So, you know your life is full of clutter — things you don’t need, things you don’t necessarily want, and way more than you’ll actually use. But where the heck did all this stuff come from?

It might be hard to pinpoint the exact moment when clutter invaded and took over your life. Maybe you grew up in a cluttered household, so living with an overabundance of “things” has always felt natural. Or perhaps clutter is just beginning to form. (In which case, it’s time to nip it in the bud!)

Why are some people more prone to clutter than others? Following are a few reasons. If you see yourself in any of these scenarios, take heart. By recognizing what leads you to accumulate clutter you can make the transition to a clutter-free life.

You inherited it from your parents: If your parents were packrats, you can thank them for your love of abundance. And as you continue your life full of clutter, consider the fate you are dealing your loved ones if you don’t attempt to change. Your children might continue the cycle of clutter, or you may drive your mate and friends crazy.

You might need it “someday”: Back in the days of the Great Depression and the World Wars, people justifiably saved just about everything because of scarcity and rationing. However, in this day and age, there is no reason to continue this thought pattern. Thinking something will come in handy “one day” is NOT reason enough to keep it. By letting go, you’ll find that most of the time you’ll never need those things again. And if you do, you’ll likely find similar (or better) things to replace them.

Clutter is part of your identity: Is your identity somehow related to your possessions? Or, are you overly sentimental about your things? Remember that even if you get rid of the clutter, you still have the great memories associated with specific items. Allow yourself to release unloved or unuseful gifts from well-meaning friends and family. You are not throwing away your friends’ kindness or love; you are simply releasing the unneeded items to make room for the things that matter most to you.

You’re bombarded by “more is better” reasoning by marketers: Do catalogs invade your mailbox? Are companies constantly trying to sell you the newest do-hickey, clothing, or home decor? Look around your kitchen and count your small appliances and gadgets. Most likely, they simply add clutter to your life, taking up space. Next time the urge to buy grabs you, ask yourself if it will REALLY make your life better.

Clutter fills a void in your life: Clutter can help to hide loneliness, anger, fear, and other important emotions. It fills time and space and keeps you focused on things other than your problems. When you free the clutter, you’ll free yourself to deal with the real issues around you. It may be tough at first, but the rewards are endless. Similarly, some people want to hide in their clutter. They use an abundance of “stuff” to hide or shelter themselves from the outside world. A good way to start getting back into the swing of life is to declutter just one room. You’ll still be able to retreat to your safe place, but the lack of clutter will begin to feel freeing rather than terrifying.

Of course, you may not see yourself in any of the above scenarios. Perhaps you’ve simply accumulated a little clutter in your life due to a shortage of time, too many work or family demands, or a lack of organizing skills. This is perfectly normal. Not everyone who defines her life as “cluttered” will fit into the above scenarios. But for those who know that clutter is seriously affecting their lives, the above reasons may help define the source and allow them to start the decluttering process.

Whatever the reasons you’ve accumulated clutter, once you recognize them, you can move forward and begin your new life.

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

Shopping is embedded in our culture. But sometimes it turns into addiction. It becomes a compulsive disorder which brings a temporary high. This excessive, chronic, and impulsive behavior can destroy a person’s finances and relationships. (It goes way beyond a weak-moment shopping spree.) Help may come to overspenders in the form of Debtors Anonymous meetings, credit or debt counseling, and professional assistance from a therapist.

Then there are those who save. Some people save things, and some people save everything. When it gets to the point that a home is nearly uninhabitable, compulsive hoarding may be the culprit. People who suffer from this psychological condition see the value in every object, leading to the inability to get rid of things (even items of no value, such as old newspapers and food containers).

Hoarding is more extreme than simply accumulating clutter. Hoarders may not be able to move around the home. Floor space may shrink to a single pathway. Hoarding restricts everyday activities like cooking, cleaning, or sleeping and severely reduces the quality of life. Hoarders may not even recognize the extremity of their surroundings. Or, if they do, they may refuse to let family and friends visit their homes for fear of being criticized.

If you or someone you know has symptoms of hoarding or shopping addiction, consider contacting a therapist. Good resources for basic information about hoarding are the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (www.nsgcd.org) and the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (www.ocfoundation.org).

