9 PRACTICAL TIPS FOR DECLUTTERING AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
1. Buy uniform (same size, color) boxes/bins for decoration storage – they’ll neatly stack and you’ll know what they store. Keep this number of boxes as your limit.
2. Store ornaments in shoeboxes, with tissue paper. Place the shoeboxes in a larger bin. And buy a special wreath box to keep wreaths protected.
3. Purchase a special gift wrap container. Limit the wrap you buy to what fits in it. Save space by unwrapping paper, and re-rolling it to fit inside the tube (it should fit more than one type). Cut a small piece and tape to the outside to identify. OR if you purchase only gift bags (a more eco-friendly choice), store them and new and reusable tissue paper in a long shallow bin, which should accommodate many different sizes.
4. Break gift boxes down so they store flat and take up less space. You can also store smaller boxes in larger ones.
5. Pack any extra supplies like cards, festive napkins, etc. with the rest of the holiday things.
6. Wrap lights around empty cardboard tubes to keep from getting tangled.
7. Throw old lights or tattered decorations. Keep only the decorations you love, that bring you joy. Donate the rest to a shelter or sell in a garage sale. (Less is more, and having only what is very special around you is good feng shui!)
8. Make taking the tree/other decorations down as much of an occasion as putting them up – get the family involved, listen to music, have a special treat.
9. Get one or more plastic document wallets with Velcro to keep toy and electronic instructions/warranties handy. Label the outside and either store with important papers or in an entertainment center.
Stay tuned for:
Organizing New Beginnings for the New Year
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Clutter-Free Holidays
By Jessica Hoelzel
The holidays are a time of gathering. Whether you take a minimalistic point of view during this season, or an all-out consumption attitude, you will acquire some clutter this time of year. However, it is possible to have a lighter impact on the environment. When I say “environment” I am speaking of two environments, really. The more immediate environments is your home, your dwelling space. And the greater environment is that of this lovely green earth we inhabit. Either place deserves the gifts of care and protection that we have the power to bestow upon them.
Be conscious of the precious environment of the place we dwell and the greater world this season with these ways to simplify:
1. Don’t buy wrapping paper or disposable bows.Ultimately all that wrapping is going to go in the trash, then the landfill. It is not recyclable. It clutters up rooms and fills the trash. Plus, a significant amount of energy goes into producing the paper, and transporting it.
Gift bags are reusable and you can even get ones made with recycled paper. Or look to other alternatives like using paper grocery bags – you can cut them to wrap and stamp to decorate, or let the kids have at it with markers. Tie them up with natural or reusable ribbons. If you feel gift wrap is the most practical way to present your gifts, use recycled paper like those from www.greenpaperstudio.com.
For large items, keep them in the plastic bag they came in, tied with a bow at the top for presentation. You can reuse that bag to gather trash from packaging later.
Another alternative is to not wrap things at all. Hide them until right before you want to present them. And certain things like hostess gifts or general exchange items can simply be placed under the tree as is. If you order a lot of gifts online, keep them in the box they were shipped in. Use a reusable bow or stickers to cover the shipping labels. Break down those boxes later, to store easier and reuse next year.
2. Corral the cards.Gather all holiday greeting cards in one area. Place a large ceramic bowl on the counter or the dining room table to display them. Or if you prefer to see each one in its full splendor, hang together in one place; possibly on a magnetic board or bulletin board.
Another green solution to cut down on waste is to send an electronic greeting card this time of year. You could send it in a simple email with an image, or send a letter as an attachment. Or look online for an electronic greeting – some are even free! Check out www.bluemountain.com.
3. Use real dishes, silverware and glassware.
Please don’t hurt the environment outside by using non-biodegradable disposable serving ware! Imagine millions of people using millions of plastic utensils, plates and cups – and how that adds up to clutter up our world with trash that doesn’t break down.
Instead, make the environmentally responsible choice. You can create a beautiful and special environment inside by using your own dishes. Plus, let’s face it, it is more enjoyable to eat off of a real plate with real silverware. The food just tastes better and seems more sacred.
If you are having a large gathering and won’t have enough, consider borrowing from a friend or relative. Many dollar and discount store have dishes for an inexpensive price, including festive ones. Or look to an antique store to reuse something from the past. You could end up with a very fun and creative table by mixing and matching.
Doing dishes after a good meal doesn’t have to feel like a hassle – besides the fact that you’ll feel good about your earth-friendly choice, you can make happy memories when clearing up after the meal. Encourage a culture of pitching in at your gathering. Some of my favorite holiday memories aren’t the gifts I got or what we ate, but working together in the kitchen, telling stories and jokes.
Blessings for a Clutter-Free Environment!
