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8/9/2019 The Floor is Not an Option! 2nd Edition
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Scond Ediion
Pbisd bSia G. McCd
CLUTTER STOP
PO Box 2014
Upand, CA 91785-2014
Copig 2008 b Sia G. McCd
Cov Poogap b Wnd Winqs
Dsign b Donna McCnaanEdiing b Mii Hin
ISBN-13: 978-0-9716342-1-3
ISBN-10: 0-9716342-1-1
A igs svd. No pa of is boo ma b podcd
o ansmid in an fom o b an mans, conic o
mcanica, incding poocoping, coding, o b aninfomaion soag and iva ssm, wio win
pmission of Pbis, xcp w pmid b aw.
Fo infomaion addss CLUTTER STOP.
Visi o wbsi www.csop.com
Pind in USA
$18.99
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Specia ThankS
To m cins, wo av sad anxi of waiing fo is booand wo av bn a consan soc of inspiaion, insig, infomaion,ag and findsip.
To m Edio, Mii Hin, wo is ind, og, and a cing cowd awappd ino on pson.
To Bab Scmi, S. Accon Mg. wi Ess, wo sppid somof imags in pap cap. Bab is an Affia mmb of Los
Angs Cap of NAPO (Naiona Associaion of Pofssiona Oganizs)of wic I am a mmb.
To Donna McCnaan, m Gapic Dsign, wo asi fowd wian cangs a w mad and did i wi nsisam.
And o m sband wo awas bivs a I can do aning I wan o.
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TeSTiMOniaS
Sia offs down-o-a pacica idas fo gna oganizing as
w as spcific idas a wod p ADD, dsxic, oading, OCD andandicappd cins. T so, as-o-ad caps giv oganizing
sggsions fo ac oom of os o avoid C Sa. Smmais
and I wi bd samns a nd of ac cap ma i possib
fo ad o asi app oganizing idas. T cro Off
pubto of t nto Study Grou o cro Dsorgzto
Otobr/novmbr 2003
Sias s of vaaiv qsions assiss ad in maing dcisions
abo wa o do wi i sff. S as ig idnifid aas pop
afficd wi ADD and Dsxia sgg wi and as snsiiv mad
sggsions a wi p m. Tis boo wi p von. T fiing
cap pd m psona and I can now qic iv and fi
wio fa of osing cods. ob Myrs, Mrrg & Fmy Trst,
f b Fows cur, Ud, ca.
T Foo is no an Opion! is insigf and f of sf idas o p
bo cidn and ads g b oganizd. I was ab o p som of
idas o s ig awa! pm Sms, M.ed., rmto, On, cd,
utor of t two-tm wrd wg boo, awg r: how to
isr cdr to om Sussfu rrs
W a now acing pidmic popoions in is con of oading
and o pscoogica isss ad o mainaining an oganizd om,offic and ifs. T i of is boo is indd smboic of w w a
as a soci-fid wi oo mc c. Tis boo offs insig and idas
fo ac of s o pic osvs p off foo and g oganizd. Doroty
rgr, ceO, ctr for Orgzto & Go pg; o nto
ord of profsso Orgzrs assoto d pst prsdt of napO-
os ags.
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A ga gidboo p nab fo s as a qic fs wn c
in offic o om bgins o again a ov. I appcia qic fnc
indx. Dicions a o poin and ofn moos, aowing m o
ag a pobm wi woing og i. Sro M. r, prsdt-
naWO-ie (T nt assoto of Wom usss Owrs, id
emr ctr) d Owr/ceO of Dsy W Rbbo comy, Ro
cumog, ca.
A ms-ad fo ADD individas. I addsss a of oganizing
isss ADD cins fac wi mo and snsiivi. Tis is on of bs
boos win fo ADD sf p. Hig commnd fo ADD individas,
pofssionas wo wo wi m and aso o gna pbic. crst
DTuo Rtr, prsdt, Tm Strtgs & pst prsdt, os ags
ctr of t nto assoto of profsso Orgzrs (napO).
Sia as psnd a maab ca, concis and oog mod
of ping s o ndsand ow, and w w nd o d-c. In a
moos, ig infomaiv and non-jdgmna mann, s
psns individa cas sdis o ma is oganizing boo njoab o
ad. a Srgrt, nto Uvrsty, cost Ms cmus
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Table of Contents
TITLE PAGE 1
COPRIGHT AND CREDITS 2
SPECIAL THANkS 3
TESTIMONIALS 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS 6
THE PSCHOLOG & REASONS FOR CLUTTER - Why We ClutterA Ca wi Sia 14
An Inviw wi Pscoogis Missa Tomasson, P.D. 17
An Inviw wi Tapis Babaa Bg, LCSW 24
INTRODUCTIONOn the Path To Bright Winows A look at getting organize 29
CHAPTER 1
This is Sanctuary? A look insie your Home 33
Rad o No T Fon Doo Foni 34
Scnaio 1: Caos 35
Scnaio 2: Pac 35
Usss Li Aa 36Smma 38
I Wi 39
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CHAPTER 2Its Alive, Its Alive! A look at your Living Room 41
W To Sa 42
How To G T 44Enainmn Aa 46
Ponogap Rcods 46
Adio Casss 47
Compac Diss (CDs) 47
Msica Insmns 49
S Msic 49
Boos 52
Cocibs 54Window Covings 57
Fni 58
Rgs 60
Pics/Poogaps/Mios/Wa Hangings 60
Smma 62
I Wi 63
CHAPTER 3Family/Rumpus/Bonus/Clutter Room?
A look at your Family Room 65
Mas 65
Swing/Ioning 67
Ioning Ca 68
Paing Bis 68
Smma 70I Wi 71
CHAPTER 4Eat In My Dining Room? A look at your Dining Room 73
Scnaio 1: Caos 73
Scnaio 2: Ba 73
How To Sa 74Smma 76
I Wi 77
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CHAPTER 5Where is Your Heart? Is it in your Kitchen? 79
Cons & Rad Ims 80
Lag Unsis 80Appiancs 81
Tacing Con Cangs 81
Dis Dain 82
Sma Caning Ims 82
Upp Cpboads 83
Pas & Bows 83
Pasic Bows 84
Gasss, Cps & Sacs 85Spics 85
Coff and Ta 85
Cannd Goods 85
Cooboos 86
Mdicins 86
Sdom Usd Soag Aas 86
Pacic 87
Low Cpboads 88Undsin Soag 88
Daws 89
Unsis 89
kicn Tows 90
Po Hods 90
Pacmas/Tabcos 91
Masing Cps and Spoons 91
Jn Daw 91Spcia Nds 93
Pan Soag 94
Boxd and Pacagd Goods 94
Cannd Goods 95
Sving Opions 96
Bod Ims 98
Miscanos Ims 98
Wa Soag 99
Rfigao 100
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Fzs 101
Advanags of Having a Rfigao 102
Sopping Invno 103
Cooing Som Tim Saving Idas 103
Eas Mas 104
No Mo Boing Mas 104
kicn Ca 105
A Sggsion 106
Smma 108
I Wi 109
CHAPTER 6Busy Little Room A look at your Bathroom 111
Und Sins 112
Spcia Nds 114
Vani Daws 115
Mdicin Cabin 116
Toopas Ca 116
Di Cos 118
Windows 119Non-Sandad Baoom Soag Opions 120
Toi Pap 122
Bab Tos 122
Baoom Ca 123
Smma 124
I Wi 125
CHAPTER 7Beroom Or War Zone? A look at your Beroom 127
T Bdoom as a Hom Offic 127
A Sping Pac 128
Bd Maing 128
A Qi Sanca 129
Qi Rading 129O Possibiiis 131
A Dssing Room 131
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T Cos 132
How o So o Cos 134
Sos 137
Pss 138
Govs 138Has 139
Cv Opn Soag 139
Scavs 140
Bs 140
Tis 141
Svs 142
Dss Daws 142
Maing Od O of Wa is Lf 145Aanging o Cos 145
Cv Hiddn Soag 146
Ping i o Wo 147
Smma 148
I Wi 149
CHAPTER 8
Huggable Crawlers From Babies Through Teens 151
T Nw Bab 152
T Bd 152
T Canging Tab 153
T Roc 153
T To Cs and O Soag Aas 153
T Babs Room 154Diap Bags 154
Coing 155
Fni fo Maing Cid 156
Foo Sps 156
Bd Sps 157
Ds Aa 159
Boocass 160
Coing 161
Opions 161
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11
Lvs of Mai 162
Caing A Socs! 163
Li Tings 164
Sos 165
Using Css of Daws/Coss 166
Tns & Coing 168
Using Hoos Ra Tan Hangs 169
Csomizd Coss 169
Saing Rooms. 170
Land Opions 170
Assigning Daws 172
Cooizing 173
Dividing Coss 173
Bd Maing 174
Paings 175
Rain Da Pa 176
Pzzs 176
Cocions 177
Bi Cap (Basba Hss) 177
Sffd Tos 177
Scoo Tings 178Scds 178
Homwo 179
Acivi Binds 180
Cidns A 181
Soag Boxs 182
Tim Fo Mom and Dad 182
Babsiing 183
Smma 184I Wi 185
CHAPTER 9Piles of Paper A look at your Papers 187
W Paps a Impoan 187
Ncssa Eqipmn and Sppis 188
Fi Cabins 189
Fi Fods 190
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Hanging Fis 192
Labs 193
Labing Fi Fods 193
Labing Hanging Fis 193
Coo Coding Fi Fods and Hanging Fis 194Sppis Ndd 195
Fiing Sandads 195
How To Fi 196
Financia Paps 197
Psona Paps 205
Waanis and Inscions 209
ow Pags 211
T Six Scond Mav 214F Loo - An Oganizd Dam 214
Dai Mai Dg 214
Hand Toos fo Managing Paps 216
Tic Ssms and Ti Us 216
Dai Ssm 216
W Ssm 216
a Ssm 217
Vica Hod 218Mai Ca 218
Ncssa Sppis 219
T Bs Pac o Sa 219
T Nx Sp 220
Ls Pacic 220
Sid No 223
Smma 226
I Wi 227
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Appenix One 228Rsocs
Hom Spp Sos
Offic Spp Sos
Loca SosPanning Candas
Pofssiona Hp finding an oganiz
Wbsis/Emai onin ADD & LD infomaion
Appenix Two 230Rading Rsocs fo ADD, Dsxia & Laning Disabiiis
Appenix Three 232How To Find a Coac
Appenix Four 234ADD or Life Coaches
Inex 236
Glossary of Terms Use in this Book 246
About the Author 254
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1
The Psychology & Reasons for Clutter
ACa Wi Sia
C is affcing miions of pop aond wod. And i is gingwos. T mo affn w bcom, mo gadgs and widgs w
b, and v incasing nd o av bigg and b ving as
von in a qagmi of sff. I as o sop.
M as in fid of oganizing aca sad wn I wasoganizing offics wi woing fo os. I was amazd a ac of
ndsanding wi gad o anding pap. I sad m own bsinss
in 1993 and am now a Cifid Pofssiona Oganiz and a Cifid
ADHD Coac. Bing cifid mans a I am cognizd b m ps as
a pofssiona wo as xpis in woing wi os wo av ADHD,
Laning Disabiiis, mid amaic bain disods, oading, and OCD.
A m sminas, a cn qsion aiss, A cain popwo a mo pon o c o av a psonai a is mo pon
o c? Wi I am no a apis, I av ad o man consos
abo w pop ca msss wv go.
