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Get Organized
Packrat Needs Help!Question: I'm addicted to storing stuff, I've got under the bed storage, closet organizers and file cabinets galore. My problem is I don't know how to get rid of stuff. So I organize and store just about everything. I've got my children's school papers and artwork, I've got work papers that I keep in my home office (I don't have enough storage space at work), I've got gadgets and stuff that I'm sure I'll use one day again. I think I need help!Marti Answer: Don't worry- being a clutterbug (or "collector") is much more common than you think. Having the best-organized stuff doesn't leave much room for you and your family, does it? One of the most important steps in organizing is learning how to SORT. Once you learn how to sort through your stuff, purging the trash from the treasure, learning to let go of some of the old papers and catalogs, and passing on outgrown and outdated clothes, you'll have much less to stuff into your storage containers. I like to sort things into 4 main categories: Trash, Keep, Sell or Give Away, and Undecided. Get a friend or family member (who promises not to judge you) to help you so that you don't have to mourn over every cherished item. Sometimes we have issue with our stuff, and having a friend help us through the ordeal makes it much more bearable. Sort by category. For papers, sort by type such as: to file, to pay, to read, throw away. For clothing and shoes: trash (beyond repair or unusable- don't save for rags!), sell (resale shop, charity, or give away as hand-me-downs), keep (only those items that fit and you have worn within the past year please), and undecided (those clogs are coming back- do you keep them and try to hobble along as you carry the baby on your hip, or is it really time to retire them to the vintage clothing store?). Now here is the hard part: Don't analyze or romantasize everything you touch. Pick it up, toss it into the appropriate stack or box, and move on. Don't read mail, love letters, or go through Junior's photo album. Focus! This is where a good friend really comes in handy. Sit beside them or across from them as THEY pick up and sort the items, giving input where needed. When you get ready to do something with the stacks you've sorted in your organizing project, get your friend to literally pick it up and move it out of sight. Trash goes out to the dumpster. Items To Sell or To Donate go into the van for drop off. Undecided items get moved out of the way, down the hall, and out of sight (and mind) for a day or so until your mind can clearly decide where to put them. That leaves you with a smaller stack or box full of things to organize and use all those great containers for. Try not to tackle too big of an area at a time when it comes to decluttering. Purging a lifetime of memorabilia or houseful of papers isn't easy, and it'll take more than an hour or so. Set a kitchen timer, put on some upbeat music, and start sorting. Stop when it's time for a break, and just reorganize a small area of your "problem zone". Before you know it, you'll be decluttered and get rid of a lot of the visual clutter in your household.
Good luck,
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