Get organized and stay organized
Guide to decluttering your entire home;
Would you like to declutter your home, but don't have a lot of time available? If you've always dreamed of getting organized and staying organized, the best approach is going to be through small, steady steps. Regardless of your clutter personality type, everyone benefits by making a plan. Pick any five things below and prune one from your home each day for the next weeks. You'll begin to see results, without taking time away from other important activities.
•Hangers from the dry cleaners
•Sweaters with fuzz balls or worn out items
•Orphan socks- they can be kepted for your shoe shine
•Widowed food containers
•Dried up cans of paint
•Dishes you never use
•Shoes that hurt your feet
•Clothes with stains
•Florists vases
•Outdated computer equipment
•Outdated video equipment
•Expired coupons, warranties, and contracts
•Expired vitamins and medications
•Junk mail and greeting cards
•Schedules and invitations to past events
•Instructions to items you dont own anymore
•Business cards from people whose name you dont recognize
•Photos that you dont love
•Charity solicitations (only keep the ones you plan on giving to)
•Recipes that are too difficult, too time consuming or too expensive to prepare
•Tourist brochures/ Old magasines/
•Paperback books that you will never re-read
When you discard unwanted and unneeded items, please do so responsibly. Nearly everything can be recycled or reused in some other way, so be sure to find out what facilities are available in your area. Here's how to dispose of a few common household items:
• Documents including your name and address or other personal information should be shredded to protect your identity
• Coupons, recipes, business cards, and other non-identifying paper items should be put in your blue box for recycling
• Metal hangers can be returned to your local drycleaners for reuse
• Electronics, paint, and other potentially hazardous waste should be taken to an appropriate facility to be recycled or disposed of safely
• Dishes can be donated to a charity who will either pass them on to someone in need or sell them and use the proceeds to fund their programs and services
• Stained and torn clothing can be worked into building materials, rags, or other purposes
• Expired prescription drugs should not be flushed down the toilet or tossed in the trash visit www.disposemymeds.org to locate a pharmacy who takes back drugs for safe disposal.
The following week, choose five more items from the list and prune one each day. Repeat this process for a few weeks in a row, until you've pruned everything on the list. Small, gradual tasks, done slowly can be your formula for organizing success!
Tiny Declutter Tasks
Have clutter and only have a few minutes to spare? Regardless of your clutter personality type, taking baby steps is the best way to achieve long-lasting organizing success. Here are just a few tiny tasks you can do right now to help get you motivated to keep organizing.
• Gather and edit your takeout menus. Store them in a binder, a plastic bag or a hanging file folder.
• Clean your jewelry. Inspect the prongs and clasps; do they need repairing? Do stones/pearls need restringing? If so, make an appointment and cross it off your to do list.
• Donate old eyeglasses and sunglasses. Groups like the Lions Club can recycle eyeglasses and there are many collection facilities where they can be dropped off including Goodwill Industries stores, LensCrafters stores, and Lions Club drop boxes, or, glasses can be sent in padded envelopes or boxes to: New Eyes for the Needy at 549 Millburn Avenue, PO Box 332, Short Hills, NJ 07078.
Getting organized doesn't have to be an overwhelming project! Complete one tiny task whenever you have a little time on your hands, and you'll be on your way to living a less cluttered life.