I av wod wi man pop wos ivs av bn on apa
b disoganizaion. In addiion, a w nown Pscoogis, Missa
Tomasson, and Tapis, Babaa Bg, w inviwd fo is
boo. T giv simia asons fo ow and w of c. I wodi o sa wa I av and fom m cins, aong wi m psona
obsvaions of c, isoica and fisica.
W i SasChildhood Issues
M cins a cowdd wi c fo a vai of asons. Tbiggs ason sms fom i cidood. A concnd pan, o
caa, dcidd a a o i cid was paing wi was oo ong
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fo m. Somow, magica, pan nw a cid was
moiona ad o mov on and giv p is asd o. Tis scn
is pad b oo man pans o con. T pac p i cidns
bongings and ow m awa wio a scond og, sa ov
od poss of i cid.
Is i an wond a as an ad is sam cid sas No, o no
going o ow m sff o?
Emotional Pain
O cins bid was of pap, ia. T sac and sac and
sac ni av nic ows wic, in som insancs, bcom mazs.
Ti asons: Wn g og cing, m was a asid fom f moiona pain. Sinc was psn pocion,
ason, mo was, b pocion.
Physical Pain
Som cins bid was and mazs as a bai pocion fom
psica and/o sxa abs sffd as a cid. I sms a bo sv
moiona and psica/sxa abs cass pop o bid was. Andwa is amazing is a man of s pop avn a c as o w
coc paps/ims and bid was wi m.
Loss of Control and Trust
Wa I av obsvd ov as is a c is an OPEN
OBVIOUS DISPLA of som dp moiona . If ap isn sog
o addss s isss, i is v diffic fo pson o bcomoganizd. And wi ap, oganizing pocss is sow bcas
cin nds o caf wo og fa a coms wi
spposd oss of cono.
T is aso iss of s. If cin can s oganiz
o p m, n is a sandoff and wo canno pocd. Tis is
ni cins fa, no oganizs.
W a av diffn psonaiis and som js don ms. I js
mans a cin i nds ano oganiz, o addiiona
ap.
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1
Training Issues
Bsids was a cins c a msss a noma pop
p p wi. Noma maning no indd b Laning Disabiiis,
c., a pag s of s. Wn s c pobms occ i is
gna bcas no aining oo pac wn s ads w cidn.
Tis aining is so ccia and i is oa ovood and no vn
givn a passing og b pans o caas. And scoos
cain don ac Oganizing 101!
What Will Help
Woing wi cidn as povn o m a mos scoos ano dcaing o ids in aas of oganizing i scds, inoboos o i omwo. So i is f o aid pans wo do nondsand nd msvs, o o oganizs cad in b os samaid pans.
A i as a som simp inscions o ids, wo a cacon mc qic an w ads. Mos of m now aas a a
obing m; js wan p in fixing i.
B im w ac adood w a s in o was, aving and bs and wos of wav w xpincd as cidn.
On og a sow pocss of ap and/o bavio modificaiona w ab o sif o was of doing and ooing a ings. T Foo IsNo An Opion! is a p in a pocss. Tis boo is a basic pim fo
anon wi c, and i focss in on os aving addiiona difficog Anion Dfici Hpacivi Disod (ADHD), dsxia,oading isss, Laning Disabiiis and psica disabiiis.
Accoding o a nws fom ADD Conss, coc mdica
m fo Anion Dfici Disod is ADHD. T a 3 sbps
of ADHD: 1.Pdominan inaniv; 2.Pdominan paciv-
impsiv; and, 3.Combind. Howv, in is boo and sw
o wi s a ms ADHD, AD/HD, and ADD a sdincangab.
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I s a is boo givs o wa o nd o ndsand scopof o c pobm. B foowing m gidins o wi ovcom
disod in o if.
An Interview with: Melissa Thomasson, Ph.D.
Accoding o Missa Tomasson, P.D., a Licnsd and CinicaPscoogis in Acadia, Caifonia, wo ivs wi ADD, a wo
main cagois o oo a in aion o s and c:
1. Psyoogl/Bvorl: c cangs wio Anion Dfici
(ADHD) isss o Laning Disabiiis (LD).
2. Nuroogl Bss: c cangs wi Anion Dfici (ADHD)
isss, Laning Disabiiis (LD), o Mmo Pobms.
In is scion s xpos som of common cass of conic
disoganizaion. Tis discssion is man o giv a gna ndsanding
of os common cass. I is no man fo sf-diagnosis o diagnosis
of os o now. Diagnosis of noogica basd condiions and
psonai sc sod b don b a qaifid pofssiona sc as a
cinica Pscoogis o Psciais.
Psychological/Behavioral
Som pop av poo oganizing sis bcas did no anow wiin i fami sc. Ti pans ma av bn conicadisoganizd and acd o mods fo sing oganizaion in dai iving.
Incdd nd pscoogica/bavioa cago a compsivcocos wo:
Pvn msvs fom discading possssions
Hav oo mc o oganiz
kp voms of cods, magazins, c.
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Cass of Bing a cotor Incd
V big pop wi vaid and passiona inss (avman boos on man aas of inss, g msic cocions,c.)
Having a Psonai Tp a can b mad wos, o b, bi nvionmn wn gowing p
Bing ag o no ow aning awa, o b if, o a ma find a s fo i somda. T ma av com og dpssion a (o aisd b somon fom is a), ofcocing infoi, bb bands, sing, c; and/o
Dpssion. Gif o sv dpssion can bing mmo andconcnaion pobms casing pop o os ings and bcomdisoganizd. T dpssion cass m o av i o nong o do an oganizing, b i is aso dpssing o b in ano of cono nvionmn.
Somims oganizaiona pobms sow p in pop wo sfffom co-dpndnc o passivi. T do no s imis on opops c. T canno cidn ow o oganiz i oomso possssions o ow o s imis. Tamn: ap, assivnssaining, maia consing, o aning oganizing sis fo fami.
Personality Issues Affecting OrganizationTp A:
Ano common pscoogica pofi affcing oganizaion is Tp A psonai. T can b invovd in man pojcs wi mansponsibiiis so is i im o oganiz i ivs.
Tp As ma b big wi vaid inss. Som ad voaciosand av man boos, ag cocions of cods, c. T aso maav man obbis and mc sff. T spos and fami of Tp Ac ma b ps wi disoganizaion. If s ings w ndcono i cod ma if asi a om and cod ax if wab o o cos o.
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Neurological Causes
Rig Hmisp
Pop wo a ig-misp oind and oisic in i
ining ma av diffic wi dai and foow og. T idais of if g p asid, i Acconing, wic is a f mispacivi.
Fo man pop wo a ig-misp oind and aso avAnion Dfici Disods, i is diffic o focs anion on dais,maing papwo (wic is a daid f-misp as) ndsimaing.
Rig-misp oind pop ofn i o b caiv and ac binspiaion. Som mndan oganizing ass a diffic o g inspidov bcas ass do no invov nog caivi.
Obsssiv-Compsiv Psonai
A psonai p wic incds an inabii o g id of woss
o won o objcs, and oading mon o objcs fo f s.Tis psonai p nds o focs on dais and iss. T ma bpfcionis and can b sbbon and mis.
Obsssiv-Compsiv Disod (a bio cmica imbaanc pobmfd o as OCD) is no sam as Obsssiv-Compsiv Psonaiand is a spaa disod ad b mdicaion and/o spcific amnpogams.
Laning Disabiiis Vs.Anion Dfici Hpacivi Disod
Bo Laning Disabiiis (LDs) and Anion Dfici HpaciviDisod (ADHD)a noogica basd, no pscoogica. Dsxia(spcific aning disabii) occs in 15% of gna popaion,accoding o T Naiona Insi fo Mna Ha (NIMH). Msima is a a good 10% of gna popaion as ADD. I is v
common fo os wi ADHD o aso av som aning disabii.
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0
Laning disabiiis a casd b diffncs of fomaion in cbamisps. ADHD invovs diffncs in fncioning of bain smand fona obs. T bain sm is cn of anss, awanss,focsing of anion, fiing o disacions, and swicing focsfom on as o ano a wi. Som facs of ADHD a ma ad odisoganizaion a:
Impainc wi boing ass
Diffic pioiizing and maing dcisions
Impsiv pacing of ims
Lac of foow og(Is oo boing o ang p cos, I do i a)
Mmo pobms a og of b som as on spcific p of
Laning Disabii wi os wi abo mmo pobms as a pa
of ADHD. Fo is discssion w can consid is an aa of Laning
Disabii.
Mmo pobms can ang fom mid, o moda, o svsmpoms. Long o so-m mmo pobms can impac o
vda fncioning:
W w p soming
Wa w said w wod do
Losing a pon nmb
Rcaing a sqnc of doing soming as in a comppogam
Som pop wi a Laning Disabii in aa of mmo a
qi awa a av ad i a i ivs. Os noic mmo
pobms mg on as if gs mo compx. Noma aging aso
cas a sowing of mmo pocssing, so as os wi a Laning
Disabii in aa of mmo av vn mo diffic wi mmo.
Lss common cass of mmo pobms impacing oganizaion can
s fom ad ama, so, o o noogica condiions.
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Laning disabiiis a psn fom bi, noogica basd,
sa inid o famiia and psns som fom of diffic in f o
ig misp fncioning:
Lf-misp difficis can incd pobms wi ading,sping, ma, mmoizaion of dais (o aning sqncs),
isning, vba xpssion and win xpssion (pocssing angag);
Rig-misp difficis ma incd pobms wi msica
ns, ading facia xpssions and on of voic, socia/bavioa
cs (sc as ading bod angag), sns of coo and dsign, spaia
awanss, and dicionai;
Dsxia is ofn og of as a sop of vsas and
sv pobms wi ading. Dsxia can aca b f o ig
mispd in man diffn aas and can b fom mid, o moda,
o sv. T m dsxia is sd incangab wi Spcific
Laning Disabiiis. Tos wi dsxia av a csom cocion of
smpoms wi som pop aving a fw smpoms and os aving
a o. T mo smpoms w av mo amp o ivs. T
smpoms can b disabing and inf wi fncioning in man aasof if.
Pop can acqi smpoms of aning disabiiis o ADHD
og bain injis fom accidns, ad ama, o o noogica
condiions. ADHD can b wi o wio pacivi. In cn
diagnosic mana (DSMIV), a ps of ADD a fd o as ADHD
(Anion Dfici/ Hpacivi Disod). Tis is confsing b man
wo in o ms av pacivi o b cad ADHD. I pf o s m ADD, wi o wio pacivi.
ADD with Hyperactivity
(may or may not have organizing problems):
Lac painc fo boing, oganizing ass
Acivi oind (gassopp appoac - jmping fom onincomp as o ano)
Impsiv: acs on imps
Nds
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ADD without Hyperactivity:
Pobms focsing anion o sa o finis ass.
Dadams: ma av fqn invona dadaming owanding ogs. Aso ma av man idas, ogs b
diffic ping ogs ino acions.
Bo ps av disacibii isss. T wi sa on ing, do ano,
do no comp i o g off ac. If a mmo pobms, is can
ma ADD pobms mc wos. An xamp wod b going o o
do and and winding p in bac ad gadning. T g off
ac and can mmb o ac.
Bo ps av pobms focsing on boing o anxi povoing
ass. T diffic doing boing ass ads o disoganizaion and ofn
daid oind ass js don g don (paps, c.).
Disacibii mans a visa simi, adio simi, o inna
ogs a diffic o fi o. Tis fiing pobm mas i
diffic o opa aond nois, visa c o wi ons own innadisacs.
