Preventing the Clutter Crazies

Do you have a box of miscellenious junk shoved in the top of a closet somewhere? How about a desk drawer full of odds and ends that you don't know what to do with? What about a whole section of clothes you cant part with, or that box labeled stuff shoved out in the garage just taking up space? You know you won't ever sort through the piles of the unknown electronic chords that have accumulated over the years. Yet you can't part with them. You know that box of mismatched socks aren't ever going to find matches yet you keep a whole drawer of them. You know the stuffed animal that you got from "Joe" your boyfriend from two years ago isn't ever going to come out of the box to see day light again but you cant seem to part with him.



Does this remind you of someone?



We all have it, Stuff! Crap! Junk! Boxes of it that we just can't throw away because, Heaven Forbid! we never know when we may need it! Or it holds sentimental value, or we might find the other piece so we can't throw this piece away. So we fill up every closet, cupboard and garage space that we have with junk. Our minds become cluttered, we cant find anything, so we slowly go crazy!

To prevent the Clutter Crazies, I have put together a list of ways to decide whether or not you should be keeping it around. If your junk falls under 2 or more categories then it MUST GO!

• Does it make you money or does its value increase over time? If not, Strike!
• Does it bring you joy daily? If not, Strike!
• Does having it around improve your life? If not, Strike!
• Do you have all the pieces? If not, Strike!
• Have you used it in the last year? If not, Strike!
• Does it fit? If not, Strike!
• Have you worn it within the past two months? If not, Strike!
• Is it broken or worn out beyond practical use? If yes, Strike!
• Has it been replaced with a newer model that you use instead? If yes, Strike!
• Do you use it? If no, Strike
• Are you willing to devote valuable space to storing it? If no, Strike
• When you think of the item do the words "I'll keep it Just in case" cross your mind? If yes, Strike

If you're keeping something for sentimental value remember, that you will always have that memory with you. If you are afraid that, in years to come, you will forget about it then take a picture and keep the picture in a scrap book or a picture box, your memories take up much less room this way.

If you are holding onto stuff because you think others might need it, remember that you can always donate it. The opportunity may never arise that you can help someone personally by giving them your things, but if you donate it you can assure yourself that those in need will receive your unused stuff and they will be grateful.

If, once you have gone through all your junk, and have decided to donate a lot of it, throw part of it out and keep a few key things, you find that you still have a pile of stuff you are unsure of, don't fret! Just place those things out in the open somewhere. In the corner of a living room is a great location. Don't put them back in a box and shove the box away somewhere. If you keep them out in the open it allows you to think about whether or not you want to keep the items every time you see them. If you store them away, it is likely that you wont get back to making a decision for quite a while.. "Out of sight, Out of mind."

Hopefully this helped! I know I have a corner or two that could use some organizing. I plan on tackling them using the list above. I hope you do the same! Make sure to let me know how it goes.

Oh, and fellow reader, don't forget to have fun!

Happy organizing all!