"SIMPLE"

Have you made it a goal to get organized?

One drawer?

A few rooms?

The whole house?

Use this method to systematically get through your stuff once and for all!

S--Sort

I---Imagine

M--Move

P--Prepare

L--Let go

E--Enjoy!

SORT: When organizing your stuff, it's imperative to sort through the items.  

Buying cute containers and putting every item you own inside of them is NOT organizing your things.  It's just boxing them up!

Sort your items into categories by what you use:

1.  Often

2.  Not so much

3.  Never

Items in #3 can be sold, donated, or trashed (only for true trash please!).

Items in #2 can be stored away (if you don't have space for them, consider getting rid of these too!).

Items in #1 will stay.

IMAGINE: Picture your 'perfect space' and see what's where.

MOVE: Place your items in their 'new home' as you imagined it, and keep them there.  

When you use an item, put it back in its 'home.'  This will keep clutter at bay.

PREPARE: Now's the time to get mentally prepared to send your stuff away.  

The items from #3 above will go away for good and you need to be ok with that.  No one but yourself can give the ok to get rid of things.  It's a mental game for some of us, and once we're prepared mentally, we can get rid of our clutter once and for all.

LET GO: This is where you physically get rid of the unused stuff--for good! 

ENJOY: Sit back, kick your feet up, and enjoy your newly simplified space!

Decluttering and organizing can be a challenging task.  

But if you keep it 'simple' it can be a wonderful thing!

The genders and their 'stuff'

I know there will be people who fall outside of these generalizations that I'm about to make, but for the sake of simplicity in this post--here goes:

Women tend to have more 'fashion-oriented' stuff, and men have more 'hobby-type' stuff.

And here is what we do about that: 

Women--realize that nothing you put on your body will ever change who you are inside.

Men--realize that nothing you have to use for  ______  {fill in the blank} will ever change who you are inside.

Once we realize that who we are is not based on what we wear or what we own, life gets a whole lot simpler.

I recently read this article and it summed it up nicely.  Women tend to buy more to try to BE more...and that's exactly what our consumeristic society wants you to do.  But the message we receive from advertisers is that we're inadequate {without whatever they're selling}--not because that's the truth--but because that will make the companies a buck. It's always about profit.  Always has been, and always will be.

Once you can read between the lines (and realize the lie that you're being fed), everything makes sense and it's easier to NOT buy things thinking they will make you someone you're not.

I stopped wearing make-up over 5 years ago.  

(I didn't wear a lot to begin with, but I did actually put something on my face every day.)

No one has ever said a word to me about not wearing make-up.  Even if someone had, it wouldn't have made a difference anyway.  Sure, my skin gets a bit shiny here and there, but besides glaring a flash from my face in a random picture--it doesn't reduce my quality of life one bit.

And it saves me a whole lot of time and money every day.

{I can hear some of you gasping as you read this right now!}  

It might feel scary to do it--but I challenge every single lady reading this right now to go somewhere without any make-up on (a place you would normally wear it)--and see if you survive.  (Also, take note of how much faster you get ready!)

Then move on to clothing.

See if you can simplify what you wear for one week--then two--then three.

{And leave me a comment on the Facebook page so I know you did it!}

And now for the men...

Since I'm a woman, I can't speak from personal experience, but from what I see when helping clients organize:

Men want to keep memorabilia from their childhood--but hopefully they've grown a bit since then!  Sure, it's a nice reminder of fun times, but if it's not serving a purpose now--get rid of it.  (And please don't keep it because you're "saving it for the kids"--because they'll just keep it stored in a box and won't want to get rid of it because you gave it to them!)

Men also want to keep "manly" things like tools and gear and 'guy' stuff--even if they haven't used it in YEARS.  It doesn't make them any tougher (or smarter or stronger) just by having an accumulation of things they don't use.  

So let them go.

Like I said before: I realize these are very broad generalizations--but if you fit into one of these categories, do yourself a favor and evaluate what you have and where you'd like to spend your time.

It's worth the hard work.  I promise.

The BEST time to purge:

Our culture likes to do 'spring cleaning' but when is the best time to purge some stuff?

Since we've moved a lot in our 12 years of marriage (like 12 times!), I've always found that I like to purge when I move.  (Or maybe I like to move so it makes me purge?!)

But what if you haven't moved in a while and don't plan on moving any time in the near future?  When should you plan a purge?

Right NOW.

Sure, you can always say "I'll do it on Monday," but there really is no better time than right now.

You don't have to wipe out 90% of what you own.  It could be one thing or one box full of stuff--any amount that you can--but just do it now.  

Simplifying has a huge snowball effect.  It's amazing.  As soon as you get started, you can see and feel the benefits, and it's sometimes hard to STOP!

You can make it silly (race your kids to fill a box)--or be totally serious (sort, sell, repeat)--however you choose, the only rule is to start right now!

