So, I usually like to do a series of posts over the summer. I think I’ll start this summer with some quick tips on how to get organized… or more specifically, how to get rid of the clutter. It has been my professional experience that most people who have disorganized homes don’t struggle as much as they think with how to be “organized.” Rather, they usually struggle with how to get rid of things. Once we get rid of the excess, it is so much easier to organize what’s left. So, here’s tip number one.
Most people with substantial clutter have tried many times to get that clutter under control. That usually means boxes, bags, crates, shelves, drawers, or piles of stuff. Often those boxes haven’t even been looked through in months or years. Those boxes become sources of stress and anxiety. They feel impossible to go through or deal with in any way. Well, here’s a quick tip to make it much easier.
There are two ways to look at that box of old stuff. First is to think, “That box is full of great stuff. I’ll look through it and see if there is anything I can get rid of.” Second is to think, “This is a box of junk. Let me check quickly to see if there is anything worth keeping.” You might think this is a semantic argument. But it makes a big difference how you approach that box. It’s all about the burden of proof. Make those things in the box prove to you that they deserve to stay in your life, rather than keeping them being the default state. This applies even more the longer that box has been sitting around. If you haven’t touched it in over a year, consider taking it right to the curb.
Standard Disclaimer: In an effort to foil my own perfectionist tendencies, I do not edit my posts much… if at all. Please and typos, mistakes, grammatical errors, or awkward phrasing. I focus on getting my content down. An imperfect post completed is better than a perfect post that goes unposted.
