in environments that help you relax - try
meditation, nature walks or something that relaxes you.
De-cluttering Take time for any creative hobbies you might have, be it painting,
cooking or playing an instrument.
De-cluttering Keep a shredder handy so you can easily get rid of unnecessary
paper, unwanted mail and the like.
De-cluttering Make sure you have an organised recycling system so that items
such as newspapers, cans, bottles, etc. don't pile up, but get to the right place and
then disappear from your life!
These are just some of the ways you can start de-cluttering many areas of your
life. Everyone has a slightly different kind of mess and different ways to deal
with it. When you start paying attention to these issues, you can begin to deal
with them. De-cluttering your life is more important than you might think, and it
is not difficult once you have started!
 REASONS TO GET RID OF CLUTTER
Sometimes it seems that the longer we live, the more clutter we accumulate. Life
gets busy, our family grows, and with it, the mess. Some of us are good at
stuffing it into drawers, closets, basements, and garages to make our home look
aesthetically orderly. For our visitors, we have it all together, but the mess still
emerges in the depths of our thoughts. We know it is there. Some of us don't
even try to contain our mess, because it is far more than we can handle. And so it
lies on our desks, tables, floors and desks. The clutter is a constant reminder of
what is left unfinished in our lives.
When I talk to mothers about the importance of de-cluttering clutter, few will
deny that it is important and desirable. Not too many mothers enjoy clutter, but
many will give good reasons why they still have it. There is not enough time to
clean up clutter. The process is too overwhelming. The clutter is not mine. What
should I do with the junk? What's the point of getting rid of clutter if it just
builds up again? These are all legitimate obstacles we encounter when we are
considering whether or not to get rid of the clutter. Motivation is half the battle
when it comes to getting rid of clutter, so I would like to give seven good
reasons for reducing things, throwing them away and learning to live only with
what is absolutely necessary.
Getting rid of clutter increases energy and keeps the life energy flowing in
the house.
Everything around us, including ourselves, is made of energy. Energy must flow
freely, but if objects are in the way, the energy is blocked. During the Christmas
holidays my mother and I de-cluttering my office. We threw out garbage bags
full of unwanted and unnecessary things. We cleared out the bookshelves, the
files and the storage cupboard and rearranged everything. The energy of the
office has changed completely. It was no longer so inconvenient to come into my
office. When I looked around, I saw clarity, cleanliness and space. The removal
of clutter gave me new energy to work creatively.
The removal of clutter saves time.
How often do you run around desperately looking for things? How often do you
hear, "Mom, where are my shoes (my baseball glove, my library book)? The
more things we have, the more time we need to manage it all. Less clutter and
better organization allows us to make decisions faster, find things when we need
them, avoid delays and have more time for what matters most to us, like
spending time with our loved ones.
When we free ourselves from clutter, it improves our mood.
It doesn't matter how small the space we organize and clear out is, it always
creates a happier mood. Not so long ago I decided to tidy up the cupboard that
housed all my plastic containers. With my seven-year-old boss, who was sitting
proudly on the kitchen island, we pulled everything out, fitted the lid and bottom
and threw most of it in the bin. When you think about it, how many plastic
storage containers do we really need? When everything was ready, we were both
pretty proud of our new cupboard. I was no longer stressed out about opening
the cupboard and being attacked by falling plastic bins. De-cluttering is a great
antidepressant because it increases self-esteem and reduces stress.
By eliminating clutter, we can help the less fortunate.
I will never forget a time when I decided to get rid of toys. While my husband
and son were enjoying themselves at a baseball game, I was cleaning the
playroom. I packed four big boxes of toys, all in great shape. Knowing that my
son was no longer playing with them, I knew that other children would be in
heaven with these toys. So my teenager and I loaded up the car and drove to a
disadvantaged neighborhood in our community. When I found a young mother
sitting outside, I explained that I had many toys that I wanted to give to the
children in the community. She looked at me in disbelief and my heart swelled
up because I knew that I had just given her and the many children who would
enjoy these toys a little piece of God.

Getting rid of clutter teaches our children to be satisfied with less.

There is nothing wrong with providing our children with beautiful things when
we have the financial means to do so. However, there is a fine line between
enough and too much. If we have too many things, our children can learn to be
hoarders. If we are not careful, we can spoil our children. A new toy is more
expected than appreciated. Too much mess can also overwhelm our children. If
my younger son messes up his playroom, he won't want to play in it. He looks
for an absolutely clean room to play in. Organisation and de-cluttering is a
valuable skill that you can teach your children from an early age.
The removal of clutter forces us to deal with emotional problems that could
cause the clutter.
Just as physical clutter can cause emotional problems, clutter can also be the
result of unaddressed emotional clutter. Whether it is an unfulfilled job, a
dissatisfying marriage, or a lack of self-discipline that prevents us from
achieving our desired goals, clutter can obscure that unhappiness. When we
begin to free ourselves from clutter, these emotional problems have a place on
the surface, and a space is created where the unhappiness can be addressed. With
the removal of physical clutter, the process of de-cluttering all areas of our lives
begins.
The removal of clutter opens your life to new possibilities.
Imagine what your life would look like if it were free of clutter. What would you
have more time for? How could the way you approach your life change? How
would an increase in self-esteem improve your relationships? How would a
larger organization save you money or advance your career? How could an
increase in energy improve your health or stimulate your creativity? Getting rid
of the old, unwanted and unnecessary opens the door to new and exciting
possibilities - physical, emotional, relational and spiritual.
 LOOSE THAT CLUTTER BEFORE YOU MOVE!
When the chaos in people's lives gets out of control, most things they hold on to
are junk of little value. Paperwork and old bills from months ago tend to be put
on the back of drawers and cupboards. Ornaments that were bought and now
don't fit anything else, clothes that don't fit anymore, clothes that we hope to find
again one day. All this mess will cost you money when you move.
All these things take up valuable storage space, but also a lot of space at the
workplace and on the shelves. Another difficulty people face when judging their
junk is that they are forced to deal with how much money they spend on things
they never use. Often people want to make some of their money back by selling
these unused items, but never get to visit a trunk sale or local antique dealer.
They cling to the junk in the belief that it will get better with age. In most cases
the exact opposite happens.
You buy the same things over and over again because you can't find what you
need when you need it. The answer? Put all the duplicates in the trash can and
keep one in perfect condition.
Charities do not want damaged or broken items - they only want items in good
condition. If you get rid of bulky items and really superfluous things, this will
have a big impact on your space.
Get rid of everything in the house that has been broken for more than 12 months.
Everything that has passed its expiration date. All furniture that is surplus and all
boxes that have not been opened since your last move.
A lot of waste, such as paper, glass, plastic and cans that have accumulated in
your house can be recycled and should be among the first to leave the house.
If you can make a commitment to dispose of the waste, that's great! However,
you must also make a commitment to change your routines and take control so
that you don't fall back into bad habits.
If you feel that you are now ready to let things go on a grand scale, a weekend of
de-cluttering can dramatically improve your living conditions. The key to
success in this massive effort is good planning.
Start with the most accessible clutter hotspots in your home. If you plan to use a
drop-off or disposal vehicle and have limited access to it, then get rid of the
largest items first. This will have the greatest effect in removing clutter.
Below is a list of questions you need to ask yourself first, as well as some of the
items you will need.
Do you need a skip to remove large items?

If so, is a permit or special lighting required?

Do you need a van or a moving company?

Does the advice come at a certain time for the removal of large
objects?

Do you know the opening hours of your local landfill?

Find out which items your local authority recycles and where
and how they are collected.

Check with your local charities to find out what items they can
accept. (Some collect furniture and other bulky items).

Make a list of local antique dealers who will appreciate hidden

treasures.

Find out where and when your local trunk sale will take place.
Do not forget to ask if the sale will be cancelled in case of bad
weather. What you need during the day

Safe boxes with lids (you always need much more than you
think).

Newsprint or wrapping paper for wrapping fragile objects.

garbage bags.

Adhesive labels and marker pens.

Labels to identify the contents and method of disposal.

To make your weekend of tidying up an unforgettable experience, bring together

all the people you can count on - friends and family - the more the merrier.
Consider this experience as an excerpt from your old life into the new. If the
clutter or problem areas are really horrible, call in a removal team to help you let
it go.
If you are overwhelmed by the thought of de-cluttering a large area in a
weekend, develop your own custom program using the same planning principles
and tools required for the weekend to clean up the clutter, but plan it in smaller
sections so that you can do it in stages.
Choose an area that you feel ready to work on. This could be something like
photos or CDs, or a scary room, such as a ventilation closet. Take several hours
of uninterrupted time to focus your attention on reducing your clutter by 50
percent. Do not stop until you have achieved this goal. When you feel ready to
clear the entire area, it will spur you on to start the next project.
In the two weeks after you have reduced the clutter in an area, make yourself
aware of how the room feels now. Make sure that you start collecting the clutter
in the same places. If so, repeat the process and try again to reduce the clutter.
Clutter is often hidden and becomes invisible. To break this pattern, you must
remember the situation daily. A good way to do this is through a positive
affirmation. This takes the form of a huge piece of paper that you put in a place
that you can see every day - for example, "My closet is tidy" will immediately
alert you to the condition of your wardrobe.
The most important thing is to get your brain to think about all possible solutions
without judging whether they are good or bad solutions. Not being able to solve
a problem immediately can cause some people to stop thinking about possible
solutions at all. This is the most common reason why scrap metal becomes
invisible.
It is unhealthy to hold on to old, stale energy, emotions and physical memories
of things that happened in the past. They keep you from living in the present,
promote low self-esteem and can cause health problems on the physical level.
If emotional ties make it difficult for you to let go of certain areas of your
confusion, you should try to calm your mind and focus your attention. In this
way, you can get to the root of the problem and learn the lessons necessary to let
go of the physical and emotional clutter.
When you begin to let go of your clutter, you must work very hard to change the
habits that you may have fallen into over many years. It is not always possible to
change these habits overnight, but with small daily checks you can make it much
easier.
Here's the thing: Clutter is not only the specter of our homes, it costs us more
than we think. A move is a good opportunity to reduce the things we don't need.
However, regardless of good intentions, many people either don't plan enough
and don't have the time to clean up the clutter in the end, or they move
everything with them because they don't think about it before it's too late.
Did you know that you can significantly reduce the cost of your move if you
keep things in order before you move? In many cases this can be as much as
25% - 30% of the costs. When the moving company packs for you, they don't
know the difference between your junk and your valuables, so they don't just put
them in a box, they bring them to your new home. So if you want to keep the
cost of your move low, make sure you have sorted out the rubbish before you
arrive and disposed of it in the appropriate places. Depending on which company
you use, they may even be able to dispose of it for you...
So if you know that you need to do something about your clutter, but you don't
have the time or patience yourself, it might be an idea to either hire a cleaner to
help you or a clean-up company. You can find both in your local newspaper or in
the yellow pages, or you can find professional cleaners online.
Remember that removal companies will charge you how much material you have
and how much you will have to move because of this.
So if you are moving home or to the office, this is always the best time to do a
good spring clean and make sure you are not charged more than you need.
 CLUTTER CONTROL TIPS
Many people are not aware of the problems that can be caused by clutter; some
are not even aware that they have clutter. Clutter is something that plagues most
households, and something that tends to become part of the fabric of our lives
over time. Soon clutter can become an almost insurmountable problem.
In order to overcome clutter, it must first be recognised. When that is done, we
must choose a starting point to deal with it effectively. When the clutter is
removed room by room, it helps us to stay focused and organized. Seeing what
can be achieved is an incentive to continue. It also helps to have a goal in mind
when dealing with the confusion. Once the clutter is under control, it makes for a
much more relaxed lifestyle and a clearer mind. The ability to imagine what your
house should look like is the beginning of the solution.
Organization of clutter
In order to control and defeat the clutter, it is important that what comes in is at
least less than what leaves the house. There must be a balance between what is in
the home, what is kept, and what is thrown away or donated.
Unless, of course, you need a house where you can put tons of things, which can
then be arranged in a very organized and orderly manner. Closer to the truth is
that we own more than we have room to store.
Holding on to things is a psychological thing. In fact, the study of this subject
has given rise to a new word in our language called "de-cluttering. Many people
have difficulty getting rid of things they don't need or don't want. What better
place to practice this than at home? If we do not have the luxury of storage
space, it is important to clean our homes regularly to create a psychologically
calm and organized living space.
The less we need to control, the easier we feel and the more we have control. Far
from "getting rid of", cleaning means making a decision about what is important
to us and what is not. It is the means to simplify our lives by getting rid of what
we don't need and keeping what we should have.
What is important and what is clutter?
What needs to be kept is simple. It's the things we need, the things that are
regularly needed, and the things that are important. In order to make these
decisions, one should ask some questions.
There are items that we all keep that are useful but outdated and sometimes
dangerous to our health. In this respect, cosmetics, make-up, perfumes,
medicines and some outdoor items such as paints fall into this category. If
something has an expiry date on it, it should be thrown away immediately when
it reaches that date. Other items naturally reach their sell-by date, especially if
you have owned them for more than a year or two and have not used them.
If you own items of clothing that you have not worn for a year or more, you
probably won't miss them when you undress them. Duplicate items should also
be de-cluttering. Keep the ones you use or prefer the most and clean up the
others. If you buy a replacement, clean up the original immediately.
If you have items that do not work, it may be time to clean them up. Sometimes
it costs more to repair them than to buy new ones. De-cluttering these items can
also be an incentive to go shopping.
A more difficult question is whether an item is worth keeping. This will put you
to the psychological test and can lead to some emotional confrontation. These
items should not be confused with items that are true and have a special
meaning. While it is acceptable to cling to family heirlooms, it may not make as
much sense to cling to your favorite movie star's cardboard cutout.
Clutter Organizers
Start with the busiest areas of your home. Once you have de-cluttering the real
mess, start with the busiest areas of your home. Label bags or containers with
signs like "Keep", "Throw", "Donate" or "Move". Goods destined for other
rooms go in the Relocate container, items that belong in a particular room go in
the Keep container. Throwing and donating is self-explanatory.
The de-cluttering of your apartment is a contemporary process. Start with one
room at a time. Once you have the space, assign a specific area or room to your
apartment with containers labelled in such a way that, after searching each room,
you can calmly decide its fate.
 UNDERSTANDING CLUTTER
Do you have questions about clutter? Are you looking for information to reduce
clutter in your life? Then you have come to the right place. If you gain a better
understanding of clutter, you have taken the first step towards purifying your
life.
1. what is clutter and clutter?
The dictionary describes Clutter as follows:

