CTR Organizing Team

When my husband and I moved into our house in southwest Minneapolis, there was a collection of about ten boxes that sat in a corner of the basement for well over year. I can’t really say why. We just sort of ran out of steam in the unpacking process. Every time I went down to do a load of laundry or feed the cats, I’d look over at that corner and just think, Ugh. When are we going to take care of that stuff?

About 18 months after we moved in, on a rainy September day, we ventured downstairs and in one afternoon we got the task done. We ended up tossing or donating about two-thirds of it. We figured that we hadn’t needed it in over a year; we will most likely never need it. That corner is now clear. When I walk downstairs now, I notice the light beaming in the window. Not only is the physical space clear – so is the space in my mind that was being occupied by an unresolved pile of boxes.

This issue, the intense emotional connection we often have with things that we own, including our “intangible” belongings – our health, the things we believe about ourselves and others, old grudges, or unresolved pain, is an interesting and sometimes difficult one to address. All these things occupy space. At times they occupy so much space that there isn’t room for anything else. Simplicity is what we long for – but it can be very difficult to let go, even though hanging on to these things is a detriment to our emotional state of mind.

One reason is just how our brains process input. We have one neurological path that could be considered “the path of reason.” That’s the part of our brain that looks at a chair and sees an item made of wood and fabric. The other neurological path is one that is profoundly and instantaneously linked to emotion and memory. When it sees the chair, it remembers all the things — pleasant and unpleasant — associated with that item. So something as simple as a chair could, for its owner, be deeply symbolic of experiences like suffocating guilt, a failed relationship, grief, or a sense of being constantly overwhelmed. It’s easy to see how a house or a heart filled with these triggers can become a tough place to live peacefully.

My friend Heidi DeCoux is a professional organizer specializing in home organization. She explains the cycle of physical and emotional chaos like this:

Everyone says that the problem is the clutter. In actuality, the real problem is…the lack of space. There is nowhere to grow and no room for anything new when we don’t have space. We then, instead, experience more stuffing and filling rather than positive, beneficial growth.

I recently listened to a wonderful interview with coach and author of the book Throw Out Fifty Things, Gail Blanke. She explained that the point of clearing things out isn’t so that you can live in a pristine, sterile environment without a speck of dust (preoccupation with “perfection” can be its own type of emotional clutter). It’s so that you can make space for new ideas and new possibilities, clear a path for forward movement. Heidi echoes this philosophy in her own work: “Organizing is not so much about organizing things as it is about seeing the transformation of people.”

Blanke has a kind of litmus test which she calls the Rules of Disengagement for letting go of the things that can hold us back:

* If it (the idea, feeling, person, or thing) continuously hurts you, holds you back, or weighs you down – let it go.

* If it (the idea, feeling, person, or thing) takes up space and contributes nothing – let it go.

* If you have to debate endlessly, forever weighing the pros and cons — Should I let it go? Should I keep it? — then let it go. As Heidi puts it, “Stuff you feel guilty about getting rid of creates an environment of guilt — who can grow in that?”

* Don’t make it so difficult. Things that cause us constant confusion and pain are not the things that are meant to be in our lives.

This is the time of year when we start consuming and accumulating in earnest. It seems like the perfect time to stop and breathe and ask: What could I be letting go of? What in my physical or emotional environment is no longer helping me move forward in my life? What might there be room for in my life if I let go of these items, this broken relationship, this disappointment, this fear?

The human tendency is to move toward and fill in space. The larger question becomes, What do I want to fill it with?

Heidi DeCoux is a professional organizer & creator of The Fast-Filing Method home office filing system. To get her FREE Kit: The Fast & Easy Way to Get Organized & Stay Organized, visit ClearSimpleLiving.com. Siri Myhrom is an educator & therapeutic writing facilitator. To get a free subscription to Siri’s e-Magazine, Winter Oak Weekly, visit winter-oak.com.

Do you ever find yourself running around your home stuffing items into closets and drawers because people are on their way over and you are less than satisfied with the condition of your home? Here is a simple 4-step plan for you.

SOLUTION – Start by De-Cluttering Your Home. This makes cleaning significantly easier and your home will seem clean and tidy. Every item in your home should either be something useful or that you love or (at the present time).

15-Minutes to a Clutter Free Home: First 5 minutes – Walk through your houses with a bin or garbage bag and fill it with items that can be thrown away, such as, empty soda bottles, worn-out shoes and old newspapers, magazines and those sorts of things. Next 5 minutes – Fill a second bin or garbage bag with items to be donated, old toys, books, clothing, etc. Last 5 minutes – Set up a designated spot for items to be sold, such as, furniture, collectables, electronics, etc. Repeat this exercise once per week until you have a clutter free home and some extra cash. The NBC Today Show reported that the average American family has $2,500 worth of goods that they don’t like and don’t need or want.