V ofn mdicaion is fis in of amn fo ADD.
Mdicaion can p pson o focs and dc i disacibii.
Tis in n ps bain in woing b o an oganizaiona
sis - saing and comping ass wio nding xcimn o
do so. Evn if f i owing cos on foo, aca pm awa.
Tis impovmn in bain fncioning ps i abii o focs on
coping sis a sngn og pad s.
Baing ass down ino sma pas ow o ma a is ow o
pioiiz, a asi o an wn can focs. Wio mdicaion
songs simi coming in is wa can asi focs on.
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If as is nd-simaing i is diffic o focs on. If ining
abo doing a as cas anxi, n anxi cas ano bai
o focsing on as. If w av sva qa powf simi coming
in i is ad o ma a dcision. Examp: maing a food coic in a
saan.
Sva coics ma sm qa appaing. Tis as fiing, wic
is w i can b ad fo os wi ADHD o pioiiz.
Fo Laning Disabd and Oganizaion
Mmo in oganizaion (dais, cagoizing) is diffic b can bag og coping sis and caing qipmn sc as an oganiz
boo o sngn fncioning. Sqncing (caing od of
pocds) can b ano aa of diffic, b can b ag
og coping sis o impov fncioning. Os av and good
coping sis as a cid o dvopd m og as.
Psychological/Behavioral Benefits of Organizing
Sf-sm dpnds in pa fom a sns of mas and fdbac
fom os. If w a disoganizd, w ma f o of cono, ns of
osvs and o fncioning, g ngaiv fdbac fom os, and f
mbaassd o asamd abo o disoganizd fncioning. So, bing
disoganizd ofn damags o sf-sm, and sf-confidnc.
Convs, aning oganizaiona sis and sing o fncioning
impov in oganizaion bids o sf-sm and sf-confidnc.
As w bid o sis and s sccsss in is aa, i ps s o
bcom vn mo moivad in ging oganizd. B iminaing xcsss
o if gs bac in cono.
Ofn, aionsips bnfi fom impoving oganizaiona sis:
Sposs bcom appi wi a mo oganizd om
I dcs sss fom os ings and c
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Bosss a app wi o incasd podcivi
Finds a appi wi o impovd sis in ning a ca
Bing on im s os now a o a consida of i
im
Foowing og
Snding a cad sows ogfnss
Treatment Strategies for Organizational Problems
Behavioral
Wn oganizaiona pobms a p bavioa, focs is on
aning basic sis of oganizing. Tn os sis a p o pacic
o p nan od bavio pans of disoganizaion.
Fo Tp A psonai Tap sssing axaion sis, im
managmn, sss managmn and oganizaiona sis.
Fo Conic Dpssion Mdicaion and/o ap.
Fo ADHD Mdicaion is ofn v pf aong wi aning im
managmn, sss managmn and oganizaiona sis.
Spac anasis is sd o p ma dcisions gading ow man
ims can b conaind. An xamp wod b an anasis of spac fo
boos. If on as 800 boos b as spac o so on 300, singoganizaiona pobm bcoms ca.
Dcisions ms b mad abo wa o p, and wa o giv awa. I
is a aiona/ogica pocss. If a xpnsiv ims a a no bing
sd, can b donad o ibais/msms so can b sn and
pson fs b abo giving awa i ings. O cod b
sod fo cas o go owads soming wowi.
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An xamp of an iminaion pocd:
If o dcid o bing in fiv nw boos, aso dcid o imina fiv
od ons. Tis ps o bcom moivad in ging oganizd bcas
iminaing xcss gs o if bac in cono.
Ging oganizd is opf and mpowing. I bids sf-sm and
fncioning. T a fw bnfis o bing disoganizd o cd.
An Interview with: Barbara A. Berg, LCSW
Wn asd ding o inviw wa scood concpion of
c is, Babaa A. Bg, Licnsd Cinica Socia Wo, and a psoniving wi ADHD, spondd wi foowing cinica and psona
insigs:
No on mas c as fas as somon wi Anion Dfici
Disod (ADD). W o ooing fo on pap in paica
o js ing o g o doo, anon wo as an iss wi
c can o v go i asons, and is xm
diffic o a wa ings go.
Wi os iving in Vicoian ims ad pannd c, w woiv in odas im av mo sff, and mo c, in mopacs an Vicoian a inabians v imagind. Toda
o can av c on o Emai and o answing macin,aong wi o coss, nd bd and in fi cabins no omnion in figaos, daws, on dss, abs, svs, fis
ans, anw imaginab. If is spac o so o odaning, w ia o figaiv, if o a incind o avc in o if - i wi b .
On of compxiis of c is a diffn mmbs of o
fami o wo oganizaion a bond o av diffn ms fo i.
Gna spaing, if c is os, o sa Is m sff.
If i is somon ss, o b incind o ca i jn. Evn if o
don nd i and av no pans o v s i, o pobab s ias a as of som so, and ano pson wi s i as as.
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Howv, ind of c I am spaing of is ind
a gs in o wa; a infs wi o aciving wa o
wan. Consid s fiv pscoogica aspcs of c. S
wic ons o can a o:.
A. C ofn as o ow a psons mind a wos. I can
psn ow mc sss o av and ow cos o a bic wa o
cod b wio vn fing i.
B. Fo insanc, if o av cd fis and o can find aning o
fi aning mo in daw, o mig aso av a cd mind
a dosn g ings don. o mig av oo man ogs nning
aond, and o don aiz ow oo mc on o mind ps o fom
ffciv maing dcisions.
Js i a cd fi cabin, a cd mind ps o fom
nowing w ings a wn o nd m. Is pf o as osf,
Was mo impoan fo m ig now? Sod I o aca g
soming don, o is i wo m wi o aca a im o and g
oganizd. Oganizaion can p o ca o ogs, wic can ow
sss.
C. Is as, spcia fo somon wi ADD o ADHD, o in a
c sod js a ca of isf. Bsids, is a pain o go og a pi
of caos pic b pic. Tis is spcia if o don av a pac fo
ving o go. Som fos g in abi of waiing a ong im ni
das a xpi, and n js ow i a awa. If o av a pi, and
o afaid o aac wo ing, js da wi fiv ings a a im.
o cod a appoac; o do no ca nog o ca a spac fosoming, so js ow i o. o pobab won miss i.
D. o ma noic a o av c in som pas of o if and no
in os. Ts a good canc a pacs w o av c
psn aspcs of o if od a avoid.
Unopnd mai can b downig sca! So, oo, can an ovsffd
cos. Consid bdding p wi a find wo accompan o wio vn ino woods and find o was bn iding . Is mc
mo figning o fanasiz abo wa o no facing a o confon
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i ad on. o mig b spisd o find soming ov ov
fogon o og od os.
E. C can av a wa of maing o a fo ving.
If o av an iss wi bing on im, a cd cos can p
o fom waning o go anw. Bing a awas ps o a a
disadvanag. o sa ac ncon wi an apoog o an xcs, and
nv qi cac p af a.
Ma caning o cos an xcis in scing ims fo sa
sop, o sppoing o favoi cai, o coing omss. If o
appoac inning o o wadob as a f-good siaion insad ofa pnismn w o a focd o giv p ings o mig pf o
p, spac wi opn p in a , and as cos bcoms oganizd
(go aad and a osf o nw angs!) o can oo fowad o a
b socia if. o av coodinaing ofis a ad, and wi b
ab o sow p nffd and on im.
C can ofn b a mssag o os a wa o a doing
and wn o g aond o i is no impoan. I can imp a cavaiappoac o if. Fo m, as an ao, spa, socia wo, wannab
sandp comdinn (and mo o poin, a pson wo is ofn
pagd b ADHD), I av cn com o s a c wic is o of
m cono is no a sign of sccss (I am sooo bs, so mc in dmand).
T c cons in m if (and biv m, I av m) a
bais a p m fom aing advanag of opponiis if as
o off m. A 46, I aiz a i is ig im a I g id of aninga is ging in m wa, spcia obsacs of m own maing.
I av s asid on vning a w, wn m dag as omwo
and I av a osod aid, o ddica o oganizing m paps, m
offic, m if. Af a, m cins, finds, dag and ads a wo
i and so am I. And so a o!
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On the Path toBright Windows
A Look at Getting Organized
I is said a s a windows o so. A o windowsbig? O, a d? Is o so nging fo if fom c, fogon appoinmns, and os sff? As in pmis
of m boo, T Pmann Soion, if o a:
Rad
Wiing
Ab
o CAN bcom oganizd. And o can sa a wa if o
wiing. So, a o ad? Ga! W going o a a jon. W sa
in bb-swn viag of Disoganizaion, w o cn iv,
and nd o jon a ci igs of Oganizaion, w o b
moving o!
W sa on pa of o jon b waing og o om,oom b oom. Don bo o sov ings ino cpboads and bind
doos. W bo now was . Don wo, I won ! B, I do
pomis o soming: sma miacs, basd on od-fasiond basic
idas and opions. M mission is o s o f fom c. If nd
s is Hos Baif, ga! Howv, bing f fom c a
mans Hom Sw Hom.
Aong wa, I mnion ims a o can s, o pcas, op in pocss of oganizing.
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Introduction
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0
POINTS TO PONDER
Don b aning o s aning as ping o ob a C Sa.
Sop ooing pas was casing pobm and a agood ad oo a i.
If o f fsaion v im o s an im, n
s soming wong wi im, ow o sing
i, o w is ocad.
CAUTIONA product that works great for someone else doesnt alwaysmean itll work for you. When we finish our journey, youllbe able to start depending on your own buying judgment!
Bfo o b aning, a in abo w i p. T
ims ma b inxpnsiv, b bing ims o don nd can g v
cos. Ps, o b adding o c! If o do b soming a
o biv wi wo, sav o cips. o nv now!
I a disi and amos fa aing ings bac, b wn
soming dosn wo, i dosn wo. I js av o gi m and
a i bac. So of i jmping ino a cod swimming poo!
Loo a foowing poins abo bing podcs:
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1
Wn w finis wi basics of o om (os, apamn,
condo, ownos, o oom) and ow o and ids sff, w n
ac dadd pap (mai, nwspaps, magazins, nwss, c.).
Iv offd som im managmn fo bs pop in addiion o
spac panning and dcoaing ips in man of caps. Wn o
dai iv wi canging isss Anion Dfici Disod (as I do),
dsxia, Laning Disabiiis, compsiv cocing and saving isss,
o a in a wcai o nd simp soions o big pobms. T
ips and idas a o p. Mab i g o o in of vn b
ons.
So, if o windows a a i cod, s cang a and sin
m p!
B wa, cang can amos psica , so don do a of is in
on da. Ta an o o wo ac im o wan o pocd. o njo
i mo and o can n g sd o cang gada.
Sow, b sadi, o can sccd! Tis boo o p o oo ma oooonnnng im o finis wiing and diing. I cod on wo in on
o wo-o sps, b i did g don. T vidnc is bfo o s!
Pas don fain bfo w vn sa! Smi, and a a ong coo
din. o CAN g og is. Hav fai!
Now, s g sad o st t ous ordr!
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This is Sanctuary?
A Look Inside Your Home
Yo om is man o b o sanca. I is pac o com own wod as ban o down and o nd o cag o
bais. B ow can o oo fowad o coming om wn vn o
don find i inviing and wn o sanca isf mas o wan o
scam?
