What Do I Do With All the Paper?

I get asked this question all the time by readers and clients. Even with all the technological advances in the world I don’t think our society will ever truly be paperless.

In fact, the recent technological advances seem to have created more paper to deal with in many cases. We have receipts, bills, insurance policies, certificates, investment statements, health records, and more. Then added to that is the daily influx of junk mail- magazines, catalogs, sweepstakes entry forms, etc.

Over the next three weeks we will learn how to overcome paper clutter and learn what to do with paper that is necessary.

Decluttering Mail

Your mail needs to have a designated spot. When you pick it up from the mailbox each day, bring it into the house and put it in the same spot. This can be a basket, a designated space on the kitchen counter, or on your desk in your home office.

Your goal should be to handle mail as soon as it enters your home. But at the very least try to have a set time each day that you go through the mail and deal with it, so you don’t end up with piles of mail and magazines spread throughout the house.

• Magazines- Only keep the current month’s issue. If there are articles that you want to keep for future reference or for a recipe, etc., then invest in a 3 ring binder with plastic page protectors. Tear out the article that you like and throw away the rest of the magazine.
• Catalogs- When a catalog arrives at your home and it is not one that your regularly order from call the 800 customer service number on the back and request to be taken off the mailing list.
• Junk Mail- This should be immediately thrown away. If you like the coupons from the ValuPak, etc., then clip the ones you like and throw the rest away. This will cut down on the amount of paper clutter lying around the house. To stop junk mail from coming in the first place, do a Google search for a way to get your name off company mailing lists. When you receive a catalog in the mail there is usually a number on the back to contact if you don’t want to receive any more.
• Bills- Have a place for all the bills that need paid to be filed until it is time to pay them. This can be a plastic shelf divider, a basket, a file folder, an accordion file, etc. Whatever works for you is the best system to have.
• Invitations, fliers, etc.- We all get the invitations to weddings, special events at the senior center and family goings on. Have a place that you put all these and weekly go through and sort out what has already happened and throw it away. As soon as you receive any type of invitation or reminder with a date in the mail you should check your calendar and if you plan to attend go ahead and write it on the calendar so that you don’t forget in the future.

Catch Organizing with Melissa next Wednesday for “Decluttering All the Paper – Part 2”.  Visit Works for Me Wednesday for more life organizing tips.

Related Articles:

• Decluttering All the Paper – Week 2
• Your Plan for Getting Organized
• Why Get Organized?
• Organized Versus Clean
• Moving Forward From Your Organizing Plan

We sometimes go through our daily lives doing things we don’t want to do but feel we have to do.  We spend our time wishing we had more free time and less to worry about.  Or maybe we get paralyzed by our houses full of stuff that we have to clean, store, move, organize, work around, and wade through to accomplish what we need to do.  Sound familiar? 

If you answered yes, then you may want to learn more about simplifying the different areas of your life.  Simple living at first consideration might seem restricting, or give you the feeling that you’ll be missing out on things you and your family members enjoy now.  In reality, a simple life can be liberating in more ways than one.

If you found yourself nodding as you read the first paragraphs, take comfort in knowing that it doesn’t have to be this way!  Deliberately simplifying your life to give you more free time, less stress, and more of what you want with less of what you don’t, is well worth the little bit of work it takes in the beginning.

We’ve listed several broad areas below that people often wish were less complex.  Not everyone chooses the same areas to simplify in, since everyone’s families and situations are very different. 

Consider these possible areas that could be simplified:

• Kids’ extracurriculars, afterschool activities and sports.
• Decluttering your home to eliminate unnecessary items.
• The processes we use to accomplish things.  Systems that work can cut out work that’s not needed.
• Placement of furniture and other items in your home.
• The flow of incoming information (emails, instant messages, mail, media, etc.).
• Your work and professional productivity, accomplishments, and progression.
• Family obligations, events, holidays, and other family time.

Questions to ask yourself when you’re considering simplifying an area listed above:

• Am I happy with how much time I spend on this?
• Does this activity make me feel happy? 
• Do I feel like the doing this activity is a good use of my time?
• Is this an activity that only I can do, or could I outsource or delegate this to someone else?
• Am I doing this in the most efficient way?  Is there a faster, easier, or better way to accomplish the same thing?
• Do the items in my home make more work for me or less?
• Do I spend time cleaning, organizing, and managing items that I do not want, do not use, or do not like?

Our upcoming series, “Declutter Your Life” but will be bringing you specific tips, how-to use, and strategies for simplifying many of these common overly-complicated areas of life.  Get our articles delivered to you for free to make sure you don’t miss any of this exciting series. 

I hope the first half of Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes was helpful to your wardrobe and your peace of mind! Make it easy (well, easier anyway) to purge your closets with our handy decluttering criteria for clothes. Wondering why the black and white rules? Read on to find out!

