How to Live a Clutter-Free Life
Modern life continues to add to the 'stuff' that piles up every day and gets in the way of productive living. The more toys we have, the more likely we are to misplace them and run late while looking for them. Take control back! Living a clutter-free life doesn't have to be for Type A neat freaks, just a few simple steps can eliminate some stress and put you back on track.
Keep your car interior empty. (Don't panic, you can allocate the trunk or hatchback area for things that you absolutely feel you must keep with you at all times!) Start by giving a look around every single time you step out of the car. Grab paper coffee cups and discard them rather than leaving them for later. If you have a briefcase, banking papers or dry cleaning that you need for later in the day, keep these types of things in one area of the car rather than tossed anywhere they happen to land.
Keep your work space for work. Remove everything from your desk and get back to the basics. One by one, put things back but only after you've really considered whether or not you need them daily. Put the 'pile system' to work for you and prioritize files or papers that need to be handled first and what can be dealt with later.
Make it a goal to see your kitchen counter. Do the same thing to you kitchen counter as you did to your workspace. Do you really need the peppermill and canister set every day? Can you stow the toaster somewhere else until needed? How often do you make coffee? Realistic answers to these questions can free up some much-needed space and streamline your cooking process.
Make sure your laundry room does its job - laundry! Don't let this area become the dumping ground. Move the laundry through and get it out of there. One pile for dirty clothes, one pile of folded clean clothes and keep it flowing.
Remember the purpose of the family room. It's for the whole family, not only the children and their toys! Are there too many throw pillows and blankets taking up valuable floor space? Is there a mad scramble every evening to find the remote? Dedicate one area for all necessary things in this key area and you'll actually have a place to relax. Make your family mantra 'leave the room as you found it'.
If you feel overwhelmed just by reading this list, take heart. Start with one area and don't worry about the rest until you're happy with it. Even if your closets and other spaces overflow for the moment, that's okay. Once you get the organizing bug you can move on to them, but in the mean time just get started!