Where do I begin?

August 2023

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” -Mark Twain

Getting started is probably the biggest obstacle to organizing. Most people have to be at the pits of despair and in total angst to take action. Once you’re ready to take action, sometimes overwhelm causes numbness and immobility and we end up even more distraught and discouraged than before. What’s a person with clutter supposed to do??

Here’s what I suggest:

1. Deep breath – and another deep breath.
2. Engage in self talk to get yourself straightened out – something along the lines of “Rome wasn’t built in a day and I can begin right now and make a dent.”
3. Grab a bag – and decide if you want it for trash, donate or recycle. Start picking easy items to fill the bag. You can do this for 5 minutes. Don’t over think – just fill the bag for 5 minutes.
4. Stop for a second and note how you feel – are you ok? If you’re ok, keep going. If you’re not ok, I’m guessing that you’re overthinking or perhaps you’re starting in an area that’s too hard – pick a ‘low hanging fruit- easy to decide’ area and see if it’s a tad easier.
5. If all else fails and you are unable to toss things in a bag, go back to basics and SORT like things together – put papers in one area/stack/box, put clothes in one area/stack/box, put household items together, put gifts to give in one item, errand items in one area…and before you know it, you’re making some progress.
6. Faster progress is always made when you can select items to trash/donate/recycle because you are reducing the volume in your house. BUT, when you can’t trash/donate/recycle, you can attempt to organize what’s there – but if the volume is too great, it may be a frustrating battle between you and your space. That may be the time when you need a more objective voice to help you make decisions.
7. Before you quit, think about who may be that calming, supportive person for you – and if you come up empty, give us a call. We can help.

Most importantly, be kind to yourself and do a little bit – our Declutter Club motto is – A little bit is better than no bit! Little bits can add up to amazing results. Give it a try.

Declutter Challenge Club – Join Today!

We are a small and cozy community where you can get a healthy dose of support, understanding, guidance and laughter, too.

The Declutter Club is a cost effective way to deal with your ‘stuff’ in a fun and welcoming setting. The daily emails are short and sweet and the twice monthly Zoom calls are on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm for an hour.
Membership is open to all, you can start today or whenever you want. Would love to see you there! Membership includes the daily emails and Zoom calls.
If you’re ready to join the Club, sign up HERE. 
Please email me if you have any questions or need additional information.

“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 enjoyably, faster and easier. We specialize in senior moves and helping families find new homes for the things they no longer have room to keep. We can also take care of clearing out homes that need to be listed quickly for resale. Contact me to schedule an appointment.