Declutter by Becoming Package-Free

When we lived in Kenya, we were struck by the lack of packaging in comparison with the United States. Everyone carried her own bag when shopping. People recycled and re-used everything imaginable! It was refreshing! We felt so wasteful when we returned to the US and threw away so much packaging. 

I ran across some ideas from Emily Ho on living package-free. Some I find are a bit of a stretch. Let me know what you think.

"• Buy less. Curbing the impulse to shop and learning to live with less will help put you on the path to a packaging-free life. 

• Buy used. When you do shop, rather than buying new, check thrift stores and salvage shops. 

 

• Bring bags. Don't forget your reusable shopping bags. Need help remembering? Check out these tips. 

• Get crafty. Take up urban homesteading practices like growing your own food, home canning, and baking bread. Develop a network of friends and neighbors to share your individual efforts.

• Buy from bulk. For other foods, shop at farmers' markets, produce stands, butchers, and bulk bins. Bring reusable containers like produce bags and empty jars.

• Pack lunch. Take your lunch to work in a reusable container with eco-friendly sandwich bags. 

• Carry provisions. Pack a reusable water bottle and snacks in reusable bags so you don't find yourself running to the vending machine or corner store. 

• Do it yourself – house cleaning. Making your own cleaning products might not eliminate packaging completely (you still need to procure the ingredients), but it can help you cut down considerably. If possible, buy ingredients like baking soda in or from bulk, and if you're really ambitious, you can make your own white vinegar! 

• Take a break. Re-think your grooming habits. We're not suggesting you let yourself go, but take a break from hair product, foundation, or anti-aging cream for a week or two and see whether you really "need" it. Chances are, you'll look and feel perfectly fine with less.

• Do it yourself – personal health. For the personal care products you do need, explore DIY options. For example, you can use baking soda for toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo. Buying the raw ingredients might involve some packaging, but it's a step in the right direction. 

• Go the extra mile. It's not for everyone, but you can also eliminate packaging by going toilet-paper free, switching to reusable feminine products, and using cloth tissues. 

• Shop smart. Inevitably, you will buy some packaged goods, but consider packaging that's reusable and recyclable. Avoid excessive packaging like individually-wrapped produce and look for products in bulk, concentrate form, or refillable containers. If you regularly shop online, you might also consider buying more things locally to reduce packing material waste." 

Challenging, isn't it? Do you have some package-free suggestions?

More on going package-free:

Swap Parties - Decluttering, Saving Money

10 Eco-Friendly and Wallet-Friendly uses for Olive Oil

Wait - Don't Throw That Away!

Getting Rid of Stuff While Saving the Environment

 

 

Declutter Your "To Be Read" Pile - Enter a Read-A-Thon

  
I love to read! I consider it a luxury, as I have so little time to read these days. 

If you love to read and would like to make some headway in your "To Be  Read" pile, consider entering a read-a-thon.

Wendy over at Novel Challenges has an amazing list of read-a-thons going on. Check it out!

 
More on books:

5 Tips for Storing Books

80 Awesome Ideas for All Your Old or Unwanted Books from Online Colleges

Tools to Inventory Your Books

A Tisket A Tasket - Decluttering with a Basket

Gotta bunch of clutter sitting around? Try the basket method of decluttering:

Grab a basket or box and walk around the room, picking up items that are out of place. 

Go into the next room and put away the things from your basket that go into that room.

Pick up items in that room that do not belong there and place them in your basket.

Continue through the rooms in your house until the clutter is gone! 

You'll probably need to make another trip through the rooms to unload the remainder of your basket.

You may want to provide baskets for each family member to retrieve their clutter throughout the house, too.

If something in your basket doesn't have a home, try to make a quick decision as to where it should live. 


More on decluttering:
Three Steps to Decluttering

Decluttering in 5 - 20 Decluttering Tasks You Can Do In Five Minutes or Less

Decluttering Tips

 

Clutter in Your Car = Danger

      
Hope you had a nice weekend! We took three of our foster daughters to the zoo, one of whom had never been. So hopefully, we're broadening her experiences and making memories at the same time. 

With four teenage foster daughters, it's a constant struggle to keep our cars clutter-free. This eye-opening article is by Chuck Mai, Vice President of public affairs for AAA in Oklahoma, gives a serious perspective on car clutter.