Inviing mans wam, opn and c-f. Ls xpo wa is
mans and ow o g fom . Ta a dp ba and g ad
o iv o dam!
To bcom c-f, s fis oo a a a if pobm wi
abndanc:
Ra Esa agns somims psn cins wo av oo man
ims ing aond i oms. I cod b c, o, js oo mc of
oo man ings. T agn ma av a diffic im xpaining o
omown wa nds o b don o g os sod sa bcas
don wis o offnd a cin b ing m o g id of i sff o
o ca i cons and av a fs can sm in i icns.
Raos biv a a oo of spaciosnss is mo appaing o a
ponia b an a oo of c. I is is sns of spaciosnss a
ps s a om. T sm of fs bad coois and sof msic is aso
sd o ca an inviing nvionmn.
If a oo of spaciosnss is wa ss a om, n s av a oo
wi w iv in o om! Evn if w don own a om, w can si avo iving spacs wam and inviing. And mab wi coois and msic,
oo!
1
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T bs pa of bing c-f is a vn wn o os ndsdsing and o foos nd scbbing, i is ss noicab. Wn os c, di and ds a mo noicab.
Ls sa caing is wondf avn of sn gac...w wi avamos vw in o om, fom fon doo o bac. Bassd, is pac o a imagining is no js fo o gss o njo.Is fo o o njo dai.
Wa o o fon doo...pnd o a gs visiing fo fis im.
Ready or Not The Front Door Frontier
o and I a a o fon doo. W av aad bn aacd b nmos cobwbs gabbing a o ai and figing o g in o mos.Is i cawing acoss ds wi no wa. o ac o and opn
doo. W wa ino o iving spac.
Wa do o s? Do o wan m o s i?
Wa do o a? Do o wan m o a i?
Wa do o sm? Do o wan m o sm i?
How do o f abo is spac wv js nd?
Do o wan o b , o do o wan o n awa?
And is is impssion o wan o giv pop visiingo om?
Wa am I ging a? Js is oganizing is mo an findingoms fo sff w own. A om fo o sff mans a somingas a pac, and wn is no o immdia noic is absnc.
s, I biv a omss ims nd oms, b i dosn nd .I is aso a of caing c-f iving spacs a a pasing oo gss and, mo impoan, o s a sn pac w o ov ob.
How can w accompis is os of sni? T dicionadscibs sni as ncodd and big. T big windows o oso can b o Hos of Sni!
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To ca a of c-f iving spacs a a pasing,
objcivs a fw:
No cobwbs
No odos a noc pop ov
A oom a sas, Com on in and si down
Qsion: Hav o v bn in os oms w o w afaid
o si down fo fa of spoiing pfcion, as opposd o bing afaid
o si down fo fa of dadd swamp fv? Answ: Of cos o
bo qsions!
I am no aing abo caing pfcion . I on wan o p
o ca a pac as c-f and w o wan o b. Ls oo
a wo xm scnaios:
Scenario 1: Chaos
T doo is diffic o opn bcas ids dmpd i scoo
boos and sos ig a fon doo, b o manag o sov o
wa in. Discadd coing is id fom fon doo o a bdoom
down a.
As o ma o wa ino icn wi gocis o na
smb ov a od p nwspap on foo. o a wonding,
Is is odas o as ws pap? o p gocis on foo
bcas o icn cons a smad wi pan b and
j fom af-an sandwics. And o sposs bifcas is on
smad j! And wa is a oib sm? Ewwwwww!
o wand og os ooing fo aid wi gocis andnoic s no on oom, cai, coc o foo aa a dosn av
sff on i. o sddn f o somac ign and as w
p, aning o ba oos. o wan o scaam!!!
Scenario 2: Peace
o opn doo, wa ino icn and p gocis on
icn con. Aaa, soming sms good! o spos ba oom and sad dinn. T ids a woing on i omwo a
icn ab. T join o and p o p gocis awa.
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o noic snac diss av bn insd and a in sin. oaso s ids sos in bas a fon doo and nwspapsin magazin ac. o sposs bifcas is now in sig.
o si down wi o fami and a abo da fo a fwmins and n o go o p finising ocs on dinn awas sad. o dcid o g o of o wo cos, so o go o obdoom o cang. o s a vas f of fs fows fom gadnsiing on o dss. o so app o b om!
Wi v om is no fid wi a spos and ids, I op a og ida. A ong da is vn ong wn o iv in Scnaio 1caos.
Wn o a on wo as cad mss, o sa o f ia fai o i o oa incapab of aing ca of osf. Tisads o sss and can vna am o a.
Js bcas w av if cangs o iv wi, w do no avo cangs p s fom doing wa w wan o do, incdingging oganizd! And w don av o av an osid job o ma
ging oganizd an ss impoan. A o ad o go fo i? I amgad o s a o av dcidd o conin in o qs fo bigwindows! Now a w a og fon doo, s jon ino fo (n) aa.
Usss Li AaT fo is a sming sss i aa a svs as an n
ino iving oom. T a man pop wo oa igno is i
spac, wic is a v impoan o o iving oom.
Apamns don sa av fos, mab a so a, if aning.In aas w wa is paica cod o snow, fo sd ob aa bwn an osid som doo and doo ading ino os.
In Midws and Eas s aas a somims cad md
ooms. Man od oms si av s nancs. T a a gapac o a off snowsos and ain boos. T a vn oms aav bo som doo nanc and a fo.
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In oms wi a fo, o g mos o of is spac as possib:
A mio on on wa, wi a a pan on o, wi visawidn is aa and giv i mo appa. T mio is aso sffo ccing o appaanc wn aving o wn somon
coms o doo.
A naow ab can b sd o od mai, s, o ims a ndo b an wi o wn o av.
A sanding coa po o wa pgs can b pacd focoas and as.
Coic fami poos can aso b ng in is aa.
If o av cidn, o can p pasic cbbis in fo foi boos and bongings. Ts cbbis sac and a faisd. I commnd ons wi a ip so a ims ossd inwi no o o. Cbbis a sod in goc sos as vgabbins and can aso b fond a vai sos, i Tag.
Tis ida wos w if fo doo is on a is sd o nand av o om. If von ss a bac doo, n cbbis amo sf in a aa.
If pasic cbbis n o off, cc ino Ia, Pi On Impos, ofni sos a ca bins a a svicab and aaciv.Eigs wi daws a nic ooing and sff o p in m isn
visib fo os o s.
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Arlyne
An is a sa-a-om Mom wo is nab o wo bcas of sv pobms wi ADHD and aso aving Bi-Poa disod (asonown as Manic/Dpssiv Disod). Wi sband in miias js cod no affod o b cbbis o aning s o p a fondoo fo sf, sband o ids. B a didn d . Saca fond som ag conscion nais on on of was and pm in wa bind fon doo. H ids ng i bacpacs,s ng ps and sband vn ng is fann pac . S
did wa s ad o do o ma ings wo. S pans on ging somnic oos wn bdg aows i.
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Summary
Ca a wcoming imag a o fon doo
Ca a oo of spaciosnss b moving xa fnisings
o om is no js fo o gss o njo. Is fo o o njo
dai
Oganizing is a of caing c f iving spacs a a
pasing
A ong da is vn ong wn o iv in caos
In oms wi a fo, o g mos o of is spac aspossib
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W, w av ad abo i, wad og i and now i is im o p
o wi w o mo is so pa foowing, o od:
i Wi:
Ca a wam wcom a m fon doo and ino m fo
Rmov fni a is no ong sf o wis o p
Enjo m om b aing msf as a gs
Ca a iving spac a is pasing o m and os
No ma m da ong b iving in caos
It is written that A mans life consists not inthe abundance of the things which he possesses. (Luke 12:15)
Wow, w go og fon doo and fo ig fiv! Is now
im o a a swig of wa, mop o bow and av o o ivingoom.
SMILE! I s a gimac!
Com on ...o CAN do i!
Ok, pa af m: I WILL GET ORGANIZED bcas I can!
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1
Its Alive, Its Alive!
A Look at Your Living Room
T iving oom is sa fis oom a o s gss ino. Iis pbic viwing aa of o om and fo o own pac of mind
o wod i o p i na and id. W a going o so ogis oom, discssing ings o s is oom fo: msic, obbis, andaxing. Tn w a going o a abo coos sd in oom, fni o s, msic o mig isn o, pics and poogaps
o wan o ang on was, and vaios o ims o mig wan odo in is oom. I is a pac o iv in.
Dos anon a iv in i iving oom? Usa on ing
aiv and bding ovnig is sff. Wn a fami oom is avaiab, iving oom bcoms a pac w i sff is p o b an caof a, o w gss a naind so o wi no aow anon sin i!
Psona, I in is oom sod b cad fon oom. I isamos awas a fon of os, o a as cos o i. In pviosims i was cad fon oom. I do no now wn a cangd,b I wi gss m Vicoian siss of ong ago w annod wn
soppd sing m bs oom. B n, mab no, bcas n did no av o p i ooing i a bs oom!
Sinc iving oom is sa fis oom sn wn somonns o om, g i o fc wo o a and wa o a i. Foinsanc . . .
Waing ino a oom a is paind big d wi fc a oadiffn imag of o an if oom w paind a pa b. Ni
coo is ig o wong, b ac givs an impssion of wo o a, jsi waing ino a oom a is cd, o f of c.
If o a wonding ow o ca a ga iving oom o fcwo o a a, foow m! Do no fog o wa
w ARE on a ong jon!
2
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Where to Start
Fis, imagin wa o wod i o iving oom o oo i. Wow!Good og! And gss wa? o can a g fom wisom panning, wic I wi discss wi o ogo boo.
Scond, aong wi panning, a oos o wi nd in od oca o ims no in o f vision. Ts oos a:
A. Emp boxs, o gabag bags if o pf (o wi ndsom fo ac oom)
B. Lag as cans
C. A maing pn o ab o boxs. If o a sing as bags,ap nopap o bags fo abing.
Sa focsd in iving oom fo now, and no o av oomwi o a woing . Som ins o p o sa in is oom a:
If o s sos o aning s a bongs o o ids, sposo oomma, do no a m o i oom! (S foowingpaagaps on wa o do wi is sff.)
If possib, somon s wac o ids wi o advoing o ngis o maing o dam com .
If as no possib, av ids p o.
Unss o cidn a babis, is d-cing can acap m. o wi b aining m in ow o ca fo ibongings.
Aow osf wo os a a im o wo on is oom.
Evn if o a no og af wo os, sop. o wi bag o conin if o do i sow. Tis caing pocss can a som
im and I do no wan o o g ovwmd bfo o vn ma asma dn in c. I is mc b o av cangs occ sow soa is no a soc o o moions, o anon ss.
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Belinda
Binda is an a o noing ga. S is impsiv, adsong, andbond and dmind o av a pfc iving/dining oom foTansgiving, wic is js a fw ws awa. Aog in 50s,
s is si ing o win Moms appova b aving ving jsig.
T a sacs and sacs of mai, pap cippings, caoons,aics and vaios coing ims aond oom. M sggsiono a js an o o wo and ga on p of im a a im didno s w. S HAD o do i a, and in js on da. S cod onaffod o av m fo wo os so I id as mc as possib oav ga i ims og.
S cad m nx da o sa a s go oom cad andwod wai ni af Nw as o sa on o ooms. Wn Iasd wa s did wi a of sff, s said a s bcam soovwmd a nd of da a s sovd s of sffnd bd and in an mp cpboad, cabin o cos spac a
s cod find!
