Advice Columns

Harriet offers helpful advice and tips through three different columns:

1. If you need help with storage solutions and deciding which type of organizing product(s) would be best for your current needs, contact Harriet through her Ask Our Organizer column at the Stacks and Stacks organizing products online catalog. 

2. Organized Outlook is an organizing tips column that Harriet writes for sdhome, an award-winning magazine published by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

3. If you have a question about how to conquer clutter, manage your time or get organized, you can Ask The Miracle Worker (below).

 

 

March/April 2008

Ask The Miracle Worker

MAY 2006

 Ask The Miracle Worker  

Q: We just moved into a house 2000 miles from our previous location.  It is 1000 sq. ft. smaller and our three-car garage is filled with about 300 boxes. I have fibromyalgia and need to pace myself; every time I look in the garage and see all those mislabeled boxes full of damaged goods and who knows what else, I give up and go back inside feeling defeated --I need help!!

A: Here are some suggestions which I hope will be of help to you:

A) First, it's important for you to acknowledge that getting through all those boxes would be a major project for anyone, not just you.  Unless you are able to get someone to help you with it, the reality is that it's going to take longer than you'd like to get the project finished.  Forgive
yourself for not being superhuman.
B) If you're not able to have someone help you, then be realistic and plan for this to be a long-term project.  Sit down and map out a step-by-step plan as follows:
1. Visualize how you want your garage to look when the clear-out project is finished.  How would you like to use all that space--for vehicles?  storage? tools/workshop? exercise equipment?  (These are just a few options to get you thinking.)  Sketch a rough diagram of what will go where.  This will help you focus on the outcome instead of the overwhelm.  Note: If you are planning to use some of the garage space for storage of various materials, you may need to obtain containers, shelving, etc.
2. Clarify your objective RE going through the boxes--to let go of ___% of the contents?  to find which things that you've been missing since your move?   or...??  See if you can conjure up any feelings of excitement at possibly unearthing a long-lost treasure, for example; or a feeling of positive anticipation as you think of how good it will feel to let go of stuff & lighten your load.  Focusing on the positive aspects can help lessen the sense of dread & trepidation you may currently feel when you contemplate those boxes.
3. Keeping your energy level in mind, decide on a daily or weekly goal for tackling one box at a time.  If you have 300 boxes, and you can only go through, say, one a day due to your health condition,  it could take you close to a year to finish the project by yourself.  Although that might seem like a long time, at least it's a realistic plan.  If you can't bear the thought of it taking that long, then it may be necessary to have someone assist you. 
4. When going through each box, sort the contents into categories such as Donate, Discard, Repair, and Relocate.  At the end of each decluttering session, be sure to transfer the items to their final destinations.
5. Make a point of congratulating yourself as you complete each decluttering session.  Let yourself feel good about the progress you make, even if it's in small increments.  Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day.  Celebrate the baby steps instead of beating yourself up for not getting everything done at
once.

For more tips on this topic, read "Conquering Stuff and Space"--Chapter 5 of  LET GO OF CLUTTER.

Do you have question about conquering clutter or chaos? E-mail it to The Miracle Worker using the address at the bottom of this page. Be sure to include: 1)  your name (which will be kept private);  2) your city & state (or country, if outside the U.S.); and 3) how you heard about this site.

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© 2008 by Harriet Schechter
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Do you have a question about conquering clutter or chaos?  E-mail it to The Miracle Worker.  Be sure to include: 1)  your name (which will be kept private);  2) your city & state (or country, if outside the U.S.); and 3) how you heard about this site.

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