"Things scattered in disarray."

"to make a mess of things in a clutterly fashion"

The dictionary officially defines confusion, but for me confusion is everything

that we don't need, want or use, that takes up space and creates clutter in our
lives. Clutter is not limited to one category. It can range from clothing to
magazines, books, newspapers, toys, jewellery or even furniture. These are just
some of the objects that can make a mess of life. Almost everything you own can
get messy if you let it get out of control.
2. how is a clutter defined?
A "Clutter" is a person who is overwhelmed by his possessions. A "Clutter" is
emotionally attached to his belongings, but not so emotionally that he is unable
to separate himself from objects when he really needs them. Many "clutters" are
people who are disorganized and don't find time to clear out, so things just pile
up.
3. what is a hoarder?
Hoarding is the excessive accumulation of objects. Hoarders become so
emotionally attached to everything that they are no longer able to distinguish
garbage from items of real value. Hoarding can be a mental clutter that causes
health and safety problems in the life of the hoarder and the people around him.
4. the difference between a clutter and a hoarder.
Being a clutter does not mean that you are a hoarder. Clutter results from the
inability to keep up with the housework. Unlike the hoarder, the Clutter knows
the value of items and has the ability to let go of items when he has only found
the time to clean them up. Hoarders lose the ability to distinguish between
valuable items and junk. For the hoarder, everything has a value, and the hoarder
is not able to throw anything away. Hoarding is a psychological problem that
may require professional treatment.
5. what are the negative aspects of clutter?
Sometimes you start to feel claustrophobic and frustrated and your life starts to
get out of control. If this is the case, it is quite possible to attribute these feelings
to Clutter. Clutter creates tension, and tension leads to frustration and loss of
control. Clutter affects all aspects of your life, including your emotions, your
work life, and your outlook on the future. Removing clutter removes the
negative forces from your life that prevent you from performing at your best.
6. how to start de-cluttering
De-cluttering is no different from the other tasks we face every day. The most
difficult part of any task is the beginning. Once we have started, it is easier to do
the rest of the task. Below are some simple steps to get you started with de-
cluttering.
First of all, you need to start de-cluttering and want to bring
order to your life. If you are not mentally ready to begin de-
cluttering, there is no reason to begin the process.
Second, you must be emotionally prepared to part with things
that no longer have any value to you. The process of de-
cluttering involves saying goodbye to items that you no longer
need or use. Be prepared to dissolve the emotional ties you have
with your belongings that you will throw away.
Third, you need to imagine what your tidy room should look
like. Get a picture in your mind and work towards that goal. As
you focus your mind on the result, it will be transformed into
your reality.

Now that you have mentally prepared for the de-cluttering, the easiest way to
start de-cluttering a room is to get three boxes.
Sticker Box #1 - Give-a-way
Label Box #2 - Disposable box (line with bin liner for an easier
way to throw away the garbage)
Sticker box #3 - Put-a-way

Select a room and choose a starting point within the room to start cleaning. My
suggestion is to start at the entrance. From your starting point, begin to work
systematically clockwise through the room. Do not skip any areas. Every object
within the room should be considered. It may belong where it is, so if you leave
it there. If not, put it in one of your three boxes. It won't be long before your
give-a-way box is full, and you will have to decide what to do with these items.
Here are two options you should consider.
You can donate your items by taking them to
Goodwill or to your local second-hand shop.
Another option would be to put your items up for
sale on eBay or Craigslist to earn extra money.

As you go through this process, you'll begin to realize how many items are out of
place. Once box #3 (disposable box) is completely filled, stop clearing it out and
put these items where they belong. Continue with this process until you have
cleared all the clutter in the room. You will find that this is a very simple and
systematic way to remove clutter.
7. benefits of eliminating clutter in your life.
There are a number of benefits that come from eliminating clutter in your life.
Below are some examples of how eliminating clutter can improve your life.
- Improving efficiency and saving time
If you live in a confusing environment, you will find that you have more free
time in your life. If you know where objects are, you will not spend hours trying
to find something you are looking for.
- Peace of mind and emotional calm
Have you ever heard the saying: "Clutter on the outside leads to clutter on the
inside"? When you live in the midst of clutter, tension builds up inside. When
you remove the clutter around you, much of the stress and tension that you feel
inside is released.

- Enlarge the space you live in.

