Avoid Clutter, Live Better !

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Aug. 5, 2013 - PRLog --  

Avoid Clutter Live Better !

 

                        Clutter! Clutter! Clutter!   Did you know that clutter can affect your relationships, finances and even cause health issues?  For, example: Relationships -Clutter can work havoc on a relationship, it can cause difficulties with family members and  tension in the house. Believe it or not, some people have even gotten divorced over clutter.  Have you ever heard of Hoarders? That’s what can happen when clutter gets out of control.  Clutter can create health problems, problems with skin and lungs.  Dirty, cluttered houses can make you fatigued, constipated, have back pain and congested. Not just because there’s stuff everywhere, but because there is dust on all that stuff and dust is nothing but negative energy.  Clutter can create problems with lack of savings and can cause one to go into debt by constantly purchasing things, they do need.  Statistics shows that over two hundred million Americans are living in cluttered homes that are literally being swallowed up with stuff.   Why do we have so much stuff and how can we organize all our stuff?  Oprah Winfrey once said “A cluttered house is a sign of a cluttered mind!  For those of you who are overwhelmed with clutter, help is here! Creating a healthy, energetic home or office relies on diligence. Here are four easy ways to de-clutter your home one room at a time.   

 

1) Only one room at a time: Select a room that you been wanting to de-clutter for a while.  I suggest you choose only one room at a time.  Choosing more than one room can be overwhelming and may lead to you not doing anything.  For example, I chose my office because I am always using my office.  My office is the dumping ground for everything.   My office was cluttered with papers.  I put my open and unopened mail, junk mail, bills, receipts, newspapers, books etc.   I had piles and piles of papers on the floors, on the book shelves, on the desk anywhere I could find a space.  I decided enough was enough!

 

Once, I decided what room I was going to tactical.  I got some bins that I had stored in the basement.  I got some file folders I had under all my papers and labels I had hidden in my desk drawers.  I also found markers I had in a pen cup that was buried under papers.  I suggest that before you go out and purchase these items check to see what you already have.  Do not be tempted to go and buy these items because you may have them at home and you do not want to add to the clutter.  

 

2) Sort the items:  Put books in one pile, bills in one pile, store receipts in one pile and have a pile for things that you are going to discard.  Make sure you have a garbage bag on hand and if need be a shredder.  Like most of them, I was always tempted to keep things I know I do not need.  For example, I had piles and piles of magazine, some I had read and some I had not.  I suggest if you have magazines that you have not read and there’s articles that you are wanted to read or a recipe you want to make, you should cut those items out and discard the magazine.   

 

3) Label your bins and file folders:  Bins can be used for books or as file cabinets for important papers or documents.   Once that is done you are on your way.  Organize your books on your book shelves in a method that is comfortable for you.  You may want to organize your books alphabetically by author or title.   If you are technically inclined and you have the time you can even use excel or access database to organize your books.   Also, if you can afford it buy a “Kindle Fire,” you can get rid of your books and magazines and utilized that as your source for reading.   You have to decide what method is best for you.  Make sure you label all your file folders; for example, insurance policy or important documents, receipts, articles and so on.  Set up a filing system that you are comfortable with.

 

4) Ten minutes a day to process mails/magazines: I suggest that you designate a spot for incoming mail and take five to ten minutes a day if you have the time to open mail and discard any junk mail. Also, take five minutes to pick up things and put them in their place.    Remember, keep what you need and discard what you do not need, the same with magazine and newspapers.   Take a few minutes a day to visualize your new clean, clutter-free space  and think about how good it looks and how it makes you feel. Make a cognitive effort on keep the space clutter-free.  Once you have completed your office move to the next room.  

 

Donald Horban said “We don’t need to increase our goods nearly as much as we need to scale down our wants.  Not wanting something is as good as possessing it."  Also, before making purchases ask yourself how often am I going to need it and if  possible  wait a week or two before buying the items, that can help you decide whether or not the items is a need or a want!

 

Here is a wonderful quote from Albert Einstein: “Three Rules of Work:  Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity". Avoid clutter, live better !