Wn o nd o b a pfcionis o wind p bing js iBinda. o wi no p aning awa nss o can p i awa
pfc. Go aad and p i awa, pfc o no!
If o canno oa og of aving oom incomp af
wo os, and o av os of c, as a sd find o p
o. W sd? Finds can somims pass jdgmn, o os
o pobm wi c. And can aso g bod wi ping o
wn av so man o ings o do. So wa do o do? T bs
sggsion I can off, of cos, is o i a Pofssiona Oganiz! W?
Bcas:1. T a xps.
2. T a ica bond o no divg an infomaion aboo o o bongings.
3. o a paing m o no g bod.
B, o a ading is boo, so i o f o cannoaffod an oganiz, o o a dmind a o can do i osf. In
i cas, s conin o s wa w can do.
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How to Get There
T foowing sps wi p o gid o wi d-cing. o can
foow s sps fo ac oom a is cd, o o can foow opions
a I sggs fo o ooms as w av og o om (wic mansa o wi av o ad ni boo bfo o sa):
1. Pic p a paps o find in is oom and p m in a box, boxs,
o bags. Lab conain(s) wi wod paps.
2. If o find bis, a av no bn paid, do NOT p m in
boxs. Find a saf pac o p m ni o can pa m.
(Paps/bis a da wi in ano cap.)
3. P magazins/nwspaps in i own box and ab i nwspaps/
magazins.
4. Pic p a can cos anging aond, caf fod m and p
m ino a box, boxs, o bags, abing m can cos. (Wn
o a og woing fo oda, p s cos w bong
so o do no av o p m wi di ons again.)
5. Pic p a os sm di cos and p m in a box, boxs o
bags abd and, (o sin cos!). Wn o a og in is
oom, p m in amp, o na o wasing macin.
6. Pic p a ims a bong in o ooms (wav i ma b) and
p m in a box, boxs o bags. Lab conain bongs
sw.
7. P ings o wan o giv awa ino a box, boxs o bags. Lab
conain giv awa.
8. P gabag ( f-ov pizza, pan b and j
sandwics, c.) ino as can.
o can p a s ings in pis on foo if o do no av mcof a mss. I is js asi ping m in boxs in od o mov m o
w o wan m o go and i is ss ovwming.
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If wo os sms i an ni, n js ca on sma scion fo
an o. If an o is oo mc, on-af o. An sa is b an
non. Mab omoow o wi b ab o spnd mo im. Pa anion
o ow o f. Aso wac a o do no fog o a o mdicin
and o a bfo o sa. Bing ng and doop is no pf.
Af o av picd p and spaad ving o wi pobab
av a nmb of fid boxs o bags. Fo ig now, in m p agains
a iving oom wa, o of fow of affic. If possib, pac m so
a no in dic sig of fon doo!
Wn o ooms a an ca of, n w can com bac and
a ca of s conains. T ppos ig now is o giv o somImmediate Visual Calm.
O if o pf, o can da wi s conains af o ca ac
oom.
caUTiOnOne of the problems with dealing with the container right away is that you
may not have the space to put these items away until the room the itemsbelong in has also been cleared of clutter. But if it makes you feel better todo so, then by all means do it. It is up to you and what you can tolerate.
Now, som qsions o p a vision in o ad. NO no a s!
Is o iving oom a pac w pop isn o msic, o ad?
Do o av a piano in is oom?
Do o isn, o wod i o isn, o a so in is oom?
Do o av o pa msica insmns in is oom?
Do o av a cocion of figins in is oom?
Do o av boos o wod i o ad in is oom?
Do o av aniq pics of fni in is oom?
Do o av Psian gs in is oom?
Is is a oom w o wan gss o ga, b no o fami?
B answing s ps of qsions, o wi sa o g idas of
wa o wan is oom o oo i, and ow o wan o s i.
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I wi fis discss o nainmn aa and n I wi pocd
wi o ims o ma av in is oom.
Entertainment Area
T a man objcs in is oom and w wi oo a m a
spaa.
Ponogap RcodsIf o si av dis ponogap codings (cods), n w wi
nd o find soag fo s.
Carly
Ca ad civd som ponogap cods and s msic
af pans did a ad bn ga-gandpans. Wio
ining, o going og cadboad boxs, s sod m in gaag. S was a scooac and did no av im o go
og a papwo and sff a pans ad f bind,
aong wi s boxs of cods. S ivd na ocan, so
gaag was p damp and mid. Wn s fina ad im o ca
m and w sad caing gaag and opnd boxs, s was
oifid o find a cods ad bcom wapd ( ad bn
sacd on op of ac o insid boxs), and s msic was
i owd o cmbing o pics. S basica os wococion.
caUTiOn
Disk phonograph records should be stored on their edges,preferably in a record jacket. Otherwise, cut cardboard to sizeand place between the records. Better still; make a jacket out ofcardboard pieces, holding the pieces together with scotch tape.
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If o ms so ponogap cods in o gaag, s ca pasic
bins wi ig fiing ids. If o iv in a v o and/o mid cima
o find a diffn soag aa an gaag, basmn o aic fo s
ims, spcia if o a ining of sing cods. Aso oo fo ani-
midi ims a can b p insid conains o p o mois.Evn in v d cimas, soing cods and s msic in a gaag is no
bs ing o do.
Adio CasssTs casss can b sod in:
Boxs wi ids avaiab a offic spp sos
So boxs
Spcia pasic boxs mad spcifica o od casss
Fams wi sos, mad o of cadboad, pasic o maavaiab a msic sos o in adio cass caaogs.
P s casss in cagois so a asi fo o o find
qic. T sing diffn cood abs fo o diffn cagois o
p o find cass o wan.
Ts adio aps sod b wond so on i ads sow,
avoiding damag o magnic ap. (T ad is ca pa of
ap js bfo bown coo sas.)
Compac Diss (CDs)As wi adiocasss, a aso sma cass spcifica dsignd
fo CDs. T sa sac vica. If o do no wis o spnd
mon fo s cass, n o can s a sobox, o simia p of
sma box.
If o a going o s a sobox o o sma box, sand CDs on
nd so a ab sows.
Again, fo o as, cagoiz m i apabica, b compos,
o b msica gop.
O, coo cod fo as idnificaion.
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To p wi is a i, abing osid of sobox. If
o p cain composs, gops, o cagois a og in on
box i wi p in a as finding box o wan. Tn wiin box
o wi av o dcid if i is wo o im o go apabica b i,
compos o gop.
If o now, in o a of as, a o wi b ping, soving
and owing s so boxs aond wn waning a CD and o
wi pobab no -sac m n do no s m.
Pic osf sing soboxs n imagin sing a vica
cabin insad w o can asi p o js on CD wio
disbing s.
caUTiOn
A problem with using shoeboxes is that if you have many CDsand want to stack the shoe boxes on top of each other vertically, it
makes it difficult to get the one or two CDs you want to play.
POINTS TO PONDERAwas o pic osf sing soming bfo oaca b i. Do no b i js bcas i sonds i a good
ida o nigbo ss i o o ad abo i. Dpnding
on o bdg, a nmos cabins of a sizs awi os an p of im a o wan o p. B awa of
o spac avaiabii wn maing s coics.
In sma ooms, i is bs o go vica. If o av ag ooms wi
a good da of spac, n cabins a waand. Aso, vai
of cabins is impoving so a can bnd wi o psnfnisings o p oo o i.
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Msica InsmnsIf o iving oom is w o wi b njoing msic, i is asi o
av ving fo a ppos in is oom. Fo insanc: piano, vioin,
cain, s msic, c. I wi now a abo s msica pics andwa o do wi m.
Msica insmns nd spcia ca bcas of i dica na
and va. I is bs if a in i own cass o a v as, covd
and pacd in a saf aa w pop wi no bmp ino m.
Svs o sands can b bog ino iving oom o od s
insmns. Howv, coss can aso b sd o so s ims, if no in consan s.
If o a c nog o av som ag aniq pics, o can so
o msica insmns in m. And a fni pics, i amois,
can os man ims.
POINTS TO PONDERIf o a ping an insmn js fo mmos sa, ovi b ncasing i in a spcia mad caf, sadow box, o acic
box and ang i on a wa, o p i in a dispa cas (i a cio
cabin). M sband was asonisd wn I did is wi is
boood cain. I aso ncasd a pic of im wi is fa
wn ad bo pad cain og. Is a nic
mmo.
S MsicWn o pa in a band o coi, o pobab av o da wi os
of s msic. Evn if o pa piano, o pobab av oo mc
s msic o so in piano bnc, so:
Hav a p bas o opn conain o od s msic.
Us boonds on op of a sdio piano (wa gg piano)
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0
If o av a bab gand piano, n a dcoaiv conain (wic,bass, pocain bas, c.) fo s msic. Tis can i si on piano, o pfab, on foo. If o a a sios pianis, op of
piano wod no wo v w as v im o opnd piano id pop! T gos a s msic on foo. Waning! Tis is cadClutter Start!
Wn o av mc mo an a bas-f of s msic, a fiingcabin mig b ing o s. An aniq o woodn pic wod oob in iving oom.
If mon is no an iss, a baif woodn and wic sving
nis wi daws a can b sd fo soag. Ts can b fond afni sos and og caaogs. T o find on wi daws ignog so o can sand o s msic pig.
O g a wood o ma boocas (nw o sd) wos svs a jsdp nog o od s msic pig.
o can a m down on boosf, and in daws, b
mmb a o wi av o if paps o g o s o wan. Tisis ano mpaion fo Clutter Start!
In i cas, i wod p if o id o so o msic apabica,b i cago (msic p), o Compos.
Howv, ow do o do a wn o a sing soming o ana fiing cabin, i a boocas? Ls xpo a.
T simps wa o s a boocas fo s msic is o a a coodpic of ic pap, o a cood fi fod (wic o can c in af oav wo sing pics), and p i in bwn o apabica o cago
Us a ca acic cas ( ons
ma o od magazins)
Us ca daws a a i a
sma fiing cabin and av ws.
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1
spaaions, maing s i sows abov s msic. (Tis wi aso
wo in o fi cabins if o a no sing Pndafxs o spaa
o cagois, o composs.)
If s msic is oo a fo fi fod o cood pap, o
cod vn wa do in Docos offics: Ta fi fod, o
av pap, and a i on is ong sid, spaaing o ss of msic
b o cosn cagois (apab, compos, gop); ab nd a
sics o bond sf. Hopf fi fod dos no sic o oo
mc bond dg of sf. If i dos, cing i bac a i
bfo o ab i.
If o av p of dsxia a as o confsing s, n
mab diffn cood pics of pap wi p o find o cago
fas. Coo aso wos w fo os wi ADHD and givs a qic
visa as o w s msic is a o a sacing fo.
Labing svs is ano p if coo disbs o, o if o a
coo-bind. I wod si p o s som p of spaaion bwn
cagois.
Aniq pics of fni ma aso wo w in conaining smsic, and wod oo spcia nic nx o a bab gand piano.
Som aniq boo cass av gass doos on m (bais boocass).
Tis ps p ds off o cocion and aso ps ss
fom fing o foo wn somon was b. Of cos, if o
boosvs a cammd wi s msic a pobab wi no appn
anwa!
o can aso so s msic in pasic nvops fond in officspp sos. Mos of m com in diffn coos and sizs, so o
sod b ab o find soming a o i.
Ts nvops a aso s-og, wic ps os of s wi
ADHD. o can n p s nvops on o boocass, o in
daws. Rmmb o ab osid of nvop so o do no
av o wond wa p of msics insid.