A tidy room gives you a feeling of openness and freedom. Did you know that
organized objects take up much less space than unorganized ones? By organising
and de-cluttering you give yourself more space in which to live and work.
- Save money
The question you may be asking yourself is: How can you save money by de-
cluttering? For many people, their belongings are so messy that when they need
something, they can't find it. Instead of spending hours looking for an item, it
becomes more convenient to buy a new one. If you know what you have and
where it is stored, you can save money by not having to buy duplicate items.
- Find forgotten items you had
When your de-cluttering process begins, you will find items whose possessions
you have forgotten. Some of these items will be useful to you and you will want
to integrate them into your everyday life. Other items will have no value for you
and it is time to throw them away or give them away. Getting rid of items that
you no longer need will free up valuable storage space.
- Feel more comfortable in your home and in your life.
Organising and de-cluttering will give you new pride in your home and way of
life. You will no longer be embarrassed or ashamed to invite guests because your
home is a messy mess. Not only can you be proud of your achievements in
clearing it out, but your spirit will be renewed and you will have gained a greater
sense of self-worth.
 A GUIDE TO DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME
Getting rid of the clutter in your home has some practical advantages. For
example, a house with less clutter is easier to clean. Some people also find that
clear rooms can be quite reassuring. If you really enjoy the clean and organised
spaces you have created for yourself, you will no longer feel the need to buy
unnecessary things for your home, which means more money in your pocket at
the end of the day.
Decluttering can also improve your home aesthetically. Open spaces, clean lines
and simple designs are currently in vogue, so that the style of your home could
be freshened up a little by doing without some things. It could even be as simple
as removing a few decorative knickknacks from the surfaces of your furniture or
removing a few family photos or paintings from the walls.
After living in a messy room for a while, you will find that many of the material
possessions that clogged up your rooms did not really give you joy or
satisfaction. You may not even remember many of the things you got rid of.
Understanding that your satisfaction does not depend on the things you own can
also feel quite liberating.
All these benefits may seem quite appealing to you. However, de-cluttering your
home can sometimes be a rather daunting task, especially if you have not just
one but two or three storage rooms or cupboards in your house where clutter has
accumulated over 10 years.
That's why I've created this four-step guide to make decluttering a little easier for
you:
1. find a small area for decluttering . It could even be just a drawer or the
surface of a piece of furniture. By focusing on small spaces, you can go through
your items more efficiently. If you decide to tackle an entire room, you may find
yourself working on other areas of the room on the side, forgetting the area you
were originally working on. If you are trying to decluttering larger rooms, you
may also be tempted to do a more superficial job and leave things more or less as
they are because the task is just too big. If you concentrate on smaller areas,
don't get discouraged, and it won't seem too overwhelming to go through one
eBook after another.
2. ask yourself these two basic questions for each object (or group of objects
of the same type) in your de-cluttering area The first question is as follows:
"Is this object really useful to me?" Does this item serve an important purpose?
Do you use this item weekly, monthly, or even annually? If not, there is a good
chance that the answer to this question is "no." If the answer to this first question
is "yes," then you can keep the item if you want to. The next question to ask
yourself, if the answer to the first question is "no", is "Does this item have
sentimental value? That question can sometimes be difficult to answer. In my
eBook on sentimental items I say that you should not keep more than 6 or 7
sentimental items. Obviously, this rule is not written in stone. I have just found
that this figure works well for me. Perhaps you would like to keep 10 or 15
sentimental items. It's really up to you. I think sentimental items are important,
but you should also be aware that if you keep too many, you are living in the
past. So even if the answer to this second question is yes, it might be wiser to get
rid of the item, especially if you already have some sentimental items that you
would like to keep. If the answer to both questions is "no" overall, then you
should get rid of the item. If the answer to the first question is "yes", then you
can keep the item. If the answer to the first question is "no", then move on to the
second question. If the answer to the second question is "yes", then make sure
that you are within the limit of the sentimental objects you have set for yourself.
Sometimes you may have to choose between two sentimental items so that you
do not keep too many of them. If the answer to the second question is "no", then
you can get rid of the item.
3. sort it out. Put the items you want to keep in the space provided, if they are
not in their place. If they do not have an assigned place, find one for them. Do
not reorganize just for the sake of reorganization or for the sake of
reorganization. If a particular item has been in a particular place for a long time,
even if it is a strange place, you can also just leave it there. It is really up to you.
If you are a bit forgetful, it wouldn't be a bad idea to write down the items and
pay attention to where you put them. However, since you are doing de-cluttering,
your main priority should be to remove the items from your home. You can
either put the items you no longer want to keep in boxes and give them to a
charity that accepts donations, or you can sell them on websites such as
Craigslist, Kijiji or eBay. Also, keep your trash can and trash bin handy. I'm sure
you'll find some trash or recyclable material when you decluttering. There may
also be some items that you are still undecided about. I would suggest you put
them in a box labeled "not sure", "maybe items" or whatever else you want to
call it. You would then store the box somewhere and leave it there for three
months. Again, if you are forgetful, it would be helpful to put a reminder in the
device of your choice or in an agenda so that you don't leave the box there for
two or three years. When the three months are up, you may find it easier to let go
of items that you thought might still be useful or to which you are still attached.
During this time, you might also have realized that some of the items in the box
are actually still useful to you. This method is actually just another variation of
Courtney Carver's "Just in case" box. The principle is the same, but it has a more
interesting twist.
4. Repeat. If you do small pieces of de-cluttering regularly, even every one or
two weeks, you will see rapid progress. The space you create may even motivate
you to clean up more often and get rid of more stuff than you expected. You can
also spend a whole weekend or even a whole week sorting your stuff if you
wish. No matter how often or how long you choose to declutter, as long as you
repeat the three steps above for every small area of your house, you will be able
to declutter your house thoroughly and efficiently.
 DECLUTTER YOUR HOME TO GET ABUNDANCE IN LIFE
If you have a persistent problem with clutter, it is not because, believe it or not,
you are lazy. It is because you have other priorities to deal with, and the de-
cluttering of your house tends to be a long shot. And it's only because you don't
believe that a messy environment is of great value. "Sure, it has its value, but
these other things are much more important, I have to take care of business, I
have to work and earn my living so that later, when I have more time, I can take
care of the mess," you say. Let's be honest, this thinking is logical. It is more
important to earn a living than to clean up your apartment.
Yet in your heart you wish for a nice, messy apartment to live in. If only it were
important enough, if you could justify the time it takes you to clear out your
house to keep it tidy. If only we could figure out how to make it more important,
then we'd have a solid foundation to build on. So why should it be important to
have a tidy house? I can give you a few good reasons.
First of all, the way you live It shows in your face, it shows in your body
language, it shows in your nature, it just shows and people pick it up.
A couple of days ago I was hanging out with a staff member of mine, and out of
the blue I asked him, "I bet your apartment is spotless, and I bet you make sure
your kids keep everything clean, don't you? And that was absolutely right, right
down to making sure his kids keep things clean. I already know what you're
thinking: "Well, obviously he keeps his work area very clean so everybody
knows that. No, he doesn't have a work area where he works in the field. I just
knew it. When you're with someone long enough, you just know things about
them. You know things about the people around you without ever being seen or
told. You just know your people and you can even make predictions about them.
You have had people make surprisingly accurate observations about you even
though there was no way they should know.
Guess what. Even people who don't know you well perceive things about you.
They may not be able to put their finger on it right away, but they get a general
feeling for you and treat you accordingly.
Oh, here's another example where I can't resist sharing (even if it's not about de-
cluttering) because it fits so well: We just saw a movie two days ago, I won't tell
you the name because I don't recommend it, but it was about a family where the
daughter had been murdered. The police didn't find out who had committed the
murder, but over time the sister began to develop a suspicion against a certain
neighbor based on absolutely nothing but a vague gut feeling towards the man.
Similarly, the father, independently, began to develop suspicions about the same
neighbor again, based on nothing more than a vague gut feeling towards the
man. The father even went so far as to tell the police that this was the guy. The
detective asked about the evidence, and of course there was none. To make a
long story short (how do you say, too late for that? HA), the daughter broke into
the apartment and found the guy's diary, which contained evidence (a lock of the
murdered girl's hair), and the bad guy got his in the end.
Sure, it was just a movie, but the point is that people just go at other people. I
didn't want to turn it into an eBook about mind reading, and it's not. It's very
simple: you attack people and they attack you. Some people make you feel bad
and others make you feel good when they're around. And people absorb the way
you live, and people and life will treat you accordingly.
The way you live is extremely important. It is the foundation for the rest of your
life. Everything in your life is influenced by the way you live. Whether you get
the pay rise or the big promotion or whether you attract a few customers or many
customers is influenced by the way you live. If you have a confusing foundation,
confusing living conditions, people will feel insecure about you. They do not
know why, but they do. If you live in flawless, messy living conditions, people
will radiate that, people will know that you are a person who has a clean aurora,
that you have it together and that they can rely on you. A life without clutter has
a very strong impact on all areas of your life, including a good living.
So the way you live, you take it with you everywhere you go. You may think you
can hide it, but people will pick it up, just as you do with other people. You need
proof of that? How about this for proof? Can you find the homeless guy on the
street? Of course you can, every time. In that sense, this is an interesting fact.
Just as water running over rocks over a long period of time changes the shape of
the rocks (by rounding off all sharp edges and making the rocks smooth), so the
way you live will physically change your appearance over time. So make sure
that you live free from clutter.
Here is a question for you. Do you believe that a person who makes a lot of
money and leads a life of plenty has an overloaded living environment? Maybe
that could happen? Well, it's possible. But only for a very short time. In the long
run, the overloaded living environment will eventually bring everything crashing
down. The people who live in abundance have clean, untidy homes. If you want
abundance, start with your home. Over time, the way you live will expand
outwardly and affect all areas of your life very strongly. The path to abundance
is to clean up your home and expand from there, not the other way around.
 DECLUTTER YOUR HOME AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY
Remember what a disaster it was when you moved to another house? You can
imagine how much work it was. Take this estimate and multiply it by at least 3,
and you're on the safe side. And so, it is every time you move.
It's incredible how the stuff keeps coming out of the woodwork. Closets,
drawers, closets, stuff just keeps coming out. You don't realize how much you've
stowed away until you have to move everything around.
When I was in college and moved out of my apartment, a friend from out of
town came in a couple of days, but no problem, I don't have much, and I'll be
done moving today. Well, today came and went, but not a problem I had all the
next day. But then the day of her arrival came, and I was still taking out my stuff,
and we spent part of our "good time together" getting out the last of my stuff.
And even then it wasn't finished, and that was the day I was supposed to be out.
The landlord recognized my situation and saw that I had a lady with me and he
blessed his heart very much because he allowed me to stay one more night.
It was a little uncomfortable and was caused by an extreme underestimation of
what was required. The stuff just keeps coming out of the woodwork.
The point is that you've stored mountains of stuff and most of it has never been
used or touched since it was stored, making it an unnecessary mess, and if it all
suddenly disappeared, you'd never miss it.
This is amazing, but take a look in your closet, look in a drawer, closet or
bookcase and pick out the items you have actually touched recently, and when I
say recently, I mean in the last 12 months. Go ahead, you'll be shocked. It's
usually less than ten percent. The vast majority of your belongings will never be
touched again, and if they were gone, you would never miss them. Isn't that
amazing?
Did you do it, did you check it? Go do it. Aren't you gonna get up? Oh, you can't
tear yourself away from this incredible eBook, I can understand that. Okay, at
least turn around and look at a bookshelf. Can you see all those books you
haven't touched in years and most likely never look at again? What's left (the
things you've touched in the last 12 months) won't even fill a bookshelf. Are you
surprised now? Well, that's the way it is with all your storage areas.
Have you figured out where I'm going with this? Right, how about you get rid of
some of this stuff and clean up your home a little.
Let's start with a bedroom because that's where people store a lot of things. Pick
an area of your room like a corner. Go through drawers or shelves and start
digging. Now move clockwise to the next target and do the same and keep going
clockwise until you have made a complete circle around your room and thrown
out a lot of unnecessary clutter.
Remember that we said that you only need ten percent. Does that mean you
should throw out 90 percent? No, that's not what it means. There's going to be a
lot of things you want to hold on to, "just in case you need them someday," and
that's perfectly fine. But you should set yourself the goal of throwing away a
good piece, whatever that means to you, but not ten percent, don't be a wimp,
you can do better than that.
Throw away whatever you're comfortable with and keep the rest. If you keep a
lot of unnecessary stuff, that's fine, because in six months you'll be doing the
same thing. Walk around the room clockwise and throw away more stuff until
you have walked through the whole room, and don't leave the cupboard out.
You still have a mess to hold on to, but the rooms open up well. There's even
plenty of room in your closet now. Six months from now... same thing, but it's
been a year now. You know all those things you held on to "just in case you
might need them someday"? Well, it's been a year now, have you touched any of
it. You haven't touched any of it? Well, let's be realistic, it's a year later now. Do
you really think you'll touch it next year or ever again? If not, it's time to throw it
away. If you happen to find that you need it later, just buy a new one. It's much
better than clinging to useless junk for years, although you'll probably never
need any of it. Does that make sense? That's good.
Since this part talks about cleaning up your house, you will of course do this
with every room of the house, including the garage. Have you ever moved your
office to another location? The same goes for the office, where the clutter pours
out of the woodwork all the time, so use this cleaning tool in the office as well.
The great thing about this method of clearing up is that there is no urgency
because you are dealing with clutter that is out of sight and has been there for
ages, so you can do it at your own pace and without pressure.
You might legitimately ask the question: "Why bother cleaning up your home
with things that have disappeared from sight if they don't cause a problem? It's a
difficult question, but it's a fair question, and I think I can answer it.
First of all, when something is out of sight, it is NOT out of mind. Your mind
knows every piece of clutter that you have stored, even if it is out of sight, and
unfortunately this is a burden on you and has the effect of messing up your mind
as well. How do you know this? You can tell how much better you feel and how
much clearer your mind will be if you just start clearing it out. Isn't that reason
enough to continue the process until it is completed? Yes, it certainly is, because
when you actually finish de-cluttering your house with this method, you feel like
a million dollars. You feel liberated, you feel unburdened, as if a burden has
been lifted from your shoulders. And that is why you need to declutter your
home. And when the day comes that you have to move, look how much easier it
will be and how much less you will have to pay the movers.
Doesn't it just sound like the right thing to do to clean up your home on a deep
level? Sure it does, and you like doing the right thing, so just start the process
and see how much better you feel when you do the right thing for your home,
and go from there.
 DECLUTTER AN OFFICE
De-cluttering an office is a tool that every businessman needs because clutter can
and will swallow you and your office if you don't have an effective tool to keep
it in check. As a busy businessman, I myself have been swallowed up many
times by the clutter monster. I get mountains of mail. Some of the mail you
process, some of the mail you throw away, and some of the mail is in between
and you don't know whether to respond to it or throw it away. You can call this
your "maybe" mail. Maybe I should act on it, maybe I should throw it away.
Since you are not in a position to make a decision about it, put it "temporarily"
aside to decide later.
Every businessman has a stack of maybes. And they usually contribute to that
pile of maybes every day, thinking that one day they will go through that pile
and move some of this stuff. But usually that day never comes, and the maybe
pile grows and grows and becomes a monster that devours him or her.
Why is this stuff in a maybe pile? Well, I'm in a lucrative industry, and every day
I get things that say that if you use this method, "your customer base will double
in thirty days or your money will be refunded," and if you use this other system,
"your profit will increase tremendously," and another system that "is guaranteed
to blow the competition away or refund your money. And then there are all the
magazines that exist that have a fantastic eBook that you really want to read
when you have some free time.
Sure, many of these things are advertising and they're trying to sell you
something, but nevertheless, it's not easy to throw away something that "is
guaranteed to dramatically increase your income in the next 60 days". You just
can't throw something like that in the trash. I mean, what if it's true (and some of
it is true), so you put it in the maybe pile to "figure out later" how to increase
your income... Later never arrives, and so the pile grows.
Fortunately, there is a way to deal with this monster. And the best part is, it
doesn't take any effort or time. You have read correctly, it requires ZERO effort
and ZERO time.
I stumbled across this powerful clean-up office tool many years ago, and the
problem never came back. Do you want to know why it never returns? Just read
the above paragraph again, that's why it never reappeared. It's completely
effortless.
You get a well-dimensioned wastebasket, and anything you come across on your
desk you put in the wastebasket. If it sounds like I'm funny ("oh, he just throws
them away funny ha ha"), I don't. This does NOT throw them away. It does keep
them in a trash can, but it really does keep them, because it will take a few
weeks to fill the basket, so you will have plenty of time to get them back.
Since you have the option to retrieve it at any time, it is completely safe to put it
in the trash basket. It takes away all your fear of "throwing something away that
could be valuable". You know you can pull it out again. If you haven't fished it
out by the end of the two weeks, it will be thrown away.
If it sounds incredibly simple, it's because it's so simple, and that's why it works
so well; it's SIMPLE to do. I have been using this method for years, it has never
failed, it has prevented the monster from even being born, and I have never
thrown anything away that I regretted until today. In fact, I don't think I have
ever torn out anything that I regretted either.
Before this method, everything went into a pile that grew week after week with
all kinds of maybe mail, great magazines and great eBooks and would eventually
take over my office. And that is a true admission I give you.
So this office tool for de-cluttering is really effortless, takes no time at all and
really works. It even takes zero time to set it up. You can use the trash basket
you already have and literally start in that second. Maybe if you put it in the
trash right now (don't worry, you can still retrieve it if you want to), and continue
doing so while the mail arrives, and in no time you'll see that this is really a very
powerful way to clean up an office.
You know, after writing this eBook, I just realized that it looks like I just told
you to throw all your mail in the trash. But seriously, up until this second, I
never looked at it that way. I always felt like I was putting everything on hold,
with the ability to save it if I wanted to, and I'll continue to look at it that way
because it works. And you should do the same, because if you think you are
"permanently throwing it away with no way to save it," then maybe you don't. I
know I didn't, and it turned into a monster and swallowed up my office. With my
current perspective (it's just a holding pattern) the jumble monster hasn't been a
problem for many years.
Another thing I just realized is that what I call "maybe mail" you may have
dismissed as "junk mail", and yes, much of it is. However, I have occasionally
followed up on some of this so-called "junk mail", and it has indeed proved to be
very profitable. That's why I don't call it "junk mail", because some of it has a
high value (which is why it's hard to "throw away", because some of it is the real
thing, it might be mail). For this reason, this office tool is necessary for every
businessman who is open to new ideas and welcomes them (even if these new
ideas come in the form of maybe mail).
 HOW TO ORGANIZE AND DECLUTTER A KITCHEN
Modern families really live in their kitchen, the most used and vital room in the
house.
Which of these things happen in your kitchen?
Cooking
Food
Television
Working on the computer
Making and receiving telephone calls
Keeping a calendar with the events and dates of the family
members.
Handling incoming food and mail.
Collecting recycling and trash to go out.
Organizing paperwork and files for a home office or small
business.