A YES answer here means make it go away! A No answer means stay:

• Is anybody embarrassed when you wear it?
• Does it have holes, rips, tears, stains, spots, frays, underarm scarring or seams coming undone?
• Is it missing buttons, beads or jewels?
• Is the tag still on?
• Socks: Are there holes? Are they threadbare?
• Is it an “obligation keep”?
• Is it a souvenir?
• Are you saving it for just in case?

Is anybody embarrassed when you wear it? You might be laughing about this one, but it is meant to be 100% serious! If your spouse, children or even complete strangers are embarrassed to be seen around you wearing a certain article of clothing, you should NEVER wear it again! The shame factor should not enter your wardrobe. You want your family to be seen with a beautiful hip parent that looks put together, not embarrassing. Toss your embarrassing pieces now.

Does it have holes, rips, tears, stains, spots, frays, underarm scarring or seams coming undone? One little flaw is all it takes to look unkempt and sloppy. Think nobody notices that stain or hole just because you’ve forgotten about it? WRONG!

Is it missing buttons, beads or jewels? Missing pieces = shabby, and not in a good way. I’m sure there are 50 other shirts in your closet not missing a button that fell off in 1992. If pieces are missing from clothing and you don’t have the pieces in your hand to reattach right now, make the clothing go away.

Is the tag still on? If you’ve held onto something so long without wearing it that the tag is still on (proof positive that it’s never been worn), pass it on to its next life. Someone else may love it so much they wear it every day! It deserves to get use by someone before it’s out of style.

Socks: Are there holes? Are they threadbare? If you can see skin through your sock, it’s only a matter of time before a complete blowout. For crying out loud – holey socks belong in the trash! You can even use holey socks for cleaning or dusting cloths.

Is it an “obligation keep”? Are you keeping it because someone gave it to you and you feel obligated? Do you feel guilty or unappreciative to give it away? Don’t! Even your friend or relative that gave you something wouldn’t want you to keep it only because you feel you have to.

Is it a souvenir? Vacation t-shirts, bridesmaid dresses… you get the idea. You have the photos and the memories of these items, you don’t need to wear them. Keep the pictures, donate the souvenirs.

Are you saving it for just in case? In case of what? In case you ever visit the white house? In case you meet a celebrity? In case you ever attend the Oscars? In case you dress up as a purple tap dancing alien for Halloween? Get real! We all have hundreds of scenarios in our minds of things that might someday happen. Until they are planned and scheduled, don’t put clothes in your closet to wear to a hypothetical event! Use the space for something you can wear right now.

There you have it: 16 quick criteria for keeping or purging the clothes in your closet. I hope this list is helpful in keeping your closet functional and clutter free!

Related Articles:

• Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 1
• Declutter Your Closet: Why is it So Hard to Let Go of Clothes?
• Clutter Busting: The One in, One Out Rule
• Tackle it Tuesday: Desk Stackers
• Spring Cleaning Catch-Up

Make it easy (well, easier anyway) to purge your closets with our handy decluttering criteria for clothes.  Wondering why the harsh black and white rules?  Read on to find out!

A YES answer here means keep it! No means go…

1. Does it fit now?
2. Is it in style?
3. Does it make you look great?
4. Does it make you feel good when you wear it?
5. Does it look good from the back as well as the front?
6. Socks: Does it have a match?
7. White clothing: is it still white?
8. Have you worn it in the last year?

Why such harsh Yes or No criteria for our clothes?  It can be difficult to give clothing a firm decision of “stay” or “go”, so we often make excuses for our clothes.  We’ll move them to a different place or pack them away to delay making a real decision.  No more!  The above rules are simple and finite, and this is why:

Does it fit now?  Not five years ago, not 5 months ago… right now.  If you look at it and say, “When I lose 5 more pounds it will look great,” it’s purge-worthy.  If it doesn’t fit right now, make it go away so there is room in your closet for clothes that serve you NOW.

Is it in style?  If it’s not in fashion now, don’t keep it!  Limit your purchases of fashion fads to keep this from happening repeatedly.  Stick with timeless classics that never go out of style.  In the meantime, stop keeping that red leather Michael Jackson jacket in your closet!

Does it make you look great?  If your clothes don’t make you look great, replace them with clothes that do.  Clothes that make you look good give you power, clothes that don’t erode your sense of authority and dampen your abilities in all areas.  Look great, feel great!

Does it make you feel good when you wear it? You know the answer already.  You should feel unstoppable, beautiful (or handsome) and great when you put on your clothes.  If they don’t work for you, you can’t work with them.

Does it look good from the back as well as the front? Just because you can’t see your own rear view doesn’t make it okay to wear clothes that look bad from the back! Half the world sees you coming, and the other half sees you going.  Do them a favor, and make parting a “sweet sorrow”!

