Category

Control Clutter

Apr 26
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Old-fashioned needlepoint book

Unwanted Gifts: What to Do With Them?

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

Have you spent time during the last many weeks organizing your home? I bet you are unearthing unwanted gifts from the back of closets, the attic or the basement. What are you doing with these things? If I had to guess, I would say that you still do not want them. What are you going to do with them now that you have found them? Are they donations? The consignment stores and thrift stores like Goodwill are not open right now. So, what is a person to do? As it happens, a friend of mine inadvertently provided me with a…

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Apr 05
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3 Tips to Control Clutter in Your Mind

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

These days my mind is filled with lots of questions. Questions for which I have no answers. I’m calling these thoughts that fill my mind clutter. Do you have swirling thoughts, too? Sometimes these thoughts overwhelm me and make it hard for me to work. I thought this may be true for you also. I’ve developed a few strategies to help myself avoid feeling overwhelmed by these thoughts and want to share these tips to control clutter in the mind with you. Rabbit Holes Before, in days gone by, I would arrive at my desk in the morning, quickly address…

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Mar 01
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Piles of paper on top of a desk

Control Paper Clutter in Your Home & Feel More Energized

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

Do you want to feel more energized? One way is to control the paper clutter in your home. Have you ever noticed the effect that clutter has on you? Clutter has the super-power of removing energy from people. It multiplies like bunnies it it’s left alone. Before you know it, clutter’s everywhere. Give yourself more energy and put energy back into your home by taking steps to control the clutter in your home. There are many kinds of clutter. This week I’m talking specifically about controlling the paper clutter in your home since it’s tax season. Paper clutter Just the…

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Dec 08
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Season of Giving and Setting Limits

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

During this season of giving it can be difficult to know when to stop. There are lots of people, places, and institutions asking for donations. I used to think it would be handy to have a small sign to pull out of my handbag which said something like “I already made a donation”. Set Your Limit That was until I decided how much money I could afford to give. Now, that I have set my limit (you can always modify your limit) once I have reached it, I know I have done my share. OverSpending It’s easy to overspend when…

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Nov 10
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Thinking About Our Veterans

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

Do you say, ‘Happy Veterans’ Day’? I’m not sure. What I am sure of is that I’m thankful for all those who generously volunteer to serve in our armed forces. I have family members to think about. Do you? My father served in the Korean War. My son enlisted and served a tour in the United States Navy and now my nephew is in the Navy also. He’s studying to be a dentist. Once he’s finished with his program he will serve as the Naval Dentist wherever he’s posted. It’s a choice I feel beholden to all those who volunteer…

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Aug 25
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Donations

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

Let’s talk about donations. This is a great time of year to go through closets and drawers looking for clothes, toys, and books in good condition to donate. And, if they are not in good condition to recycle or toss! When my children were much younger, I would ask them to please try on their winter clothes in late August early September. We lived in Connecticut and some of the Fall days can surprise you by being chilly. So, I wanted to know what clothes fit and which of the clothes that didn’t fit could be passed on from one…

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Jun 09
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DNQ Solutions

Chores!

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

Love them or hate them – still gotta do them What is it about chores that makes them so hard to do, so easy to put off? First, let’s talk about the word – chore. Where does the word ‘chore’ come from? According to etymology: chore is written in the New Oxford American Dictionary as “(originally dialect and U.S.): variant of obsolete char or chare (see charwoman)”, which the same pronunciation as the modern verb char. It ultimately comes from Middle English cherre (odd job). Essentially, the word ‘chore’ is linked to doing a job. Usually, a job around the…

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May 19
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My Top 10 Organizing Tips: part two

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

A few weeks ago, I gave you part one of my favorite organizing tips. Here is part two! These tips appear in no particular order. In fact, I use all of them regularly. Horizontal Surfaces are Magnets Have you ever noticed that stuff tends to pile on flat surfaces? Books accumulate, as do magazines and catalogues. Kitchen counters are prime areas for an accumulation of things. My tip is to recognize that these are areas to avoid stuff. Understand that when you place things on a flat surface it’s a temporary holding spot. The items are there until you go…

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May 05
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My Top 10 Organizing Tips: part one

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

Today I’m going to review my top 5 organizing tips. Next week, I’ll review the final 5 tips so that at the end of two weeks you’ll have my all-time favorite tips! Have nothing in your home that you do not believe to be beautiful, use or love This is my paraphrasing of a quote from William Morris – a late 19th century English craftsman and poet. The actual quote goes like this; “Have nothing in your house that you do not use or believe to be beautiful.” This quote is around everywhere! Recently, I have seen William Morris quoted…

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Mar 19
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How to Help a Friend De-Clutter

By Control Clutter, How to Organize Your Life Blog

You must be careful when offering to help a friend de-clutter. It’s a lovely gesture. The important thing is to let your friend know that you simply want to help, you’re not there to criticize or lecture. Here are some tips to follow so that you keep this treasured friendship! Remain Non-Judgmental Serious de-cluttering is hard work! Ask your friend where they would like to start. Do your best not to say something like ‘let’s start here because this is a real mess’. You want to follow their lead. Always Ask Permission Even when you can see that something is…

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