Now a w av ood a o opions fo o msic, w a going
o oo a o ims a o a soing in iving oom.
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BoosSomims iving ooms a qi aas w ading is don,
possib wi isning o msic. Som sof iging, possib wi pinbbs, can ma is a v sooing oom.
Dimm swics on iging fixs can add o is fing ofcomfo. Howv, good song iging is ncssa on aca adingma. So, a vai of iging is ndd. B w aso av o find pacso p boos w wan o ad .
Boos sm o av a if of i own. Som a a and os aqi common. I dos no a ma, as ong as o av spac fo
m.
Denise
Dnis ovs boos, mo b. Bcas of Obsssiv Compsiv Disod (OCD) pobms, s cons acand v on, w adding o o ding (a) fom cocion. S ivs in a v sma, on-bdoom om and ps
boos in boocass in bdoom, a 500 of m! Tis givs as accss o wav s wans o ad. T pobm is sdos no ad mos of m. T boos a fo oos. Bcas of OCD and ADHD pobms, s as nv f v sma and boos a sd o os a s is no as dmb as s fs. Sas no spos o cidn o os o a s is a cid ofGod and is fo ovab as is.
The proud and arrogant man, Mocker is his name; he behaveswith overweening pride. Proverbs 21:24.
If o a a ping boos o sow off (com on now, bons), n dona m immdia and id osf of c, fings of dci and pp adacs. Libais wi a boos, as wi som scoos. T a s is: Do o ad m? If odo, n g os boos ino good soag oms.
T on o ason fo ping a ag nad pi of boos iso giv m o o cidn, o i cidn. Consid ing mav os boos wi a aing i own famiis. kping a
iba aciv is wo ppos of boos!
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EvieEvi as ndds of boos. Bo s and sband a
avid ads, av xnsiv and awas bing om boos fom
aboad. T boos w ing vw and I commndd somgood qai boocass in i iving oom, w id o ad.Evi ad a b ida. S and sband dsignd a wa-o-wa,foo-o-ciing boocas, wi a siding add. I minds m ofaw ibais I av bn in. I is abso baif. T did avndds of boos and so sd a sss wa wi a cada ciing
on wic o bid boocas.
Tis was an xpnsiv pojc, and o do no nd o bid scan aboa ni. If o av ndds of boos, o can conncboocass o ac o and ca o own wa ni.
If o anco cass o wa, i is vn possib o sac m,caing o own wa-o-wa, ciing-o-foo maspic. Of cos,
o oo wi n av o s a add o ac pp svs.
Ano opion as som capn nowdg. T insid ofo was a mad p of vica 2 x 4 wood spaaions, o 4 x 6s,dpnding on sc. If o ba og wa, spacis pfc fo papbacs o fi in, onc o add svs bwn comns.
Inscions
C som wood o fi wid of spacs bwn 2 x 4sand o av a bi-in boocas. Pain inio o mac o wacooing and i oos as og i w oigina mad a wa.
As wi o msic, and codings, cagoiz o boos so ao can asi find boo o wan o ad. Tis wi aso ma iasi fo os o find a boo o ad, o o mav a o cocion!T ons o a ad!
Som common cagois of boos a: ficion, iso, gogap,igion, scinc, ow-o-do-i, cafs, biogap, sf-p, mo, a,
and fnc.
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kp a o boos in on ocaion (xcp cooboos a a bs p
in icn, o bsinss boos, bs in offic). Wn a boo is no a
om, o now now wa o do! p, saig o im o con!
O ims o in abo in o iving oom a fni,cocibs, window covings, pics, mios and wa angings. T
a diffn was o addss a s ims. o can wa in and sa, Ho,
M. Mio, o, Good moning, Miss knic knac. Js idding! Wn I
sa addss, wa I man is, wa a o going o do wi a a sff?
CocibsWa if o av cocibs coming o of o as, and o a
dispaing a of m, vw, incding icn and baoom.
Ta a good oo a s ims, and a s of o cocibs.
Can o s ac cocib and appcia ba of ac pic,
o a so cowdd on a sf, con, o boocas a a
figaiv os?
FranFan ivs in a ag Vicoian om in an od scion of a sbban
own. T ooms a ag wi vad ciings. S as ndds of
Hmm figins wic a sma cidi sas. Som of pics
a qi vaab. Bcas s as so man of m, a cowdd
ino iving oom and sw, maing i diffic o appcia
ac individa pic. On wa in iving oom as svs a
go o ciing and a wa-o-wa. T figins a js jammd
on s svs. o a canno oo a js on wio sing
a os, oo. To oo a a of s min o wa in is
ovwming.
If o cocions smb is scn, ssn visa impac. o can
gif m o cidn o gandcidn fo bidas o oidas, o o afavoi find o o aiv.
Sell your possessions...
you will have treasure in heaven. (Matthew 19:21)
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Oa. I now a mos of o wod a di an g id of s
c i ims o av cocd, so w a going o s ow w can
sow m off.
kp on pics in an on aa o aow f viwing of acpic. If o av no o pac o p xa ims, n caf
so m in a saf pac fo six mons, o a a.
Wa? So m pcios Hmms, Lados, c.? Nv! Ok, n
o a saing a o wan o sff wi bing visa ovwmd
and nd a caning o nd o do. And if o av a caning
ad, do no bam wn s bas on of s ims bcas s
js oo man o wo aond.
T a wo iddn advanags o faing a fw of o cocibs
a a im:
1. o and os wi sa appciaing ac pic fo is ba insadof i bing os in a sa of simia ims. o wi b aing ococion in sam wa ga msms do. T av gasooss of ims fom wic p on a fw ims fo pbic
viwing wic a oad wi os piodica.
2. Wn o av a fw good ims on dispa, o wi b anding m
again and again, ab o njo i ba and va. Mab a is wo sad cocing m in fis pac. T anaiv is o m a js si and coc ds.
Cosn o so os xa ims? Good fo o! T bs soag,
again, wi b ca pasic bins wi ig fiing ids. B s o csion boom, sids and op of bin wi bbb wap, nwspaps,iss pap, pap ows, pap sacs, o pasic sacs. Lab a s ofnoboo pap wi a av bac ma as o conns of binand n pac i on insid of bin, wi maing sowing o.Som pop pac a s of pap on a fo sids of bin so a can n bin in an dicion wn sod and si now wa is in bin.
So bins on cos svs o foos, nd saiws, in gaag, basmn o aic. T cos soag aa is o o, asi
i wi b o cang o o cn dispa wi o sod ims.
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Now w com o an addiiona cing oda fo o iving oom,and o ooms, oidas. So, b o ma as w oo a i now,opfbefore oidas.
Hoidas off dcoaing digs, o ama, wicv dfins osa of mind.
Wn o av a g cocion of Cismas dcoaions, wa o going o dispa m? o aad av v sf, boocas,con op and ab fid wi o ings. W wi no vn a abo cais and foo!
If o wan o dispa a o Cismas ims, n do so. O, o,
wa is cac, wa is s going o m now? (I now o a sismaing fom m ing o o so oo man of o cocibs.) Tcac is o nd o find spac fo a of i! And a is sssf! Wa can
o do?
W, mov and so som o a of o dai dcoaiv ims niaf Cismas, o Haown, o Eas, o Cana, o wav ooida sason o a dcoaing fo.
Imagine this: o av a baif and vaab pocain figin ono coff ab. Now i is oidas. o av a baif, vaabpocain Cismas ang a wod b pfc fo coff ab.
Qsion: o p bo ims on ab, sid-b-sid, ig?
Answ: Nop!
T non-oida im is a a fo von o admi. Toida im is sn on on oida, so w a awa fom is bab maing i comp fo anion?
Howv, a dcoao find said a is pfc fo dcoaing.S gops aning in s, if a simia (boos, pans,figins, c). Evn m gadn pand i ims in o ad!
If o av oida ims a wod oo good og, go aad anddispa of m. Ei so non-oida im, o mov i o ampoa pac ni af oida. Now... pic o oida scn!
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If don wi js o oida dcoaions, o om wi oo i oav sppd ino ano im o pac. Js in ow digf iscan oo o od and ong ai.
T, o ms ma im o p p and a down a is sff. B,i is a o sff a o wan o p, so njo!
If o a going o p i a, s i! L o ni om fc oida. T boxs o mpid of s ass can b sd fo non-oida ims o nd o so fo a wi. Taf, dig inwav oida o a cbaing, i fi a snss of sig, sondand sm, wio an confics fom o non-oida digs.
W wi now mov on and a abo o windows and wa o dowi m. s, o opn and cos m, b a nad? O m!!
Window CovingsT abov sasona and oida idas can aso app o piodica
canging window covings and fni. Fo xamp, if o av
v i mon and wan a sn-sin affc a o windows, sominxpnsiv ss. No, I do no man o cov p window isf.
T winding a s aond a cain od a op of window in
a vanc affc and ang a s a ac sid of window a o can
i bac wi a cod. If o iving oom windows qi pivac, o
can p p a nsion od and ang s o opaq cains fom i o
mac ss coos.
If o can affod o b ad-mad cains o daps, o av s
mad, foow sam og. Hav snsin and fow p cains
fo win and win scn, o coo cood cains fo smm.
On o cocs and cais dap ban ows, o s piows of
sam coo in cains o daps. Aang si fows of sam
cooing o foow m. W cang o cos wi sasons, so
w no o oms?
Now s a a oo a o fni, good, bad, and g.
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FniToo mc fni in a oom can aso ca visa c. kp
bs pics and find somon wo can a s ons a o can do
wio. T a man oganizaions a dspa nd fni.Hafwa oss and womns ss a awas ooing fo fni and do no ca if fni is no band nw. B obvios, canno s jn anmo an o can.
B caf abo pacmn of o fni. If o av a aag oom, an inima sing wi scad sid cais mig wo bs.A sma oom mig oo b wi fni pics no oo cos oac o, giving a mo opn oo.
End abs can od a ab amp, insing boos (on 3 pas),a nic nac o a cand ja, dpnding on siz of o ab. Lagims ma o ab oo sma and sma ims ma ab ooag.
Pacmn of nd abs and coff abs is aso impoan. Fo safssa, s abs sod b pacd w pobabii of somonbmping ino m is ow. And do no b afaid o g o of inp-
a--fni-aong--was oin. If o oom is om o a babgand piano, o fi cabins, o man pics of fni, b s o pacm o aow as movmn aond m and og oom.
Examp of in-p-a- fni-aong--was: M iving oomis a pica sma on, wi a dining oom off o sid of i. Wn owa in fon doo o n fo aa (a sss spac) and s fipac saig aad in iving oom.
To f, agains wa, I ad m coc so on on sid ndab a o, a ind p wi wa. In fon of coc was coff ab and on o sid of coff ab, on ig as oa ooing in, was m ovsa (fanc wod fo so coc). To igof ovsa is m dining oom.
So, wn o wad in and saw fipac, o aso saw paa ins of ims (I I I) in fon of fipac: a coc o f, acoff ab in midd, and a coc o ig, cing off as accsso dining oom. Sinc iving oom is sma, is aangmn waswondf fo p o fo pop. Wn w ad gss ov, i was ib.
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I fd ov a iving oom fo as. T fow of affic wasib, aso. As an oganiz i mad m caz. I n id moving sma coc o ig of ag on, a a ig ang, maing an Lsap. Now wn o wad in, a o saw was bac of ovsa.Ug! I was si napp.
