| Where Do I Start? |
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| By By Ramona Creel |
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| Cleaning out your junk can be incredibly freeing -- but where do
you start? There's so much to do!! Before we talk in detail about
"de-cluttering," let's take a minute to look at the bigger
picture. Here are a few rules of thumb to follow when you begin
cleaning out -- either at home or at the office: |
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START WITH THE GREATEST PAIN
Begin working in the area that is the biggest thorn in your side
-- the part of your home or office that causes you the greatest
pain. If you find yourself saying, day after day, "Man, I wish
I could get my (bedroom, desk, storage closet whatever) straightened
out. This mess is driving me crazy!" -- you know that's where
you want to begin. What is your area of greatest pain? |
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HAVE A PLAN OF ATTACK
Create a list of the areas you want to work on, in order of priority.
Be sure to include a deadline for completing each project. This
will help you focus on the big organizing picture as you work your
way through your home or office. It is much easier to stay on track
if you have a specific timetable within which to work. Crossing
tasks off of your "to-do list" as you finish them also
reminds you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Just
don't let yourself feel overwhelmed by it all -- understand that
you will be getting to all of your problem areas, in due time. |
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LIMIT YOUR SCOPE
Try to tackle one SMALL AREA at a time -- a drawer, a cabinet, a
shelf, a closet. Don't attempt to clean out the whole place at once.
Chances are, you will get overloaded, you will become frustrated,
and you will GIVE UP on the entire project. Plan to set aside some
time each week to work on a different area. Once you get started,
you will be surprised at how quickly the job goes. It's amazing
what you can accomplish when you "get into the groove"
of cleaning out. |
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WORK SYSTEMATICALLY
Do your best to move systematically through your home or office,
completely FINISHING one area before you begin another. Avoid hopping
from one task to the next if at all possible. There is nothing more
frustrating (and draining!) than finding yourself surrounded by
a bunch of half-finished projects. And it will be even harder to
find things down the road if you have only organized part of your
closet or cleaned out half of your filing system, while the other
half is still a wreck. |
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FIND THE ORGANIZING STYLE THAT SUITS YOU
Some people work best if they empty an entire storage area before
organizing it. Others find that too overwhelming, and choose to
tackle their clutter one item at a time. You need to decide for
yourself which of these methods suits your personality best. But
there is no "right" way -- only what's right for you.
Remember, there are as many different ways to organize as there
are people on the planet! |
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ENLIST SOME HELP
If you can recruit some organizing "assistants" -- do
it! This is a big job, and it will go a lot faster if you have some
help. Consider drafting your friends, family members, or co-workers
-- put on some music, serve them pizza, and turn cleaning out into
a party. You might even consider hiring a Professional Organizer.
Just be judicious about who you bring on board. If you what you
need most is an objective opinion, your nosy mother-in-law may not
be the best choice! |
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CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK!
This is hard work -- and it's going to take a minute. So don't get
frustrated with yourself if you can't tackle every pile of clutter
in one weekend! And don't drive yourself until you drop -- cleaning
out does not have to be painful. Just go at your OWN PACE. Most
importantly, be sure to reward yourself every time you finish a
particularly challenging task -- even adults need "gold stars"
(or a cappuccino or a movie or a soak in the tub) every now and
then! |
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| Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com
-- "A world of organizing solutions!" Visit www.onlineorganizing.com
for organizing products, free tips -- and even get a referral for
a Professional Organizer near you. And be sure to pick up a copy
of "Ten Easy Ways To Organize Your Home" for more information
on cleaning out the clutter. If you would like to reprint this article,
please send in an e-mail request to mailto:articleGO10003@onlineorganizing.com.
And if you would like to receive more of these kinds of articles
each month, sign up for a free subscription to the monthly "Get
Organized" online newsletter at http://www.onlineorganizing.com/Client_Newsletter.htm.
(Copyright 2000-2001, Ramona Creel) |
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