If you're on Facebook, pop over and comment to let us know what you purged (post a picture!)--tag your friends and tell your neigbors--get those donation boxes filled up!

Who's with me?!  Let's get to work!

Storage Units...

I've heard that there are more storage units in the U.S. than houses.

Am I the only one who thinks that is outrageous?!

Why do we pay rent for our stuff?

Why do we keep a second location filled (to the brim) with stuff?

Why do we never want to let it go?

We move our stuff to storage, keep it in storage, look throught it to find stuff in storage, add more to it, repeat the process, and one day--move it to another location.

Wouldn't it be nice to 

NEVER DO THIS AGAIN?! 

It's possible: just empty out your storage unit and vow to never pay for one again.

Ok, so you might be thinking:

But how in the world do I empty my storage unit?  

Where do I put all that STUFF?!

You put it in its place.

Everything has a specific spot where it belongs.

If you have more things than spots, then you need to simplify your stuff.

It always comes back to simplifying.  Period.

I help people simplify their stuff and I can always find things in our house to get rid of!  Life changes and you don't need things like you did in the past.  Or you get 'questionable' birthday gifts.  Or your kids outgrow things.  Or you gave in to temptation at the thrift store.

Whatever the reason--you no longer need or use or love the items--and now you can send them on their way.

Find enough of these items, and you've cleared out a shelf, a room, or even a garage-size amount of space in your home.  Now you have room for the stuff that was in storage.  

{But if I'd have to make a bet--I'd bet that MOST of what's in your storage unit is the 'stuff that can go'...}

I know I'm constantly saying "Simplify Your Stuff!"

But that's really what it comes down to--piles of clutter, overflowing rooms, cramped garages, storage units--it can all be resolved by simplifying.

If you currently pay for a storage unit, take a minute to see how that impacts your life--physically, emotionally, and financially.

See if you can challenge yourself to empty out that storage unit.  Make it a game, make it a goal--just get it done.  You'll free up your time, energy, and money that was going into that unit.  

How good will that feel?

Stuff and Guilt.

Guilt is a cognitive or an emotional experience that occurs when a person realizes or believes—accurately or not—that he or she has compromised his or her own standards of conduct or has violated a moral standard and bears significant responsibility for that violation.[1] It is closely related to the concept of remorse.    ~Wikipedia

What does it feel like to read that?  

How many things do you have in your house right now simply because you would feel guilty if you got rid of them?  2? 5? 100?

When we get rid of things, we're not sending away the memory that the item represents, we're simply sending the physical object on its way.  

We're freeing up physical space.  

We're creating opportunities for energy to flow more freely.

So why is it so hard for us to send things on their way?

Imagine your most prized posession.  Maybe it's in the room with you now.

Now imagine getting rid of it.  

Selling it.  Dropping it off at the thrift store--it doesn't matter where it goes, just that it's out of your life.

What does that feel like?  Does your heart sink as you envision it going out the door?  

Why?

Would you feel like less of a person without it?  Like you'd lose a piece of yourself if it's not in your posession?

Let me ask you this:  Are you the same person when you're on vacation?  When you're out of your 'normal' routine?

Yes?

Then you'd be the same person without that thing.  It's just an object.

I know--how could I speak so poorly about your ____________ {insert name here}...but if you take a step back and look at the item from an outsider's point of view, you can see that it's just that thing.

This is the frame of mind you need to be in when simplifying your stuff: As an outsider seeing items for what they really are--not the strong memories they represent--but the actual physical items themselves.  

I know it's hard.  And sad.  And stressful to make yourself do this.  

But if you truly want freedom from things, it's a necessary evil.

And you can do it.  You have what it takes.

Dig deep and get to work!

Moving without Movers (and keeping your sanity!) Part 3:

Last week we talked about living out of your suitcase for a few days (or week), so you could pack the majority of your things ahead of time.  (Which is also fantastic for the first night or two in your new place--everything is easily accessible!)

When you move without movers, there are 2 sides of the process: packing and unpacking.  The uphill and the downhill... (unless you like packing more than unpacking!) 

This week we talk about how to unpack your stuff efficiently and effectively.

The key to efficient unpacking is this: unload the rental truck correctly.

Ok, there are no 'right' or 'wrong' ways to unload a truck.  But I want to talk about a way that could potentially save you from doing double the work--and help you get unpacked and settled into your new place within a few days.

That's right--I said "unpacked in days".

Here is how you do that:

When you're carrying boxes and items from the rental truck--take them directly to the room they belong in.  Remember how you packed 'like with like'?  That makes it much easier to unpack the box--and know exactly where to take the box right from the truck:

• Kids' stuff to the kids' rooms
• Kitchen stuff to the kitchen
• Bathroom stuff to the bathroom
• Office stuff to the office
• Garage stuff in the garage

This will save you from unloading the truck, and then moving the boxes AGAIN inside the house.  Who wants to move boxes an extra time when moving?!  

Not this lady.