"Think you’re driving your car to work? Nope. For more and more of us, we’re driving our dining room, our entertainment center, our home office and maybe even the kids’ playroom, all rolled into one.

Such multifunctionalism creates clutter. It not only can drive you crazy, it can affect your safety.

Anything loose in your car can become an unguided missile in the event of a crash. When you hit the brakes at 45 mph, for example, the G.I. Joe in the back seat continues to travel at 45 mph until some other force acts upon it, like the back of your skull.

De-clutter now.

Take out everything from inside your car or pickup and divide it into two groups: essential and nonessential.

Then take the essentials and divide that stuff into two groups: seasonal and everyday.

Leave the nonessentials and off-season items in the garage or house.

Fill up the rear first. This means the trunk or the extreme rear of a sport utility vehicle or minivan. For other things, consider hanging backseat organizers or putting kids’ stuff in a backpack and fastening it into a seat belt.

Finally, encourage your family to keep the vehicle clutter-free.

No one leaves the vehicle empty-handed."


More on car clutter:
Spring Cleaning the Car
Getting Organized for School - Cleaning out the Car
Decluttering Your Car

Coffee Tables - 5 Tips on How to Keep Them from Becoming Clutter Magnets

                                          
Do your coffee tables end up being the depositories of your junk? It's so easy to drop things on coffee tables rather than put them where they belong.

My suggestions?

1. Get rid of coffee tables and find homes for those things you normally toss there.


2. If you must keep your coffee table, keep a basket underneath to collect magazines, the remotes, and other things that tend to clutter the table.


3. Buy coffee tables with drawers or shelves to store those things that tend to clutter the top.


4. Each night before bed, have everyone remove their items from the coffee tables and other surfaces.


5. Provide a place for family members to drop their stuff when they come in the door. Train them to do it!


More on eliminating clutter magnets:

Get Organized Month 2009 - Family Five Minute Challenge

Organizing Your Mud Room

Getting Organized for School - Creating a Hub

Spring Cleaning Your Mood

When the girls got home from school a couple of days ago, I had shorts on because I had exercised earlier. The sun was shining - a rare occurrence in Ohio! It was almost 50 degrees! 

So some of the girls got their shorts on, too, and we went outside to soak up some sun.  We live next door to an elementary school, so we went to the playground and the girls got a chance to get out some pent-up energy. Even though they are teenagers, they enjoyed being little kids again. Sunshine and exercise - what mood lifters (and sleep enhancers)!

I came across the following article by Pat Murrah (Reid Hospital and Health Care Services' Community Education Department), which suggests these as well as other ways to improve your mood after a long, hard winter:

"Life circumstances influence about 10 percent of our happiness. Research shows that happiness is mostly influenced by what we do to deliberately make ourselves feel better. The following tips can help you feel happier, even when life gets stressful — especially when life gets stressful:

Look at old photos
 

Looking at pictures of your favorite vacation or your children when they were babies can bring back happy feelings.

 

Munch on nuts

They contain omega 3 fatty acids, which have been shown to have a calming effect.

Inhale a calming scent

Orange and lavender are scents that have been shown to have a relaxing effect. A few drops of scented oil on a handkerchief provides an on-the-go stress reliever.

Open your drapes or shades
 

The more light you are exposed to, the more calming the effect. If you work in an office without windows, take a break and seek sunlight.

Walk around the block
 

The exercise can provide a distraction during stressful times, plus increase your exposure to sunlight.

Clear away clutter
 

Looking at clutter can remind you of things not done. Tackle one project at a time until the clutter is gone.

Think fast
 

Research shows that rapid thinking may release “feel good” brain chemicals as well as provide a distraction. Try naming all the states with begin with the letter “m” or something similar to stimulate your brain.

Laugh
 

Laughter releases dopamine in the brain, which is a natural opiate. Watch funny videos, read a funny book or just look for the laughter in daily life.

Rethink retail therapy
 

Rather than spending money for material things, spend your money on “experiences.” Going with friends to dinner or to the lake will bring more happiness than a new pair of shoes.

Hang out with cheerful people
 
There is such a thing as mood contagion. Being around unhappy or negative people can affect your mood. Try and avoid the negative people and “catch” the mood of a happy, positive person."


