GOT CLUTTER??? Raise your hand!!!

I ran across this article on SHINE this morning... thought it was SO appropriate for me as I still have kept MOSTLY all of my BIG clothes. Why do you ask? THAT is a very good question indeed!!! There's that part of my life I don't want to lose connection with, I'm pretty sure that is my answer... somehow, I feel comfort in keeping them... and the fact organizing and tackling clutter is NOT my forte!!! Wish me luck!

Things I've managed to accomplish over the past week:

1. I'm just about finished with all of my outdoor spring cleaning and trimming back of vines, palms, lemon tree and shrubbery... mowed the lawn... along with a power-wash of my pool/patio. All new spring plants are in... even the tomatoes!!! I see tiny tomatoes already!!!

2. Had my friend come over to fix some of those 'Honey Do' items I don't know how to. (slider door stuck, leaky faucet, broken utensil drawer, weather stripping, slipping towel rack).

3. Taxes are all in and I had my two-hour meeting with the new tax guy yesterday!!! Geesh... this was a toughy! But, if I can do THAT I can tackle my closets one room at a time.


Things I'm gonna do:

1. Now, I need to get a handle on clearing out the old as I haven't been able to get the new into my FOUR closets!!! Yep! FOUR!!! I shall finally tackle this!!! I'm determined!!!
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Now, here's the article... I hope this helps you too!

SPRING CLEANING:
5 tips to get unstuck and banish your clutter for good

by Julie Morgenstern

Change is part of life, and the current economic meltdown has further exaggerated the role it plays. The latest results in an ongoing survey executed by my company show 85% of respondents on the verge of a significant life change. For some, it was prompted by the economy. But the majority were experiencing common life transitions such as moving, career growth, and relationship changes - in some cases made more complicated by the economy. What everyone had in common was feeling stuck - not exactly sure where to go next.

When you feel stuck, decluttering, which I call SHEDing, helps you take control of your space and time, uncovering clues that connect you to the best, most authentic version of yourself. By focusing more on what you do before and after you actually toss the junk, you increase your chances of getting rid of the clutter for good, and gain insight into where you need to go next.

The first two steps in the SHED process are Separate and Heave. Separating involves identifying what stays and what goes, and can be the most daunting. Many don't know where to begin, and not being prepared for natural setbacks can lead to slipping back into old ways. Here are five tips for getting rid of the clutter for good.

1. Recognize that no one lets go into a vacuum. No one lets go of anything without reaching for something else. Come up with a one word theme for what you are making room for. It could be anything from deeper connections and financial security to self-acceptance and freedom.

2. Analyze the role the clutter is playing in your life before releasing it. This puts you in a position to find new, healthier, and more efficient ways to help you achieve your goals and drive toward your theme.

3. Before tackling any pile, establish your treasure guidelines. Ask, "if all this were gone tomorrow, what would I miss?" Write that down on a piece of paper, and use it to guide what you keep.

4. Aim for a radical release. Once you've separated the treasures from trash, get the trash OUT. Don't do it slowly, a few items at a time. By getting rid of the clutter in one fell swoop, you can more easily see the space that has been created that will help you drive toward your theme.

5. Be prepared for the Wall of Panic. After heaving clutter, you will find yourself asking "who am I without my stuff?" "What do I do with all of this space?" Don't respond by reaching for what you just tossed or rushing to fill the space with new things. Rather, acknowledge that everything you need to reinvent your life is inside of you.


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This article is based on content from Julie Morgenstern's latest paperback release, SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life . Click here to see Julie discuss the principles and processes of SHED live. For more information on this or any of Julie Morgenstern's books, products, or services, visit www.juliemorgenstern.com.

Kim,

Great that you are decluttering!  I love to do that.  Here is what helped me, might be worth a look see.

www.flylady.net.  All in 15 min a day.  She is what helped me be able to handle all these kids and stil keep my house acceptable for visitors.  She has steps also and sends you daily emails to remind you of what you need to do and help you build routines.

Good luck to you.

Rhonda

Thank you Rhonda for the heads-up on the Flylady site!!!  What a COOL place....  I just glanced over it quickly and will definitely go back when I have LOTS more time (for some reason my employer doesn't want to pay me to play on the computer....go figure!!)

Nice to meet a fellow flybaby.  I've been taking baby steps and flying for years with her!  What a help she has been to my clutter!

I don't need spring cleaning, I do it all year round.  Everyday is a day to clean my house and when I have parties, it even gets cleaner, if that is even possible.  Once you have things done, you should just keep up on it and you will never need to spring clean again.

Diane

Want to come to my house for an extended visit?  hahaha

Well, you know, I get that question a lot. I will pass this time.....lol

My middle name is clutter..(we know where my daughter gets her problem from..lol)  I am always in the process of cleaning out a room/closet/space/area/box/basket etc..., and I NEVER get caught up.  My problem is...I have to do it ALL at a single time or I don't do ANY of it...so consequently, I rarely finsh a project.  I am diagnosed with ADD or ALADD..(Adult Latent Attention Deficit Disorder).  Somewhere around 35 years old it kicked in again..I thought I had outgrown it.  The good thing is...when I do get around to cleaning and organizing something, I come across some terrific memories and memorabelia.  It is a great feeling to release things to a proper source too.  I just need to release more often..lol  Today, as I was looking for some family pictures (and I actually found them!), I came across an art project I started in 1987...it was fun then and I still plan on finishing it..lol
have a good day...
Kim in Fontana
PS..I had bought the book by Julie Morganstern several years ago.  One day I decided to get busy and read her book and follow her plan...well..I couldn't find the book, so I rebought it.  As soon as I started cleaning, I found the first book!!..lol

Luckily slowly but surely I am getting rid of my big clothes---I barely have any clothes right now---just enough to get by---- don't want to buy much---and I do have some clothes at my next goal weight.... ANYWAY...... I have a friend that started a blog---now it's turned into a full on clutter board!!  So...she posts items---and people vote to keep/donate to charity/or give to them....kinda cool----check it out! cluttercast.com......
or google "cluttercast"
hope that helps!