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Blog: Can We Have Some Order Here?
 15-Minute Organizing Ideas -- Lightening The Load
One of the biggest roadblocks my clients face in trying to get (and keep) their homes and offices decluttered is scheduling -- finding the time to sort through the piles, make decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of, and find someplace else for the "discards" to live. Big blocks of time are hard to find, so you're better off breaking your cleaning out into tasks that can be completed in 15 minutes or less. Think that's impossible? Let me show you how it's done!
A Faster Way To Clean Out
Cleaning out is often exhausting work -- especially for those who haven't done it in a while. It's easy to walk into a room filled with clutter and become completely overloaded by the task at hand. You try to empty the whole space at once, don't even come close to finishing it all, and end up feeling like a failure -- will you ever be able to see the floor again? Rather than overdoing it (and subsequently paralyzing yourself with frustration and despair), why not set yourself up for success -- by tackling just one small pile at a time? If you simply make use of those odd free moments (say, two or three times a day, every day for a week) -- you will make a bigger dent in the mess than if you devoted your entire Saturday to sifting and sorting and cleaning out!
- start a box of items to donate -- every time you find something you don't need, toss it in
- check your desk for dried up pens and markers and throw them out
- sort through your Tupperware and remove any bowl or lid that's missing it's mate
- try on clothes you haven't worn in the past year and get rid of anything that doesn't fit
- gather up a pile of library books / rented videos and return them from whence they came
- look through your shelves and pull books you'll never read again to donate to the library
- clean the trash out of your junk drawer
- remove the extra empty hangers out of your closet and take them to your dry cleaner
- get rid of old or yucky makeup in your cosmetic drawer
- put all those purchases you've been meaning to return in a box and schedule an errand day
- pull out any torn / worn underwear and socks -- either turn into rags or discard
- toss empty bottles of household cleaners, car care items, and gardening chemicals in the garage
- go through your magazines / catalogs and toss all but the most recent issue
- throw out expired food from your refrigerator and pantry
- sort through your recipes and toss those you're never going to get around to making
- when you unpack your holiday decorations, discard broken ornaments, lights, candles, etc.
- create a pile of borrowed items to give back to your friends and family
- clean out batteries and light bulbs that no longer work
- toss expired items, empty bottles, and used-up grooming supplies in your medicine cabinet
- put all your "donates" in the car and drive them to the nearest charity drop-off point -- now!
See how easy that was?
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posted on: 11/3/2011 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel
category: General Organizing Tips
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Can We Have Some Order Here?
by Ramona Creel
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About Ramona:
I have been a Professional Organizer for more than 10 years, I am a NAPO Golden Circle member, and I was the original founder of OnlineOrganizing. I have worked one-on-one with scores of clients and have trained dozens of newbie organizers as they got started in the industry. I provide both hands-on and virtual coaching to help clients improve their organizing skills and simplify their lives. I invite you to visit my website at http://www.RamonaCreel.com, and I challenge you to find one new idea that you can put into practice in your life, to help you become better organized, starting TODAY! I am passionate about coaching folks toward a more balanced, productive, and enjoyable life -- and I firmly believe that if I can do it, so can you!
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