The fact that the kitchen is used for so many different activities means that every
square inch of space is prime real estate, from the countertops to the cupboards
and shelves in the pantry to the trash cans and recycling bins. Clearing out your
kitchen requires an extra dose of ruthlessness. Nothing should be stored in the
kitchen that is not regularly used there.
How you organize your kitchen
If there's no room to work on your kitchen counters... If your drawers are full of
outdated food, unused sheets, dishes, utensils and other things you haven't
touched in years... make your kitchen a room where you will enjoy working and
playing.
Kitchens probably have "hot zones", i.e. places where messes keep
accumulating, even if you keep cleaning them up. New mail and the newspapers
that the children bring home from school contribute greatly to the mess in the
"hot zones".
Check these places often, go through the hot spots once a week. Throw away any
rubbish you find, recycle old papers and dispose of things that do not belong
there. It only takes five or ten minutes a week to prevent your mess from turning
into an impossible mess.
Ideas for organising kitchen drawers and cupboards
Isn't it funny how plastic storage lids, shopping bags and coffee mugs seem to
hatch in your kitchen cupboards? Go through these items once a year and sort
through them to get rid of the ones you don't need:
Plastic storage containers and lids.
Water bottles, plastic containers for drinks and glass jars.
Tea and coffee cups.
How much do you really use special utensils like electric wine
bottle openers, electric carving knives or citrus juicers?
Small electrical appliances like coffee grinders or mini food
processors.
Wedding gifts, presents and things you have inherited.

Things you should let go of include broken or smashed china, mismatched

cutlery, leftovers from old crockery sets, ugly things you never liked (including
wedding gifts), and anything you don't use regularly or very often.
Even dry and preserved foods and spices should be checked for freshness and
thrown away if they have passed their expiration date.
To decide how to dispose of the things you are sorting out, read my eBook about
deciding when to sell unwanted items and when to give them away.
Solutions for kitchen storage
1. place things you use frequently in the easily accessible zone
Keep everything you use frequently in a place where you do not have to bend
down or reach up to get it out. If you keep them in this area, they are easier to
remove and store. Use the zones above and below the central area for things you
don't use as often.
Your kitchen counters are the most valuable space of all. Keep them for things of
daily use. If you make coffee every morning, it makes sense to leave your coffee
machine on the counter. If you only use the kitchen machine once a month, put it
in a cupboard so that you can use the counters for your daily activities. It is
important to leave space on the counter for the daily activities associated with
cooking and cleaning up after meals.
2. store things near the place of use
Look around your kitchen and make a mental sketch of where you eat, cook and
clean up. Are the things you use to do these everyday tasks arranged in such a
way that you can reach them in one or two steps? Do you have to walk from one
end of the kitchen to the other to bring the things you need to your work areas?
If you haven't already done so, you can save yourself many steps by bringing
kitchen tools and supplies as close as possible to where you use them. Learn how
to store many frequently used tools and supplies:
What to keep near the stove
Pots and pans. If you cook often, you should consider hanging
them on the walls or ceiling.

Cooking utensils such as a spatula or wooden spoon. Place them

in a holder on the worktop so that you can easily reach in and
grab the cooking utensils you need. You can buy these in
kitchen shops or use a wine cooler or a low vase with a wide
mouth.

Spices. Store them in a flat drawer if possible. Keep them in

their original cartons. (Never waste time and effort reloading
spices from their original containers). A spice drawer allows
you to see all spice labels at a glance and quickly find what you
are looking for. One of the worst places to store spices is
directly above the stove, where they overheat and quickly lose
their freshness.

What to store between the dishwasher and the dining table

Porcelain, glasses, cutlery and utensils should be stored

between the table (where they are used) and the sink/dishwasher
area (where they are cleaned). Cups and tea cups should be
stored near the teapot or coffee maker.

It is also helpful to keep dry cereal near the dining table so that
people can have breakfast or a snack without disturbing anyone
cooking in the kitchen.

What to store in the work triangle stove-sink-refrigerator

Canned and dried food. Store them in cupboards or drawers as
close as possible to the food preparation area. If you have more
 than one of the same type of can or container, store them
directly behind each other so that the one in front is identical to
all the ones behind it. If your kitchen cupboards are so deep that
you cannot see what is at the back, place an empty container at
the back of the cupboard to prevent things slipping out of sight
at the back.

Cutting boards, cookie trays, cake tins or refrigerated shelves.

These take up less space if you place them to the side and store
them vertically in a kitchen cupboard. If you have a narrow
cupboard, this is best. You can also buy "booked" inserts for
larger cupboards. You screw them into the lower shelf to store
such items vertically. If necessary, remove a shelf to create a
vertical storage space.

Small electrical appliances and flour and sugar containers. If

space on your counter is limited, store them in lower cupboards
and only lift them onto the worktop when you need them.

Cups and mugs. Keep them near where you use them - probably
the kettle or coffee maker.

Compost bucket. If you can compost or your waste

management company collects green waste, composting will
drastically reduce your waste and disposal consumption.

Kitchen storage ideas for young children

Provide a cupboard or drawer for your children. Keep
unbreakable plates, cups and utensils for small children in a
bottom drawer so that they can take things out themselves.
Small children also love having a play cabinet with wooden
spoons and pots and pans to play with while you cook or clean
up.

