Heart of the Home Tuesday / Clutter Busters Part 2

The Clutter Personality Test (click here if you missed it) last week revealed that most of you have the same issue as me...perfectionism...that paralyzes us because we don't want to take on anything unless we KNOW we have the time to do it properly and finish it.

How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time...

Just beginning is the hardest part...once we get started, gratification will take over, and we will get a deep sense of pleasure in how much more smoothly our days will unfold.

Here are some multi-tasking ideas that help us take small steps toward managing clutter and achieving the organized home we desire!!

(excerpts One Minute Organizer/Donna Smallin)



While cookies are baking---12 minutes in the kitchen :
~~Plan dinners for the week and write a grocery shopping list.

~~Organize your junk drawer. Toss the stuff that's really garbage, like toys from fast-food restaurants, dusty plastic silverware and wrappers from used packs of batteries. Then use a compartmentalized plastic tray to separate loose stamps, paper clips, coins and things that aren't really junk.

Here are pics of one of my utensil drawers I organized:

before (bleh!)

after: (Ahhh!)

(white tray from WalMart)

~~Organize your pantry: throw out expired cans, stale bread and cereal boxes with only crumbs left.

~~Spruce up your spice drawer or cabinet: put the spices you use most toward the front, and throw out "mystery" spices without labels.

~~Chop up some fruit and make a fruit salad for tomorrow.

During TV commercials---4 minutes in the family room

~~Organize a DVD shelf or book shelf, and make a donation pile of movies your kids have outgrown and books you won't read again.

~~Venture under the couch to hunt dust bunnies.

~~Put all toys (including the dog's) in a toy box or basket in the corner of the room.

~~Recycle old magazines, and put those you intend to read in the magazine rack.

While the kids are brushing their teeth---5 minutes in their bedroom

***You may want to wait to do these things with your kids***

~~Organize the sock and underwear drawer, tossing anything that no longer fits or just doesn't look wearable anymore.

~~Put all stray stuffed animals into baskets.

~~Turn down the bed, pull down the shade and turn on a lamp. You're all ready for bedtime stories.

~~Put all stray tapes and CDs into their cases. To get your child involved, buy a colorful plastic carrying case for him to store his lullaby and playtime music in.

~~Lay out an outfit for the next day.

I'll be sharing more personal pics in the next few weeks...junk drawers, video/dvd storage, closets, bedrooms etc...

I have always had the "bones" of organization, but it can get easily out of hand with our busy lives!!

I am actively implementing these strategies, so join me each Tuesday for the next few weeks as my home becomes an "Oasis of Organization"!!

Joyful blessings,

Becky