Issue 5

Sign up for this free newsletter! Forward this page to a friend!

Updated Newsletter Index!

Yes, we are organized... but also mistakes happen. To our dismay, we discovered that our web pages have been referring back to an old, out-of-date index of newsletters! Check out our newly updated index in case you missed previous newsletters....

When It's Hard to Toss
by Angela Yee

Packratishness runs in my family. I blame it on my genes because I certainly don't want to take responsibility.

Unfortunately, this state of denial has consequences―wasting time finding things, stress from clutter, unhappy family members, and other unintended results.

A big part of my holding on to things was due to my fear of throwing things away. After all, how could I part with my files from fifteen years ago? They might be needed someday!! Only when I calculated how much time was being wasted in managing the clutter and how stressed I felt did I feel motivated to let go of some of my "stuff."

If you find that you are having a hard time wading through all the clutter and want to reduce stress and chaos in your life, ask yourself these questions:

• Why do I have this? If the item is not fulfilling some kind of purpose, it is probably time to get rid of it. Sometimes we automatically keep things without asking the reason why.
• Is this important to me? If an object holds a strong sentimental value for you, it's okay to keep it. Just don't have a strong attachment to everything!
• How many of these do I already have? If you have 3000 paper clips, it would take you eight years to use them if you used one paper clip every day! How many do you have of something and how long will it take you to use them?
• What will I use this for? If you are keeping something, it should have a specific purpose. If things are lying around for no particular reason, most likely you don't need to keep them!
• If I am going to keep this, where will I put it? Everything must have a home or place to be put. Items that are lying around get lost, turn into clutter, and take up valuable space. Have a place to put it or get rid of it!
• When is the last time I used this? Give yourself a time limit to how long you will keep something. A year is a good amount of time. Even two years might be allowable, but anything over that really needs to go unless it has a very specific purpose in being kept.
• Will I realistically use this in the near future? Saying, "I might need this someday" is not a good reason to keep it. Give yourself a specific time frame, or get rid of it.
• Can I get this somewhere else? With the availability of online resources, often you can throw out something because you can find it online. Or, if your friend or family member has it, borrow it from them if you don't have to use it often.

These tips should help you reduce your clutter and save time, stress, and space!

Do you have a tip for handling clutter or did you find this article helpful? We want to hear from you! Contact us!

©2006 Angela Yee

Cool Tools

Classic box storage

Looking for solid-colored boxes to hide your clutter—excuse me—store your important belongings? Here's a wide variety of boxes that come in different colors!

Available from Russel+Hazel.

SummitStar Press does not endorse and is not affiliated with any of the products or companies in the "Cool Tools" section. This information is provided as a service only.

Classic box storage

You could also go with the canvas look, which gives a softer, casual feel.

Available from The Container Store.

Boxes come in so many shapes and colors and sizes that it's easy to find fun containers to store your possessions!

Available from The Container Store.