Barbara Tako stopped by to talk about a problem we all share, decluttering. Home and Living interviewed Barbara owner of Clutter Clearing Choices LLC, and then asked for her best tips to share with you
Q.: . How did you become involved in speaking and writing about household clutter and organizing?
A.: It began with my mother-in-law who was nominated for St. Paul Suburban Homemaker of the Year back in the 1960’s! At first, I was scared at the thought of even trying to live up to that standard Eventually, I realized that because she ran a tighter ship than I did, she had time for her priorities—her faith, her family, her friends, and her interests. That caught my attention.
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Q.: Why would our audience be interested in your book, Clutter Clearing Choices: Clear Clutter, Organize Your Home & Reclaim Your Life, compared to other clutter books out there?
A.: It is humorous and real. I also don’t think there is a one-size-fits all way to get rid clutter and get better organized. My book offers a smorgasbord of ideas to suit our different personalities, styles and at different times in our lives. It's a comprehensive resource.
Q.: Why are you called “The Underwear Drawer Lady?”
A.: Early on, I wrote a clutter clearing article that focused on my underwear drawer. The drawer was sort of a micro representation of my life, and the different categories of clutter in the drawer represented different clutter problems I had.
Q.: Do you have any secrets for our audience for getting rid of clutter?
A.: Spend 5 or 10 minutes per day working on clutter rather than fretting about it. It takes less time and energy to work on it than it does to repeatedly worry about it, think about it, or stare at it.
- Toss the guilt: I “paid good money for it” or “it was a gift” or “I might need it some day”…
- Quit looking at it and start clearing it! Live greener as you recycle and donate!
- For paperwork, turn any pile into a file! Create and use only one system for each category of paper or stuff in your life. Clutter often happens when we have a lot of partial systems going—storing the same type of stuff in multiple places, for example, business cards or phone numbers scattered around the house—some by the phone, some in a desk, some in our billfold or purse.
- Think like a professional organizer: Primary, secondary, tertiary space and stuff, and organize all areas of your home based on that. Primary stuff goes in prime space.
- Group like things together!
- Keep an ongoing donation box or shelf in your home to take discards to as you discover them daily.
www.clutterclearingchoices.com
Clutter Clearing Choices: Clear Clutter, Organize Your Home & Reclaim Your Life
Other helpful articles:
http://www.examiner.com/x-702-Home-and-Living-Examiner~y2009m7d18-Organize-with-Linda-Koopersmith-the-Beverly-Hills-Organizer
http://www.examiner.com/x-702-Home-and-Living-Examiner~y2008m8d24-Lose-Weight-Fast-Declutter-Your-Home
Comments
I enjoyed your article very much. you and I have similar interests. I am always interested in what other women are willing to share in regards to their homes and lives, in general. Some of my articles on clutter are listed on my site, check them out. I look forward to hearing more from you, as I am subscribing as well.
Really great information from a down-to-earth person. I could certainly take a lesson!
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