Your Spring Fling

MARCH 2018

“Owning less is better than organizing more.”

– Joshua Becker

Today I spoke with someone who outright asked me if it was worth hiring an organizer or if she should just throw everything out. Great question and I’m sure not the first time that a prospective client has considered this. Read ahead and if you’re able to follow the suggestions below, then I’m guessing you don’t need to hire an organizer. IF, however, you get side tracked, stressed out, overwhelmed or decide to do anything BUT get your stuff downsized and organized, then maybe you might want to give me a call.

Quick Ways to De Clutter

According to “Psychology Today,” which activity associated with Spring may result in decreased stress, improved mood and heightened creativity?

SPRING CLEANING!!

Spring, for many, signals a time to start decluttering, cleaning and organizing. Clutter is a distraction and can overwhelm the senses with excessive stimuli. Studies indicate that women are particularly vulnerable to chronic levels of increased stress hormones when they perceive their homes as messy and cluttered. An organized, clean environment encourages physical activity, healthy eating and improved moods.

Source: PsychologyToday.com.

Back to this month’s quote – Owning less is better than organizing more…..so true and it’s cheaper, too. But many people have difficulty saying ‘no’ to purchases and gifts and hand me downs…and those same people often have difficulty letting go of objects in the home because:

They may need it and it doesn’t make sense to toss something and then have to re-buy it.
Someone gave it to them and they don’t want to hurt that person’s feelings or they feel that they are being disrespectful by getting rid of the item.
They sincerely believe they may use it even though it may have been untouched in decades.
They are physically unable to lift, bend and handle the strain of removing items.

If you’re tired of feeling cramped in your home, consider these Quick Tricks to reducing clutter. Now is a great time for YOUR Spring Fling.

Get rid of/recycle a majority of bags, boxes, tissue paper and other paper products that you have ‘just in case.’ There is no shortage of any of these items so if you only keep a handful in stock, you can run out and get more….if necessary.
Go through your cabinets and fridge and get rid of any expired food items (the night before trash day). There’s nothing like being without electricity for 5 days to help me downsize my fridges. Don’t forget condiments!
Go through old magazines and books that you will never read. This can make a huge dent…especially those old cooking magazines and National Geographic magazines.
Dive into your drawers and see what’s buried underneath…that’s the stuff that can be donated without too much pain. Old socks, old pjs, old t-shirts….fill some bags to donate. Keep it simple and try not to separate things to give to people who you may not see in the near future.
Consider letting go of old computers, printers, old clunker televisions, exercise equipment and other things gathering dust throughout your home. There are many places to recycle these things – do an internet search to see what’s in your area.

You will be AMAZED at how invigorating it is to have empty space in your home! Set a date for YOUR Spring Fling and please let me know how it goes! Best of luck!!

Ebay Item of the Month

Decoy ducks!

If you happen to have any decoy ducks, they’re very popular items to sell on eBay.

Email Howard if you’d like him to help you sell your decoy ducks, or anything else you’re curious about.

“Helping Baby Boomers and their Parents Lighten their Loads.”

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in your home, contact me. Together, we can transform your home into a happy, tidy place where you can feel at peace. We can also get you ready for your next move… more enjoyable, faster and easier!