Conquering Clutter

Hello Again!

It's funny. Most people that come to my house expect each closet to be color coded and alphabetized just because I work as a professional organizer. While it's true that on most days my house looks presentable, it's because I focus on keeping the main living areas tidy...like the living room and kitchen. It's also because I have systems in place that help me quickly put things away in the event that someone randomly knocks on the door! But, just like everyone else, I also have trouble areas. I have spots in my house that seem to magnetize clutter. And, I also have two small children that work against all my best efforts at keeping a "spotless" home. So, what is the answer? In my own experience, it's a combination of things. The first thing I had to learn was to let go! I had to let go of my "bk" tendencies (Before Kids) and realize that the time I was wasting making sure each seasoning bottle was properly aligned was time I could be playing with my children. I also had to learn to cut myself some slack. There simply aren't enough hours in the day to reach my goal of domestic perfection. Next, you have to put a system in place that works for you and your household. There is no cookie cutter approach to this, you just have to find the right type of organizing for you. And lastly, you have to tackle it every day. You can't wait until the pile is so large that you can't open the front door to tackle it. It has to be a daily effort.

Now, take a deep breath, tell yourself that you are a fantastic housekeeper and go do something fun!

Until next time remember, don't put it down...put it away!