Clutter Busting Coach

…clearing clutter from your mind, body and space

Clutter Busting

Clutter Busting: Your School Papers

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Do you still have papers or binders from grad school, college or even high school?

It may seem difficult to let go of papers from school because of all the hard work you put into it or the memories you have of that time.

Ways to control school papers include:

  • Limiting your storage space to one file drawer or bin.
  • Treating yourself to a trip down memory lane while you sort the stuff.
  • Whittle it down to a special collection of papers that you enjoy looking through occasionally.
  • Frame one or two special papers to hang in your office.
  • Keep only the truly important or original papers such as a thesis or essay or keep one paper from each year.
  • Toss class notes, quizzes, worksheets or syllabuses.
  • Shred or recycle items that you are no longer keeping.

By tackling the issue of school paper clutter, you will clear space and one potential clutter culprit.

Clutter Busting: Office Supplies

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In order to get a handle on your office supplies, implement the following strategies:

  • Gather all similar items together so you can see what you have.
  • Test all pens and markers and immediately toss those that don’t work.
  • Combine what’s left, if possible, such as two half-empty boxes of staples into one.
  • Designate a drawer and buy an organizer with spots for all those small supplies.
  • Keep extras in one space such a bin or shelf and check there first before you buy supplies.
  • Determine how much of each item you truly need to have on –hand.
  • Donate any items that you rarely use to a community organization that would benefit.
  • Ban office supply shopping until you use up what you have.

Using these strategies will help corral your office supplies to a useful amount.

Clutter Busting: Toys

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Many times we find it difficult to clear out our children’s toys and possessions. Many times we fear that they will be inconsolable if they ask for it and we have given it away or that we are giving away good money or memories.

You do have to have a heart of steel when dealing with your children’s toys and games (memories). When you are working on toy clutter consider the following:

  • Banish the goody-bag trinkets that are received from meals or food packages when they are first ignored after a day or two.
  • Twice a year, take inventory of the toys and ask the following:
    • Do my children still play with this?
    • Do we have all the pieces?
    • Will any of the children be interested in this in the next year?
  • Get your children on board. Talk to your child about making room and asking them to donate a certain number of items to a local charity.
  • Be prepared with a response when your child asks you for the item that has been donated.
  • Relocate keepsakes to a storage box or on a high shelf.

By regularly clearly excess toys, you can avoid toy clutter. And you can teach your children valuable lessons.

Clutter Busting: Kitchen Items

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Do you have kitchen clutter? How many whisks and spatulas do you really need or use? Have you ever used the platter you bought for Christmas or that juicer?

We have lots of items and multiples of one type of item in our kitchens. Much of this clutter is because of good intentions or in an attempt to be prepared.

I am not saying to purge everything, but to really consider the best use of your kitchen space. To help you conquer your kitchen clutter, follow these suggestions: [Read more…] about Clutter Busting: Kitchen Items

Clutter Busting: Furniture

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Do you have furniture in your home that you don’t like or use? Have you inherited furniture from family or collect some from your friends?

If your furniture is not comfortable, beautiful or deeply meaningful, get rid of it.

Many times when we keep furniture we tell ourselves that it has meaning in the family or you may feel guilty about giving it away. Maybe you choose to keep the furniture because you are afraid that you will replace it with the wrong furniture or because it was free or it provides needed storage.

If you are only keeping a piece of furniture out of obligation here are ways you can free yourself of unwanted pieces: [Read more…] about Clutter Busting: Furniture