This month's focus: Strategies for Successful Clutter Clearing and Other Organizing Tip of the Month Would you like to start decluttering and organizing, but you just can't seem to get going? Here are a few strategies that might help. 1. Do it in large chunks. Give yourself 2-3 hours (or more) to tackle a specific project: clearing out a closet, for example. For many people, this works best if you do it with someone else who can encourage you to get rid of things you truly do not need, who can help keep you focused, and who can applaud your success. This could be a friend - as long as it's the right friend - or perhaps a professional organizer. 2. Do it in small chunks. Give yourself 15 minutes or so; set a timer to alert you to when the time is up. Then use those 15 minutes to sort through the mail, catch up with your filing, or whatever. At the end of the 15 minutes, you can stop or decide to go for another 15 minutes 3. Make it a habit. Create daily or weekly routines that include decluttering or organizing. For example, you might make it a before-bed habit to straighten up the house and put things away. Or you might have a weekly routine to go through the mail that's come in during that week 4. Use your time effectively Try to stay focused and avoid distractions. For example, if you are straightening up the kitchen and find something that needs to go to another room, set it aside until you are done with the kitchen. Quote of the Month First consider what you want to change. Then consider what you are willing to do to bring about this change. -- The I Ching or Book of Changes, translation by Master Ni Hua Ching Statistic of the Month It takes about 21 days to form a new daily habit. (Since it's generally recommended that you focus on one new habit at a time, that means you could establish 17 new daily habits in a year.) Product of the Month | 
