Never too busy to declutter

Author: Arin Rooney Doland

It's time to tackle your clutter! Taking the first step in any project can seem daunting, but there's no need to stress about the activities in the following chapters. You can choose simple tasks that can be completed in mere seconds to keep you on your way to a hassle-free, less cluttered life. Instead of viewing these next steps as big and overwhelming, try to imagine them as suggestions from a dear friend over a cup of coffee – try the suggestions that you think might help you and ignore the ones you know won't solve your problems. There are four parts to this one-room decluttering journey, each filled with solutions to get rid of your clutter. Part one covers the most heavily trafficked areas in your home, like the living room and kitchen. These busy rooms are the foundation for your organized space; therefore, you can start with this part. Part two deals with those areas in your home that guests don't see but are still important to organize to make life easier, such as the bedroom and the kitchen pantry. Part three deals with those areas you might wish to forget about but need to stay organized so they don't cause you unnecessary frustration and trouble—I'm talking about utility areas and storage spaces. Finally, part four covers your important possessions—including passwords and your papers—and how to store them safely and organized. This entire section offers tidying, cleaning, and organizing activities that fit into your available time. Are you waiting for the pharmacist to fill a prescription? Find a 30-second task that you can easily complete while waiting. Do you have a few hours on the weekend? Dive into a larger project that makes the next week easier and inspires you to do easier tasks during the week. Do you have a bored teenager? Perhaps a 15-minute task is perfect for them while they think of something else they want to do. Are you watching a live TV show and not interested in watching commercials? You can complete a one-minute task during each break. Use this book in a way that meets your needs—being busy doesn't mean you have to live in clutter and disorganization.