Stay tuned for:
10 Tips for Decluttering After the Holidays
Organizing New Beginnings for the New Year
The holidays are a time of gathering. Whether you take a minimalistic point of view during this season, or an all-out consumption attitude, you will acquire some clutter this time of year. However, it is possible to have a lighter impact on the environment. When I say “environment” I am speaking of two environments, really. The more immediate environments is your home, your dwelling space. And the greater environment is that of this lovely green earth we inhabit. Either place deserves the gifts of care and protection that we have the power to bestow upon them.
Be conscious of the precious environment of the place we dwell and the greater world this season with these ways to simplify:
1. Don’t buy wrapping paper or disposable bows.Ultimately all that wrapping is going to go in the trash, then the landfill. It is not recyclable. It clutters up rooms and fills the trash. Plus, a significant amount of energy goes into producing the paper, and transporting it.
Gift bags are reusable and you can even get ones made with recycled paper. Or look to other alternatives like using paper grocery bags – you can cut them to wrap and stamp to decorate, or let the kids have at it with markers. Tie them up with natural or reusable ribbons. If you feel gift wrap is the most practical way to present your gifts, use recycled paper like those from www.greenpaperstudio.com.
For large items, keep them in the plastic bag they came in, tied with a bow at the top for presentation. You can reuse that bag to gather trash from packaging later.
Another alternative is to not wrap things at all. Hide them until right before you want to present them. And certain things like hostess gifts or general exchange items can simply be placed under the tree as is. If you order a lot of gifts online, keep them in the box they were shipped in. Use a reusable bow or stickers to cover the shipping labels. Break down those boxes later, to store easier and reuse next year.
2. Corral the cards.Gather all holiday greeting cards in one area. Place a large ceramic bowl on the counter or the dining room table to display them. Or if you prefer to see each one in its full splendor, hang together in one place; possibly on a magnetic board or bulletin board.
Another green solution to cut down on waste is to send an electronic greeting card this time of year. You could send it in a simple email with an image, or send a letter as an attachment. Or look online for an electronic greeting – some are even free! Check out www.bluemountain.com.
3. Use real dishes, silverware and glassware.
Please don’t hurt the environment outside by using non-biodegradable disposable serving ware! Imagine millions of people using millions of plastic utensils, plates and cups – and how that adds up to clutter up our world with trash that doesn’t break down.
Instead, make the environmentally responsible choice. You can create a beautiful and special environment inside by using your own dishes. Plus, let’s face it, it is more enjoyable to eat off of a real plate with real silverware. The food just tastes better and seems more sacred.
If you are having a large gathering and won’t have enough, consider borrowing from a friend or relative. Many dollar and discount store have dishes for an inexpensive price, including festive ones. Or look to an antique store to reuse something from the past. You could end up with a very fun and creative table by mixing and matching.
Doing dishes after a good meal doesn’t have to feel like a hassle – besides the fact that you’ll feel good about your earth-friendly choice, you can make happy memories when clearing up after the meal. Encourage a culture of pitching in at your gathering. Some of my favorite holiday memories aren’t the gifts I got or what we ate, but working together in the kitchen, telling stories and jokes.
Blessings for a Clutter-Free Environment!
Stay tuned for:
10 Tips for Decluttering After the Holidays
Organizing New Beginnings for the New Year
Monday, December 14, 2009
More Tips for Dealing With Clutter
By Jessica Hoelzel
Are you crazed and frazzled – not thinking it’s possible to stop for one minute and reflect upon your clutter situation and how to deal with it? Are there hardly even the briefest of moments free in your hectic day?
If so, here two methods to make a dent in the clutter chaos, without having to set aside too much time or attention. Keep in mind that these are only quick fixes, and if you are very serious about turning your clutter situation around, it will take reflection, time, effort and commitment. Click on my earlier post Dealing With Clutter http://day2dayfengshui.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html for a more comprehensive plan of action.
1. Nine things a day
I learned this method from my teacher, international Feng Shui expert Carole Hyder. http://www.carolehyder.com/. The number nine is considered a lucky and mathematically magical number in Chinese culture – so consider luck on your side when practicing this, and added fuel to achieve results and attract good fortune. And it’s so easy! You will probably far surpass the expectations you have at first.
Begin by setting your intention – also very important in Feng Shui. (Nothing in Feng Shui should be done willy-nilly or you will get willy-nilly results!) Your intention could be, for example, to clear off your desk so you don’t feel so overwhelmed, like you are never making progress, and instead feel in control and effective at your work.
After setting your intention, remove nine things from your desk (or wherever) per day. Other places this could work well are for the kitchen counter, the mud room, your bedroom closet or your car.