On win, owv, bog a digf soion. I sifd ov-sa o ig, awa fom coc, o ma wa fo Cismas. Bcas of wa I ad sovd i, i sa a an ang, in an amos oof sap V fomaion fom coc. B coc was si saig.
T ovsas bac was angd o sid of m piano (wic is awa gg), wic sis on a naow sid wa. So I now ad a saig
in and an angd in (I.........../piano). Wn I wad bac ino oom o dcoa , m cag nw ang of ovsa. Iinsd m nog o ang coff ab in fon of i.
Wow! Wa a cang! I now av oom fo cais in iving oomand pop can vn wa fom m iving oom ino m dining oomwio sqzing b piano o banging ino sving ab, aso in dining oom. S, vn oganizs wa aond wi i s s owas ig in fon of m!
W, nog of m. Som of o g fni fom pans andgand-pans af i da. Tis is v diffic, paica if oav OCD. Onc o av ocd fni on o f, i is os!o wi nd o wo v ad o convinc osf a o a avno nd fo a fni. I biv a a pobab som ims
o can a s; b a dos anon av nd fo a of i. Discssis o od wi osf, wi o spos, a apis, o a sd
find.
If fni pics o av civd a aniqs, n o av addiiona pobm of considing i mon va in addiion oi moiona va. Again, a o osf abo o nd fo
ims. As osf som of foowing qsions:
Can ano aiv s som of pics?
Is a favoi pson in m if a I wod i o giv soming o?
Can I s an of ims a I a do no nd?
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Can I dona ims o a nsing om, o snio cn?
Is is fni a sab, o dos i nd mpn pais a
I a canno affod?
Am I ping is fni bcas I nd i, av oom fo
i and can i pac sff I am going o ow o?
So, og qsions, b ons o av o as. If o a a
aving pobms, js oo a on im a a im wn asing s
qsions. Mab js on pic wi b sf, b no wo o.
And bna a of o fni a gs.
RgsWa abo os ov Psian gs on o foo? Can o s
m? A o iding i ba wi a c, paps, magazins,c.? Evn if o av wa-o-wa cap, a o piing c on op ofi? Is caping saind fom a nwspaps o ow on foowio vn ining?
If o a going o invs in xpnsiv ims, n njo m bmaing i possib fo m o b sn. Psian gs a spcia ca,so cc wi manfac abo ow bs o psv m. Evnwa-o-wa caping nds a good dp caning a. o aso nd occ fo sains consan as wi in o cap.
O nx aa o oo a is o was and wa w p on m.
Pics / Poogaps / Mios / Wa HangingsA o anging poo af poo of a aivs in o if on
o iving oom was? A poos in dim so fams?
Unss s poogaps a v spcia, mab in oi and famdin god, iving oom is no bs pac fo m. T wod oob in a a, bdoom, sd, o gopd on a sma ond ab.
Somims fami oom is a good pac fo poogaps, if
fami oom dos no dob as a iving oom.
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If o a going o ang pics in iving oom, n aangm in an insing wa o p widn oo of o oom, o oma i appa a, o possib so an i is. Tis can b don b:
Pacing pics in a oizona in acoss ags wa (o
widn).
Hanging in a vica in fom na ciing o js abov acoc o cai (o ma oom appa a).
Hang in a sqa gop js abov a coc o cai (o ma
oom appa so).
Do not be afraid to experiment
o can aso av o poos appa as og a angingfom a sain ibbon wi a bow a op. (o js pin ibbon o bacsid of pic a ac con. T pic isf angs fom od o wi on bac of pic.) T ibbons cod coodinawi coos of o oom.
On pac w pop p fami poos is on piano. In som
od movi scns sow cain fami poos siing on op of bab gand piano. Appan piano is nv pad, i is js fooos!
A cisd cids o ovd ons poo in a dcoaiv fam wodoo ga.
Concning dcoaiv pics in iving oom dpnding onsiz and wa spac s on o sva a fcs o as and aso
bnds wi coo scm of o oom. Wo wi coo scma o now av, o cang i.
Rmmbr, od, cd os is going b-b so mab somof od coo scms nd o b p o s aso. Wa mgs ndso b a o, wa o ov and wa o wan o oo a fo a ongim.
Pics can p o fc inn o. Mios in iving oom
can aso p o ngn o widn oo of a sma oom. Wno s mios, b caf w o pac m so a fcsoming nic. A mio sowing a Fnc doo ading o a gadn, o a
gop of pans, wi oo fa b an a ban wa.
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Summary
T iving oom is sa fisoom sn wn somon ns
o om av i fc woo a and wa o i
Us mp boxs, o gabag bagso ga a sff
Hav avaiab a ag as can
Hav a maing pn o ab oboxs
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Hav nopap o ap o as bags
Aow osf wo os a a im o wo on is oom
Rmmb: An sa is b an non
Onc o av iving oom cad, pomis osf o ma anons ffo o p i a wa. T v da b aing fiv mins
(s a im) o pic p ims in on oom. If o av cidn, gm o p. Evn v ong cidn can pic p ims and bingm o o.
If o mip fiv mins b nmb of ooms in oos, o wi now ow ong i mig a o o ca o ooms,onc ov oganizd ving.
So, if o iv in a -oom apamn, 15 mins is mos o
wi nd o pic p ings a a ing aond. A six-oom apamno om ma a 30 mins, b pobab ss as o g comfoabwi ping ings awa.
Do no ba osf p if i as o ong a bginning of ispocss. Wn I sa o a fiv mins o pic ings p i is bcas Ido no wan o o f i a o do v da is pic ings p!
I do no wan o insc o on ow o ds and vacm. B, o
wi s, onc ings av bn cad awa and p in oms, (a pacfo ving), a caning dos bcom ss of a co, w odo i osf o av somon s do i.
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And, bfo o sa, sa o osf:
i Wi:
Dcid wa I am going o s ac oom fo
Loo fo vaios conains o s fo s msic, incding fi
cabins and boo cass
T o s boo cass o od aps and CDs in addiion o boos
So msica insmns caf in i own cass o in ag
fni pics
So xa cocib ims and oa fo sasona o oida
affc
Dispa on cocibs o o ims in an on spo
Expimn wi anging pics a diffn vs, dpnding
on wa and oom siz
a! W av cangd o iving oom. I is now im o go ino
o fami oom, so mmb jo o f wi o nw iving
oom and a o fami oom is nx!
Wa? Tid? Ok, w can s fo now. o did a ga job on
iving oom! M a omoow in fami oom and do no fogo din and snacs!
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Family/Rumpus/Bonus/Clutter Room?
A Look at Your Family Room
T fami oom, in man cass, is a iving oom nd ino ana-ppos oom. Man nams av bn givn o is oom, b aamon o sam ing. A oom big nog o coc a sff wwan and a pac w i dos no ma ow bad i oos ...cas i isno iving oom!
Maing is oom wo is v impoan sinc man aciviis ma baing pac . o ma wac vision o isn o so . I
cod aso b w:
Mas a an
Cos a iond
Homwo is don
Cos a fodd
Bis a paid
Cos a swn
Ls a win
Cos a...w, o g ida!
If a of s aciviis a aing pac, oom nds o b asc-f as possib. B ow? On pson can ca c. Wn
o av man pop in o osod, an avaanc of sff can pip. And o now wa appns in an avaanc! W wi now a a
cos oo a is oom and s ow w can cop wi i.
MasT s of odas iving as sd in man of s aing in fonof vision in od o wac nws o cidn s ifavoi caoons. Ls no vn discss pogams a o ns wan
o wac!
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Evn if o a in fon of vision, i is bs a von asin a cam sing. Tis can b pd b aving a pac o a wi ma
ims qic avaiab. So s a ano qiz:
Wn mas a an in fon of vision, ow a massvd?
Dos von s TV as, i aps, foo, o a sma ab?
If s TV as, a convnin sod cos b fo asaccss and ping awa? (Laving m poppd opn a a imsa cas a visa impac of c and a asi ippdov if in wa.)
If von ss i aps, o foo, do o p somingdown on foo so a is ss of a mss o canp? Tabcos o ows wod b bnficia.
If o aca a a a sma ab, is i f of c so o can
js si down o a?
Do o av a sma bas wi napins and condimnsavaiab, o do o n ino icn fo ving?
Is a pac fo o o so pacmas (If o s m) wn
no in s?
A of s qsions a o gid o ino ining abo wa o
can do o ma ings asi ding maim.
If o do a a a ab, dap i wi a ag abco a angs o foo. o can n so a sma bas wi napins, c., ndna ab.
Tis on wos, of cos, if o av a ab wi gs in cons, a an in midd. If o do av a pdsa ab, maba sma picnic bas on ab, o on foo na ab, wod bbnficia. Howv, b caf abo sing opn conains on foo
if o av ps a oam abo. Ca o dog ais on napins a no vappaing wi mas!
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Ano acivi w sa do in is oom is ioning and swing,
nss o a m! And if o m, wo am I? O, da.
Swing/IoningIf o sw and s a poab swing macin, i mig aso fi nd
ab. I av a poab swing macin, b I aso av a pdsaab, so ping macin nd ab js dos no wo. Sincm ab sis in a sma sid aa in fami oom, m macin sis in acon b ab, covd wi a sma ac abco. No on noics inss a siing a ab.
Rmmb, o do no av o p ving o of sig o ma ac-f oom. I js nds o b o of affic and asi accssib.
Man pop ion i coing v sing moning, wi ppaingfo wo o scoo. Tis sa mans a ioning boad sas pfov.
If o a c nog o av a ag and oom, i mig bb o av ioning boad in a oom. I is an ida spo o ion as
acivi v is ow.
Howv, wn i as o b in fami oom, w av o avoiddisas. I dos a p a o of oom, and if o av ion on i, i canasi b nocd ov.
W do no wan o o anon s ging a bon o b a faingion, so s foowing: Wn no in s, npg ion and pac
i bna ioning boad (wn i is coo!).
G dob s o of ioning boad if i sas p mos of im:Pac a cai nx o ioning boad. Low boad o a ig a
o find comfoab wn sad. Dap ioning boad wi a vinabco. o now av a woing sfac o pa bis, wi s, sw,o ids coo.
o cod vn b a pic of wood o p on ioning boad (jsa i wid an is wid), o ma a wid ds-i wo sfac. o
can si dap i wi a vin abco.
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Wn o a ioning, av a oing cos ac
nx o o o p o iond cos on, o an ov--dooang a is opf wiin as ac fo o o p cos on.
Paying Bills
Mo and mo pop a opning i mai and paing bis wi
sad in i comf cin. Do no f gi abo is. I a dosno ma w bis g paid as ong as g paid!
To ma is pocss asi on o, foowing:
B an inxpnsiv ap a o wi on
P o bis in a bas aongsid o cin. In bas
p pns, nvops, scoc ap, a sma sap, sapmov, scissos and posag samps. T o go, o own
insan offic
Hav a wasbas cos b
If o wan o p a o mai b cin, n a picnic
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bas. I is wid nog fo os of mai
and offic sppis, can b cosd o
p ings ooing id.
Do no p soving mai ino o
bas o o wi av Clutter Start:
Tis sa of c is wn o
cass sov, ps o id objcs
o do no wan o da wi. Tis is
js a mpoa mai om and qici
offic. (Cc o ow o and o
papwo in Paps cap.)
WARNING
IRONINGCH
ATTER
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Glenda
Gnda was poopd wn s cam om a nig and, bingsing, ad x of icing off sos, popping a TV dinn in
micowav, o aing a a-o dinn. S id o js sin ino as cai and fog ving. S was, owv, concnda bis g paid on im and ad vn p a sma ds in icn o ac as an offic aa.