More on improving mood:

5-Minute Stress Relievers - Music: The Great Stress Reliever

In a Winter Rut? Here's How to Climb Out!

5-Minute Stress Relievers - Change Your Attitude

 

No Cost Organizing: Drawer Dividers

Looking for some easy ways to create drawer dividers at no cost?

 

1. Cut up cereal boxes and use as dividers for socks, undies, etc.

  Photo: A Little Hut

2. If your drawers are deep enough, you could also use shoe boxes.

3. In the kitchen, use plastic meat trays (that ground turkey comes in) to hold your measuring spoons or other small items.                                                                                

No need to go out and buy drawer dividers unless you wish to do so! 

More on no/low-cost storage:

Containerizing Your Kitchen

Don't Make the #1 Organizing Mistake

Gaining Storage without Losing Floor Space

Statistics: The Health and Mental Health Benefits of Spring Cleaning

I really enjoyed the following  article by Health Net, Inc. about the health and mental health benefits of spring cleaning.  It's quite motivating! I hope you enjoy it.

"The month of March brings with it the official start of spring -- a season associated with renewal and romance, and, on a less lyrical level -- with dusting, scrubbing, and otherwise engaging in the roll-up-your-sleeves ritual known as spring cleaning. While heavy-duty housework hardly sounds inviting, Health Net, Inc. (HNT 24.16, -0.40, -1.63%) wants to spread the word that spring cleaning not only results in a tidy abode, but also brings with it mental health benefits. 

 

Studies have shown that a dirty, disorganized home can harbor health threats in the form of mold, bacteria and clutter-caused injuries, but such an environment also can negatively impact mental health, explains Ian Shaffer, M.D., chief medical officer of MHN, Health Net's behavioral health subsidiary. "A thorough spring cleaning definitely brings with it a feel-good sense of satisfaction," he adds, "and the physical exertion of dusting, vacuuming and scrubbing has been found to reduce stress and anxiety."

Shaffer points out that, while the physical benefits of exercise are well known, there's mounting evidence that exercise -- even in the form of housework -- brings with it mental health benefits. In fact, one study -- conducted by University College London -- found that as little as 20 minutes of housework per week reduced feelings of psychological distress. It was further found that the risk of mental health problems was reduced by one-fifth among those engaging in just 20 minutes of housework weekly. 

"Exercise is known to boost mental health," says Shaffer, "and house-cleaning activities are certainly a form of exercise. A bigger activity, like a top-to-bottom spring cleaning, helps you to feel organized and in control, and those feelings definitely result in reduced stress." 

The chores-calories connection

Doing housework not only lifts your spirits and lowers your stress level, but -- as an added bonus -- you also burn calories in the process. The American Heart Association categorizes housework as "moderate exercise," and says that a person weighing 150 pounds who engages in 30 minutes of household chores can expect to burn the following:

-- Cleaning a bathroom -- 200 calories

-- Doing laundry -- 133 calories

-- Making beds -- 130 calories

-- Washing windows -- 125 calories

-- Vacuuming -- 123 calories

-- Ironing --70 calories

-- Dusting -- 50 calories

Shaffer notes, "Household chores alone are unlikely to keep you physically fit, but this, along with other daily tasks, provides a portion of the physical exercise we all need. If you combine these activities with a structured exercise program, the results can be very positive." 

Stay organized after spring cleaning 

With the satisfaction of a successful spring cleaning behind you, Shaffer cautions against returning to one's previously disorganized ways. "Staying organized," he says, "encourages the good kind of stress." In fact, studies have shown that a feeling of control -- a feeling that comes with being organized -- is key to whether stress will serve as a positive force that fuels creativity and optimism or if it will serve as a negative force accompanied by a sense of helplessness and pessimism. 

Beyond optimism, being organized brings with it a bounty of other benefits. Shaffer points to three: 

-- Reduced time pressure -- Among the greatest sources of stress is time pressure, i.e., so much to do, so little time. While being organized doesn't add hours to the day, it does enable you to make the most of the 24 hours in each day. Organized individuals don't waste time wondering what work project is due when, or where a needed item -- from an unpaid bill to an uncashed check -- might be hiding. The time saved can be spent on any number of stress-busting activities, such as exercising or preparing a healthy meal. 

