15 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR CLUTTER
By Barbara Ricketts a.k.a. “The Mess Doctor”

About this time each year, as spring approaches, many of us feel like it is the beginning of a new phase in our lives. It is a good time before school is out and the kids are home full time, to put some organization in place so that we don’t get behind when summer activities hit.  If you haven’t already, it’s also a great time to start organizing for 2007 taxes (What? Me organize in March for taxes????) So here are 15 ways to leave that clutter behind and get a grip on your life. Pace yourself now, pick 2 or 3 to put into place each week, don’t try to do them all at once!

1. Identify items you don’t need and GET RID OF THEM.


2. Open your mail over a recycle bin and don’t let junk mail enter the house.


3. Store all your tax receipts in 1 container/file instead of letting them pile up all over.


4. Start de-cluttering a room by doing 1 drawer at a time.


5. Put newly developed or printed pictures in an album right away, instead of having drawers and boxes full of pictures all over the place.


6. Pull out all the coats, gloves & scarves from the coat closet. Only put back the coats to be used now. Put all the hats together and put all the gloves in a clear plastic box on the shelf.


7. Containerize items in your cupboards. Put like items together where they are used most often.


8. Use a filing box to store all those greeting cards you buy in advance. Sort them by subject so they are easy to find in a hurry.


9. Gather up all those coupons and gift certificates you never have when you need them, put them in a zip lock baggy and keep them in the car. Toss expired coupons monthly.


10.  Gather up all those books you don’t want and either sell them to a used bookstore or donate them to the library or an organization that will send them to our service men and women overseas.


11.  Gather up all those empty wire hangers cluttering up your closet and recycle them at the dry cleaners. They take up room and are very unsightly!


12.  Remember the “in and out” inventory rule: something old must go out when something new comes in to prevent “clutter build up”.


13.  Gather up all those loose earrings and store them in ice cube trays.


14.  Find a charity that can use the items that are cluttering up your space. If you have a good home to send them to, you are more likely to let them go!


15.  Eliminate paper clutter by the phone by using a carbonless message pad. Store the pad in a drawer close to the phone along with a pen & pencil.

Use these 15 ways to leave your clutter and “spring” forward with a clear space and a clear mind.
 

If you have questions for “The Mess Doctor” or need professional assistance to start getting organized, contact Barbara Ricketts (LifeStyle Management Associates) at MessDoctor@Mac.com
or call 661-263-0124.