Monday, November 17, 2008

Conquer the Clutter!


A few days back, I started a thread on the Etsy forums asking for organizing tips! I am in sore need of them! I was supposed to be cleaning, weeding, etc...but I was procrastinating...as I am now. I got some great suggestions! I thought I would share them with you!

First, JoyfulAbode wrote: "My best tip is get rid of junk before you start. You can't organize clutter; you can only move it around. It's a fact!" That is a true statement. Others on the forum loved that one!

I also heard from CreationsAnew. They wrote: "My best tip!!!! I clean up my office/workspace every day after I'm finished working in it!and...I close my books every month!!!! Great advice for when tax time rolls around!" If only I could be so organized! Something to strive for.

I totally agree with TheCandlesmith who said: "The hardest for me is putting things back where they belong the first time..........." That is why I'm in the mess I'm in! No pun intended.


Oh and here's a good one! lrichmond3 writes: "oh, oh, I have a great one but it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with organizing your work space but I suppose it would work anywhere. Dump the contents of a drawer in a box. For one month, every time you use something from that box, you place it back in the drawer. At the end of the month, whatever you haven't used from the box, goes in the trash. I've done this with kitchen drawers and man, it really works!"


And here's another system that works for jewelsbyfaith. "If were talking house stuff, I like to walk around with a basket, one room at a time and if there is something that's in room, and doesn't belong, it goes in the basket...then I carry the basket around and put everything back. I do this every now and then for each room, and it helps. When it gets REALLY bad, I get out the laundry basket, make the entire household sweep, set it in the middle of the floor and tell everyone they have 10 min.s to put it away..what's left over gets tossed! The kids mover really quickly when I do that! especially if it's nintendo games, etc,...in the basket!"

And when I'm overwhelmed...I remember what cherrybounces wrote: "Baby steps!"

The ideas I wasn't able to include can be found on this thread. Thanks everyone!

9 comments:

Bag Lady Bags said...

Wow, thanks so much for mentioning me. I appreciate it!

The Great Ethan Allen said...

hope you can conquer the mess. It's alwasy an uphill battle for me

Morrgan said...

I could definitely use some help with the clutter too. Maybe I can put some of these tips into use, thanks for sharing!

Robin@creations-anew.com said...

All great advise...I love the basket idea....My boys are almost grown so they aren't too bad...but ehgads...my puppies...they don't pick up their toys at ALL!!!!!

Thanks for including me in your "blog Post"
Robin
CreationsAnew

Michelle Brunner said...

Great ideas! I am always trying to get rid of clutter!

Emily of Ella-Bear Bowtique said...

Great tips! I do the dumping of the drawer and it works wonders.

Trin said...

Ahhh. Yes, great advice. I am the worst at following it though. ;)

So hope you have better luck than I!

jeweledrabbit said...

I have another tip. Imagine you're moving and ask yourself "Do I really want to pack this up and move into my new home with it?" If the answer is "no", toss it.

whit said...

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