Everything in order
Get organized
Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” Franklin knew the value of sharping his life to achieve more in an allotted time.
There is an old saying ‘if you haven’t used it in a year, get rid of it.’ Actually, this is a good rule to live by. We in America have accumulated more stuff than we need. We rent storage units and build places to put our excesses. As you organize your living quarters or office, we will see our days running smoother.
Realize you don’t have to clean everything at once. If it takes six months, it takes six months. The greatest thing is you decide to start. Once you begin, you will find the momentum will carry you forward. Will it be easy? No. It will be hard work. Your mind will tell you to keep this or that even though you have used the item in years. Children outgrow toys. How many changes of clothing do you need?
Get rid of the clutter
If you are serious about organizing your life, there are websites and books to help you. One of the best books I have read is The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. However, as I have said before, none of this helps unless you’re willing. Get yourself into the mindset of cleaning up the spaces where you live. Pick the worse place in your home or office and start there. You have heard it said “when in doubt throw it out” I’m not sure I would go that far. But if you take inventory and find you haven’t used the item for over a year or if it is not something sentimental, do you need to keep it? So many things in this life we find are unnecessary. They only clutter our lives.
3.Do not add to your mess
No shopping for more clothes, shoes or other items until you go over what you have in your closest. Sometimes the habit of shopping is compulsive. Buying just one more item will not break the habit. Analyze your life what is missing. Realize you can’t replace what is missing with a new item of clothing. If you need help in this area, ask.
Start small
What is in your pockets, your purse? The drawers in your kitchen, office or bedroom? If you have two, you only need one. I have a bad habit of writing phone numbers on small pieces of paper then losing them. How much better it is to have a notebook or a directory on the desk. Start small, then work your way up. Do a drawer, then a desk or bedside table, then the room. For some, if you look at a room, it will seem overwhelming. But if you start in a small area, you will feel a bit of victory when you complete this section.
Make it fun
Life is too short to make what we must do drudgery. God made us to enjoy life. There will always be the hard jobs. If you want your child to take out the trash, clean their room wash the dinner dishes. Encourage them to make the task more pleasant. If you have two or more children, make it a competition. Give them an award they can display in their room or their side of the room. Compliment them on their efficiency of perform their assigned task. Instead of threatening, you will find you will have a pleasant relationship.
Have a contest to see who in the family can find the least used item. Reward your children. It doesn’t have to be something large. An ice cream cone or picking their favorite movie for the family to watch together.
Let your child pick the color to paint their room when you finish uncluttering. If this is not possible, think of some other fun thing. The object is to make it an adventure. A memory for your son or daughter.
Mess breeds mess
It is so easy for us to fall into the routine of being messy. We pass over clothes or other items on the floor thinking we will put them in their proper place later. Our excuses are good. We are busy. It’s only one thing. We will clean it up later. The problem is if we justify it in our mind; it becomes easier the next time. It doesn’t get easier by putting it off. It just becomes more difficult and time-consuming. Plus, and this may be one of the biggest problems. It creates clutter in our minds.
Notes
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Points to ponder
What is the most used area of your home? Start there. Make a list of the rooms to clean. If you face resistance from a family member move to another area, they agree to help you clean. It may be the garage or shed. The idea is just to start.