Unfona, Gnda soon aizd a s nv sd dsand i js bcam a pac o sac ings. Sinc s did spnd imin as cai nwinding, w s p a mai aa nx o caiw s cod od mai and opn i wn convnin. S wasno s if is nw pac wod wo, b agd o i fo a as
21 das.Gnda cad m af on w. S was digd wi nw
mai aa, so s bog a dcoaiv sma sicas o p na cai o od mai, samps, nvops, c. S bog anodcoaiv conain fo o sid of cai o od
cosswod pzzs, wic pd cam down af a ad da.
So, s no ong f gi abo popping af wo and bis w ging paid! S cod si and ax fo as ong as swand.
Wn o a maid wi cidn and wan o ax in a cainaa o ad o mai, magazins o nwspaps, n ppa aa
o p o do a.
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Summary
kp oom as c-f as possib
I is bs a von as in a cam sing
Hav a pac o a wi ma ims qic avaiab
o do no av o p ving o of sig o ma a
c- f oom
Ma s of o ioning boad
I a dos no ma w bis g paid as ong as
g paid!
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Eat in My ining Room?
A Look in Your Dining Room
Do o v a in o dining oom, o is i js fo gss on oidas? Js fo gss? Wan o b o own gs? s as aid! Ls go!
Dining ooms a in aas of om w is sa a gada of ig and, fo, mas a ga pac o a.
Bafas in a sn-fid oom. Aaa! Wa a dig! Evn if oomis da o an inio oom, i is fn o a a dining oom ab. I
is big, and mas a js a bi mo spcia an wn an a a icnab.
Somims pop s i dining oom abs as woabs. Foinsanc:
Sro 1: cos
T a pis of paps, boos, bifcass, swing macin, andbass and wav s ma fi on is ong xpans of spac, incding
cais and foo. T is no abco of an p pocing baif wood finis of ab.
Somims pop s i dining oom abs as an aca ab! Foinsanc:
Sro 2: uty
T dining oom ab as a nic abco on i and is s wi
pacmas and co napins in napin ings. T a ncd caisaond i. T foo is ca and a iv o si pans in con.Cina spas in cina cabin.
Wic dining oom do o wan o wa ino? L s oo a anding
c w fond in Scn 1.
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How to Start
Rmmb ow w acd iving oom and sppis w sd? Wwi do sam fo is oom. Howv, bcas i is sma, w a goingo aca p som of ims w o a wan m o go, nss
o wod a wai ni a ooms a don.
Ta a paps o find and p m in box a o av
aad sad a pap cocion in fom Living Room. (W wi
a abo paps in Pap cap.)
Ta boos o find o o iving oom o fami oom. If o
a no s w o wan o p m, n p m in a box
wi nws paps and magazins. W wi so i o a.
P o bifcas in o offic o a fon doo in conain
o av p , o on ab a is fo a ppos.
P o swing macin in fami oom, obb oom, o
and oom. If o av now s o p swing macin
and is is pica w o s i, wi i fi nd ab? Wii b o of wa if o p i agains a wa and cov i? Sinc w
a ing o ca dining oom ab o mig av o g
caiv wi soing swing macin. Loo a ping i bind
a coc o sid-cai.
P and bass w o was and d a. If o go
o a Landoma o o an osid and oom, ping
bas(s) in a cos.
In o wods, wo owad a ca dining oom pic in Scnaio2, o on a o av in mind. If o av a dining oom, i is i anxnsion of iving oom, o i is a foma oom, sa nx o icn.
Ei wa, i is a pac w dining sod appn, no caos. Go fami (o oommas) o p o ca is pacf aing aa.W wa ino a nic iving oom w js go saignd o and oo
bond and s a cd dining oom?
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Do no b afaid o sa, b aso do no xpc a pic
pfc oom wi appn in n mins. Cang as im, b i a
can occ if o wan i o. Gada cang is somims b fo
von, spcia in sad spac. I is impoan, fo, fo
wo fami o g ino ac. If on da dining oom is a mss and nx da i is c f, i ma a os qi a wi o adjs.
Af a, wn o g i oganizd, i is an opn inviaion o c i
p again! B if wo fami is invovd and nows ow o p
aas c f, bcas now w ings bong, cang wi
b asi.
o ma si av o insis a ings b p bac in od on a
ga basis. B if o s a im fo js fiv mins o fami (ooommas) ma b a bi mo coopaiv an if in a job wi
a fifn mins! And if si wan i own spac cd
(i oom), fin. B no in is spac.
Ts ooms w av wad og fo, iving oom,
fami oom, dining oom a pa of commna iving
aas. T av gada bcom cd b ffos of os wo
sa m. Visaiz ow o wan o s ac oom and wa owod i i o oo i n gada wo owad a nd.
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Summary
Ca dining oom sam wa o did fo iving oom
G von iving in os o p, sing fiv-min im sos
G caiv in finding pacs fo diffic ims (swing macins)
Siv o p commna iving aas ca of c
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i Wi:
G m fami o p m
S a im wn oganizing so I do no g ovwmd
T o find diffn soag aas fo m ad o so ims
Sing bcas I ov is nw pac o a!
Now a dining oom sms o b nd o cono, w nd o
ac ano commna aa, icn.
Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)
Again, if o a id, s. Ea and dam of wa o wan o
icn o oo i. G, I i o dam! Com on, s go fo i.
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Where Is Your Heart?
Is It In Your Kitchen?
T icn is said o b a of om. If o icn is amss, ow can o povid mas wi a oving a? A o wan o dois g job ov wi, somims wi md in o a insad of
ov!
If o iv aon, o pobab don vn bo aing osf
as a spcia pson. And o pobab op o gab fas food insad of
cooing.
Mab o a o dinn ov icn sin. o wod no
dam of sing ab wi ac and cina js fo o, wod o?
A ig, mab no ac and cina, b pobab no vn a abco
o diss, insad of pap pas. I wi cang o mind!
Wa can w do abo ging o icn o sand a anion wn
o wa in? Rad on and find o. Wn w g o icn and omin od, o wi s a if is ss sssf, bcas o pac a om
cais og a aas of o if.
Sinc v om as diffn nds, do no f as og o a
opss if foowing sggsions a no woing fo o. I av isd
qi a fw bcas icn as so mc sff in i. B if do no
p, o g a i mo caiv. T is awas a soion. L o
insincs, imaginaion and good sns a ov. If o a a o ofidas, Emai m and w wi wa og i og!
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If o wan o go dic o o spcific pobm aa, find i on
foowing is of wa w wi cov in icn:
1. Cons & Rad Ims
2. Upp Cpboads3. Low Cpboads
4. Daws
5. Pan Soag 6. Was
7. Rfigao
8. Cooing im saving idas
1. Counters & Related Items
O fis sp in icn is o do soming abo a sff wav gad on o cons ag nsis, appiancs, dis dain
and caning ims.
Lag UnsisCn nsis (spaas, poao
mass, ag spoons) can b p ina daw o in a nic pig conaina sis on con.
If o con and daw spac
is imid, s a wa nsi ac. Tsacs a mad of pasic o ma and avi pgs o oos o ang nsis. If
o av dpicas, p bs on andTR o giv xa o somon wo a
nds i.
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AppiancsTo sav caning im, b appiancs, i bnds, food pocssos
and oas ovns a a no sd v ofn can b p in ow
cpboads. Having ca cons is a jo o bod.
Aso spac saving appiancs a aac bna pp
cpboads.
Tacing Con CangsFo os of o wo av a ad im caing con ops
bcas o av a nd o s ving, foowing xciss.
Ta smas appianc o av and p i in a cpboad.
Tis nds o b an appianc a o do no s v da. If
o s o cic can opn amos dai n i is no
ig appianc o sa wi!
Wn o g accsomd o a on appianc bing in cpboad, ano.
As soon as o g comfoab wi a im bing in
cpboad, ano.
Conin ni a ims o a no sing a im a saf
sing in i nw om!
Tis pocss ma a awi, so do no in i is aing o oo
ong. Canging abis as som im, b if o a ans, o wi g
! And do no isn o os nasas wo js ag wn o
m wa o a ing o do. In fac, don vn m!
Do o now a pop aca o saboag os wn
find o o a ing o cang? If o av v id o qi smoingo dining, o wi now xac wa I am aing abo.
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Dis DainFind a dis dain a wi fi in sin isf if o av a wo-sin basin.
O, so o dis dain in cpboad bna sin.
O, so dis dain on insid of cpboad doo.
O, so dis dain on insid wa of cpboad isf.
Sma Caning ImsT a sin cabin inss a o can insa fo i caningims. Ts inss av pasic inios and od sma caning ims i
spongs, soap pads, scbbis, and bss, c. Ts ings awas caa mss on sin wn a w and a js on mo im o pic pwn o a ing o can.
Inscions: Opn fas woodn aa of sin cabin js bow ip of sin and js abov cpboad doos. Insa a p downcompamn a o b fom Hom Dpo, Lows and o ag do-
i-osf adwa sos. I is wo ob, so if o canno do iosf, gab somon wo can!
If insaing p-down compamns is no soming o wano da wi, o can insa a sma wi bas o insid doo of cpboad bna sin. Find a pasic conain a wi fi insid bas o p sma ims fom faing o. T pasic conain wiaso p ings fom dipping insid cabin and can b insd o
occasiona.
If o a do no wan o insa aning, find a conain a aowsfo dainag and p a caning ims ino i and pac i somwon o con a is no in wa, o v noicab. T a asoconains wi scion cps on bac of m a fi on wa of sin. Soap pads fi nic ino m.
O nx sp is o oo ino o pp cpboads and s wa o do
wi ving a is iding p . O, com on i wi f good,wn w a don, o b ab o opn doos and no g i in
ad!
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2. Upper CupboarsIn is scion w wi find spac fo o pas, bows, gasss, cps,
and sacs. Tn w wi oo a soag fo pacagd goods i spics,
coff and cannd goods. Bfo w bgin, m o abo Jnna.
JennaJnna, wo as dsxia, bcoms fsad wn s canno
find wa s is ooing fo. Of cos s nows a dissa in cpboad b invaiab gos o wong on. I is vim consming fo . Wa mas ings wos is w-maningcompan, wo wan o p af dinn. T p ings awa fo, and n s a as no ida w o find a paica diss wans. Af av, s is comp dmoaizd. Wnw abd cpboads, bo Jnna and gss w digd.No on ad o disac o as w soming was, o w i
bongd.
Pas & BowsGa a pas and bows a o s v da and o p
m on ows sf fo as accss.
Sac dinn pas a og in on sac; saad pas in on sac;and bows in on sac. If o av oom, o avoid sacing sma
pas o bows on op of ag ons. Tis cass noing b fsaion
wn o a ing o g a ag pa o and av o if a sma
ons fis!
I is b if o p pas and bows na diswas (if o
s a diswas), o na o sin. Tis is o as ping m awa.
T diss a o do no s v da (and do no wan in a cina
cabin) can b p on igs svs (if o a a), o in ow
cpboads (if o a so o in a wcai).
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Pasic BowsO ims a w av o da wi a a os disposab pasic
bows a w coc. I now a a of s p sd bows, fom b
and Coo-Wip bows o og bows. T a fo fovs, ig? And Iaso now a w coc Rbbmaid bows and Tppwa bows. Fo
fovs, of cos! B, m cin Inga js pain id m!
Inga
Inga ad v combina