Monday, February 28, 2011

Trying to live clutter-free

I'm on my way to a simple life.  I purged through my old files, my kids' schoolwork and artwork, along with old magazine clippings, and 2 trunks of memories.  Most of the junk in my life is finally gone.  But how long will it last?

What I'm trying to figure out is how to handle everyday clutter.  Kitchen clutter, study clutter, paper clutter.  I feel inundated with papers EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Whether it's the mail, or school flyers, or articles from magazines that I find interesting, there's always something.

Here are a few tips that I've used to at least condense the amount of paper clutter in my home:
1.  Create a home for everything:  I've set up file folders in a stand on my kitchen counter to organize some of this randomness, but it doesn't contain everything.  I've also bought 2 plastic scrapbooking bins for each of my children to put their schoolwork in.  At least that part is organized.

2.  Find a basket to put everything else:  I also have a basket for all of these papers that I intend to organize at another time.  I think as long as I keep the basket down to one, compared to the one in every room system that I used to have, then it'll be much more manageable.

3.  Stop the junk mail.  There are a few sources to get rid of your junk mail, and although I still receive some, it's not nearly as bad as it used to be.
Here are a few links to help you get started:
www.directmail.com/directory/mail_preference/ 
http://www.donotmail.org/
http://www.ecocycle.org/junkmail/index.cfm

4.  Get your news or magazines online or at the library.  Less clutter to get rid of later.

5.  Give yourself distance:  I know my problem is not unique, but most people don't have as hard of a time letting go of these papers like I do.  My "just in case" mentality is exhausting, but if I leave the pile for a month or so, it gives me enough distance to get rid of the stuff without a problem.

6.  Recycle or shred: I have a shredder under my kitchen desk in order to get rid of junk mail containing any personal info in it.  This way I get to the biggest culprit immediately.  And then recycle the rest.

I still flock to the magazines that tout in bold letters "organize and de-clutter your house in 3 easy steps", thinking it'll have some transformative information that will rid me of this problem forever.  But nothing is fool-proof and obviously, I still have this problem.  So, if you have a method that works for you, please share it so I can make my kitchen desk a little less cluttered.  I'd greatly appreciate it.

Now where did I put that field trip permission slip....

3 comments:

  1. Ooooh...LOVE the links to reduce the junk mail. I could wrap a year's worth of birthday presents with the insane amounts of flyers and magazines that I receive. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, that IS another way to reuse your trash. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi,
    Thanks for your post.it is very nice post.I am interesting of this post and I think every body like this post.

    ReplyDelete