When it comes to getting and staying organized, by far the most difficult part of the process is making decisions about what to keep and what to let go. Whether it’s paper or stuff, having some basic criteria in place ahead of time on which to base your decisions will make them easier. While being
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Here in New England, we have been inundated with snow. Storm after storm, we hardy New Englanders soldier on, trudging through snow banks as high as our heads in some cases. This has all contributed to a severe case of cabin fever! Many of us feel trapped in our homes and offices (think of the
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A huge part of getting and staying organized is figuring out what stuff needs to leave your space and your life. Letting things go can be incredibly freeing, but incredibly challenging. Making decisions about what to keep and what to let go is tough, but crucial to getting and keeping your spaces manageable. While we
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Does your stuff make you happy? Or does it stress you out? How does it affect the quality of your life? Does it enhance it? Or detract from it? I was recently struck by a column written by financial guru Jonathan Clements, who ended his stint a few months ago as a columnist for the
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A number of years ago, in the early days of my organizing career, I went on a consultation to a prospective client’s home. She had expressed to me that she was looking to de-clutter various areas of her home with the intention of eventually downsizing and putting her home on the market.
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An often-quoted phrase in the organizing industry is, “clutter is the result of delayed decisions,” from the wisdom of long-time organizing expert Barbara Hemphill (Taming the Paper Tiger.) Making timely decisions is the heart of getting and staying organized, but many of us struggle with even the most simple of decisions on a regular basis.
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Have you started an organizing project with the best of intentions, only to lose steam before the project is done? Does your beautifully organized space deteriorate into its previous state more quickly than you’d like to admit? Or do you never really get going at all, and wonder why it’s so difficult to get started?
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Keeping your home or office clutter-free in today’s accumulation-oriented world is a tough job. Several years ago, after hauling yet another trash bag full of stuff to my local Salvation Army, I made the resolution to be more diligent about what I allowed to come into and have a permanent place in my home.
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So you’ve finally tackled that organizing project that’s been hanging over your head for days, months, or years! The piles of paper on your desk are all gone, your filing cabinets have been purged and relabeled with categories that are current, your overflowing bedroom closet only holds what fits, is in style, and works with
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In 1906, economist Vilfredo Pareto observed in Italy that 20% of the people owned 80% of the wealth. This concept became known as the “Pareto Principle”, which describes the phenomenon that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Dr. Joseph Juran, a quality management pioneer, coined the phrase, “the vital few and
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