These nine things are going to go to one of three places:
The garbage/recycling
Put away elsewhere
To donate
Remember, nine is your magic number – you can incorporate the numeral in other ways for added success too, such as doing this for nine days, nine weeks, etc.
2. Set a bag or box out
This one is so easy it’s almost effortless! Simply set a large, sturdy bag (like a shopping bag) or a box out in an area. This bag/box will be your donate receptacle. Good places for this could be the kitchen or your bedroom closet. Every time you touch or see something that you do not use or love, just place it in the bag/box. In the kitchen it might be gadgets, cups or plastic containers. In your closet it might be things that are out of style, worn or don’t fit.
Things not suitable for donating should go in the garbage. If you find you have a considerable amount for the trash, you can place an additional receptacle in the area. If you aren’t able to make a decision right away about whether it is trash or donate, just put it in the donate box and decide later. The point is to make quick decisions and purge what you don’t want in your space.
This can also work in the office, for paper. But, of course you wouldn’t be donating any paper – who the heck would want that? (Well, maybe identity thieves.) Make sure to shred anything that has your confidential information on it, such as account numbers. With everything else, set out your recycling container in a prominent place and when you see or touch something that is outdated and/or no longer relevant to you, pitch it!
Rule: Once it is in the bag or box, it is not allowed back in your space! Don’t try to “save” things later. You’ll need to trust your gut on this one, and if you had any inclination at all about not liking or needing it, it’s probably right.
Remind yourself that you are doing this to gain freedom and peace, and you should have your area rejuvenated in little time at all!
Stay tuned for:
Clutter-Free Holidays
10 Tips for Decluttering After the Holidays
Organizing New Beginnings for the New Year
Are you crazed and frazzled – not thinking it’s possible to stop for one minute and reflect upon your clutter situation and how to deal with it? Are there hardly even the briefest of moments free in your hectic day?
If so, here two methods to make a dent in the clutter chaos, without having to set aside too much time or attention. Keep in mind that these are only quick fixes, and if you are very serious about turning your clutter situation around, it will take reflection, time, effort and commitment. Click on my earlier post Dealing With Clutter http://day2dayfengshui.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html for a more comprehensive plan of action.
1. Nine things a day
I learned this method from my teacher, international Feng Shui expert Carole Hyder. http://www.carolehyder.com/. The number nine is considered a lucky and mathematically magical number in Chinese culture – so consider luck on your side when practicing this, and added fuel to achieve results and attract good fortune. And it’s so easy! You will probably far surpass the expectations you have at first.
Begin by setting your intention – also very important in Feng Shui. (Nothing in Feng Shui should be done willy-nilly or you will get willy-nilly results!) Your intention could be, for example, to clear off your desk so you don’t feel so overwhelmed, like you are never making progress, and instead feel in control and effective at your work.
After setting your intention, remove nine things from your desk (or wherever) per day. Other places this could work well are for the kitchen counter, the mud room, your bedroom closet or your car.
These nine things are going to go to one of three places:
The garbage/recycling
Put away elsewhere
To donate
Remember, nine is your magic number – you can incorporate the numeral in other ways for added success too, such as doing this for nine days, nine weeks, etc.
2. Set a bag or box out
This one is so easy it’s almost effortless! Simply set a large, sturdy bag (like a shopping bag) or a box out in an area. This bag/box will be your donate receptacle. Good places for this could be the kitchen or your bedroom closet. Every time you touch or see something that you do not use or love, just place it in the bag/box. In the kitchen it might be gadgets, cups or plastic containers. In your closet it might be things that are out of style, worn or don’t fit.
Things not suitable for donating should go in the garbage. If you find you have a considerable amount for the trash, you can place an additional receptacle in the area. If you aren’t able to make a decision right away about whether it is trash or donate, just put it in the donate box and decide later. The point is to make quick decisions and purge what you don’t want in your space.
This can also work in the office, for paper. But, of course you wouldn’t be donating any paper – who the heck would want that? (Well, maybe identity thieves.) Make sure to shred anything that has your confidential information on it, such as account numbers. With everything else, set out your recycling container in a prominent place and when you see or touch something that is outdated and/or no longer relevant to you, pitch it!
Rule: Once it is in the bag or box, it is not allowed back in your space! Don’t try to “save” things later. You’ll need to trust your gut on this one, and if you had any inclination at all about not liking or needing it, it’s probably right.
Remind yourself that you are doing this to gain freedom and peace, and you should have your area rejuvenated in little time at all!
Stay tuned for:
Clutter-Free Holidays
10 Tips for Decluttering After the Holidays
Organizing New Beginnings for the New Year
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