Organize “As If” to Jumpstart Your Declutterfest!

Kim Wolinski, MSW
“Dr. DeClutter” http://www.drdeclutter.com/

Organize “As If” to Jumpstart Your Declutterfest!

You’ve heard it. You’ve probably said it yourself. “I’d get organized 'if'I had company coming.” Or, “I always get organized when my in-laws come to visit.” Or, (drum roll) “I’d get organized 'if' I had to move!”

We’re procrastinators most of us. Must be in our genes. We have lots of “stuff” and too many “things” and paper flying at us from every direction… we ignore it, push it aside, complain and gripe about it, put it into boxes to “get to later” (and never do) and on and on it goes. I’ve met many a couple who every time a child graduates from high school “finally” finish a room, build the garage, put in new carpet or whatever. The house looks great for all the guests and the party. Too bad those kids never get to enjoy it while they’re home!

Here’s a positively functional way to declutter and organize anything in a short amount of time. Yes, it is adrenaline filled, yet pleasingly caffeine free! Organize “as if.”

That’s right, organize “as if”…
- you’re getting ready for a big and wonderful party.
- guests are coming just to say hi.
- you’re moving.
- your life depended on it.
- your joy depended on it – it does!
- your financial security depended on it.
- you’re house is burning down. (Make choices quickly. What’s really important out of all that “stuff?”)
- you’re downsizing, your house is going to shrink 50%.
- an emergency – you need important documents NOW!
- You’ve just found out that you’d receive One Million Dollars to let go of everything that is not fun, happy, joyful, useful or functional in your house.

I’m sure you can think of a few more reasons to let go of what is just isn’t you any more, doesn’t matter and gets in your way.

Make a fun family game of it if you have children! They need to learn this life-skill too.

Let me know how it goes. Email me with your “as ifs” and tell me how it worked out!
Send to kim@drdeclutter.com

©2005 Kim Wolinski – Dr. DeClutterNeed help getting your space (house, office, barn or backyard) organized? My new video “BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN, AND OTHER ORGANIZING TIPS AND TOOLS FROM DR. DECLUTTER” is a great help. You can find out more or order BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/kims_store.html

Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

Organize “Inner Clutter” to Change Negative Thoughts and Behavior

Kim Wolinski, MSW
“Dr. DeClutter” http://www.drdeclutter.com/

Organize “Inner Clutter” to Change Negative Thoughts and Behavior

Are you as organized as you’d like to be? If not, why not?

How much do you struggle getting the energy up to get organized? Most people find it hard to “just start it” let alone, “just do it!”

There are many reasons to put off decluttering and getting organized. For some it’s not enough time, for others it’s not a priority, and for others it’s lack of skill, learned patterns from family background, depression, illness and/or grief.

We don’t think of it this way much, but getting organized is about change. And change can be hard. Trying to change your behavior from negative to positive can seem like the most difficult of all transitions. But negative thoughts and feelings about our environment and ourselves affect all areas of our lives. They block our happiness and enjoyment, relationship with others and ourselves.

Here are four steps to change negative thoughts and behavior:
1. Do not fight or resist change. Learn to flow with your inner voice wanting things to be different in your life. Know that even though you’re not excited about organizing, like exercise or losing weight, just starting it little by little will make a difference over time.

2. “All or none” is not a functional attitude. Don’t try to change everything at once. Whatever you can do to start decluttering even the smallest of areas will start your shift from a down, heavy energy to feeling better about yourself and your environment.

3. Choose fun time. Take conscious timeout with family and friends and rest your mind, do some fun activities. Organize a weekend with old friends to laugh and just be. The goal is to have fun, which for some people is a change in itself!

4. Change your thoughts about yourself and ask for help. If you are really stuck in a rut and feel overwhelmed about your clutter, or having problems because of being disorganized, ask for help from a friend or family member, or call a professional organizer. If you don’t, how long are you willing to stay where you are?

“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.”
~ Carol Burnett

©2005 Kim Wolinski – Dr. DeClutterNeed help getting your space (house, office, barn or backyard) organized? My new video “BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN, AND OTHER ORGANIZING TIPS AND TOOLS FROM DR. DECLUTTER” is a great help. You can find out more or order BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/kims_store.html

-- I make house and office-calls in the Boulder County, CO area, call 303-485-5280.

Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

Don’t Be A Clutter Victim

Don’t Be A Clutter Victim

Kim Wolinski, MSW
“Dr. DeClutter” www.drdeclutter.com

Do you find it hard to say “NO” to ads that say something is free, 2 for 1, BOGO, that offer rebates, deals, steals and stuff of all kinds that “if you don’t do it NOW you’ll never get a chance like this again!?”

It’s hard to make clear decisions when we don’t know that we don’t know that we’re acting from a knee jerk, fear-based, unconscious mentality. Most of us have been conditioned and programmed from birth by TV, radio, and ads of all kinds blasting at us messages that we are not good enough, thin enough, smart enough, cool enough, strong enough or whatever enough – without their product. We respond like the proverbial Pavlov’s dog eating the goody at the sound of the bell.

Well, ENOUGH!

We are not lab rats, so why lose our clarity and consciousness over insignificant “stuff and things” that clutter our lives and distract us from our center, our peace and our joy?

Dan Gilbert, University of Texas psychologist explains,
“It’s very well known that people are much more susceptible
to persuasive appeals when they’re distracted.
If I’m an advertiser, I want you to be under information
(over)load in as many circumstances as possible.”

I learned a long time ago, while head counselor at Salvation Army Men’s Rehabilitation Center, that there is always more, and I can wait. Items came into the shop from around town to be fixed by the residents then resold in the SAMRC Thrift Shop. One day I went up to see what they had. I saw a blender I liked and could buy it for pennies before it went to the shop. I asked about it. The small appliance fix-it man said, “That one’s okay, but I’d wait if I were you. Another will come in that’s better.” How did he know this? ESP? No, experience in waiting for the next better and best thing.

When you watch TV, listen to radio, see ads of any kind, shake yourself awake and don’t just react and respond to the sirens on the rocks! Challenge yourself not to impulse buy spending money not always so wisely spent, adding more clutter to your home and mounds to our landfills!

Say “no thanks” more often. Don’t buy more stuff and things that you don’t need, that don’t have a place to live in your home, and will contribute to more “white noise distracting anxiety and stress.” White noise, “inner clutter,” keeps you from the joy and wonder of life’s really FREE AMAZINGLY GOOD DEALS!!!… people, nature and life!

©2005 Kim Wolinski – Dr. DeClutterNeed help getting your space (house, office, barn or backyard) organized? My new video “BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN, AND OTHER ORGANIZING TIPS AND TOOLS FROM DR. DECLUTTER” is a great help. You can find out more or order BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/kims_store.html

Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.