Lightly Used

Lightly Used

The light in vivo using five simple steps to organize clutter

Long before they came to America and took over the land to the Indians living in beautiful harmony with the earth. They "lived on the land light." Many tribes traveled from place to place depending on the sources of food, weather and other conditions. Traveled with their homes and all their earthly possessions. They respected the land and only they could use.

I can safely say as a professional organizer that most of us "live heavy on the earth." We have houses that chuck full of things. Often these are things that have no meaning for us or things that once loved but no longer care about. Or have we got a lot to the space we have and the disorder often causing unbearable anxiety and depression. Then we are concerned with organizing the mess we have created and allowed to live with us. This we may hold back from doing things you really want to do. We begin to feel trapped and loaded with things that once brought us joy because we have much material, and is just that.

If you want to start "living light" here is five tried and true measures to organize the clutter:

1. Go room by room and decide what works for you and what is not working for you. Assess if you use the item, if you like it if someone else enjoys it more, if it is just a dust collector. If you do not light up and enjoy it, it's time to let go.

2. Make the goal of reducing and disposing of things in each room. I can not say that getting rid of 50% of what you have, it's your decision so that after made their assessment. If you're not getting rid of items you bought or someone you gave, set a goal of getting rid of everything that fits in a bag or box, and then when that space is organized and feel good about it can come back later and get rid of more things.

There were at least 55 recordings of VHS on a shelf of books that have not seen in a long time. I decided I wanted the space for other things so I took two plastic bags and told me he is going to fill them and get rid of tapes. I'm being generous and would be difficult to do. By setting a goal to fill the bags work was quick and it was fun. Before I was done I had filled several sacks and only maintained in all nine tapes.

I feel much lighter and happier now I've done all that clutter organized. I do not even I realized it was just holding the tapes "in case you ever wanted to see them." You can find at any video store in any time, I do not need them fatten my house.

3. Working with a friend, family member or professional organizer. It is easier when working with someone who will strengthen your goal and help you decide to let go.

4. The fact that once loved the theme and used it does not mean you have to maintain. If you are afraid you will forget memory, take a picture of the item and put it in a scrapbook. Or take a picture and download to your computer and make a memory file and send the photo to live in that file.

5. Organize the clutter means opening the drawers and closets and organization of what is in them, not only flat surfaces in the room. Make a drawer or closet one by one. Do not try to do everything at once. Doing too much at one time can be overwhelming. Believe me, the mess will wait for you and you can go back and organize another day or hour.

Organizing clutter can save you time and money. You do not have to find the items you know you have and not have to go out and buy more things because you can not find the information they now have.

Marilyn is a professional organizer and invites you to visit their website www.marilynbohn.com , She is a sought after speaker and author who is passionate about teaching ways to organize your life and how to reduce clutter. She works with women in their homes and offices. In its website that teaches it all sorted by using their lights on the organization of the system. It provides practical information on how to Declutter your home, office and life. In their blogs, articles, videos and gives timely advice on how to clean up the mess and how to declutter everything in your home and office. She is the author of a book called Go Organize! Conquer the clutter in three easy steps in major bookstores in December 2009.

About the Author

Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors & their families to create space and end
clutter in homes and offices by setting up custom made systems.
Visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com for
free organizing tips.