© 2007 Articles on Demand™

Bills to pay. Newspapers and magazines to read. Receipts, warranties and instructions to save — the list goes on and on. Each day we are bombarded with papers that need our attention. If you feel that papers are taking over your life, read on and learn how to take control of this task.

1. Gather Supplies. First, gather file folders, hanging file folders, felt-tip pens or a label maker, a shredder, and large garbage (or recycling) bags or boxes. Every household or office also needs an appropriate type of file cabinet or box; the size will depend on the amount of papers you must keep. Enlist a friend or professional organizer if you need help or encouragement.

2. Start on desktops, countertops or urgently-needed surfaces. Your most recently-received papers will be here. Resist the urge to start with the papers on the floor or stuffed in paper bags or boxes.

3. Identify the types of papers you receive on a regular basis. Gather all the papers from the surface you’re working on into a neat pile. Pick up the top one. Ask yourself, “What is this? Do I need to keep it? Do I need to take action on this? Or do I just need to file it in case I need to retrieve it later?” Toss as much as you can.

4. Sort and use color for a memory aid. Sort into simple categories that make sense to you. For example, some home categories might include: medical, pets, taxes, hobbies, utility bills, car, home improvement, credit cards, insurance, education. Use fun colored folders to group categories. Also include files for: “TO DO,” “BILLS TO PAY,” “TO READ,” and “DISCUSS WITH SPOUSE/BOSS/PARTNER.”

5. Maintain your new system. From here on out, manage papers daily. Sort mail immediately. Toss junk mail. Put remainder into “TO READ,” “TO DO,” or “BILLS TO PAY” folders. Make time weekly to file everything else in your filing cabinet or box.

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

Are you ready to get organized but stalling because of a lack of time, money, or motivation? Don’t despair! A professional organizer is just what you need! Make an investment in yourself that will provide amazing advantages for years to come. Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to once you get organized.

You can save money. Once you get organized, you’ll know what you already own, eliminating the need to buy duplicate items. You’ll also be able to buy what you need when it’s on sale, rather than buying at the last minute. Your professional organizer can also help you find the perfect organizing products for your space and lifestyle, so you stop wasting money on containers that just don’t work.

You can become more productive and efficient. A professional organizer can create order and structure out of chaos. You’ll receive systems that work for your dominant learning style, your lifestyle, your needs, your challenges, and your dreams. Whether at work or at home, you’ll increase productivity once you have an organized and efficient schedule to keep you on track. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done in shorter amounts of time. And by focusing on your priorities and goals, you’ll be able to finally move ahead toward reaching them.

You’ll have a positive self-image and ditch the shame. Once your home or office is neat and tidy, you won’t feel embarrassed to have guests visit. The guilt will fade away as you take pride in your surroundings. Your organized office will allow you to present a professional image to co-workers, clients, and superiors. Your organized home and newfound habits to keep it that way will set a great example for your children and/or spouse.

You can create a healthier environment. Physical and emotional clutter obscure your surroundings. A clutter-free environment is simply easier to manage. A professional organizer can help you clear out your space so you can see that you and your surroundings are fine just as they are.

Your stress level will decrease dramatically. When you can find what you need, are on top of your to-dos, and arrive on time, you’ll feel calmer and have more peace of mind. No more feeling overwhelmed by life — you’ll be the one in control.

You’ll discover more time for yourself. When you’re organized, your days go as planned, and you get a lot done. That leaves more time to indulge in a little “me time.”

Your energy will shine. Clutter is a mask. A professional organizer can help you take off that mask and let people see your vibrance! Once the clutter is removed, you can showcase your talents, skills, and personality and have the life you deserve.

What shape is your filing system in? Are your filing drawers stuffed so full that it’s nearly impossible to get another piece of paper into — or out of — them? Once a year, you should take time to review your files and purge as much as possible, leaving room for next year’s papers.

1. Determine what to keep. As you sort through papers, ask yourself, “When will I really need this again?” “Can it be easily recreated or retrieved elsewhere?” Don’t hang onto things unless you have a really good reason! Be ruthless — remember, 80% of the things you file will never get referred to again!