-- Disorganization makes it hard to see things in their components. Failing to see the parts leads to a few of the whole that can be very overwhelming and at times will lead to immobilization and people failing to act and move forward. 

-- No disorganization domino effect -- As a general rule, disorganization creates a ripple effect, impacting not only the offender, but also those around him or her. If you're disorganized, the fallout can extend to family, friends as well as co-workers, and a tension-filled environment can become the order of the day. Conversely, while organization doesn't guarantee harmony and happiness, it unquestionably helps." 

More on the benefits of organization: 

9 Ways to Enhance Your Health by Being Organized 

Interesting Clutter and Organization Statistics 

The "Do It Now" Mindset

Spring Cleaning the Attic

How can I be talking about spring cleaning when we still have snow on the ground?! It's gotten warm enough over the last couple of days, though, for some grass in our yard to peep out. But I realize the rest of the country may be experiencing spring-like weather. It's a great time to clean the attic whatever the case.

Spring is a wonderful time to attack the attic - it's still cool enough to be able to tackle this decluttering job! You certainly don't want to wait until summer. And the timing is perfect - you may find you have enough for a yard sale. Now that's motivating, isn't it?

Start by walking around your attic to take a mental inventory of what you have there. Designate corners for each category - Christmas, other seasonal decorations, keepsakes, off-season clothing, suitcases and traveling accessories, home repair supplies - whatever categories represent your life.

Now that you have designated certain corners for the categories you have stored in your attic, it's time to sort.

Start in one corner of your attic. You may want to surround yourself with several boxes - one for each category plus one for giveaways. As you sort each item, ask yourself:
- is it necessary?
- have you used it in the last year?
- is it important to you or someone else?
- could someone else use it?

If you absolutely must keep the item you're sorting, place it in the appropriate box. Have a trash bag nearby for those things that don't even qualify for giveaways.

Work your way around the attic. You may discover additional categories as you go. You may also find items in your attic which would be better used elsewhere in your home. Be creative - are there some keepsakes you want to keep that could serve as storage containers in your house? Your mother's tea cups could hold jewelry in your dresser drawer, for example. A trunk could hold toys or linens.

Place each box in the corner you have designated for that category.

Now that you've decluttered and sorted, you're ready to look at your storage needs for your attic.

Look at each category to see what would best house those items. Do you need large clear storage containers for linens? Do you need small boxes for books? Do you need a place to hang out-of-season clothes? Do you need shelves, drawers, hooks, etc?

Before you go out and purchase storage containers, look around your house, basement, garage, etc. to see if you already have such storage. You may have an unused dresser that would work for storage if it were moved up to the attic, for example.

Label each container with the contents so when you're hunting for something, you don't need to open every container. If you are using clear storage containers, write your list on a piece of paper and slide it down the side of the container so you can read it without opening the box.

Celebrate - good job done!!

A Basket a Day Keeps Chaos Away

Getting out the door in the morning is a monumental task for most families! In the past, we've talked about having a chart near your calendar, listing items each family member needs on specific days.

I recently read about an interesting way one person organizes items that must accompany members of her family out the door. She has a basket for each day of the week. Each basket holds items family members need on that particular day.

For example, if you need to return a borrowed item to someone you are going to see on Monday, stow it in Monday's basket. If a certain article needs to go to school on a particular day, placing it in the basket for that day insures it won't be forgotten. Library books that are due on Saturday can be dropped in Saturday's basket once read.

This is a great system for visual people, for people with ADD, and for those who don't like lists. Plus it cuts down on clutter because items have a place to live while they are waiting to leave the house.

But where to put those seven baskets? In a closet, perhaps. Or in a cupboard in your mud room or garage. Near the door where you exit your home, certainly.

I like this idea, don't you? Finding room for seven baskets might be a challenge, though.


More on getting out the door:
Getting Organized for School - Start the Night Before
Getting Organized for School - Creating a Hub
Get Organized for School (or life!) - A Family Calendar

Containerizing Your Kitchen

Yesterday I helped a client organize her kitchen. As we sorted through her cupboards and drawers, we came across containers she doesn't use any more. Some were sentimental and some were not. We placed the containers on the table.

When we came across items that needed to be containerized, we had a selection of containers to choose from. She loved it when we could use a sentimental container to house an item. For example, we used a cute little pitcher with a lid to store her tea bags.

