7 Ways to Leave Your Clutter
by Barbara Myers
Everyone has some degree of clutter lurking at home. When you're tired of moving
it around, stepping over it, and losing important items in it, it's time to take
control of the clutter. What should you do with it? You have seven options:
1. Dispose of it. Much of clutter is trash you either thought you would need or
figured you'd throw out later.
2. Put it away. About half of the remaining clutter in most homes consists of
items that simply haven't been put away. Fill a laundry basket then deliver the
items to the proper rooms. Avoid this trap by making things easy to put away and
by enforcing a family "use it and put it away" rule.
3. Donate it. If you don't use it, it's not a treasured decorative item or
memento, and it's not an important piece of paper, get rid of it. Pass it along
to someone who can use it.
4. Refer it. The novel you've been saving for Debbie, the recipe you copied for
Aunt Jan and the gloves borrowed from Mom need to be sent or delivered to their
rightful owners. Gather them and make your rounds tomorrow.
5. File it. Set up a "hold" file for wedding invitations and concert tickets
(after you note them in your calendar). Set up a "to file" file for all
important papers.
6. Fix it or have it repaired today. Those buttons aren't going to sew
themselves. Either mend them or take them to a seamstress. The same goes for the
broken toys, watches and electronics.
7. Give it a home. Everything else is something that belongs in your home but
you don't know what to do with it. Where DO you put extra batteries and your
kids' artwork? Designate a permanent place in your home for each group of items
you find in a clutter pile. Simplify by making a list of items and where they
belong.
Free "50 Ways to Manage Your Time" tips booklet. Visit
www.ineedmoretime.com.
Copyright 2004-06 Barbara Myers. All Rights Reserved.