You have your suitcase of essentials, which you can 'live out of' for a day or two (or more!)--so there is no need to tear open boxes all willy nilly in the desparate search for toothbrushes and underwear.  This will keep your sanity long enough to get a semi-decent night of rest and be ready to really tackle unpacking the next morning.  

Personally, I like to get our kids' stuff unpacked first.  

Entertained children = more enjoyable unpacking by mom.

After that, it's usually the kitchen items.  {Remember how we used the camping supplies at the old place?  They will also come in handy at the new place because breakfast & lunch can occur even if the kitchen isn't completely unpacked!}  

Kitchen items are my most favorite things to unpack!

I know.  It's a sickness, really.

I think it's the thrill of getting to 'change up' how the kitchen is laid out...unless you're moving into the exact same kitchen, the layout will be different and you'll need to figure out where things will go.  That's what it is--that puzzle aspect of unpacking the kitchen--figuring out what to put where.  If you can approach it like a puzzle, maybe it will be more enjoyable?!  If not--get a friend who loves doing puzzles to come unpack your kitchen!

After the kitchen is usually the bathroom items, linens, etc.  Followed by adult clothing, books, garage items, and lastly: decorations.  Remember Part 1?  

The first to get packed is the last to get unpacked.  

Here we are--unpacking the decorations.  

The finish line is just a few steps away!  We're almost there!  

If you can keep up your momentum, you'll be unpacked (I didn't say 'completely decorated' because that can take a bit!), in just a few days.  Avoid the temptation to leave those one or two straggler boxes "for later" because later might not come for a few months (or a year!).  Keep pushing yourself to the finish line and then crash out on the couch and put your feet up while you admire your unpacked house!

Moving without Movers (and keeping your sanity!) Part 2:

If you missed Part 1, you can find it here.  We talked about packing up all of your decorative items.

Part 2 consists of the main packing--your 'everyday' items.  Please--please--do not pack things you don't love or use anymore!  Moving is the absolute perfect time to purge your stuff.  Don't box it up, load it up, unload it, unpack it...and then still never use it!  Sell it--or better yet--donate it!

I like to have a donation box right by the door and as I come across things we no longer need or use--and I put them directly into the box.  Then the next time I leave the house, I drop it off at the local thrift store.  It feels good to think about moving one LESS box!

So--back to packing:

Obviously you'll need to be ready to load your rental truck on the date you reserve it...but how do you get from 'everything is unpacked' to 'everything is packed' when you still need to use things?

Simple: pack a suitcase like you're going on vacation.

Pack your toiletries, vitamins/medicine, clothes, the book you're reading, a couple of pairs of shoes, jacket/sweater (depending on the season), towel & washcloth, cell phone charger, laptop, etc.

These will be your 'everyday' supplies.

Now you're free to pack everything else!  {Obviously a suitcase is needed for each member of the family and their own personal belongings will go into it.  Don't forget the kids' favorite books and stuffed animals!}

I'm sure you're probably thinking "But what about the kitchen?  Food, dishes, etc!"

Here is my little secret to packing up the kitchen items days before you're ready to move out: camping supplies.  

We use 'real dishes' for camping, which are nice and neatly contained in a plastic tub.  As I pack all of the dishes in our kitchen, we'll still have silverwear, cups, plates, and bowls available in our easy-to-access camping tub!

If you don't have camping supplies, just create a 'mock tub' and put a single set of dishes for each member of the family in the designated box or tub, so you can access it easily and it doesn't accidentally get boxed up and piled underneath a lot of other stuff.

You can do the same thing with food.  Pack a few days' worth into a separate box and leave it accessible.  Then you're free to pack up all of the remaining food items and you'll only have one box of food to toss into the truck at the very end!

It may feel a little weird to 'live' out of a suitcase in your own home for a few days (or a week!), but trust me--it will make the packing phase a little easier--and you don't have to wait until the entire last minute to pack the majority of your things.  No pulling 'all-nighters' to pack while your kids sleep...only to be exhausted for the entire moving process.  Especially if you're renting and driving a big moving truck--you want to be as well-rested as possible!

Hopefully this will help you with your next move without movers!

Here are a few more packing tips & tricks:

• Put drinking glasses inside old socks and gently stack inside boxes
• Use kitchen and bath towels to wrap around plates, bowls, and dishes
• Keep untensils inside the organizer (if you have one), wrapped in a towel
• Don't get a full load of groceries right before you move!
• Use 'dead space' to pack things: inside the toaster oven, microwave, etc
• Keep clothing in your dresser drawers while moving (remove drawers to carry the dresser, then replace the drawers once it's loaded in the truck)
• Keep hung clothing on hangers, simply slip a garbage bag over them (from the bottom up-- and tie around the top of the hangers)
• Use a comforter to wrap around the tv and place it on a seat in a vehicle (if you don't have a box to pack it in)

And--last, but not least:  

If you have young children--an empty box and lots of crayons--can provide hours of entertainment for them (while you pack)!