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Do you want to get rid of stuff that is cluttering up your home, but you’re scared you might need it someday?

The top two questions I get as a professional organizer are:

“How do I figure out what to get rid of?”

“How do I know I won’t need that item again?”

In this article I am going to reveal a secret: knowing what to get rid of, what to keep, and where to get started.

What to Get Rid Of: Get rid of everything in your home that is not meaningful or useful. How do you know whether you’ll need that item again!? You don’t! You only know you don’t need it now. What you must believe is this: you’ll have the resources to get it again, because you had the resources to get it the first time. Trust the market place. It’s as eager as you are to exchange stuff. If you ever need that item again, you can easily find a substitute on Craigslist, eBay, or one of the many online free markets across the US.

Let’s say you have an unused bookcase that you decide to sell on Craigslist for $40 and that a year later you find that you really need a bookcase. You should be able to find one within a week or so. In most cases, you will find one that meets your needs better than the previous one. Also, you’ve had the bonus of having $40 in your pocket over the past year.

What to Keep: Keep items that are either useful or meaningful. If you tend to love memorabilia, but cannot let go of it, try this simple three-step process.

1. Prioritize the items you value and keep the top 10 things that mean the most to you.

2. Honor your memories by beautifully displaying them. Frame a special t-shirt, hang it on the wall, or create a shadow box of special jewelry, news clippings, and other small items.

3. Get a single, large rubber bin (less than 15 gallon) for each household member. Pick out favorites and fill the bins. Bless someone else by donating or selling all of the remaining items.

Where to Get Started: Write down all areas that you want organized. Start with the area you use the most. In one area:

Clear out things that are obviously recycling or garbage. It will be easy to get distracted, but stay focused on garbage and recycling only; everything else shouldn’t be touched. A good way to stay focused is this: play a favorite song and have all garbage cleared before the end of the song.

Next, place three large bins in your working area. One bin for things to be donated, one for things that can be sold, and one for things that belong someplace else. If needed, you can get more bins. When done sorting, move the bins to a different area.

After all items have been sorted you can begin organizing. Organize only the items you are keeping. Re-evaluate the area. What specific purpose should it serve? How can you make the most of the space? Is there a way to use the walls to display items and keep them off the floor? Let the answers to these questions direct the organizational process.

If you need help making the most of your space, or if you get stuck on one of these steps, think about hiring a professional organizer. A qualified organizer can be found in your area by checking with the National Association of Professional Organizers (napo.net).

Heidi DeCoux is publisher of Life Made Simple e-Magazine, a professional organizer and creator of the Fast-Filing Method home office filing system. Heidi energizes her readers’ by simplifying their homes … schedules. For more info, free tips, and to receive her FREE Report: The Fast … Easy Way to Get Organized and Stay Organized Forever, visit ClearSimpleLiving.com

categories: home organization,organizing tips,home improvement,organizing your home,Organization for the home,living simple

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