Time to Make Decisions About Your Clutter -BLOG

 

• I get it! Decision-making does not come easy for many of us creative, messy types.

 

• This is especially true if you grew up in a home where somebody always made the decisions for you.

 

• Growing up, my Dad was the one who made most of the decisions for me. He even planned my entire wedding and reception in one afternoon. To this day, I still can’t believe I let him.

 

• AIl these decisions that were made for me made life easy, then, but not so easy now. I still struggle with making decisions.

 

• Your past may be the reason for your poor decision-making skills, but don’t let it become your excuse!

 

• Sometimes we dislike decision-making so much that it makes decluttering our living space something we continue to put off.

 

• We become paralyzed to the point of not even starting.

 

• Sometimes we need serious help, and sometimes deciding to get volunteer help or even paid help can be our best decision. Some people love helping others make decisions.

 

• I think asking ourselves questions can send us on a path toward good decision-making when it comes to our possessions. 

 

• For those that feel paralyzed and can’t seem to get started, my best advice is to just start somewhere. With practice, pretty soon deciding on what to do with your clutter will become easier and easier. 

 

• Don’t waste time trying to decide where to start — just start anywhere, but please start.

 

• Make an appointment to sort your clutter and put it on your calendar if that helps.

 

• Set a timer if necessary to keep you focused.

 

• Take before and after photos of your piles – you will be surprised how motivating this can be.

 

Where do I start? You ask.

 

Here are just a few areas that will be easy to start: 

 

 old medications (decisions about these are more comfortable because of the expiration dates!),

 old makeup and toiletries,

 tiny tubes of toothpaste that you have been stocking up from every dental visit you have ever had,

            glassware, 

           coffee mugs,

           dishes,

           gadgets,

           old cellphones, 

           outdated stuff,

           purses, 

          scarves, 

          jewelry, 

         office supplies (how many pens and pencils do you need?), 

         shoes, 

         books,

         cookware, 

         gifts that people gave you that you did not want, 

         buying mistakes (forgive yourself and move on!),

         socks, 

         seasonal decorations, 

         craft and sewing supplies,

         linens,   

         stained clothing or clothing you don’t look good in,

         boxes in the basement you haven’t opened in years,

         home decor that you no longer like,  

picture frames you no longer have the wall space for,

         things that no longer work,

         things that belong to someone else, 

          duplicates of items, and the list goes on and on.

 

WRITE THESE QUESTIONS DOWN AND HAVE THEM HANDY TO LOOK AT WHEN YOUR START YOUR DECLUTTERING PROJECT!

 

 QUESTIONS TO ASK and NOT TO ASK   (from Clutter Free by Kathi Lipp)

 

                       ASK:

 

• DO I CURRENTLY USE IT?

• DO  I REALLY LOVE IT?

• WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN?

 

                    DON’T ASK:

 

• HOW MUCH DID IT COST ME?

• WHO GAVE IT TO ME?

• WHAT WILL THEY THINK IF I GAVE IT AWAY?

• HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH?

• WILL I NEED THIS SOMEDAY?

• WILL I CHANGE MY MIND AND WANT IT LATER ON?

 

Clutter creates a lack of peace!  So get rid of it, get rid of it, get rid of it!

Letting go of things will only be painful for a little while, then in a very short time you won’t even remember that you had it.

Now is the time to get rid of all your clutter, because it is crowding out the abundant life you were made for!

 

YOUR FUTURE SELF WILL THANK YOU FOR IT!