Can the Chaos

<h1>Can the Chaos</h1>Author: <a title="Joe Pinto" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/joe-pinto/47946.htm">Joe Pinto</a> The phone rings - you can hear it, but you sure can't find it. You're looking for a pen to jot down a number, digging through overstuffed drawers filled with everything except what you need. It's overwhelming - you'd like to get organized but you have no idea where to start. You feel like the chaos is hopeless. But it's not - it just looks that way.

Where do you start? Well, it may be worth looking at why you have so much stuff to begin with - if you sort out the reasons behind your clutter you may find it easier to part with and be better able to maintain organization once you reach it.

The Emotional Shopper

Many of us are shopping on impulse rather than because we really need to. Some of us buy things to make ourselves feel better - but if you are adding to the clutter in your home or spending money you don't have, you will only end up feeling worse. Before you buy something, ask yourself the following three questions: Do I really need it? Do I really want it? Can I really afford it? If you answer yes to all three questions then by all means, bring it home, but stop stuffing your home with things you don't need, don't really want and can't afford.

The Packrat

Some people have difficulty getting rid of things because they have an emotional attachment to their possessions. Again, ask yourself if you really need this stuff. Are there other ways you can preserve your memories? If you have things that you don't use but aren't ready to let go of yet, put them away in a box for a year. If you haven't looked at them when the year is up, you can safely get rid of them without missing them. If you really think you're going to miss them, take photos as keepsakes.

Now get to it

Don't think about organizing your whole life all at once - that is a sure fire way to feel powerless. Instead, focus on what you can do - one room at a time (breaking it down to one drawer at a time if you need to). Get bins or bags and label them "keep", "storage", "give away", "recycle" and "throw out". Be ruthless. If you are having trouble letting go, ask a friend to help you. Remember to be kind to yourself - this can be a difficult process, but you will feel a sense of freedom and accomplishment when you're finished.

Celebrate

Set achievable goals and reward yourself when you meet them. Whether it's a bath or a trip to the movies, you deserve a treat (as long as it's not a shopping trip!). Find ways to reward yourself that don't involve introducing more things to your household.

Maintain

Remember it's an ongoing process - if you quit when you are ahead you'll only end up behind again. Try to organize a little everyday with a big sweep of the house weekly. Keeping on top of the clutter means you can kiss your chaos goodbye!About the Author: Joe Pinto is one of the top-producing agents in the <a href="http://www.chicagohomeestates.com/" target="_blank">Chicago real estate</a> industry. With over 10 years of experience, Joe brings professionalism and hard work to help you in the sale or purchase of <a href="http://www.chicagohomeestates.com/neighborhood/t/Lincoln_Park/real_estate/" target="_blank">Lincoln Park condos</a>. For more information, visit Joe at ChicagoHomeEstates.comArticle Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/can-the-chaos-377855.html" title="Can the Chaos">Can the Chaos</a>

The phone rings - you can hear it, but you sure can't find it. You're looking for a pen to jot down a number, digging through overstuffed drawers filled with everything except what you need. It's overwhelming - you'd like to get organized but you have no idea where to start. You feel like the chaos is hopeless. But it's not - it just looks that way.

Where do you start? Well, it may be worth looking at why you have so much stuff to begin with - if you sort out the reasons behind your clutter you may find it easier to part with and be better able to maintain organization once you reach it.

The Emotional Shopper

Many of us are shopping on impulse rather than because we really need to. Some of us buy things to make ourselves feel better - but if you are adding to the clutter in your home or spending money you don't have, you will only end up feeling worse. Before you buy something, ask yourself the following three questions: Do I really need it? Do I really want it? Can I really afford it? If you answer yes to all three questions then by all means, bring it home, but stop stuffing your home with things you don't need, don't really want and can't afford.

The Packrat

Some people have difficulty getting rid of things because they have an emotional attachment to their possessions. Again, ask yourself if you really need this stuff. Are there other ways you can preserve your memories? If you have things that you don't use but aren't ready to let go of yet, put them away in a box for a year. If you haven't looked at them when the year is up, you can safely get rid of them without missing them. If you really think you're going to miss them, take photos as keepsakes.

Now get to it

Don't think about organizing your whole life all at once - that is a sure fire way to feel powerless. Instead, focus on what you can do - one room at a time (breaking it down to one drawer at a time if you need to). Get bins or bags and label them "keep", "storage", "give away", "recycle" and "throw out". Be ruthless. If you are having trouble letting go, ask a friend to help you. Remember to be kind to yourself - this can be a difficult process, but you will feel a sense of freedom and accomplishment when you're finished.

Celebrate

Set achievable goals and reward yourself when you meet them. Whether it's a bath or a trip to the movies, you deserve a treat (as long as it's not a shopping trip!). Find ways to reward yourself that don't involve introducing more things to your household.

Maintain

Remember it's an ongoing process - if you quit when you are ahead you'll only end up behind again. Try to organize a little everyday with a big sweep of the house weekly. Keeping on top of the clutter means you can kiss your chaos goodbye!

Joe Pinto is one of the top-producing agents in the Chicago real estate industry. With over 10 years of experience, Joe brings professionalism and hard work to help you in the sale or purchase of Lincoln Park condos. For more information, visit Joe at ChicagoHomeEstates.com

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/can-the-chaos-377855.html

Article Tags: Home Staging, Clutter, Organization, Home Cleaning, Home Organization

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Can the Chaos

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