Conquering Your Inner Clutterbug: 7 Tips for Decluttering Your Life
- Date: 2007-02-20 - Word Count: 598
Share This!
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the stuff in your home, you're not alone. Here are seven tried and true tips for cutting the clutter and getting your life back. Clean out the closets. Most people actually wear only 20% of the clothes they own. That means that 80% of what's clogging up your closet and dresser is stuff you never wear anyway. Set aside 4 hours one weekend to take everything out of your closet, try it on, and toss anything that doesn't fit well or flatter you, and stuff you haven't worn in the last year. The only items that goes back in the closet are the ones you truly like. As for the rest of it, take it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army for a hefty tax deduction. Ditch the dailies. Do you really read that newspaper every day? Reduce your subscription to Sundays only, and just watch that pile of unread papers disappear.Stop maxing out on magazines. It's hard to say no to a 4-year subscription when it costs approximately 11 cents, but it's only a good deal if you're actually going to read the magazines when they come. Pick one or two mags you really love and cancel the rest. Then, gather up all of your back issues and drop them off at the local hospital. Their patients and visitors will thank you. Love your local library. While you're on a roll with reducing your reading materials, paw through those paperbacks gathering dust on your bookshelf and donate them to your library. You'll get back your shelf space while helping a chronically underfunded public institution -- and bringing home another tax deduction.Nix the knickknacks. Think of it this way: The more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to dust. If you don't like those candlesticks Aunt Maeve gave you, take them to Goodwill. Running out of space for picture frames? Pick just a few favorite photos to leave out, put the rest into albums, and Freecycle the leftover frames. Got a thing for porcelain figurines? Unless you have a nice china closet for them, probably best to pack them up for protection -- and to clear some breathing room. Master your mail. I know you're tired at the end of the day, but fight the urge to just drop the mail on the counter and sigh, "I'll deal with it tomorrow." That stuff piles up fast, and the bigger the pile, the harder to sit down and deal with it. From now on, as soon as you get through the door, sort the mail into three piles: Trash, Shredder, and Keep. Then, open all of the Keep items and toss the empty envelopes and inserts away with the Trash. When the tottering mound of junk turns into a neat little stack of paper, you'll feel a lot better about what you find in your mailbox.Tame the toys. And don't think you're exempt from this one if you don't have kids. Pet toys, electronics, and personal care products (do you really use those fancy hot rollers enough to leave them on the bathroom counter all the time?) take up a lot of space. Head over to Ikea for a couple of those snazzy woven baskets to stash Fido's bone. Lose the dozen remote controls and get a universal remote that handles everything. Simplify by either storing, donating, or Freecycling stuff you just don't use that often. With a little bit of determination and just a few hours, you can turn your stressed-out space into a peaceful clutter-free zone. Ahh, now doesn't that feel better?
Related Tags: stress, home, clothes, house, organize, organization, clean, magazine, donate, clutter, closet, newspaper
Kristen King is a freelance writer-editor and consultant from Northern Virginia, and the host of b5media's http://www.LivelyWomen.com, a daily blog dedicated to helping women live whole, healthy lives. Visit Kristen online at Lively Women or at her professional website, http://www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Be Your Self Improvement Leader By Getting Organized
Being organized isn't hard to do because it only needs a matter of self discipline, patience and a p - Four Points To Consider When Choosing A Shed Plan
So you've decided to build a storage shed to get rid of all the clutter in the basement and garage, - Dry Erase Wall Decals Are Amazing
Back to school season is officially upon us, and it's time to get the kids (or yourself!) all set to - Spring Cleaning: Organize Your Closet To Live Hip, Healthy & Sexy Over 40
For better or worse, we spend time in our closets everyday. The state of your closet and clothes can - 5 Ways To Be More Organized Without Organizing Anything!
1. Get sleep! - Ever notice how the world looks different after a solid 8 hours? Consistent quality - Home Improvement Articles - Tasteful Kitchen Cabinets Storage Solutions
Kitchen storage is one of the biggest problems for a homemaker. With all the pots, pans, dishes and - Family & Parenting Articles - 8 Must-Have Tips For Holiday Clutter Clearing
I like the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town". It is upbeat and happy and something I can sing alo - Business Articles - Turn your Unwanted Car into Cash
Have a car sitting around doing nothing? Why not turn it into cash and help America's children at th - The Beginners Guide To Stay Home Moms Club Organization
Establishing a Stay Home Moms Club in your area is just like planning any other event. The only diff - Advice Articles - The Way the Law of Attraction Can Have for You an Organized Home
The law of attraction broadly says that what you focus on and put your purpose on will manifest in y
Most viewed articles in this category:
- 6 Survival Tips On How to Be A Working Mom
Do you remember the first time you left the house just after your first child was born? There were s - Organize Paper at Home With These Tips to Manage & Reduce Paper Clutter
If one of your biggest home organization challenges is how to organize paper, maintain incoming pape - Why are Some Organizational Meetings So Drab?
Recently I attended a couple of organizational meetings where the families of the members were also - The Fear of Filing
If we are in a society of emails, online banking, e-invoicing, and SPAM, why in the world do we have - Pantry Pandemonium
Cindy is at Sam's Club shopping with her two youngest children. She loves Sam's Club because the - Eliminate Procrastination - Now - Short Article
We have all heard the adage, "We all get the same 24 hours," and still wonder how some people are ab - Get Organized For Growth
Getting organized is one of those tasks that come naturally to some people, and equally unnaturally - Clutter Control Patrol - Tips to Clear Clutter in Your Home
Who's guarding against clutter growth in your home? Do a clutter control patrol to take back your ho - Chess, Soups and Life
What do chess and cooking have in common? Admittedly, not much. However, at the height of a hard-fou - Why Closet Organizers Could Help You
People accumulate a lot of junk around the house and the problem they often face is that they never