Be a Tortoise: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

July 2022

Getting started can be the hardest part of the organizing process. The most common roadblocks to getting organized are: where to start, what to do with the things you don’t want, where to store the things you do want and how to find the motivation to keep going.

This month, let’s talk about where to start.

A few tips on where to start:

1. Start somewhere easy — somewhere that you know you can find things to toss in the trash or recycling bin. Low hanging fruit is way easier to pick than potentially gut-wrenching emotional items from your past. Think about old socks, ripped clothing, old wrapping paper, old office supplies, unused electronics, etc.
2. Start somewhere you know you’ll notice a difference pretty quickly.u Seeing empty space is one of the best motivators to keep going. Think about bags and empty boxes!
3. Start somewhere you’ll be able to start and stop without affecting your living space. you would not want to start by dumping contents of your closet on your bed, only to realize it’s time for bed, and you’d have to dump everything on the floor to make room for your body!
4. Start in a place where you’re the decision maker of the contents. Waiting on other people to decide can be frustrating. Plus, you’re setting a great example by doing your own stuff first.

If you are having trouble finding somewhere “easy” to start, consider these subcategories to get you into the decluttering and organizing groove:

• Gather some pen and pencil holders and see if you can whittle them down.
• Gather address labels or old coupons and see if you can have a modest amount, rather than enough to last five lifetimes.
• Look in your gadget drawer and see if you have way too many plastic utensils, condiment packets, flower powder packets, twist ties, broken spatulas, rusty pots or pans, and/or anything that you never use that’s taking up space.
• Look in the bottom of your hall closet or the very top of your bedroom closet and see if there are some oldies but not goodies taking up space. Think belts, hats, ponchos, scarves, sporting clothes that no longer fit or are used… You know what I’m talking about, right?

And remember: slow and steady WILL win the race. Investing 10-15 minutes a day can yield surprisingly great results, and great results also serve as great motivation!

So start somewhere easy today and let me know how you’re doing! Happy Decluttering!

Declutter Challenge Club – Join the Fun in 2022!

The Declutter Club is now in its second year and some of our members have signed up again as they are not quite finished with getting through the whole house. 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!
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.