Owning less stuff can make you feel more organized! Use this Organizational Tool for deciding what items to keep, that you need, use, or love and what to give away.
“LOVE IT”
“USE IT”
USE IT & LOVE IT
USE IT & DON'T LOVE IT
*KEEP it if you need it! *Enjoy your item * Use it! *Display it
*Has your style changed? *Have your interests changed? * Do you still need it? *Can another item that you love take its place?
LOVE IT & DON'T USE IT
*When will you use it again? *Are you keeping it "just in case"? * Do you need it for an emergency? *Is the item worth the space it is taking?
DON'T USE IT OR LOVE IT * Don’t keep *Donate it *Sell it *Give it away
home and if you have space for some the boxes, ask yourself why you are of the items in a closet, cabinet or keeping an item rather than why you drawer. If you do not find proper space should get rid of it. By framing this www.lorganized.com for each and every item in your “In” question in a more positive tone—rebox, you might have to let some go. lated to keeping versus discarding—it is easier to think about because it gives “Out” Box: This box goes out of your home. You could give these items to a loyou a chance to ponder what you use cal charity, a shelter, give them to friends the item for, when you last used it, if or arrange a garage sale—there are many you will use it again, and if you still options. Just remember that the sooner like it. Sometimes when we move too this box goes out, the better; do not keep quickly through the decluttering and it in your home for too long. start to throw things away too fast, it “I Don’t Know!” Box: Know that this can lead to regretting a decision; rebox may contain items with strong grets can slow down the process. emotional attachment (often entangled What to do with each box: with confusion, guilt, and possibly “In” Box: These items will stay in your hurtful and painful memories) that you home and space. As you review the will find difficult to deal with. Know items in this box, consider the amount that taking time to evaluate the items of surface space you have in your in your home can be a very strong
clearing of old emotional ties and old emotional patterns. Give yourself time to let go of uncertainty, confusion and guilt related to these items and to remember any emotional ties you have had with your items. This can have a very profound cleansing effect. Just keep placing them in your “I Don’t Know!” box until the day you are ready to deal with the items in this box. Organizing our physical spaces can have tremendous emotional and psychological effects. By making decisions on the items, we are in control. We can get emotional, angry, frustrated and feel like stopping because it is simply too difficult to make decisions. Know that these feelings are normal. We need to remind ourselves that we are taking a very active, difficult and emotional step into evaluating the clutter items in your home. In order to help avoid future clutter from accumulating in the house, establish an organizational system that is individually suited. And know that it is perfectly okay to have at least one or two clutter drawers. Margarita M. Cossuto, Ph.D., is a professional organizer and owner of Living Organized LLC. Cossuto works with clients in Connecticut and New York. Connect with her at lOrganized.com or 203-451-7880. She would like to thank Dr. Ronald G. Shapiro for helpful comments while preparing this article.
No Pills, No Needles, No Pain! Call for a Consultation Today! 203-531-5688 235 Glenville Road Greenwich, CT
GET YOUR LIFE BACK... You could be PAIN FREE in less than 3 months!
END CHRONIC PAIN from MIGRAINES, HEADACHES, TMJ, & TINNITUS (Ringing in the ears) 203-531-5688 34
Fairfield County Edition
natural awakenings
CtHeadacheRelief.com