10 Things You Can Let Go Today

Photo by Mister GC

People often are afraid that they’ll miss things when they let them go. 

When I ask clients how they feel after they’ve cleared out their clutter, they rarely say they’re sorry about not having something anymore.

 

Before you let go of something, ask yourself if you use it regularly, if you could borrow from someone if you needed it, or if you could replace it quickly and inexpensively. Skis? Maybe not. Fondue pot? Maybe so. You make the decision, based on your criteria.

 

In the meantime, here are 10 things you can toss right now and never miss:

1.  Old newspapers – they’re not news anymore

2.  Old magazines – the content in most magazines is repeated regularly

3.  Expired medicines – prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can become hazardous when they’re old; dispose of them properly in the trash, don’t flush them!

4.  Old spices – they lose their pungency after a year or so

5.  Pencil stubs – even more so if the eraser is gone

6.  Twist ties – sure, keep a few, but do you need 60?

7.  Rubber bands – see twist ties, above

8.  Unidentified electric cords or cables – if you don’t own the product they went to, they have no value (Note: when you get a new piece of electronic equipment, take a minute to label the cords)

9.  Product information and warranties for things you no longer own

10. Receipts for food, gasoline, or anything else that you’ve already consumed

 

Are there other things that would be easy for you to let go?

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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10 Things You Can Let Go Today

Photo by Mister GC

People often are afraid that they’ll miss things when they let them go. 

When I ask clients how they feel after they’ve cleared out their clutter, they rarely say they’re sorry about not having something anymore.

 

Before you let go of something, ask yourself if you use it regularly, if you could borrow from someone if you needed it, or if you could replace it quickly and inexpensively. Skis? Maybe not. Fondue pot? Maybe so. You make the decision, based on your criteria.

 

In the meantime, here are 10 things you can toss right now and never miss:

1.  Old newspapers – they’re not news anymore

2.  Old magazines – the content in most magazines is repeated regularly

3.  Expired medicines – prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can become hazardous when they’re old; dispose of them properly in the trash, don’t flush them!

4.  Old spices – they lose their pungency after a year or so

5.  Pencil stubs – even more so if the eraser is gone

6.  Twist ties – sure, keep a few, but do you need 60?

7.  Rubber bands – see twist ties, above

8.  Unidentified electric cords or cables – if you don’t own the product they went to, they have no value (Note: when you get a new piece of electronic equipment, take a minute to label the cords)

9.  Product information and warranties for things you no longer own

10. Receipts for food, gasoline, or anything else that you’ve already consumed

 

Are there other things that would be easy for you to let go?

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

The Beginners’ Guide to Letting Go

As I talk to people about letting go of clutter, many of them express the same concern: they don’t know how to start.

There are three simple steps to starting a decluttering project, as outlined in  The Clutter Book:

1. Empty the area – take everything out
2. Sort the contents into three categories – keep, discard or donate
3. Place – put things that you value in a logical location

The challenge, for most people, is deciding what to keep. My advice is to keep the best and let go of the rest.

How many pairs of socks do you need? How many pens? How many coffee mugs? Each person’s definition of “enough” is going to be different. Choose a quantity that will make you feel you have plenty, without being overwhelming.

Start small with these three steps – choose a category of items to pare back, keep the ones that appeal to you most and put them in a place that makes sense to you.

The process works when you don’t complicate it. You can do it! 

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value

Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

The Beginners’ Guide to Letting Go

As I talk to people about letting go of clutter, many of them express the same concern: they don’t know how to start.

There are three simple steps to starting a decluttering project, as outlined in  The Clutter Book:

1. Empty the area – take everything out
2. Sort the contents into three categories – keep, discard or donate
3. Place – put things that you value in a logical location

The challenge, for most people, is deciding what to keep. My advice is to keep the best and let go of the rest.

How many pairs of socks do you need? How many pens? How many coffee mugs? Each person’s definition of “enough” is going to be different. Choose a quantity that will make you feel you have plenty, without being overwhelming.

Start small with these three steps – choose a category of items to pare back, keep the ones that appeal to you most and put them in a place that makes sense to you.

The process works when you don’t complicate it. You can do it! 

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value

Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader Question – How to Deal With School Papers

Once school is out for the summer, many families ignore the stack of papers that have been brought home over the course of the school year. Backpacks remain stuffed with old assignments and somewhere there’s a pile of projects that seemed important to keep.

A reader asked what to do with all the paperwork that accumulates during the school year, given that it’s going to start again in the fall.

One of the things I caution parents is that you can’t keep everything your child does. When you start to scrutinize each piece of paper that comes home, you notice that many are similar and that few truly are gems.

I suggest that each child have a box for school papers that display firsts – first spelling test, first A on a quiz, first time using multiplication, etc. Programs from performances your child participated in are fun to remember, as are exciting moments, like newspaper clippings showing a dignitary visiting the school.

In short, keep the best and toss the rest. You don’t need to keep every paper your child signed, but do keep representative samples of that signature so you can appreciate the changes over the years.

The same principles apply to artwork. I recently dedicated a blog post to that subject.

The way to keep papers from piling up is to make decisions about them immediately. You might want to post a worksheet on the refrigerator or a bulletin board for a period of time. After that, determine whether it merits a place in the keepsake box or if you can let it go.

Some people who have trouble making decisions hold on to everything and address it at the end of each term or the end of the school year. You might find it easier to pull just a few pieces when you have a large collection to choose from.

Whether you tackle the project once a year or weekly, make it a habit to go through kids’ papers. As they get older, have them participate in the process so they can learn to determine what is worth keeping.

Do you have an organizing or productivity question? Let me know and I’ll answer it in an upcoming post.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Reader Question – How to Deal With School Papers

Once school is out for the summer, many families ignore the stack of papers that have been brought home over the course of the school year. Backpacks remain stuffed with old assignments and somewhere there’s a pile of projects that seemed important to keep.

A reader asked what to do with all the paperwork that accumulates during the school year, given that it’s going to start again in the fall.

One of the things I caution parents is that you can’t keep everything your child does. When you start to scrutinize each piece of paper that comes home, you notice that many are similar and that few truly are gems.

I suggest that each child have a box for school papers that display firsts – first spelling test, first A on a quiz, first time using multiplication, etc. Programs from performances your child participated in are fun to remember, as are exciting moments, like newspaper clippings showing a dignitary visiting the school.

In short, keep the best and toss the rest. You don’t need to keep every paper your child signed, but do keep representative samples of that signature so you can appreciate the changes over the years.

The same principles apply to artwork. I recently dedicated a blog post to that subject.

The way to keep papers from piling up is to make decisions about them immediately. You might want to post a worksheet on the refrigerator or a bulletin board for a period of time. After that, determine whether it merits a place in the keepsake box or if you can let it go.

Some people who have trouble making decisions hold on to everything and address it at the end of each term or the end of the school year. You might find it easier to pull just a few pieces when you have a large collection to choose from.

Whether you tackle the project once a year or weekly, make it a habit to go through kids’ papers. As they get older, have them participate in the process so they can learn to determine what is worth keeping.

Do you have an organizing or productivity question? Let me know and I’ll answer it in an upcoming post.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

How to Handle a Move



Photo by Baitong333

This is the start of peak moving season. If you’re planning to move, you know how stressful it can be to manage all the details.

Of course, the less you have, the less you have to move. The greatest gift you can give yourself is to examine what you own and determine what deserves to come with you. You can reduce the amount of money and time you spend on your move by letting go of clutter.

Clutter is anything that doesn’t fit your life anymore, anything that’s broken beyond repair, anything that upsets or angers you, anything that you haven’t used in 10 years.

How do you determine what makes the cut? Things you use regularly, things that bring you comfort, things that you enjoy seeing and things that prompt pleasant memories earn a ride on the moving van.

You might have to reduce the number of things you bring with you, if you are moving to a smaller place. In that case, choose the objects that are in the best condition and/or mean the most to you. Ask yourself what you would buy again if you were given the choice.

Consider moving as an opportunity to start over. When you live with the things you really enjoy and use, you live more comfortably.

Professional Organizers can reduce some of the stress involved with a move. You’ll save time and money, too. Contact me if you are moving and could use some help with the process.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

How to Handle a Move



Photo by Baitong333

This is the start of peak moving season. If you’re planning to move, you know how stressful it can be to manage all the details.

Of course, the less you have, the less you have to move. The greatest gift you can give yourself is to examine what you own and determine what deserves to come with you. You can reduce the amount of money and time you spend on your move by letting go of clutter.

Clutter is anything that doesn’t fit your life anymore, anything that’s broken beyond repair, anything that upsets or angers you, anything that you haven’t used in 10 years.

How do you determine what makes the cut? Things you use regularly, things that bring you comfort, things that you enjoy seeing and things that prompt pleasant memories earn a ride on the moving van.

You might have to reduce the number of things you bring with you, if you are moving to a smaller place. In that case, choose the objects that are in the best condition and/or mean the most to you. Ask yourself what you would buy again if you were given the choice.

Consider moving as an opportunity to start over. When you live with the things you really enjoy and use, you live more comfortably.

Professional Organizers can reduce some of the stress involved with a move. You’ll save time and money, too. Contact me if you are moving and could use some help with the process.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Clutter Affects Your Mental Health

May is National Mental Health Month.

Are you aware that clutter contributes to stress, which negatively impacts mental health? Living in clutter also intensifies feelings of depression and anxiety for many people.

Trying to fit too much work into too little time can affect your mental health, as well.

Here are some things you can do to reduce stress and improve your outlook:

 

• Write things down so you don't have to keep everything in your head. Use one notebook and one calendar so you know where all the information is. 

• Spend five minutes putting things away at the end of the day so you can start with a clear head the following day. This works at home and at work. 

• Commit to letting of something every day. Newspapers, junk mail and clothes that don't fit are a great place to start.

Your overall health depends on the strength of your mental health. Do what you can to keep it resilient.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

 

Clutter Affects Your Mental Health

May is National Mental Health Month.

Are you aware that clutter contributes to stress, which negatively impacts mental health? Living in clutter also intensifies feelings of depression and anxiety for many people.

Trying to fit too much work into too little time can affect your mental health, as well.

Here are some things you can do to reduce stress and improve your outlook:

 

• Write things down so you don't have to keep everything in your head. Use one notebook and one calendar so you know where all the information is. 

• Spend five minutes putting things away at the end of the day so you can start with a clear head the following day. This works at home and at work. 

• Commit to letting of something every day. Newspapers, junk mail and clothes that don't fit are a great place to start.

Your overall health depends on the strength of your mental health. Do what you can to keep it resilient.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

 

Earth Day and Decluttering

Decluttering and downsizing can create a lot of waste if your discards end up in the trash. Wednesday is Earth Day, which is a good time to think about what you’re contributing to the waste stream. You might not realize that there are ways to recycle lots more than glass, plastic, metal and paper.

Because people replace gadgets so quickly, electronic waste is a huge problem. Consider donating or selling those that still work. For outdated technology and broken items, some manufacturers offer free returns. Otherwise, you might be able to take them to a nearby drop-off center.

Call2Recycle can help you find places to recycle batteries and cellphones. Check with your local department of waste services for policies on disposing of electronic waste in your jurisdiction. You can help keep toxins out of the air and water by diverting your electronic waste.

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!