How To Declutter Your Home Guilt Free
Posted: Friday, May 28, 2010
by Marilyn Bohn
Get It Together Organizing
My mother was a worrier. She would worry if my brother wasn’t home by curfew (shame on him). I would hear all about what could have happened, “he could have been in an accident, he could be hurt, he could have a flat tire", and on and on. I swore that when I grew up I would not be a worrier.
Well, I’m not a worrier but I think I have a guilt gene. What is a gene you ask? It is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. . Maybe her worry gene twisted as I was born and mutated into a guilt gene. Okay so I don’t really believe feeling guilty is hereditary. Even when I tell myself that feeling guilty isn’t accomplishing anything that I just need to get in there and get something done instead of feeling guilty doesn’t always work. I’m not a big advocate for guilt because it can make us not do anything except feel guilty. It is like having a sense of inertia.
1. Get a basket or a box or at the last resort a large bag. And get your timer.
2. It can be so over whelming when you just don’t know where to start—don’tchatthink? Does that make you feel guilty and overwhelmed? I thought so. The first step is to choose a room you want to declutter. Now go in that room and sit down. If you have to move a pile of clutter off the only chair there that’s o.k. Just slide those magazines and clothes off the chair with one big swipe of your hand.
3. Set your timer for 15 minutes. Look around the room and think about what is working for you in this room. It could be that you’re in the bedroom and what works is that you have a bed. You might not be able to find the bed but you know it is there so that works.
4. Now, from where you are sitting look to your left. What do you see? Is there something there that doesn’t belong in this room? Good, walk over and put it in the basket, box or bag you got in the first step. On your way to retrieve that “thing" if you see something else that belongs in the BE basket (Belongs Elsewhere) put it in the basket so it can leave the room when you are ready to leave the room. You are not ready yet to leave the room.
5. Now, working from your left to your right pick up anything that doesn’t belong in this room. If you get exhausted, sit back down. But do this for 15 minutes.
6. Whatever is in your basket at the end of 15 minutes is what you will carry out and take to the rooms where these items belong.
It is amazing how things travel and start to live where they don’t belong. You know the guilt gene I talked about? If you have it you can say good bye to it right now because you have started the process to declutter your home.
If you still have time and energy go back to the room you were in and set your timer for 15 minutes and then, starting slow organize one teensy tiny area. You did it! You started and now working at your own pace you can organize any room in your home and get rid of the guilt gene while you’re at it.
Marilyn is a published author and professional organizer. She is a sought after public speaker who is passionate about teaching women and seniors how to organize their life and reduce clutter in their homes and office. You can buy her new book 'Go Organize! Conquer clutter in three simple steps' which is now in all major bookstores and her website.
Marilyn invites you to visit her awesome website http://www.marilynbohn.com for easy organizing.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Good idea, Marylin, decluttering your house one small step at a time. The small steps are always the most important ones. We always think they won't be effective!Thanks for your comment--we are on the same page.
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