She has a basket collection which does double duty by being beautiful as well as storing things like coffee filters and such. We came across tins, plastic containers, and jars - all of which are great kitchen storage containers.

When containerizing, don't forget to look at sentimental items as storage, if you like to keep such things around you. A nice way to repurpose items you love!


More on containerizing:
Don't Make the #1 Organizing Mistake
Spring Cleaning the Attic - Part 3
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Pantry

Spring Cleaning Your Habits

Need some extra time? Who doesn't!?! A good place to look for extra scraps of time is those habits we do without thinking. Sometimes it's nice to take a step back and evaluate if certain habits are costing valuable time. Here are some potential time traps:

- Reading rather than skimming articles, blogs, emails to determine if they are of interest
- Stopping for coffee rather than making it at home for a fraction of the time
- Allowing others to hold you hostage with their meaningless conversation
- Watch too much news or TV
- Spending too much time on video games, Facebook, etc.
- Letting chores pile up rather than tackle them as they arise (dishes, cleaning, sorting mail, etc.)
- Napping rather than establishing good sleep patterns

Habits are a comfortable part of life, but they can also gobble up our time if we let them. Start paying attention to those habits you have in your life to determine if they are helping or hurting you.

More on habits:
Five causes to disorganization
Tools to Track Your Computer Time
New Sleep Study Shows Risks of Acute and Chronic Sleep Loss

Overwhelmed by Unfinished Projects?

As I've studied personality types, I've learned that there are people who like to have closure and those to whom it doesn't matter as much. The former usually like to finish projects or will force themselves to do so for the sake of closure.

The latter may lose interest before the project is finished. This may be due to the inability to estimate how much time will be needed to complete the project. In addition, these people may be creative, artistic individuals with unlimited ideas and possibilities, and, as a result, unfinished projects.

If you're one with numerous unfinished projects lying around, start making some decisions! Give yourself permission to discard unfinished projects! If you've learned what you want to learn, enjoyed the experience along the way, and are ready to move on to something else, say goodbye.

If you're not yet ready to give up a project, either set a deadline for yourself or box it up to finish another time. Or box it up as a keepsake. That way, your project will not be sitting there, mocking you because you didn't finish.

By making decisions about your unfinished projects, you will rid yourself of clutter as well as the heaviness and guilt associated with them.

More on projects:
A Dozen Ways to Take the Stress out of Big Projects
Delegation - A Key Ingredient for Efficiency
Helping Your Child Organize Large Homework Projects

5 Tips for Storing Books

Hope you had a nice weekend! Ours was full - a birthday party, some drama, and some good talks. So ... what about books?


- If you have books you'd like to store, make sure to do so in a climate-controlled location. Attics, basements and garages will not be kind to your books due to the fluctuating temperatures and humidity.

- Store in banker's boxes. A regular cardboard box falls apart over time, and its glue attracts bugs. Banker's boxes can be easily stacked and are small enough to prevent becoming excessively heavy.

- If your books are dusty, wipe them off before storing.

- If your books are moldy, dispose of them or call a mold remediation specialist. Amateurs are not equipped to deal properly with mold, as the process is quite complicated. If mold is not dealt with, it will multiply, endangering yourself and your surroundings. Unless your moldy books are extremely dear to you, it may not be worth the expense and cleaning process to keep them.

- If you are dealing with dusty or moldy books, wear a mask and make sure your surroundings are well ventilated.

More on books:
80 Awesome Ideas for All Your Old or Unwanted Books from Online Colleges
Tools to Inventory Your Books
Decluttering Your Books with BookMooch

Color-Coded Taxes

Snow day today and the roads are completely clear! Calling for 6-15 inches now! Of course, three of the four girls were up by the time the closing was announced. Today is one of our girls' birthday and she requested oatmeal pancakes for breakfast. So everyone ate pancakes and went back to bed except birthday girl and me. :) More on taxes ...


We've started color-coding our taxes. We choose a color for the year and use that color for all tax files. Instead of seeing a sea of manila file folders when looking for last year's tax info, it's easy to locate all pertinent files because they're all yellow, for example. So pleasant on the eyes! I'll take anything that makes taxes more pleasant. :)


More on taxes:
Taxes - Knowing Which Papers to Keep/TossOrganizing
Tax Receipts

Getting Your Affairs in Order