The annual panic about what to buy for Aunt Sarah is over for another year. Now you have to face a new problem! Not only do you have to find space to put the holiday decorations away, but also room for the new computer and exercise equipment.
This is a great time of year to take a look at all the possessions you are accumulating, and find an alternative to stuffed closets and overflowing drawers.
One of the basic principles of organization I call "Hemphill's Principle:" "If you don't know you have it or can't find it, it is of no value to you." So before you begin to put away all those new clothes, for example, look at what is already there. As you do so, begin applying another basic organizing principle: "Put all like things together."
When all the suits are hung together, and you discover there are 34, ask yourself these questions: How many of these suits do I really wear? Do I want to use this much of my closet space for suits? Is there someone else who would benefit from them more than I do? And finally, how do they make me feel? If the answer is anything negative -- guilty, fat, uncomfortable, frustrated - give them away to someone else who will use and love them! I donate business suits to a women's detention center in my community where newly released prisoners need clothing for job interviews.
Start your weeding out project by getting several large boxes. Label them boldly with categories such as "Consignment Shop", "Garage Sale", or "Give Away." Put those running shoes you haven't worn in years -- and no one else would want to wear them either -- in the trash!
If there are children in your family, undoubtedly one of the problems will be what to do with all the toys. In the case of young children, give serious consideration to temporarily putting away some of the holiday haul. In April, when the kids are bored with old routines, the old will suddenly seem new again!
With older children, discuss options. Provide encouragement and assistance in organizing their belongings and sorting. Introduce them to the joy of making money by taking items they no longer use to a resale shop or the satisfaction of giving by donating them to the children at the YWCA daycare center.
There is frequently one other problem after the holidays. What do you do with the avant-garde flower vase that looks totally out of place in your traditional decor? Or the blouse from your mother that is the one color your image consultant says you should never wear? Or the expensive briefcase that you just don't like? Many people feel compelled to keep gifts they don't like or use simply because they were a gift from a favorite relative, they were expensive, or they "might use it someday." In the case of the case from the relative, consider seriously whether they will know or care what do you with the gift, as long as you graciously acknowledge its receipt. If you are concerned they will, put it in a special place in your closet, so you can bring it out when you invite them to dinner. In the case of the expensive gift, does the value of an item come from its price tag or its value to the recipient? Is it any more extravagant to give it to someone who would rather have it, than to put it away in a closet forgotten? As for the "someday" items, give yourself a time limit of one year. If you haven't used it, pass it on.
A few words of caution: Begin the elimination and organization process with your own belongings first -- the best way to encourage cooperation from others members of the family is by setting a good example, not by nagging!
We encourage you to visit www.loveitorloseit.com and take the free "Clutter Quiz" for more ideas on taming the clutter tiger.
© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com
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