Craigslist is a great way to sell your items. Ebay’s another option or you could hire someone to sell them for you, they will simply keep a portion of the profits, usually about 50%. Many Professional Organizers offer this service or you can go to Ebay.com and find a PowerSeller in your area.

To keep your home free of clutter I recommend that you get rid of an item every time you bring a new item into your home. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a DVD for a DVD, just an item for an item. Set up a box or bin for items to donate or sell. Without this rule you will eventually fill up your house again.

TIP – Create a Place for Everything. It is virtually impossible to keep your home clean if you have items that do not have a specific place where they are kept. Every single item in your home from paperclips to hair spray to receipts, needs a specific place to reside. At the end of everyday, spend 5 minutes walking through your home and put away all items that were left out. This should only take 5 minutes if there is a specific place for every item and if you do it everyday.

TIP – Set Expectations for Yourself and Others in your Household Set an expectation that each member of your household (including yourself) puts away every item they take out as soon as they are done using it. In addition, set an expectation that every member of your household contributes to keeping your home tidy. Divide up chores such as laundry, dishes, vacuuming & dusting.

TIP – Set a Cleaning Routine Even if you have a professional cleaning service that cleans your home, having a daily “maintenance” routine will keep your home company ready at all times.

Example Morning Routine 3-Minutes in the Bathroom – Keep a bucket of cleaning supplies including some micro fiber cloths under the sink. Wipe down the counter, faucets and floor. 2-Minutes in the Bedroom – Make your bed and put away your PJ’s, at least just fold them and place them at the end of your bed.

Possible Evening Routine 5-Minutes – Walk through your home and put away items that were left out and empty the garbage’s, if needed. 2-Minutes – Put away your clothes before going to bed.

Have a no-dirty-dishes left out policy and enforce it. After every meal, clean counter tops and table; and wash dishes. If you have toddlers, you will probably need to wipe up the floor as well.

Your home also needs a thorough cleaning at least once every other week. Once option is to hire a professional housekeeper and another option is to divide up the cleaning among all of the capable family members that live in your home. Hold everyone accountable including yourself. This will make keeping a company-ready clean house a reality!

Heidi DeCoux is the publisher of the Life Made Simple E-zine and a productivity coach & professional organizer in Minneapolis specializing in home organization. Heidi energizes her readers’ by simplifying their homes & schedules. For more info, free tips, and to receive your FREE Report: The Fast & Easy Way to Get Organized and Stay Organized Forever, visit ClearSimpleLiving.com today.

The future of our planet begins at home. Our level of organization has an impact, whether or not we realize it, and whether or not we want the responsibility.

You may agree that when you are organized you feel free and have more time to spend pursuing the things you love. In addition to feeling free you will be less likely to consume more resources than necessary when your home and life are organized. For example, on a small scale:

* Have you ever purchased a new plastic bottle of salad dressing or ketchup, when there are one or two (or more) half-full bottles hidden in your refrigerator? * Have you ever purchased new batteries because rummaging through your junk drawer and scouring your basement to find one is a daunting task? * Have you purchased a new pair of black shoes or a belt or other item when there are similar items hidden in your closet, which you have forgotten about?

It may seem trite, but the small things do add up. In fact our landfills are filling up and even recycling consumes some un-renewable natural resources.

On a larger scale, consider that in the last 30 years the size of an average home in America has doubled while the number of people in the average household in America has decreased by half. We are collecting and consuming more and more and require more and more space. Furthermore, according to the Marine Sanitary Service, the US population comprises 5% of the world?s population but generates 30% of the world?s garbage. And, as it turns out, while recycling and reusing is certainly beneficial, consuming less has a larger impact1.

When organized, we can live more comfortably using less space. Consider the amount of utilities, land, and items consumed by a 6,000 ft2 home compared to that of a 1,500 ft2 condominium. If you choose to live in a smaller space, being organized makes it possible to live comfortably.

Living in a smaller home is not for everyone however, having an organized home (regardless of the size) and life helps reduce unnecessary consumption.

How much less driving could you do if you were organized about your errands and your schedule? How often do you make extra trips to the grocery store or drug store? How often could you carpool or use mass public transportation if you planned ahead?

In addition to having a positive impact on our planet, being organized gives you the freedom and time to pursue areas of life that give you happiness. An average person spends 55.2 minutes everyday looking for things. That’s two weeks each year! Is there anything else you would rather spend your time doing?

Over the next couple of weeks, pay attention to what you are spending your time looking for, what you are purchasing, what you are recycling and reusing and what you are adding to our landfills. You may find that by simply being more organized you and your family consume less and you save time and money.