Lock away dangerous or valuable items. Make sure kitchen

cupboards containing poison or fragile items are fitted with
childproof locks.
 CREATE A DECLUTTER DAY FOR YOUR BEDROOM
Does the thought of spending a whole day cleaning up your bedroom fill you
with joy? Probably not - but it doesn't have to make you desperate either. The
truth is that decluttering your bedroom can be satisfying and rewarding, and yes,
it can even be fun if you follow this simple three step plan!
1. Set aside a day for clearing out
Rome may not have been built in a day, but your bedroom can be cleaned up in a
day, no matter how messy you have left it. If you start early enough, it will be
cleaned up in less than a day, and then you can do something more interesting in
the evening.
The trick is to plan everything in advance. Before you do anything, you need to
look at what you're dealing with. Get a notebook and take some notes. Write
down all the clutter from the closet to the dresser to the bedside table. Don't
forget to look under the bed!
Once you have identified the places in your bedroom where clutter accumulates,
write down some possible solutions. This is the fun part, because now you can
be creative. For example, if your wardrobe is stuffed to bursting, how about
using the backs of the wardrobe doors as a hanging surface? How about turning
the space under your bed into storage space with drawer cabinets on wheels?
Once you have your action plan, choose a day when you can devote the time and
attention you need to it. Circle this day on your calendar with a bright red pen
and write "day of cleanup" on it. Go out and buy everything you need in
advance, and sleep soundly the night before. Set your alarm early.
2. Use a Declutter Day system
The day of clearing out your bedroom will be much more pleasant and
entertaining if you use a system. Start at the bedroom door and work your way
clockwise through the room. First take a laundry basket or similar container and
shovel in everything that doesn't belong in your bedroom - books, clothes,
children's toys or whatever it may be. Put these things back where they belong
and put them away. This way your bedroom will be cleaned up immediately.
Go back and work your way deeper into the room. Use the "Keep, Trash, Donate
or Sell" system to decide the fate of each item you encounter. Items you intend to
keep can be returned to their rightful place once you have cleared away all the
things you want to throw away, donate to charity or sell.
All this gives you room to implement the storage solutions that are part of your
action plan. Take a break and then return to the fight with renewed energy.
Reorganize your bedroom according to your plan. Finally, let the vacuum cleaner
run around.
3. Earn some rewards for the clean-up day
Time to reward yourself for all your hard work. If you followed the system in the
previous step, you will have two stacks left - one for things you donate to
charity, one for things you want to sell. Donating items to charity makes you feel
good, and selling your old stuff on eBay or Craigslist will give you some useful
extra money. Either way, you get the satisfaction of knowing that your items are
going to someone who really appreciates them.
Finally, you will be psychologically rewarded when you decluttering your
bedroom, because all this mess will have pulled you down emotionally whether
you are aware of it or not. The sense of relief you will feel when your bedroom
is back in order is worth its weight in gold. Decluttering your bedroom can be
fun and rewarding, so start planning your decluttering day today!
 DECLUTTER YOUR ROOM AND DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE
It can be discouraging and depressing to live in clutter. Clutter has a way of
multiplying, so it's no longer just about that little bit of clutter you leave behind
after paying your bills. Now there are newsletters and magazines and CD's that
you didn't have time to put away. You want to read the magazines before you
throw them away and you want to record the payments of the bills. What can
you do?
Clutter Tip 1: Sometimes outside help is valuable, sometimes not.
How overwhelming is the mess for you? Do you have a way to deal with it, or
don't you have a plan? Sometimes this is the case when there is little storage
space in your home.
Sometimes it can be a great help to bring family or friends. You see clutter as
clutter where you might consider it important. This is a help if it is really clutter.
It is not so helpful if you need a record of receipts for your business dinner, but
not the receipts from your old grocery stores.
Clutter Tip 2: How long do you need to keep old receipts?
Whether paid or unpaid, an invoice is no longer important when it is 90 days old.
After 90 days you will have received at least two more updated invoices. The old
information is simply no longer important unless you have a credit card for
business purposes. Since these purchases are all tax deductible, this is a useful
record. Save it. Discard all others.
Clutter Tip 3: How long do you stick to magazines?
I recommend that you read a new magazine the week it arrives. Then, if you
don't have a waiting room for patients, throw it away or donate it to the canteen
of your workplace after tearing off the label. This way, your room will not be
cluttered.
Clutter Tip 4: How to store books when you have no more space on the shelf
It is easy to build a simple bookshelf and I recommend this. It won't look like a
built-in bookcase, but it will hold a lot of books. You can paint it to match the
trim, contrast with your wall colour by making it lighter or darker, or let it blend
with your wall colour. Use a semi-gloss or gloss, as these are more durable and
will not stain.
Or you can hang shelves directly on the wall using brackets held in place with
butterfly screws, or one of the other ways, where you drill a hole and insert a
plastic holder before screwing the screw in. Books are quite heavy, so I use two
brackets for a three- or four-legged shelf. For a longer shelf I would use three
brackets.
Sometimes you stack stones and drive a shelf over the stones, then you stack
more stones and drive another shelf. These are fast and strong, but it will always
look like a dormitory solution. Just stacking books next to a chair is not a storage
solution, it is clutter.
Books are useful and beautiful and only get messy if you can't get at them or
can't find them when you need them.
What is clutter?
Perhaps at this point it is important to define the term "clutter". If you cannot
vacuum or dust all your tables and counters without moving "stuff", you have
clutter. Maybe you have a collection of antique angels or another topic. If it's on
a table and not on a shelf, it's clutter.
Well, some people have kitchen appliances sitting on their counter all the time.
They use them a lot and it takes them a lot of time to put them away and take
them out again.
That is the definition. Clutter takes up your time. It takes time to get them out of
the way, and it takes time when you can't find what you're looking for.
It's not clutter if it saves you time in the kitchen. But if you have to move the
food processor every time you make coffee or rice, which you do every day, then
it's no longer a mess. Put the food processor away to make room for the
appliances you use every day, unless you use the food processor every day as
well.
Clutter is ugly. If a device is ugly, put it away unless you use it. There is no
reason to make your kitchen look cluttered and unattractive for an appliance you
use twice a month. Put it away.
Clutter Tip 5: Are filing cabinets worth the money and space?
Filing cabinets are only useful when you use them. I have several friends who
are historians and they keep papers, newspapers and articles that have historical
value. These have to be filed away, and they use them often.
Filing old bills is not a good use of the filing cabinet. If you don't go to the filing
cabinet as often to get information on how to put stuff in it, you are just using it
to delay throwing it away. A small cabinet for your equipment information,
insurance and tax information is all most households will ever need. In most
cases, an accordion file will be sufficient.
Clutter Tip 6: How to use the electronic file
Computers today come with calendars, a word processing program and a
numbers (e.g. Excel) or finance program (e.g. Money or Quicken). If your
computer was not equipped with one, it is worth buying one.
Keep your due dates in the calendar. You can even keep track of your workout,
and I have used it to track how I have spent my money. Quicken is great for
keeping track of all your current account spending. You can download it directly
from most online banking systems. It sorts your spending (debit card, credit card
and cheque spending) into categories for you. This is most useful when filing
your tax return, and from experience I can tell you that the IRS auditor will be
happy to work on the basis of your Quicken file if they have any questions.
Important documents can be scanned and stored on your hard drive or an
external drive. If you are not familiar with setting up filing cabinets on your
computer, set up folders on your mail server and email the documents to yourself
as attachments. Then place them in the appropriate file. You don't have to search
at home, and you can access the documents when you need them at work.
 HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE
The Simplicity movement is gaining momentum as more and more people
discover the joy of living simply and being free from too many possessions that
clog their homes. It can be fun and rewarding to buy beautiful things for your
own home, but when possessions become cluttered and piled up in your home, it
can become a less joyful experience and more of a big problem that you don't
need in life.
To learn how to clean up your life, here are some effective strategies that you can
use today, tomorrow and in the future

Strategy 1: Keep your life free of clutter

Strategy number one is about keeping your house and your life free of clutter.
Examine all your possessions and clean up all those that take up valuable space
in your home and have become a burden. Even if you are a fanatic about order, I
am sure that you will find one or two possessions that you can get rid of, because
you either have no more need for them or you could donate them to someone
who would make better use of them.
Strategy 2: Reduce your possessions
Owning too many possessions can become a burden. You have to spend precious
time taking care of your possessions, keeping them dust-free, having them
repaired if they break, and doing hundreds of other tasks that come up from time
to time. Save time, money and energy by reducing the number of possessions
you currently own. Life will be much easier if you rid yourself of too many
possessions.
Strategy 3: Don't worry about keeping up with the Jones
The third strategy is a powerful strategy that you can use from today and which
involves a change of mentality. Change your attitude and forget about keeping
up with the Jones. If you do that, you will probably end up getting further into
debt, just like they did. Be happy and content to live within your means. Using
Strategy 3 means that you can apply Strategy 2 immediately. Applying strategy 1
will be child's play because you will have less property in your home to look
after.
HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT BY DECLUTTERING YOUR BODY
If you want to lose weight, one of the ways you can tell is by the fact that you
have to undress your body. This may sound a little weird, but it's worth
considering. The whole idea of clutter and clearing out has become popular in
recent years, and with good reason.
Clutter can be a more serious issue in your life than you may realize. A lot of
clutter in the home is not only untidy and a little depressing, but also hinders the
thinking process. If you believe in Feng Shui, it blocks the energy around your
home. But you don't have to invoke esoteric ideas to realize how harmful clutter
can be. It can make it difficult to find important things and keeps you in a state
of confusion and clutter. So how does clutter affect your body?
If you carry excess weight around the middle of your body or elsewhere in your
body, what is it other than a kind of clutter? After all, clutter is anything that
takes up space - whether in your house, in your mind or in your body - and does
not make a useful contribution to your life.
How to undress your body
So, what is the point of thinking of your overweight as a mess? Is this just a
gimmick or a new word to describe a known problem? No - it is actually more
than that. Because freeing yourself from clutter is just that - a kind of freedom.
Clutter has many qualities, depending on what kind of clutter it is, but one thing
you absolutely have to know is this: It is always possible to get rid of it!
It is very important to realize this - clutter is a temporary, mutable phenomenon.
It is always in your ability to reduce or eliminate clutter, because by definition it
is not an essential part of your life. This is why it is so helpful to consider
pounds that you do not want as clutter.
Many people who have been trying to lose weight for a long time - be it for
years or even decades - begin to see this excess weight as inevitable. They see it
as something that is part of them, even if they would like to get rid of it. This is a
self-destructive attitude! Your excess pounds are just a kind of biological mess
that you are able to reduce.
Do you add to the mess?
Of course, the kind of "junk" we're talking about doesn't just spontaneously
appear on your body. No, it comes from the food you eat and your everyday
habits. This is nothing new, of course. But since this is an article about clearing
out your body, we should continue this metaphor and see how it applies to what
we take in our bodies.
Much of what passes for "food" today is made up of empty calories, and what is
this other than jumble when it enters our bodies? I am talking about most
processed foods, such as sugar, white flour, trans fats, fast food, soda and the
like. These "foods" may taste good and give your body a temporary boost of
energy, but they bring practically no real benefit.
Remember what unhealthy fats do to your system - they clog your arteries.
Doesn't that sound very confusing? Remember, however, that this only applies to
unhealthy fats. Your body needs a certain amount of fat, but also protein and
carbohydrates.
We should actually take a closer look at this point because it causes quite a bit of
confusion.
Healthy food vs. food that confuses your inner self
Many people who eat fall victim to the simplistic mindset that all carbohydrates
and/or fats are bad. So they flock to processed and unnatural foods like
margarine, diet soda and various "low-fat" and "sugar-free" (which often means
that they are sweetened with substances like aspartame, which is actually worse
than regular sugar!
It is much more helpful to think in terms of healthy vs. unhealthy foods than in
terms of fattening vs. non fattening foods. According to this framework, natural
and organic foods are the healthiest to consume, while processed, highly
sweetened, fried and other junk foods are the unhealthiest.
Of course, the amount is also relevant, so you need to pay attention to your
calorie intake. However, processed foods usually have a higher calorie content
and contain excessive amounts of salt and sugar, so you will want to eat more of
them.
Again, you should remember what mess on your desk or in your cupboard
means. It is the items that simply take up space without performing a useful
function. They could be things that were once useful but you don't need them
anymore, broken items or maybe even things you never really needed. The same
goes for food that clogs up your cells, organs and arteries.
Don't get too caught up in the idea that clutter is a bad thing that you need to get
rid of. You want to get rid of these pounds, but first you have to accept the
reality that they exist, at least for now. So your real focus should be on the future
- on reducing the amount of new clutter that you take into your body.
Of course, exercise is an important part of the weight loss equation, and this is
one way to lose unwanted pounds, along with paying attention to your diet.
Exercise naturally helps you to absorb more oxygen, increase your metabolism
and improve your circulation - all activities that purify your body in different
ways!
In summary, there are many ways to think about weight loss. We have indicated
here that it can be useful to think of it as a mess. Think of decluttering as a
useful metaphor or as a literal truth when it comes to the extra pounds you may
be carrying around with you.
 DECLUTTER YOUR MIND AND FREE YOURSELF
We're always rushing around, and our to-do list is getting longer and longer. It's
like a running commentary in our heads. The long list of things to do never
stops, the pressure is getting bigger and bigger, and we feel like our heads are
going to explode because sometimes it's too much.
When this happens, you really need to stop, take a step back and think carefully
about what you are doing and why you are doing it. There is a lot of talk now
about decluttering our homes to make our lives easier. Of course, it is true that
when you get rid of clutter, you start to get a better grip on your life.