2. Keep records retention guidelines in mind. Your accountant, attorney, or professional organizer can tell you which documents you should keep for legal purposes.

3. Keep only day-to-day paperwork at your fingertips. For rarely-used files that must be kept, archive them in an out-of-the-way area, such as a closet, basement, or off-site storage facility.

4. Some things can be immediately tossed. Instruction manuals for products you no longer own, old research materials, previous drafts of letters, out-of-date magazines and articles, and receipts for items past their return date can be discarded.

5. Stash important documents in a safety deposit box. It is imperative that you stock your safety deposit box or home safe with the following papers: adoption and citizenship papers; passports; birth, death, and marriage certificates; deeds; divorce decrees; insurance policy papers; lease agreements and loan documents; mortgage papers; personal property appraisals (jewelry, collectibles); Social Security cards; stock and bond certificates; vehicle titles; copies of wills; and powers of attorney papers. And don’t forget to LOCK your home safe. It is NOT fireproof unless the lock is engaged.

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

STEP ONE: ANALYSIS

As you ponder where to place your kitchen things, begin by analyzing your old storage systems. Were some things working well? If so, don’t change them! If you love storing your mugs by the coffee maker, stick with it. If it’s convenient to have your recipe books on the countertop, keep it up.

Now ponder anything inconvenient. How could you make those things work a little better? For example, if you hate having piles of cans and bottles littering your countertop as they await a trip outside for recycling, then make a new plan. Clear space under the sink to install a pull-out trash can to capture those recyclables immediately after use. If you hate reaching to the top shelf to get your favorite, frequently-used mixing bowls, make a plan to house them in a more convenient location like an eye-level shelf. Where you put your stuff is as important as what you own. If you can’t find it when you need it, or it’s inconvenient to reach, you’ll likely not use it!

STEP TWO: PLACEMENT

As you look over your groupings of kitchen items, start pulling aside the things you use most often. Then store them where you use them. For example, your everyday dishes might work great directly above your dishwasher or close to the table. Perhaps your pots and pans and cookie sheets could go near the stove.

Keeping similar things together will help you navigate your kitchen more easily. For example, store everything related to cooking in one area. You might group your pots and pans, bakeware, hot mitts, and cooking utensils in one area. Create a food preparation area by grouping cutting boards, knives, and mixing bowls. If you love to bake, consolidate cookie cutters, mixers, measuring cups and spoons in one area.

There are many helpful organizing products available to keep your kitchen orderly. Baskets and bins come in a variety of sizes and hold foods, like onions and potatoes, as well as cleaning supplies. A wall-mounted spice rack saves cupboard space. Inside cupboards, double-decker wire shelf stackers double storage space. Wooden cookware racks keep pot lids tidy. An attractive vase or crock near your stove top corrals utensils.

If you use something frequently, keep it close and convenient. Put infrequently used items way up high, down low, or in the back. Place anything you use daily (such as everyday dishes) at eye level, so you’re not stooping down or reaching on tip-toe. Keep heavy things down low and lighter things up high. For example, if you use your turkey platter or punch bowl only once or twice a year, place them on a bottom shelf.

STEP THREE: MAINTENANCE

Once your kitchen is organized, pat yourself on the back. Job well done! But you’re not quite finished… Establish an “in/out” system where some purging takes place before you purchase a new item. If you buy a new set of plastic storage containers, toss out an equal amount of your old Tupperware®. If you come home with a new mug, an old one must go! It may be helpful to stash a donation box somewhere nearby as an easy reminder of this rule. Also, take time once each year to review your kitchen and all its accouterments. Discard anything broken, donate

anything unused in the past 12 months, and make sure the storage systems still make sense for you and your housemates. Consider your kitchen a work in progress, and like fine wine it will only get better with time.

© 2007 Articles on Demand™

Studies show that 80 percent of what we use comes from 20 percent of what we own. That means that 80 percent of the things in our homes are rarely or never used. Follow these tips to de-clutter your life.

