To quote the Wizard of Oz to the Tin Man when he humbly asked for a heart, “You dare come to me… You clinking, clanking, clattering collection of caliginous junk.” Does that describe some of your stuff, a collection of caliginous junk? Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
Time 
to see the wizard.
6 ways to manage clutter.
● Boxed in.
As a reforming Clutter Bunny, I no longer allow boxes of stuff to be “stored” on the floor. Belongings in the boxes must go somewhere—or out they go—and the boxes recycled. I have stuck by this agreement with myself for several years. The closets, another story.
● Slam on the brakes.
Limit the amount of purchases you make. Do you need another computer monitor when you already have two you don’t use? What about your overflowing bookshelf with dated publications, old books and production manuals you will never read?
● In and out.
I try, but don’t always succeed, to get rid of something before bringing something else in. One out, one in. Even better, two out, one in, but now I’m pushing it.
● Toss out time.
Every year I set the time between Thanksgiving week and New Year’s Day week for this Clutter Bunny to toss. I like to throw out something every week but the holiday season is a must. Over the last few years I have pared down my office storage by 60% and I still have room for improvement. And my desk, there’s another matter.
NOTE: Just cleaned out my kitchen freezer. I dumped containers of food without knowledge of the contents. I even defrosted and tasted mysterious substances in a several Tupperware tubs, yuck. The pay off, I now have six usable containers and two shelves in the freezer.
This one is tough for me. I use the floor as an extension of my desk. I saw a fun cartoon in which a gentleman defends his use of the floor around his desk for organization: “What, this is my floor-ganizer.” I am OK with using the floor if I remove everything by the end of each day.
Much of what you need to get rid of may be papers and boxes, good for recycling. But what about clothing, books and furniture? Someone else could use one of your très passé coats or squeezy-tight sweaters. My fav donation center is The Salvation Army. The Salvationists are hard working men and women who take small salaries. And they give free clothing to the less fortunate looking for employment like where I volunteer in Washington, D.C., Jubilee Jobs. Donate today. And collect a handsome tax deduction.
Reforming from my Clutter Bunny ways is rewarding. I am buying less and throwing out more. I now longer allow myself to stack boxes on the floor. Throwing out is always in season, so pick a time that you can stick with year after year. You’ll be glad you did!