But what about your mind?

You see, how can we start to get our houses in order when so much is going on
in our heads that holds us back and slows us down? It all boils down to the same
thing. It's about clearing your head so that you can spend more valuable time on
more important things.
Sometimes the weeks go by and we have so much going on in our heads that we
can never really concentrate on anything. Then we have the feeling that we have
"lost" time, that time will never come back. So we have to act and win back
some of this precious time for ourselves.
So, what do we do to order our minds?
1. write a diary
I know that we don't all like to write or feel that we don't have time to write, but
if you have a lot of fears or worries, writing it down can help you put everything
into perspective. It clarifies the space in your head so that you can then use it for
more satisfying things. Try to take some time each day to write down a few
things. It will help you in the future if you look back on when you did certain
things.
2. make a list
Get your mind in order by writing things down in a list instead of storing
everything in your head. That way you don't have to remember everything all the
time.
3. let go of negative thinking
This is very easy to do and a bad habit! It's dehydrating. Not only for you, but
for everyone around you. Some events in your life can cause you to think
negatively and it can take a lot of time and hard work to change your attitude.
You and you alone are responsible for what goes through your mind. Yet
sometimes we still allow ourselves to get so caught up in negative thoughts. You
must make every effort to let go of these negative thoughts whenever possible,
as this will relieve your mind from too much stress.
4. just say "no".
If you already have a lot to do, don't be tempted to add anything. Some of us
simply cannot say no. If someone asks you to do something, just ask yourself if
you can really accept it now. It becomes a habit to say "yes" all the time, and
then you get stuck doing it, so start training yourself to say "no".

5. keep going!
Did you know that it is amazing how quickly you can do something when you
finally commit to doing it? Believe me, the thought of doing something often
consumes much more energy than actually doing it!
6. avoid interruptions
Sometimes we have the feeling that we are not getting anywhere because we are
constantly interrupted. Nowadays we all have mobile phones, so we are
available 24 hours a day! And why? What on earth were we doing before they
appeared? Our minds will be overloaded in no time, so try to avoid that if
possible.
These are the most important tips we can try to apply on a daily basis. Every
little bit helps. Also remember to take breaks from time to time. We all deserve a
break. Nobody is going to give us a medal if we work our way down. Take even
a few minutes "time-out" from a task to clear your thoughts, and then you can
come back refreshed and ready to go.
If you follow simple tips like this, your head will no longer be full of clutter and
too much information. If you write things down and act as quickly as possible,
you can clear your mind and then have more opportunity to think about much
more productive and enjoyable things.
 DECLUTTER YOUR MIND
Just as people process and collect new information differently, each of us has
developed ways of organising our environment and moving through our spaces
over the course of our lives. Yet the fact remains that we live buried in a
multitude of "things". I believe that as long as our physical environment is in a
constant state of clutter, our potential to develop successful ideas, find
inspiration and use our motivation to create action plans would be exhausted.
Out of sight, out of mind.
To Unclutter must be seen as an exercise in which we search for ideas among all
the things that occupy extra space in our lives and thus in our minds. Once the
space is cleared, you can take a closer look at what you have and determine its
true purpose and value, you can keep only the critical parts you need and judge
how they might work better for you.
Just like you don't need a hundred dried-out pens in your drawer, but only one
pen that works well and writes fluently, you don't need to clutter your mind with
negative or self-destructive thoughts, thoughts of projects that have failed or are
not getting off the ground, or simply thoughts of daily activities, worries and
stress that arise when we cannot move on from unfinished projects or when we
lack a real system to organize ourselves, our space, our life and our ideas.
The connection between what our physical spaces look like and how we feel
about them cannot be denied. Furthermore, these emotions can have a strong
influence not only on the way we move through these spaces, but also on what
we do when we are in them. In other words, if we don't feel comfortable in a
room, if the room itself is in a clutter state, has an unpleasant smell, or simply
doesn't have the resources we need to fulfill our purpose, then in the end we do
nothing or waste the most valuable thing we have, which is time, instead of
making a difference.
I encourage you to invest your time wisely and to deal first with the confusion in
your environment. Then follow this example and reorganize your ideas. Creating
an action plan to clear your physical space will work as a perfect exercise that
can later be applied to your ideas; the foundations for your future success must
be built on well-prepared ground.
 STEPS TO DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE
Change your thinking
The first principle to keep in mind is the famous acronym KISS, which stands
for Keep It Simple (Stupid)! The overload in the lives of many people is due to
the fact that they have a very complex and busy lifestyle. This does not have to
be the case. If you change your attitude and think about how you can start living
simply by removing some of the unnecessary layers, you may discover a much
simpler, freer life waiting for you.
By changing the way you think you can help yourself to move forward more
clearly and with greater concentration. It will not matter whether you are doing
well mentally or physically if you do not change your general attitude towards
hoarding or taking on too much, as you will probably start the cycle all over
again.
Think about how much calmer and more peaceful you will feel when you are in
an orderly and tidy environment. The sense of serenity that you can feel when
you are not surrounded by clutter and unfinished work. This is what you need to
create both in your mind and in your physical environment so that you feel at
ease with yourself.
Distinguish between needs and desires
What do you expect from life: success, happiness, love and serenity? People
often believe that these states can be achieved through possession. Many needs
are satisfied by material things, but the distinction between what one really
needs and what is just an unnecessary desire is the key to simplifying life.
Spending money on "things" may create a certain inner satisfaction, but after that
other ways are sought to give back the good feeling. This turns into a
complicated life with an expensive lifestyle that has to be supported by a high
workload, stress and dissatisfaction. Escape is then found by taking short breaks,
which are hard on our pockets and thus repeat the cycle.
With whom do you compare yourself when looking at your life; with those who
have more than you or with those who have less? If it is the former, then you
probably feel dissatisfied with life most of the time and continue to long for
more and struggle to improve your life.
Try to think about those who have less and still seem happy enough. Think about
what you have. Think about what is really enough to satisfy your true needs. For
example, how many shoes or pants can you wear?
This does not mean that you should live the life of a beggar; it is about putting
things into perspective. We all have basic needs like food, warmth, shelter and
clothing. We also need love and companionship. We certainly do not really need
three televisions, ten pairs of shoes and three coats. Sounds excessive?
According to Mintel (2006), women in the UK own on average 14 pairs of shoes
each, while men own about 6 pairs.
Learn to accept and be grateful for what you have, especially for the non-
material things, because that is where you will find real happiness and serenity.

