letting go

"...Downsizing can have a gratifying up side. Sometimes parsing through your things allows you to, in a sense, "select and choose who you are next," says gerontologist David J. Ekerdt at the University of Kansas who conducted a study of "household disbandment" (when older people reach a point in life where they must downsize). We couldn't agree more. Downsizing, or rightsizing, has a life-changing affect.

Paula Spencer over at Caring.com married news of the study with a useful checklist of items. Her list will help you build strategies as you work to shed your possessions or when helping someone else shed. It works as a navigation tool to help you know when to use extra care or extra work.

Take a read!

Yesterday I had a yard sale. My husband of course had some great comment about how interesting it was that given my profession, one would think that we wouldn't have enough items around to have a garage sale. But, as I kindly reminded him, every family has items coming in and the key is to also have items going out. What he doesn't know is how many items I take to the second hand store, school, pass on to friends etc. throughout the year.

With every organizing project or move, we are generally asked what is the best way to clear the clutter? The best answer that I have is to decide how much time you want to spend, how many items you have to get rid of and if you want to make money off your items. Below are some thoughts from professionals in the industry.

De-cluttering has to be one of the hardest tasks to accomplish. Even as a professional organizer who does this day in and day out, it can be difficult in my own space at times. The practical side of people says that their isn't enough space and that the items just need to go. The emotional side however is constantly tugging at the heart strings to keep the items. Sometimes it can really feel like a never ending battle of willpower.