Clutter Busting Coach

…clearing clutter from your mind, body and space

clutter busting

The Journey Into Clutter Busting: The Coat Closet

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Ahh…I can feel fall right around the corner. We are transitioning in Michigan from one season to the other. For me that means cleaning out the coat closet as part of my September routine (I also schedule time in April as well).

There is nothing like pulling out all the items in the closet and giving it a good dusting and floor washing. Then before all the items are put back I evaluate what to keep, donate or toss and also review if the items I am using (bins, hangers, etc.) are working.

There were a few things that needed buttons and will be repaired and several items that I am taking to the consignment shop. And there are one or two things I am looking at adding to update my wardrobe for the season. There were also a couple of items that I found that I forgot I had from last year.

Motivated to clean your closet? If you need assistance tackling your closets or clutter contact me to learn about working with a life coach.

The Journey Into Clutter Busting: Seeking Motivation in the Basement

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mo·ti·va·tion (mt-vshn) n.

1a. the act or process of motivating. 1b. the state of being motivated.

2. Something that motivates; an inducement or incentive.

Maintaining motivation can be a critical factor in any long-term project. I hit that wall this week after three weeks of good project time and progress.

Here are some tips to keep motivated: [Read more…] about The Journey Into Clutter Busting: Seeking Motivation in the Basement

The Journey Into Clutter Busting: Labor of Love

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Labor Day weekend is the last great weekend of the summer. For me Labor Day weekend is project weekend and I couldn’t think of a better project to work on this weekend than my “labor” of love…the basement.

I have made head way over the last two weeks working away at all the stuff that got dumped there over the last several years as we acquired things from family and life. Plus my first weekend back in the basement was just spent reorganizing the fiasco that resulted from the washing machine flood that poured water into the basement through the floor and onto the boxes directly underneath. While my husband too care of the water and mess by tossing the damaged stuff and sorting what could be saved the day of the “incident” all the salvaged items got shoved into the middle of the basement. So this was an excellent place to start back…creating calm out of chaos. It was also a project where you could actually see the end result.

So as I continue this journey in the basement…each box or area I process brings to mind a story or a memory and this project really has become a labor of love. Embracing the process and making decisions about the basement stuff has brought so much love and light into my life again.

The Journey Into Clutter Busting: References

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References are papers that you save for future use because you think that it contains some vital information. How much storage or drawer space have you allowed for your references?

References are nice to have papers but not necessary papers. In fact, I would bet that once filed you probably don’t use a lot of those papers. We never use 80% of the papers we file away. If you need proof catch up on your filing and then for a month or two or even three months, every time you pull a paper from your file cabinet to use, put an “X” on it. After the designated time period audit your files and see what percentage of the papers you have stored you have touched. I will guarantee that you haven’t touched 80% of it or even more.

So schedule some project time to purge references or files you haven’t used in the last year. Here are some tips when it comes to making decisions about filing references: [Read more…] about The Journey Into Clutter Busting: References

The Journey Into Clutter Busting: Make it Easier to Let Go!

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You may be holding onto your clutter for many reasons, but some of the top ones are:

• You think you will need it later.
• You paid good money for it.
• It might be valuable.
• It has sentimental value…Aunt Jane gave it to you for a wedding gift.
• It’s been in the family for years.

Here are some ideas to help you let go of items if you are holding on to things for sentimental or monetary reasons:

• Use the one-year rule. If you haven’t used something in a year chances are you will never use it.
• Discover the true value of an item. Go on eBay or CraigslistHowMuchIsItWorth.com for price guidelines for items you think are antiques and collectibles.
• Regift Aunt Jane’s vase to someone who will enjoy and display it, but follow regifting guidelines.
• Give a family treasure to another family member who will love it more than you do.

Make the commitment to let go of your clutter. Think about who can benefit from the items you are not using, make a plan and do it!

It you need help letting go of your clutter, contact me for a 30-minute free sample coaching session today.