Socks: Does it have a match? Come on, we all know those strays from 6 months ago really do not have a mate anymore!  Toss them out – or use them for dusting or cleaning cloths (yes, really).

White clothing: is it still white? If it once was white but now is yellow, tan, stained, or has yellow underarms, do everyone a favor and put it in the trash!  Those whites do not look fresh and springy, they just make you look dirty and unkempt. 

Have you worn it in the last year? If not, you probably won’t wear it in the next year either.  Replace it with something you’ll love to wear often.  One item doesn’t need to take up that valuable space in your closet for the hope of “someday” being worn!

Read Part 2 of Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes for 8 more tips!

Thanks to MorgueFile for the photo.

Related Articles:

• Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 2
• Declutter Your Closet: Why is it So Hard to Let Go of Clothes?
• Clutter Busting: The One in, One Out Rule
• Tackle it Tuesday: Desk Stackers
• Spring Cleaning Catch-Up

How to Declutter Your Closet

Why is it so hard to let go of clothes?

Those memories may be in our minds, and they may be attached to those clothes, but if that attachment isn’t serving us then it’s time to move on. Be in control of your life! Start with your closet!

You have the photos from your sister’s wedding; giving up the dress won’t make you  forget the special day. You have photos from your Disney vacation; you don’t need the souvenir t-shirts. You have the sentiment that someone thought about you and gave you a gift from the heart, but even they wouldn’t want you to keep something just because you feel obligated. Too small clothes? It’s time to face the facts: you’re not that size anymore. If you become that small size in the future, celebrate by buying new clothes that are in style (not retro from your old skinny days!).

Whatever your reason, it’s time to let go of it. If you must have the clothing memory, take photos of the items before you purge them.  Print out the decluttering criteria for clothes (don’t forget to print clothes decluttering part 2 also) and go to the closet to get started.

1. Repeat the mantra: “The only clothes that belong in my closet are clothes I wear that make me look and feel great.”
2. Take a deep breath, and put the bad clothes in a bag to donate.
3. Put the bag in your car without a second thought.
4. Feel the burden lift as you let go of attachments and items that don’t enrich your life.
5. Feel good to be in control and choose to be clutter free!

Homemaker Barbi Says: Be in control of your life, your decisions, your closet, and your clothes!

Related Articles:

• Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 2
• Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 1
• Clutter Busting: The One in, One Out Rule
• Before and After: Organizing Under the Bathroom Sink
• Tackle it Tuesday: Desk Stackers

• CDs and DVDs
• Books, magazines
• Dishes and food containers
• Library items
• Maternity, baby or kids’ clothes
• Tools

If someone lent it to you and it is not being used, do the right thing and pack it up! Empty your full laundry basket, put the items in grocery bags and label where each bag goes (Aunt Rachel, Grandma, public library), and leave them next to the front door. Take them out to your car the next time you go out, so they are ready to return while doing your errands. You just got rid of some clutter and became a good borrower by remembering to return!

Homemaker Barbi Says: If you borrow it, return it!

Related Articles:

• The Donation Station
• Tackle it Tuesday: Desk Stackers
• Spring Cleaning Catch-Up
• Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 2
• Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 1

Today, we’re going to focus on staying clutter free after you’ve put in the time and effort to declutter your home. This little rule is something I call the “One in, One Out” rule. How does it work?

Basically, for every new item you bring in to your home, you have to take one out. Give it as a gift, donate it to charity or put it into the garage sale/eBay box. It doesn’t matter where it goes, just as long as it goes! 

Identify your top clutter areas and use the “One in, One Out” rule for just these areas. If the clutter level in your home is high, you can use the “One in, Two Out” rule to get things under control even faster.  For example, if the kids’ toys and mom’s shirts are 2 things that are overabundant in your house, first pare them down. Once you get to the right number, the only way to keep it at or close to that number is to enforce the rule. When you’re thinking of buying a new toy or shirt, think to yourself, “Am I really prepared to take an old one out and donate/sell it?”

Talk to your family and make sure everyone is on the same page. Only pick 2 or 3 areas to start with and make sure everyone knows what they are. It will take a little reminding and a little getting used to, but even this small rule will get your children thinking about material things in a different light. They may think twice about asking for a new Elmo toy if it means they have to give up one of their other toys! You may find it helps eliminate the “more is better” attitude so prevalent in our society and teach them to value what they have.

The “One in, One Out” rule will help you to keep your fantastic results after decluttering by maintaining the level of your stuff. We don’t want our possessions to be in charge of us!

Related Articles:

• Declutter Your Closet: Why is it So Hard to Let Go of Clothes?
• Before and After: Organizing Under the Bathroom Sink
• Tackle it Tuesday: Desk Stackers
• Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 2
• Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 1