Organization is an important component if you want to live a beautifully successful life from the inside/out. My closet was well over due for a makeover so a few weeks ago I took a few hours on Sunday & completely revamped my walk-in closet & dressing room. I feel so renewed now. I also parted ways with clothes that I had been hanging on to & donated them to charity. Upon completion I found new pieces that I am in love with. It’s important to let go of the old so the universe can send you the new. I hope you had an opportunity to get rid of the clutter this Spring. Here’s a great article from my colleague Gina Ratliffe just in case you find yourself amongst too much stuff & don’t know where to start or what to do.
How Cluttered Are You?
By: Gina Ratliffe
Maybe your home doesn’t look exactly like this on the outside, but might you feel like this on the inside?
Clutter. It’s a nasty little weapon we use to keep us from living our dreams. When we’re all filled up on the inside we cannot let new and fresh ideas enter our minds, hearts and lives.
And of course we know that…what is occurring on the outside is a reflection of how we feel on the inside.
So to help you get in-tune with your emotions, take a look around your home, office and car. You will likely discover MUCH about your emotional well-being by how tidy some areas are and what little attention you give to other spots.
For example, is your living room neat, but your bedroom a mess? It might show that you care a lot about the rooms other people would see, but not as much about yourself and the room where you slumber each evening.
I remember a friend of mine showed me a beautiful antique lamp she bought. She was trying to make it fit in her living room, but the style and spacing wasn’t quite right. I suggested she place it in her bedrooms where the colors would be perfect.
She instantly replied, “No! Then no one will see it.” I said, “You and your husband will.” But it was too late. She was scurrying down the hall to squish it back in the living room. Ironically, let’s just say, the light is “out” in her marriage also.
This past weekend I had an absolute BLAST staying in and organizing all the rooms in my home. The truth is I was uncluttering. It was a thrill to throw out, throw out, AND throw out ALL of what I didn’t need, didn’t use and didn’t really want.
I was amazed at the stack of things that have been sitting in my “To Do” pile AND how long they have been there. The funny thing is, most of the “to dos” I actually threw out, and the others I sat down and did right then and there.
As a result, I feel so well taken care of, highly organized and in control of my life. I have so much more mental and emotional space to connect with me and connect with others.
This week if you want to give yourself a REAL treat, unclutter your home, car and office!
Gina’s Top 8 Areas of WHAT to Unclutter:
1. Start in your bedroom and get rid of ALL clothes and accessories that you don’t feel absolutely beautiful wearing. (Stop waiting until you lose 10 lbs. to fit into pants that are already out of style)!
2. Get rid of shoes that don’t fit you well, that you don’t love or haven’t worn in a year.
3. Give away all those purses that you think you might save to wear to some wedding some day, or finally buy something to match it.
4. Go through your bathroom and get rid of all the little bits of makeup, 1/2 used or unused samples of creams and shampoos and mud masks. Only keep what you love AND use.
5. Go through your office and FILE what NEEDS to be filed, enter into your database the business cards you keep saying you’re going to give to your assistant to do and then throw out all the business cards (back up your computer first) and any other papers that have been sitting there for months.
6. Organize your bills, write your checks, mail or make your online payments. If you can’t make a payment, then make a phone call and set up a time when you can. This will unclutter your mind.
7. Go through your voicemail messages and emails to handle, resolve and complete what you’ve been avoiding.
8. Go through your kitchen and get rid of plastic containers that don’t have matching lids/bottoms, let go of mugs you don’t use and any plates as well.
Gina’s Top 5 WAYS to Unclutter:
1. Sell it! Ebay, an estate or apartment sale or Craig’s List are all great places to earn some cash for your stash.
2. Donate! Call The Salvation Army, Purple Heart, or any other local homeless shelters, women’s organizations and children’s centers and let them have what you don’t use.
3. Delete it! Remember those emails and voicemail messages you organized? Time to delete them!
3. Give it away! You might have really great clothes that a friend or family member would love. What’s old to you can be new to someone else.
4. Pitch it! That’s right. Stop all the saving for the “one day I might use or need it” mantra. Trust me. Filling up garbage bags will have you feeling like you lost weight, cleared your mind and will give you the space for your creativity, femininity and dreams!
Success Coach, Gina Ratliffe, publishes the Esther Experience weekly ezine. Women Entrepreneurs: If you’re ready to live as Queen of your finances, relationships, and health, and have more fun in your life, get your FREE report now at www.EstherExperience.com