START THE PROCESS OF DECLUTTERING. Divide a room into sections. Pick one section (like one drawer or cupboard) and begin decluttering. Ask if you consider each item beautiful, useful, or loved. If not, you can probably get rid of it! If you’re not sure if you should get rid of an item, ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen if I toss this?” The answer may help give you the power to discard the clutter. Also be aware of the size of your space, as smaller spaces obviously hold less stuff.

WORK WITH A BUDDY. If you’re having a hard time letting go of the clutter, enlist the help of a friend or professional organizer to offer an objective viewpoint. She can offer support and ask the tough questions like, “Are you really going to use that?” and “When will you ever wear that again?”

TRY TO TOUCH THINGS ONLY ONCE WHILE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. Quickly make a decision to keep or toss. It will be helpful to have large, dark-colored garbage bags, plus two large boxes on hand: one for items to donate or give to friends, one for items that need to go to another room in your home. The bags are for items that need to go the dump. (The dark garbage bag will keep you from seeing the contents and having “tosser’s regret.”)

FIND AN APPROPRIATE HOME FOR THE THINGS YOU WANT TO KEEP. Once you’ve removed all the items that are not beautiful, useful, or loved, you are left with a room full of things you’ll use and appreciate frequently. Assign a space (a “home”) for each item and be sure to return it there after each use. Remember, if you don’t return each item to its home after use, it turns back into clutter and disorganization will occur.

GIVE YOURSELF A REWARD. At the end of a decluttering session, give yourself a pat on the back and a little treat, such as a bubble bath, a cup of tea, or a professional massage. Also take some time to enjoy the calm and tidy space you’ve created.

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

Organizing a closet is one of the most satisfying clean-up projects you can tackle. But without a little planning, its sheer enormity can leave you with more chaos than before you started. Try these tips to clear the clutter, leaving you with only the things you really use.

• Pick one closet to start. Make sure you have space in that room to spread everything out. (A bed works great for this.) You’ll be taking out every (yes, EVERY) item in that closet. For each item, ask whether you’ve used it/worn it in the past year. If not, seriously consider getting rid of it. Knowing that we wear only about 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time will help you let go. Try to touch things only once while going through this process — make a decision then and there, rather than putting items aside to “decide later.”

• Items that you are removing can go in one of four boxes: a trash box (for stuff headed straight to the dump), a repairs box (for items that need repairing), a recycling box (for things that can be recycled, sold or given away), and a transit box (for things that belong in another area of the home). If you have trouble parting with some items, put them in a box, label the box with a date six months from now, and store it out of sight. If you haven’t gone into the box by the time the date rolls around, toss or donate it without opening it.

• The hard part is now complete! Now comes the fun of rearranging, organizing, and storing the remaining items.

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

The word “clutter” derives from the Middle English word “clotter,” which means coagulate. Think stagnant, accumulated… stuck! When clutter invades our homes and offices, it can make us disorganized. We lose things, forget to pay bills, procrastinate, and waste time. So stop contemplating your clutter and dedicate some time to conquering it!

• Define “clutter.” Clutter is anything unnecessary and extraneous. It can be more than the physical clutter most of us think of. Getting organized means clearing out the clutter in your mind, heart, and life.

• Start the process of decluttering. Start small. Divide your desk or room into sections. Pick one section (like one drawer or cupboard) and begin decluttering. Try to touch things only once while going through this process — quickly make a decision to keep or toss!

• Ask yourself if you consider each item beautiful, useful, or loved. If not, you can probably get rid of it! If you’re still not sure if you should get rid of an item, ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen if I toss this?” The answer may help give you the power to discard the clutter.

• To stop clutter, prevent it from accumulating in the first place. Don’t give clutter a chance to form. As you’ve probably experienced, once clutter occupies a space, it has a way of multiplying. Always remember to place your emphasis on quality over quantity. In other words, it’s not important to have a lot of things, many of which you never use. It’s more beneficial to have fewer things, all of which you use and/or enjoy.

• Think before you buy. Try to look beyond the initial “thrill of the purchase” and see what provides deeper moments of meaning. Once you rid yourself of clutter and make space only for what’s special, you’ll find it’s easier to get — and stay — organized!

© 2006 Articles on Demand™