Tips For Organizing Your Home

No one plans on becoming a pack rat. Over time, though, the space we used to have disappears along with our organizational habits. You can't blame clutter collectors for their reluctance to throw things out. Important possessions have a way of latching on to trash-bound junk. Clutter and disorganization demand a multi-pronged attack. If you're ready to get organized and regain power over your possessions, commit to these organizing techniques this spring.

The Power of Garage Sales

One of the biggest issues of cleaning is throwing out clutter that you don't need. Garage sales offer pack rats some incentive to get rid of useless stuff. Not only will you clear space you can make a little cash in the process. Commit to boxing up items you don't need. Find out how to donate items that are taking up too much space. One of the many mistakes most of us make is holding on to items in the winter we generally are more ready to let go of when spring and summer arrive. Trust me. Spring cleaning will be a lot easier when the clutter is tossed out.

The Three Box Method

"Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli, causing our senses to work overtime that aren't necessary or important," Psychologist Sherrie Carter said in a Psychologytoday.com article. And that's so true, isn't it? When you begin getting rid of clutter, you should have three boxes on hand. One box is labelled “Keep” — one is labelled “Donate” — and the third is labelled “Store.” If anything is put in the keep box, make sure you find space to put the items. The donate box should be taken to a charity shop or any other donation services within a few days. The storage box is anything you can't get rid of (personal or family reasons) but need to put in a storage facility; make sure you take the items to storage within a week.

The "Important Documents" Cabinet

Hidden beneath the trophies, clothes and other clutter that dominates your space, important documents wait their retrieval. You probably wouldn't mind if most of the clutter in your house grew legs and walked away, but Social Security cards, birth certificates, legal contracts and tax documents belong in a safe, secure cabinet. As you declutter your life, set a cabinet aside to organize these and other important documents. For added peace of mind, store important documents in a home security safe.

A Sustainable Future

Decluttering techniques won't make a difference unless you change your organization habits. Instead of mindlessly collecting new clothes, furniture and other possessions, consider how you're going to organize your home. To conserve space, consider donating an article of clothing every time you bring something home from the mall. If you can't live without that under-priced artwork, decide where you're going to put it before you swipe your card. Done correctly, good organization is a constant stream of small decisions that keep your life and home in order.