Home » Home & Style » Household Organization » To Organize....Or Throw Out?

To Organize....Or Throw Out?

© Janet Kitto

I need to let go. Bye, bye clutter! Hello control! Isn't that what it's all about? My clutter is just a manifestation of my feelings. The piles are out of control just like my life. I'm not an action person. I'm a "I'll deal with that later" kind of person. I like time to think about problems. Time to dwell, to obsess, and of course, to worry. Even when I see solutions for my problems, I still like to get "stuck" in them. It's like that old orange sweater I can't let go of. It's so comfortable. I would never be seen in it outside my home because it's so worn out and stretched, but it's my security blanket and if nothing else, it keeps me warm. Letting go of that old sweater, or worse, letting go of my worries and my clutter would mean a change. I don't like change.

Today I've decided to let go a bit. I've decided to look at my clutter in my office and decide what I can get rid of, so that I can organize what is left. A simple plan, but a very important first step. I'm also going to put a timer on, so I can free myself from this chore after one hour. I know having a look through everything will take more than 60 minutes, but I don't want to be overwhelmed at my first attempt and give up.

Professional organizers suggest getting four boxes to sort things as you go. In the first box you place items that belong in another room. The second box is for items you're going to give away or sell. The third box is for items you're not sure about. The fourth is for garbage. At the end of the hour I'm going to make sure the fourth box gets emptied so I can't come back and pull things out that I already decided to get rid of. I'm hoping that the more I throw away, the easier it will get. Before I know it, I will be done with my office and moving on to the next room, the craft room. We have designated a spare room in the basement for all my boxes of material, wool, popsicle sticks, craft patterns, sewing notions and buttons. I share this room with my daughter. She uses her half for a playroom. Between the two of us, that room has almost no available floor space.

The copyright of the article To Organize....Or Throw Out? in Household Organization is owned by . Permission to republish To Organize....Or Throw Out? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.