http://www.care2.com/greenliving/declutter-to-de-stress-and-organize.html
Declutter to De-Stress and Organize
The change of seasons always inspires me to declutter in hopes of having some sort of a new start and a less stressful life. Clutter always makes me feel like I have things to do so I don’t feel as though I can just relax.
If only decluttering was as simple as putting everything away. But discernment of your personality in regard to your clutter quotient is important, too. For me, I feel my life is sterile if I don’t have some clutter, so that complicates the process for me. I am sure you have your personality glitches that interfere, too.
With all of this in mind I decided to aggregate a number of Care2 clutter articles that have been popular over the years. There is something in here for everyone. Here is to change and freedom from clutter!
How Clutter Affects You
Did you ever dream that clutter can keep you in the past, make you feel tired and lethargic, affect your body weight, confuse you, and more?
Declutter Your Way to Peace and Beauty
Are your mother’s ashes still on your mantle? Most people don’t know how to get rid of clutter. What is the trick?
Feng Shui your Wardrobe
Too many clothes strewn around, or overflowing from your closets?
Annie B. Bond is the author of Home Enlightenment (Rodale, 2005, paperback 2008).
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8 comments
add your comment »My biggest clutter problem is mail! I have a pile on my kitchen counter, one on the buffet by the front door and one nest to the shredder in the study upstairs. I am trying to shred immediately if I don't want it, won't read it, won't donate.
It's my Saturday or Sunday morning task, but I am behind schedule.
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Thank you so much for this article.Having a very large grown family(5 sons and 3 daughters)all married but one,has over the years gave me many little gifts from the grand and great grand children.I am a very sentimental person and have a hard time getting rid of these dust collectors.Toom afraid of hurting someones feelings.I am hopeing this will give me some insperation to come up with some soulution.I start and then te clutter of things gets to me and I have to get away from it for awhile.maybe i try to much at one time and will try the one room at a time approach.Keep up the good work.Leaving home and taking a good look around when you open te door hashelped me as you are more apt to ee what others may see when they first enter.
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It's spring break but zero degrees outside so too cold to ski. Determined to reduce the desk and kitchen table clutter TODAY! Thanks for your inspiration!
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Like MicheleW I too like to spring clean at this time of year. Our house now looks awesome! And the great thing is, the more I cleared and cleaned the more work/money has been coming in. It is such a joy to walk into our home now, my husband is loving it.
BTW - I too found the remark about someone's Ashes on the mantlepiece offensive, that is not what I would consider to be clutter.
Green Blessings y'all
www.GrassdancerEssences.com - Healing Energy from Nature
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I spent 2 days of the Labor Day weekend getting rid of the accumulation of crap and reorganizing necessary items. It is a very cathartic process, results are fantastic!
Oh - one other comment -
"Are your mother’s ashes still on your mantle?" - yes, we all need to de-clutter but this comment really was out line. I personally do not believe in retaining a persons ashes but I think some things are off-limits - the ashes of a loved one, yup that's off-limits.
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One method is to keep giving away stuff to the less fortunate. Keep buying, maybe, if you feel like it, and then keep donating. This way you do some sort of social work and also de-clutter.
Rajendar Menen
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I finally realized that I don't need all of this stuff that I have acquired and spent a fortune on and it was all about ego and trying to prove that I was worthy. Problem is getting rid of it. I have donated so much of it, sent some to consignment and antique auctions and want to do a yard sale but am afraid I can't manage it. Just sent a check to an amazing sanctuary for wild horses with a check I got from consignment. We can't take it with us. For my 60th birthday I begged people to spend no money on card or gifts but instead to donate the money to Best Friends. It did not go as well as I hoped but maybe the idea will catch on. We don't need all this stuff we have surrounded ourselves with. I need my pets, a comfortable bed and sattelite tv with Tevo and a car. Maybe that's about it really. Used to live in a 14,000 square foot home. Thank you Eckhart Tolle for helping me see that it was all about my ego.
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I do the same thing at this time of year; given our warm climate, I do "spring cleaning" in autumn. Right now I'm decluttering several areas of my house and as time-consuming as it is, the results are well worth it in the end!
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