Learn to let it go
The most difficult thing in clearing out is to learn to let go, to give up trying to
control everything and follow the flow of life. Apart from the physical things,
we are attached to all kinds of mental baggage that makes us worry about our
future, our children's future, our investments, global warming, rising crime - the
list goes on and on.
Why do we worry so much about things over which we have little or no control?
Will it make a difference? Of course we can make a difference in our own way,
but if you already do, why are you worried? Worry does not change the fact that
it cannot lead to disease.
Do you brood over things that happened in the past? Maybe someone hurt you
emotionally, maybe you did something you believe or know was wrong. Once
again, let it go. If you can make amends for your wrongdoing, consider it. The
most important thing is to practice forgiveness, and that includes forgiving
yourself. You are only human and you are allowed to make mistakes. Behaviour
does not make a person good or bad, it is just some actions that we follow at
some point. Let it go and move on. Shake off your ballast and move on to a
newer, freer one.
Once you accept that you can only control your own behaviour, you are on your
way to a calmer and more serene life. If you accept "what is", you will remove
the stress in your life and feel much happier. These principles are very simple,
but it is very difficult to achieve them because it is difficult to let go of old
habits.
Delete your things
As discussed above, we can easily be surrounded by many things that suffocate
our whole self. It weighs on us, upsets our homes and creates dust. Consider the
feeling you have in a large, comfortable, open, tidy and minimally furnished
living room. Compare this to the mood created by an overly busy environment
with piles of unfinished work, books, clothes and magazines etc. lying around.
The first will probably create an atmosphere of serenity and calm, the second
will feel extremely uncomfortable and dirty, and if it is your room, it will
frustrate you with thoughts of incomplete tasks.
So how do we get rid of the stuff we have accumulated over the years, or how do
we organize what we want to keep? This part of clearing out can be relatively
easy once you have mastered the attitude change described above, although it
can be time-consuming. To move forward, you should take a reasonable amount
of uninterrupted time, focus on the result to stay motivated, and have fun - get
the help of a good friend (make sure he can be strict with you and stay focused).
For it to work, make sure you have enough boxes and bags to clear everything
out and that you have enough suitable storage space for what you want to keep.
Before you start planning your organization system, you should have it at the
end of the process, otherwise you will end up with a different, less cluttered
mess! You may want to arrange one room at a time. Work quickly and sort in
keep, throw away or give away. Set up rules for yourself, for example: If you
haven't worn a piece of clothing for two years or more, it has to go.
Reward yourself when you have completed the assigned section. Try to avoid
getting caught up in reading old magazines or memories, such as photos. If
something requires attention, such as sorting photos that could not be completed
in the timeline, write this down as a separate task to draw attention to it later.
Clear your time
A fast-paced life in which everyone is always doing something leaves no time to
relax or clear your head. Constant noise and light from many directions makes
silence an alien concept. It becomes more and more difficult to create peace and
quiet in mind and body and physical stress and strain on the body increasingly
lead to illness.
There are various things you can do to purify this part of your life. How many
things do you do that are unnecessary? For example, do you wash your clothes
more often than necessary, do you iron almost everything? Do you spend more
time at work than you should, perhaps out of guilt because everyone else does it?
Do you spend a lot of time organising holidays for yourself and your family? Do
you always take on little extras to help other people?
Think about all aspects of your life that take up your time and sort them into
storage, trash cans or gifts. This exercise is about the things you need to do or
intend to do yourself, things you know you can stop doing or thinking about, and
tasks you can delegate. Ask yourself about your habits, think about KISS.
Take time for real relaxation, not time in front of the TV, but really quiet time. If
you tend to suffer from anxiety or stress, think about learning yoga, starting
meditation or just going for a walk or working in the garden.
It takes time, but we must persevere, because it is really worth it.
 10 WAYS TO DECLUTTER YOUR MIND
There is so little time and so much to do that our heads are so full of to-do lists
that seem to never end. It's hard to move forward when you don't even know
where to start.
1. Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk Be kind to yourself.
Negative talk is the talk that prevents us from doing what we really want to do.
This negative talk tells us that we cannot go on doing things. It tells us that you
don't know enough, that you might not be beautiful enough, or that you don't
have the ability or talent to do something. If you don't try, you will never know
what your ability or talent is. Take some time to be kind to yourself and think
about how you can do it and not how you cannot do it. Strike "I cannot" from
your vocabulary. You can always learn a skill, but you must change your way of
thinking to be successful.
2. Clear up incomplete tasks. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by how much
there is to do? Do you have all kinds of to-do lists? Have you taken a tour of
your home or office? When you walk through your home or office, you may
notice things that have remained unfinished. Make a list and take your time to
remove any of these incompletions. Replace, repair or throw away any damaged
items. Buy items that improve your environment and productivity. Eliminate old
items that contaminate your location. Better yet, donate them to your local
charity. It will be someone else's treasure. If you haven't used it for a year, do
you really think you will use it? Put it in a box, and if you haven't used it in six
months, give it away! The item will not serve you well and you will be surprised
how much lighter you will feel.
3. Write down your to-do list. Do not rely on your memory to remind you of
everything you need to do or achieve. Some of these tasks may be daily,
monthly or even yearly. Writing down what you have to do each day will help
you get a clearer picture and focus on the things you need to do. You can break
them down into different tasks and delegate them.
4 Determine your priorities. When you decide what your priorities are in your
life, you can better focus your energy on fulfilling those priorities. When you
take care of your priorities, the rest of your life tends to move with ease because
you focus on what is really important to you.
5. Work on your biggest action points first. If you have a deadline to complete
a big project, it can be a bit overwhelming. Some projects seem bigger than
others. We can often talk ourselves out of what we have to do by changing the
subject or deciding to do an easier task first. We tend to put these important tasks
aside and even hesitate as we approach the task. However, if we start with the
biggest task item first, the other tasks seem to be much easier. If you do the
hardest or most difficult task first, you will be more motivated to continue with
the rest of your list.
6. Reduce the amount of television you watch Think about the shows you
watch. What purpose do they serve for you? Are they merely entertaining or
educational? What benefit do you get from them? By reducing your daily
television viewing time from half an hour to an hour, you'll gain more time to do
other things you love, such as read a book or listen to an audio program. As you
expand your knowledge, you will see the rewards. The rewards can be: climbing
the corporate career ladder, building a successful business or spending more time
with family.
7. Check your e-mails only 2 or 3 times a day Email is a waste of time; we
can get sucked into emails that don't help us achieve our goals. Schedule specific
times of day for email retrieval; you may need to let people know that you will
check your emails at specific times of the day. That way, others can know you're
busy and have a better sense of when they can expect a response from you.
Many people are so busy listening and responding to the "bing" when a new
email arrives that they end up wasting a lot of time instead of focusing on the
things they need to do. Turn off the "binger".
8. Clear your desk and prepare it for the next day This process can take
about 15 to 20 minutes on average. Throw away everything you think you
don't need. Use the one-touch paper method. When you touch paper, you must
decide whether to discard, treat or dispose of it. Paper clutter can overwhelm our
lives.
9. Take a break from what you are working on. There are times when you
need to get away from your computer and your desk to clear your head so you
can look at your project with fresh eyes again. When we have been working
continuously, we can lose sight of our vision of the end result. Sometimes we
can think more clearly and come up with many new ideas by spending time
away from a project and then returning to it later. The best way to clear your
head is to sit in silence and write down all the thoughts that come into your
mind. You will be amazed at the results; some of your ideas could be
groundbreaking. Discussions with thought leaders, mentors or coaches can
trigger new ideas that could be of interest to you.
10. stress reducers. Stress reducers such as exercise, meditation and prayer are
fabulous ways to free your mind. Exercise not only rejuvenates us and keeps the
blood flowing; it also helps our body to get into the best shape it has ever been
in. Meditation is wonderful for clearing the mind. Prayer gives us hope for the
future and convictions we can reach.
Decluttering your mind every day. Each time you declutter your mind, make
room for new ideas and possibilities. You will feel calm, cool and collected,
ready to take on the challenges and opportunities that come your way.
 HOW TO BRING MORE MONEY AND MORE PEACE OF
MIND TO YOUR LIFE
To win, we must let go.
We all want more money and more peace of mind in our lives, especially in the
face of all the uncertainties in today's world. The more chaotic the environment
is, the more we naturally want security and peace. We can have this and more.
However, this means that we must abandon the old familiar way of thinking
about security. Letting go of what we know can be a big task for some of us;
even if it is the key to getting what we want.
The last few months have been a chaotic time economically. But chaos can bring
a new understanding and awareness. It was a time when decisions about money
had to be weighed more deeply. In some ways, we are all directly affected by the
current economic situation, whether it be through increased grocery store prices,
a drop in our 401Ks, or having to make different decisions about what we buy
and when.
No matter how we look at it, the current economic situation has heightened our
awareness of money, of how we spend it, and of our relationship with it. Some of
us are tightening our belts, while others are looking for bargains in real estate
and the stock market. An optimist will see the current "crisis" as an opportunity;
a pessimist will see it as a dark and bleak time.
If I were to say that everything we need right now is in abundance, many people
would probably think I live in another country. But there really is an abundance
of everything we need; it is a universal truth. It's just a question of changing
perspectives. In general, we tend to see abundance and prosperity not as quality
but as quantity. We have been conditioned to believe that the more we have or
possess, the richer and more prosperous we are.
Wealth and abundance are not about having more money or things. Wealth and
abundance are a way of being, a consciousness and a connection to the
wholeness of creation. We all have the potential for wealth and abundance in our
lives; it is the natural order.
If we think in quantity - more of something - it can set us up to come from a
place of lack, a belief that we do not have enough. When we feel that we don't
have enough, we cling to what we believe we don't have enough because it gives
us a sense of security. But the act of clinging creates a false sense of security and
blocks the natural flow. The only way out of the thinking of lack is to let go of
old ideas that no longer serve us, to let go of holding on.
If we hold on to our "stuff", we also block the flow. Although confusion and
clutter are a natural part of the order and flow of life - nothing remains perfectly
ordered forever - this natural order is disrupted when our "stuff" accumulates too
quickly and is not dealt with. Think of it this way: A tree jam on a river does not
completely block the flow of the river, but it certainly slows it down. In the same
way, if we hold on to our accumulated material, the river is blocked. If our
cupboards, drawers, the garage, the cellar or the attic are "blocked" with our
stuff, nothing can get in! Letting go is the only way to restore the natural order.
Letting go is the ultimate challenge, because it is about overcoming an emotional
attachment to old ways of thinking and behaving. We have been conditioned to
hold on, take responsibility and let things happen. Those of us who have been
whitewater rafting before have heard similar words from the guide: "When you
fall out of the raft, don't flail around in the water trying to find something to hold
on to. Instead, let go, point your feet downstream and let the river carry you to
the next landing. If only the act of letting go were as simple as saying it! Our
emotions complicate the process of letting go and create the resistance or
discomfort we experience. But when we stop resisting and letting go, we are
freed from our discomfort.
Let go of the old and open yourself to the new!
There is a powerful law that, if obeyed, can change our lives. It is a law that
always works in our lives, whether we are aware of it or not. It is a law that can
bring us everything just by changing the way we think. This powerful law is the
universal law of circulation.
We know it from these sayings:
As you give, you get
What goes around comes around
You'll get back what you put in
Same attracts the same

The Universal Law of Circulation is about recognizing that what we spend

comes back to us. Paying attention to how we feel, how we think, our intentions
and our attitudes are the key to how this law works for us or against us. Letting
go of resistance and thoughts of lack are also key elements in how the law works
for us. We want nothing that stands in our way to block the flow. Because it is a
universal law, it is always in force - always flowing; we choose how we want to
connect with it.
There are some important things to think about when we start working with this
law. When we come from a place of quantity, of "more", we are off course. It is
essential that we act responsibly in our spending habits - never spend something
that cannot be explained. Manifesting without action brings nothing but
frustration and disappointment. Any action taken for personal gain will block the
flow. The universe abhors a vacuum and will always pounce on filling it. And
when we stop worrying about not having enough, everything will come to us.
The following are ways in which we can integrate this powerful law into our
lives today:
Decluttering your life. If you take the time to declutter and
organize all the physical spaces around you, even the car and
shed, you will work miracles to open the river.
Complete unfinished tasks.
Let things go quickly instead of holding on to them. Put a smile
on another person's face by donating your things.
Organize your finances. Talk to a financial planner. Learn more
about financial matters. Create a monthly budget. Empty your
briefcase, wallet or purse. Open a "Unexpected Money" account
at the bank.
Do a good deed, anonymously.
Set clear goals for the future. Be concrete!
Create a vision forum. Use magazines, pictures and words to
visualize your goals.
Volunteer your time, your talent or your money for a worthy
cause.
Release resentment and worries.
 RULES FOR "UNCLUTTERING" YOUR LIFE
Seven " uncluttering rules
Here are some "proper rules" that I try to live by. No, I don't always stick to them
myself, but they are goals to be achieved. The good news is that the more I
follow these rules, the less time I need to return to a completely clear
environment.
Whether you want to tidy up your life because you want to let a more inviting
chi energy flow through your house, whether you want to land this big job at
work or (and that's the goal of most of us!) whether you just want to walk
through your house without stumbling, this article was written just for you.

Decluttering your life rule #1:

If in doubt, throw it away.
This is the easiest - and yet the most difficult. We have all experienced it. We
finally throw away the widget we haven't used for literally years. The very next
day someone needs it.
And that's the horror story we remember every time we reach for an article and
start suggesting it. My counter-argument to that is, swallow it and get over it.
If you haven't used it for a year - or more - chances are it's just not that important
in your life. If you stumble over it more than you use it, it probably serves no
useful purpose.
And if you've just discovered it in a box in your garage, along with other "stuff"
that you didn't unpack when you moved five years ago... guess what? You can
probably live just fine without it! After all, you've already been upstairs, haven't
you?
Not only books, newspaper articles and magazines, but think seriously about it
when you come across the old electric sandwich maker and even the newer but
rarely used George Foreman grill.
Decluttering your life rule #2:
Store items in the most efficient places.
You may not use an item because it is not stored in an easily accessible place. It's
easier to show you what I mean than take the time to explain it. We all do this
naturally when it comes to the "efficiency" of our kitchens.
And I do it most when it comes to my morning coffee. My coffee pot is placed
on the counter, which is right under my coffee cups. My coffee beans are stored
not too far from it, and my coffee grinder is on the same shelf as my beans.
If I were to place my coffee grinder on the opposite side of the kitchen, this
arrangement would not serve me well. Two events would probably occur. First,
the grinder would never return to its real home on the other side of the kitchen.
Or I would give up grinding coffee and switch to using ground coffee (No, I
would never give up drinking coffee!).
As you can clearly see, "efficient storage" means nothing more than placing the
items you intend to use in the most accessible places. Did the George Forman
grill end up under the sink because you never used it? Or did you just not know
where else to store it?
If you really want to give it another chance, try storing it where it is useful for
you.
Another useful tip in this sense is to keep similar items together. For example, if
you have several flower vases, store them together. The next time you reach for a
vase, you only need to look in one place to find them all. You won't go to the
first place just to find that the perfect vase is hidden under the stairs in the
basement.
Decluttering your life rule #3:
Recycle! Recycle! Recycle! Recycle! Recycle!
Have I made myself clear? But when you think of recycling, think in creative
terms. Take books to booksellers who sell used books, or to libraries for their
book sales. Recycle newspapers and magazines.
Clothes? Think about taking them to consignment stores or donating them to
second-hand shops where they are sold at low, affordable prices to families who
not only need the clothes but also appreciate the cost.
Even a flea market is a form of recycling, if you think about it. Don't you want to
make the effort to stand your ground? Maybe your neighbour would like to sell
some of your old furniture or some of your unused kitchen appliances.
There are even online trading services where you can trade CDs, video games
and children's books.
Churches may also be looking for salable items for their junk sales. Schools
usually hold annual charity events, and you won't believe what one of the hot
items is - used trophies! Ask around. You know what they say: One man's trash
is another man's treasure.
Decide right now to get rid of what you're putting away within 3 days of it being
taken out of circulation in your home. In other words..: If a donation to a
particular charity is too time-consuming, simply take your items to the nearest
tollbooth for charity. Don't let your castaways clutter up your garage because
they won't make it to the next charity. Let go and let go. It's best to put your
donations in your car the same day they leave your house and not the garage!
Capiche?!
Decluttering your life rule #4:
Do the words in the file cabinet ring a bell?
Do you have papers? Get a file cabinet. Make sure it's a quality filing cabinet
with drawers that don't jam. You won't want to file if you have to struggle with
the drawers, and believe me, you want to make filing as simple and effortless as
possible.
If you have a home office, at some point - even in the age of digital forms and
cyber saving sites - you will definitely want to buy a "real" filing cabinet. I don't
care what anyone says, the "hard copy" of many documents, magazines,
guarantees and the like will never completely disappear from the face of the
earth.
Don't overlook the fact that every larger device you buy comes with some kind
of instruction manual. From the hot water tank to the refrigerator to your car,
there are papers for each of these purposes that you need to keep. It is better to
keep them all together than to scatter them on the floor and in the drawers of
your house.

