You’ve had enough of all the clutter lying around. You decide to take action – either by yourself, with a friend, or with a professional organizer.
You start the sorting process. This box I keep. This box I donate. This box is for items that I plan to give to specific people. This I trash. This I will try to sell. You are on a roll. But time gets away from you and you need to stop for a while. You know that you still have a lot to do. So, you just stack up those sorted boxes and get on with life.
Much, much later, you start in again – and then later you start yet again. Meanwhile, those sorted, labeled boxes are stacking up.
STOP! You don’t have to finish the whole job before getting those boxes out of your space.
Go through the keep box. Ask yourself where you would use these items. Take the items to that space even if it messes that space up a bit.
Put the donate boxes into your car and in the next day or two take them to your donation site. If you have time, inventory them for a receipt. If you have not had time for 2 years to inventory the items – just take them anyway.
Take the items from the box for specific people. As yourself when you will see those people next. Make a note to take the item to them at that time. If it will be more than several months, you might mail the item. Remaining items put in your gift holding area until the proper time.
Trash – well, you probably did do that one.
Go through the sell boxes. Decide now – are you going to consign them, take them to an antique shop or flea market, or get someone to put them on Craig’s list or EBay for you? Make those contacts and see what will sell. If after a couple of years of saving up stuff thinking you will eventually have an estate sale, ask yourself how much will you really make? Is it worth having your house look like a storage unit for the last few years?
Get everything you have sorted out of your living space. Then, repeat the process when you have the time. You can do this decluttering project in bites. Reward yourself after every round! Enjoy your open space.
Jonda S. Beattie Professional Organizer