| Let's get down to business. Decluttering your home | | | | AWAY from "doing" your paperwork makes more |
| starts with making a list. That's your written plan of | | | | sense. Resist the urge and press on. You'll get around |
| steadily attacking what's been standing in your way. | | | | to that a bit later. |
| The easiest angle of attack is going to be a | | | | Now, as for anything that looks extra nasty and |
| raw-and-ready move on clutter spots where you can | | | | remotely resembles bits and pieces like if they came |
| make the fastest and most visible progress. | | | | out of a refuse bin - getting rid of them is the |
| Which one is it? It's your call. For example, is it a toss | | | | hygienic way to go. |
| up between first getting to the living room or the | | | | Everything else that doesn't fall into the previous two |
| office? Blitz through and transform the room where | | | | categories should go into: |
| guests and visitors are likely to gather the most first. | | | | 1. Essential Items - the stuff that you absolutely |
| So, if it's your living room - go for it. (Match your | | | | positively must have. |
| launch spot of decluttering to your specific needs.) | | | | 2. Sentimental Items - you don't need'em but they |
| If it's the latter, an office can usually handle its | | | | do bring back fond memories. |
| proverbial "organized mess" for a smidge longer, and | | | | (Note: Do they bring occasional fond memories, or |
| without "witnesses". While the office can simply wait, | | | | have they been forcing you to live in the past?) |
| the living room is where you eagerly begin disarming | | | | 3. Items You Want ...but don't need - I think that |
| the clutter of its power over you. | | | | says it all, don't you think? |
| You are in charge. Decide according to what is most | | | | Why does this blitz tactic deliver? You're not stuck |
| important to you to declutter first. That's your first | | | | on "doing" paperwork. That comes later when you |
| step. The second one: take a good look around you. | | | | can fully focus on doing your paperwork. |
| Take a before and after picture to have hard | | | | What also makes this method tick is the small corner |
| evidence that your efforts were worth every minute | | | | you've cleared for the "dumping grounds". |
| of your valuable time. | | | | Once you get into the swing of things, it's downright |
| Now, arm yourself with the "Tools for the | | | | invigorating to be able to throw things around the |
| Decluttering Trade". | | | | room as your "purging action" takes a load off. |
| You'll need garbage bags, cardboard or plastic boxes, | | | | At last, decluttering a messy room becomes less of |
| cleaning supplies (including a vacuum cleaner), a | | | | a chore and more fun and relaxed. |
| notebook with a pen, handy refreshments, and your | | | | What do you do with everything that's piled up on |
| favorite good-mood tunes. Add to the list as you see | | | | "the dumping grounds" by the end of the day? |
| fit. | | | | Let large garbage bags gobble up anything that's |
| Start from one corner of the room, or even in the | | | | clearly going to the garbage bin. Recycle items that |
| middle, if you feel like it. Warm up by creating good | | | | you can. Donate any usable and |
| working space around you. Then, select and clear | | | | in-a-good-working-condition items to charity. |
| some handy space for "dumping grounds" to make | | | | In short, quickly sort the stuff and get it out. |
| your efforts uninterrupted and effective. | | | | That's the golden rule to follow at the end of every |
| Next, dominate from here by steadily moving | | | | power-decluttering day. |
| forward. The "stuff" that has been sitting around for | | | | Why? |
| ages while gradually impinging on your everyday life - | | | | One: You want to avoid mixing the stuff you want |
| you are after it today. Start with using garbage bags, | | | | to dump with the stuff you want to keep (after |
| boxes, and storage bins that you've got ready and | | | | you've done such a great job :). |
| start filling them up. | | | | Two: You may need more than a day to declutter a |
| Paperwork is clutter as well; sort through it enough | | | | room. Seeing a part of the job done gives you the |
| as not to miss any important documents like banking | | | | inspiration fuel to continue. |
| statements, overdue utility bills, or other essential | | | | If it's discouraging to declutter everything in an |
| correspondence alike. Keep them where you can | | | | uninterrupted, massive rip through, take a short |
| easily find them for now. Transfer everything else | | | | break to refresh, and come back early to finish the |
| onto the dumping grounds. | | | | task with flying colors. On the other hand, if the idea |
| Watch it, though. If at any time you get the urge to | | | | of leaving the job half done bugs you to no end, |
| sit down and wade through your paperwork in depth, | | | | soothe the uneasiness by finishing the crack down on |
| the end of your decluttering efforts sets in. Staying | | | | clutter without delays. |