Decluttering your life rule #5:

Become Zen with the room.
Okay, so this rule is a little cryptic. But it's still useful. Instead of focusing your
mind on all the mess you have right now, start imagining your house as messy.
Seriously. Imagine it's free of clutter. As the day progresses, you'll find that not
only will you become more aware of the mess, but you'll start to do something
about it!
You may need to get used to this particular rule. But I have tried it for myself
and for my customers - and it works. After a while you will have a picture of
your house as it should be: clean and without any useless stuff scattered
everywhere. And next you take steps - sometimes just baby steps - towards your
vision.

Decluttering your life rule #6:

Do it now!
Aha! Now we have hit the nail on the head. I can tell by the way you flinched
when you read this rule. A lot of this mess is piling up in our house simply
because we refuse to do it "right now."
Another tip we can take from the Zen masters, who always encourage us to "live
in the moment". Now we can add: "Live in the moment to avoid this confusion.
This rule is best illustrated by the daily mail. Every day, your postman throws
mail into your mailbox. What exactly do you do with this mail? If you are like
most of us, you look through it and put it aside. "I'll take care of it after dinner,"
you say as you rush into the kitchen.
But you forget all that junk mail and read a good book while watching TV
instead.
The next time you find this special sales flyer for your local grocery store is
three weeks after the sale ends. Unless it was buried under a pile of other junk
mail, it fell under the couch.
Oh, yes, I understand the nature of the mess.
Instead of putting everything aside, you could have handled this more efficiently.
You could have taken those few moments to separate the bills and put them in a
small vertical bin on your desk where you'll sit next time you pay them.
Take the junk mail and start prioritizing. Mail that you do not like at all should
be thrown away immediately. Leaflets that you might want to look at later - for
example, for your way to the grocery store - put them in another basket,
preferably one near your seat in the evening. In this way, their presence will
prompt you to at least take a look through them.
Now at least you will know where it is if you decide to check this week's
shopping list.
Decluttering your life rule #7:
Label things.
Did you store your objects in containers? Instead of opening them every time
you want to see what's inside, why not just label them?
Containers with Christmas decorations can be labeled as such. You can even buy
containers in the colours of the season. This way, if you're looking for the
Halloween costume from three years ago, you don't have to go through these
special buckets.
In fact, the labeled buckets can help you determine with amazing accuracy
where the item you're looking for is really hidden!
But don't limit this labeling system to containers only. Look through the garage.
Should certain tools or garden equipment be in certain places? Do not be afraid
to put a sign in place. If you have tools hanging on a pegboard, label the place
where you hang your hammer with "Hammer". If you need to outline the shape
of a hammer at this point (and for some family members this might work even
better), then mark the place with "hammer"! That way, every member of your
family will know where to hang the rake. No excuses.
I have some customers with large families who do this even with their kitchen
cabinets. This way they all agree where to replace the clean dishes and cups.
This is just the beginning of how you can - with a little determination - start
"clearing out" your house. This is something that everyone deals with every day
to one degree or another.
When you see a home that is free of clutter, ask yourself this question: what did
it look like 48 hours before this family was expecting company?
Then ask yourself the next logical question: Did Mama, who behaved like a
Gestapo, call on the help of everyone in the house to "declutter" it?
Chances are that the answer to the last question is resounding: And whether she
did!
Don't be too hard on yourself, because you have let the disorder overwhelm you.
Just hide away, now that you have decided to get rid of it, and stick to your guns.
Because you can declutter your house... increase your enjoyment of life... and
breathe freely again!
 DECLUTTERING CHRISTMAS
It has been said that less is more. In the spirit of general simplification of my
life, I wanted to see if that was true on this holiday. So what better way to do it
than to declutter what most Americans consider to be the packed holiday
highlight of all holidays? Christmas.
Christmas of all days can use a lot of clearing out. Two thousand years after the
blessed event we celebrate, we have succeeded in transforming the season into
an Olympics of giving, baking, mailing, decorating, and traveling. We have
sprinted through months of parties, shopping and shipping. We even kill trees for
it. I, for one, can live in my living room once a year without fruitcake, eggnog
and a fresh evergreen.
Decluttering the holidays means decluttering your life by eliminating excessive
or unnecessary holiday activities to which you have been conditioned and
instead taking more time to celebrate the holidays the way your heart desires.
But I admit that clearing Christmas out this year was more of a necessity than a
consideration for me. Due to an accumulation of business trips in December -
both for my husband and for me - and a weekend cruise in mid-December
(which I just won and which is a "use it now or lose it" offer), crowned by the
fact that we would spend the entire Christmas and New Year's week abroad with
my husband's family, I knew already in November that there would simply be no
time for all the Christmas and holiday rituals that I normally undertake. All in
all, I would be at home for a fortnight during the thirty-one days of December.
And did I mention that we have a ten-year-old daughter (who still believes in
Santa Claus) and a dog?
So when I thought about how I would "manage everything", I quickly realized
that the possibilities were limited:
1)Not sleeping and going crazy by sleep deprivation 2)Restricting sleep, which
leads to greatly increased eccentricity and reduced holiday enjoyment 3)Trying
to do everything but don't do it. Feel frustrated and guilty. 4)Only do the things I
enjoy and care about on vacation, skip or shorten everything else and condemn
the consequences.
Since I didn't like options one to three, I chose sensibly number four. No sooner
had I chosen happiness over duty than the universe conspired to help me at every
turn. In fact, it conspired so well in my favor that this was one of the best
holiday periods I can remember. Even with limited time, I had enough space to
do what I love and enjoy, and then some more. And that, more than altruistic
intentions or principles, is the main reason why I will continue to stick to this
approach in the years to come and feel inspired to share it with you.
So here is what has been marginalized and what has not, and here are some tips
on how you can do the same:
1.buy gifts. I love playing Santa Claus with my own child and giving presents to
the other children in my life. Since I am not very skilled, I have to shop for them.
Online orders at Amazon and other established Internet retailers made shopping
easy, if not effortless, this season. Even better, this year, due to the economic
downturn, retailers were aggressive in granting coupons and discounts on goods
before the holidays. So while I took a four-hour trip to the local mall (and ended
up paying the price with a deadly migraine), the trip was worth it thanks to the
50% discount vouchers, free $10 gift cards and other perks. The take-away: Plan
ahead and get everything done in as few visits as possible.
Here's another idea: A few years ago, my siblings and I - all adult, married adults
- decided to do without our annual "Secret Santa" gift exchange. After all, how
many electronic gadgets, designer handbags and furnishings did we still need?
Instead, every Christmas we donate at least $100 per couple to a charity of our
choice. We take it in turns to choose the worthy cause of the year.
2.decorate. Since we knew that we would celebrate Christmas elsewhere, we
agreed this year (with the blessing of our daughter) not to put up our artificial
tree. As a result, I put up about half of the normal decorations that I normally
place around the house. Without the usual addition of decorations and tree, our
home feels much more airy, and my husband, who is a minimalist himself,
comments daily on how much he likes having less Christmas decorations around
him.
Best of all, instead of taking a whole weekend, the holiday decoration (including
the installation of outdoor lighting for a two-story house) took a total of four
hours. At the centre of the few decorations that we installed is the nativity scene.
How wonderful that instead of a decorated tree, Jesus is really the center of
Christmas. The fewer decorations, the more subtle and valuable are the
memories of the holiday.
Clean up Christmas in your home by actually ridding your home of the usual
Christmas decorations. If you have a lot of stuff instead, rotate what you exhibit
from one year to the next. Then every year it will look like you have something
new.
Third bake. I usually like to bake this time of year. I like to go to cookie fairs and
make my favourite recipes, many of which are from my mother. But this year,
due to scheduling conflicts, I couldn't attend the events I was invited to and
would certainly not have visitors. So why bake? Exactly.
Still, people still crave Christmas cookies, so what can you do? Here is a great
shortcut that gives you the best of both worlds. The grocery stores are full of pre-
baked Christmas cookies that they don't usually carry at any other time of year.
Buy some of your favourite varieties. Add one or two Nestle or Pillsbury "Break
and Bake" packs to your selection and put them in the oven for 15 minutes. Here
you go, lots of variety, freshly baked delicacies and little time in the kitchen.
This is a treat, if you ask me.
4th Christmas cards and the inevitable holiday newsletter. I love sending out
Christmas cards, but I hate the process of sending them. Fortunately I have
above average computer and administrative skills that have proven useful in
automating this somewhat dreaded task. I have essentially reduced this to a
process of labelling and enveloping, computerising the address list for the
Christmas cards and then computer printing all return and address labels. I sign
the cards personally, but of course you can also order pre-printed cards to further
streamline things.
But since I only do what I love, I didn't want to leave out the cards this year.
They are the chance to reach and touch the many friends and family members I
rarely get to see. It was important to let them know that they are in my thoughts,
even if they are not in my zip code.
In the age of the Internet and digital photography, it has never been easier to
automate Christmas greetings. If you want a completely hands-free process, you
can create your list on your computer, then upload it and your favorite family
photos to Kodak, PhotoWorks, or Snapfish websites, and they will do the
shipping for you. Or save some trees and send free email greetings from
Hallmark.com.
5. visitors and visits. This one is easy. Visitors? I don't have any. If you have to,
ask them which hotel they'll be staying at while they're in town. Or go to them
instead. Better yet, if the budget allows, meet in the middle, but it should be fun.
The more fun you have at your destination, the easier all the other Christmas
rituals will be. Plan a family holiday in a favourite surfing or skiing resort as an
alternative to the strenuous winter trips to the city or sleeping in single beds in a
guest room. This approach also minimizes the gift madness, as it is difficult to
carry everything around. Think about it, no one has to cook, and you may be left
with a tan or massage rather than stress and washing dishes.
Decluttering Christmas was not only an incredible gift for myself, it also taught
me that less is absolutely more during the holiday season. If I don't follow all the
"should do's" dictated by modern society and reinforced by the consumerism of
Christmas, I can enjoy the holiday on a deeper level. I stand corrected: I am able
to enjoy the celebration, period.