1.  Commit to change – I said last week that getting organized and decluttering is like losing weight.  Really, it is.  You have to be committed in order to change.   Being organized is a lifestyle.  That also means that some days we mess up, just as if we would when losing weight.  But we have to start out new each day toward our goal.

2.  Set small goals – Take it one drawer at a time, one box at a time, and then one room at a time.  You didn’t accumulate everything overnight, and you can’t do it all at once.  See, it is like weight loss.

3.  Set a timer – The Flylady really promotes this one and it works.  Decluttering sometimes seems like a huge overwhelming task, but if you set a time limit of 15 minutes, it won’t seem so bad.  So set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes and get busy!

4.  Change your mindset – This is one that I am working on.  Too many times I say, “Oh, but I might be able to use this again” and I know I haven’t used the item in two years.  In times like these, remind yourself of the stress it incurs and junk it.  Say it with me . . . It’s just stuff!

5.  Keep it simple – This means two different things.  One way to keep it simple is not to run out and buy a bunch of organizing gadgets right away.  First you need to sort through what you have and figure out your needs, not the other way around.  It also means keep it simple in what you keep.  Do you need 12 bottles of Bath & Body Works body wash?

6.  Sort and purge –  This is one of the most important steps and you need to be brutal.  Try to detach yourself from your belongings.  It’s just stuff, right?  If you haven’t used it in a year, then get rid of it.  :Gulp:  Did I really say that?  Yes, I need to take my own advice.  If you still can’t bring yourself to get rid of it, then put it away and give yourself a time limit of 6 months or a year.  If you still haven’t used it by then, get rid of it!!!!

7.  Have a yard sale – Sometimes selling your stuff and getting some money for it helps to take away the pain of letting it go.  I’ll sell just about anything I own.  It’s just stuff!  Keep saying it.

8.  Think of the money the stuff cost you – By this I mean think of the square footage in your house the things are taking up.  Or in my case, think of how much it costs to move the items when you move to a new area.  You have to box it up, put it on the truck, unload it, and unpack it.  It costs money (and labor) to move.  And also, think of the stress and aggravation.  Is this stuff/junk really worth it????

9.  Put organization into your daily routine. – Have the kids clean up their toys before dinner and before bedtime, go through the mail each day, put away catalogs when you’re done with them, clean out your junk drawer while you’re on the phone.  There are things that can be done each day that only require a few minutes, but will make your life much easier.  I really need to make the mail a daily priority!

10. Teach kids to be organized. – Each night have the kids put their backpack by the door, put away their toys, put their clothes in the hamper, put away the soap and shampoo when they’re done.  Teach them when they’re young so that one day it can become a habit.

I hope these tips are helpful or inspiring for you.  Do you have any decluttering or organizational tips you’d like to share? What works best in your home?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

You might be a FlyBaby if……

• the phrase “What’s for dinner” no longer starts a fight
• that old sweater from the back of your closet looks SO cute…on someone else!
• you can’t remember the last time you stubbed your toes (thank you lace-ups!)
• the grocery store checkout ladies and the pizza delivery guy miss you so much, they hardly ever see you!
• science projects are on display at school, not in your refrigerator
• you can close the lid all the way on your long-suffering laundry hamper
• while visiting a friend’s house, you find yourself doing a quick “swish and swipe” just out of habit
• you and the dog are both looking a little trimmer thanks to the bless your heart walks
• the stuff in your grocery cart actually matches the stuff on your grocery list
• you actually have a grocery list
• your bedroom looks like a place for sweet dreams
• you have fewer “junk” drawers than in the past
• your sink is almost as shiny as your smile!

Love,

Flybaby Tricia in Maryland

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Now all I have to do is follow directions as I HATE to clean.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy