Posts tagged Targets

Are you a reformed pack rat or still a work in progress? Pack rats seldom throw anything away. They take home everything they can get for free. Maybe they are influenced by their upbringing where things were limited and nothing was thrown out. They accumulate a ton of things over the years making it increasingly difficult to find things. Each time a closet is opened, they are reminded of the stuff they have, and the endless organizing they need to do.

I am a firm believer that we are all a product of our own environment. The physical environment in which we spend the majority of our time affects how we function and feel. When you are surrounded by mess and disorganization, you become more mentally cluttered, less concise, considerably anxious, and easily annoyed. In order to be your best, you need your physical surrounding to be organized, neat, and clutter free.

The following are suggestions and tools to use in your journey towards having an organized home. The mental clarity and personal gratification is worth the trouble of cleaning. I promise!

Suggestions…

Each item needs a home. If you don’t know where an item belongs, it is likely to become part of the clutter in your house. You think about where to put it, and it always conveniently find its way to the top of the nearest surface or the first drawer in sight. You know what I’m talking about! When you see an item out of place, you should remind yourself once again that you need to find it a home. This not only creates a place where the item belongs, but it also saves mental processing when you need to put things away quickly, or locate them later.

Flat surfaces are kept empty. The flat surfaces in your home are easy targets for clutter build up. Clearing off surfaces, such as tables, and counter tops is the simplest way to create an environment that appears clean and organized. Clearing off surfaces provides an instant calming effect. Whenever you think about putting something on the counter – always choose to put things out of sight. Do not place mail on an open surface. Store your mail in a labeled box, or in a cupboard. Remove items from flat surfaces on a daily basis. Place them in containers, baskets, or a drawer out of eyesight. Do a quick sweep whenever possible.

Make it a point to clean as you go. One simple tip for maintaining a home free of clutter is – when you’re done with something just put it away. When you complete a task or project, put everything away. When you take off clothes, do not leave the clothes on the floor-toss the items in your laundry basket or a closet instantly. This habit accomplishes two things. First, you won’t need to clean up after a huge pile accumulates. Second, a neat home discourages others from leaving their clutter around (proactive de-cluttering).

Downsize your belongings. This can be a demanding, but soothing experience for people. Doing away with unused stuff removes the clutter and is mentally freeing. Make it a goal to get rid of clothing that has not been worn in more than two years, CDs you’ll never listen to again, books you won’t read again, and kitchen items you haven’t used in over a year. Donate the items. The less things you have, the less clutter and the less you will have to pick up.

Get an egg timer. It has been said over and over before, but setting an egg timer and cleaning like mad for fifteen minutes really does work. This method also helps if you have kids. They’ll be less likely to give you a hard time when asked to clean if there is a time limit. A few fifteen-minute sessions can make a major difference in keeping your house clean in the long run. Once you have started moving, you will gain the momentum to continue going and clean up other areas of your home.

Create a project list. For many the thought of cleaning your entire home can seem daunting and time consuming. Breaking down the project into mini-projects makes it more manageable. Each week tackle a mini-project. Each mini-project should have a measurable goal where it is achievable within an hour. If you have an area that will require many hours, break it up into several mini-projects. This way, the cleaning project is manageable and will not take all day. Completing each mini-project gives you small wins along the way, creating motivation to tackle the next mini-project.

And tools…

Appreciate labels. This might sound intense, but giving each type of clothing a home, and labeling the location within the dressers are great reminders. Give each compartment a label or use pictures.

Boxes and baskets. Many of us have the habit of leaving loose things on the kitchen table and other surfaces, because it’s easy. This of course, isn’t sustainable. Attractive boxes can serve as great storage for miscellaneous items. It is best to group like items together into boxes, so that they will be easy to find when needed. Some examples of boxed grouped items are: store receipts, mail, newsletters, and school papers. I have a box labeled “Personal Development” where I keep blank index cards, reading material, quotes, handwritten notes from meetings and seminars. – pretty geeky, I know.

Use drawer dividers. These are awesome if you want to store your underwear, socks, and camisoles in one drawer; a divider will keep these items separated. A divider may seem somewhat expensive, but believe me, it is well worth the price. It’ll give you a piece of mind in the long run. Dividers can run about $8 a piece.

Use utility drawer containers. Use small boxes, Glad Tupperware containers or purchase utility drawer containers for your utility drawer. Assign a box to all small item that you toss in that drawer. For example, batteries, cell phone chargers, elastic bands, pens./markers, scissors, sticky notepads, etc. Give each item a home. When you are done your utility drawer will no longer be a collection of random items scattered about. You will finally be able find stuff quickly when you need it – don’t forget to label the boxes!

A clean, organized home will add peace and harmony to your life.