How to Declutter (almost) Everything

While I’ve been trying an experiment of my own with the Creating Order 2009 Declutter Challenge!, there’s a family who are trying an experiment on a much larger scale.  Bessie Bardot, Geoff Barker and their tiny daughter are living the Life Change Experiment.  And it all starts with giving away almost everything they own.  Fascinating stuff.  I can’t wait to read about their adventures.

Decluttering Adventure – the Side Track

There will be pretty side tracks leading nowhere.  These are the distractions that take you away from your goal.  Taking them seems like a good idea at the time, but when you come back to the main road the journey still lies ahead.

(Side track example – “Oh look, those are the photos I promised to send Mum, I’ll go do that now”.)

More decluttering adventure tomorrow…

Decluttering Adventure – the Fork in the Road

I must warn you, there will be forks in the road.  These will be choices to make.  Some will be easy, obvious.   Others will be harder, but it’s important to face up to those choices.   Taking the time to make them now will save us time in the long run.  And while I can help you by asking the right questions, it’s only you who can answer.

(Fork in the road example – how much space are you willing to allocate to handbags?  Remember, the more handbags you keep, the less room there is for other stuff.)

More adventure tomorrow…

Why I use great time management practices

Decluttering Adventure – the Roadmap

It starts with a feeling, a longing to do something different.  The feeling grows to a strong desire.  Before you know it, you start to believe it can come true.  You do a little research, and what started as a feeling has become a fully fledged plan. It may not be easy.  You will need to be brave.   There may be times when you want to give up.  You will be tackling the unknown.  You will make new discoveries.  Your strength will grow.   In the end, you will believe in your abilities.  And it feels great.

All the best adventures have these things in common.

“Be careful going in search of adventure – it’s ridiculously easy to find” – William Least Heat-Moon

Let’s go on an adventure together, a decluttering adventure.  Who needs GPS?  We’ll make our own roadmap.  You choose the destination – a place of peace and tranquillity/greater productivity/family harmony – and the path to get you there – via the deep dark caves of the cluttered cupboard/drawer/garage/schedule – and I’ll be your guide.

(Roadmap example – towards a good night’s sleep via the overcrowded bedroom.)

The journey continues tomorrow…

Are you a Hoarder?

Do you suspect you could be a hoarder?  Do you worry that your “collecting” could be a problem?

Want to know what it takes to be classified as a Level III hoarder?

Download the NSGCD (National Study Group on Chonic Disorganization) Clutter-Hoarding Scale for the truth.

Once you know the truth, you may want to call a Professional Organiser to help.

Getting Things Done

It’s a brand new week.  The possibilities are endless.

I commit to getting things done.  How about you?

The Key to an Uncluttered Pocket

How many doors to the outside world does your home have?  And how many keys do you need to carry?

Don’t you hate it when you’re in a hurry and you can’t find the key to unlock the door?

Don’t you hate it when your pockets are weighed down by a giant bunch of keys?

My home has 7 doors to the outside world, including screen doors, and they all have locks.  But guess what?  I only need ONE key for them all.  It sure makes life easier when the doors are all keyed alike.

We did this when the house was under major renovation some years ago.  But it’s also possible to have a locksmith change the locks to be keyed alike, and you’d be surprised how little it costs for this small luxury.

Different Actions get Different Results

Sometimes you have to try doing something different if you want different results.

I’ve just enjoyed a very pleasant flight from Australia to LA, and for the first time I flew with V Australia.  They are a new part of the Virgin family and there were some things they did very well.

What I want to mention today is the safety demonstration at the start of the flight.  You know, that boring same old same old monotone but necessary demonstration of what to do in case of emergency?  Well, it’s not boring on V Australia.  How did they do that?  They made an animated movie.  It’s actually quite entertaining and, because they can depict some situations which a live demonstration can’t, it’s more informative too.  But the best part is they get their message across to more people because passengers actually stop what they’re doing to pay attention.

The same can be said for most things – to get different results, you have to do things differently.

What different results do you need to see?  What will you do differently?

Quick and Easy Packing for Travel

I travel quite a bit.  Somtimes it’s just for the weekend, sometimes camping, sometimes a 5-star hotel.  This week I’m lucky enough to be travelling to Los Angeles for the NSGCD conference.

But no matter where I’m travelling, or for how long, I have a little tool for getting ready which takes very little time at all, and the bonus is I never forget to take anything important.  It’s called a master list.

My master list for packing includes all the stuff I need, or might need.  It’s simply a matter of working my way down the list and packing my bags, ready for travel action.

There are a few more tips which make the packing process quick and easy.

1. Stay up to date with laundry.  Who needs the stress of last minute washing, drying and ironing?
2. Keep travel goods together.  The padlock for your suitcase, shoe bag and electric socket adaptor should all be found inside your suitcase, ready for action.  (Of course, you won’t always need them, but it’s easier to leave them behind than scramble for them.)
3. Have the cosmetics bag pre-packed.  Those samples of shampoo and shower gel, sewing kit and so on live in my cosmetics bag.
4. Keep travel documents together.  As soon as my trip is planned, any travel documents relating to it (ticket, map, hotel confirmation, etc.) go into a file.  When it’s time to go, I simply add my passport and off I go.

Maybe you can see a theme here?  Be prepared, have supplies at your fingertips and follow a routine, and packing for travel will always be quick and easy.

Bon voyage!