​Do these things well in advance (or even a little in advance) to gain control over the season. Then enjoy!
 
1. Clean out the fridge and pantry if not already done for the Thanksgiving holiday. Open up space to make it easier to store/find holiday ingredients. Find and clean special serving ware.
 
2. Take stock of  bills and important paperwork. Many a bill has gone overdue as a result of the frenzied “clean-it-up-by-putting-it-in-a-box” style of prepping for the holidays. Make special notes of due dates and replies required on the calendar as reminders.
 
3. For children, declutter clothes and toys prior to incoming gifts.
 
4. Prepare space for guests in advance. Make the guest bed, clear horizontal surfaces, and clean the bathroom. Anticipate supplies that guests might need and purchase in advance.
 
5. Inventory the logistics of entertaining. Count chairs and place settings. Select table coverings, linens and candles. Purchase extra take-home containers for giving leftovers/desserts. Make space for extra coats/boots in entryway or hall closet.
 
6. Set up a special envelope for Christmas receipts and use it religiously as the season progresses. 

​In my work as a professional organizer, I help people declutter and organize their homes. Cleaning tends to be a small part of this process. It is nonetheless an important part. I recently read an inspiring article on cleaning, “The Powerful Psychology Behind Cleanliness” at the Psychology Today website.

​The article points out compelling evidence for cleanliness thus encouraging us to keep a neat, clean home. We all know that it is easier to keep a home clean when it is clutter free; the two go hand in hand. With this in mind, here are some time-saving methods to keep our spaces decluttered, clean and healthy. 

​(Click on Read More to continue)

​In a previous post (July 2019), I described minimalism and my beginning progress on that road. To repeat a quote from Joshua Becker of the becomingminimalist.com blog, “minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.” Initially, I wondered what it would look like and how it would feel to declutter the things I did not use. Slow and steady progress has marked my experience. I am hoping to find clarity toward future goals as a result of the decluttering process. (Click on Read More to continue.)

I have wanted to write a post about minimalism for a while now but found the prospect daunting. Minimalism seems like an intriguing lifestyle but I don’t really grasp what it’s all about. In my mind minimalism means painting my walls white, reducing my furniture to half (all white) and having no hobbies or interests (hence none of the supporting stuff). That scenario has seemed unrealistic to me in the past. Curious though, I recently delved deeper into the philosophy of minimalism. Here are my new understanding and personal thoughts. (Click on Read More to continue)

​No one, absolutely no one, considers decluttering their old cans of paint is anything near fun. Most people put it off until they have sold their home and need to get that paint out! I highly suggest that this task is put on your To Do List. Set a date and dream up a great reward for yourself when it’s done. Your future self will thank you and, best of all, it’s not difficult!  (Click on Read More to continue)

Have you finished the first step by removing old files and folders? Now it’s time to make a second pass to organize your personal files. Follow these tips to make them orderly and self-explanatory.
 
1. FILES AND FOLDERS

• Organize similar documents together into logical folders.
• Ensure similar folders are grouped together in a Windows Explorer alphabetical listing by renaming them with a common beginning letter such as W (work), P (personal), and so on.
• Create a subfolder when the need for a new group becomes obvious to you. 
• Name folders and files based on how you would look for them in the future and be descriptive.
• Incorporate the date into the beginning of the file name in the case of recurring documents.
• Use version numbers at the end of file names to designate drafts.
• Above all, be consistent in naming similar files so that they appear together when listed alphabetically.
• Merge two folders if they have similar contents.
• Rename files and folders to make organization more clear.

(click on Read More to continue)

Ready to declutter your computer files? If not, here are some great reasons to decide to get started:

• find files more easily
• reduce mental distractions
• make your computer more efficient
• more easily survive a hard drive crash or virus attack
• feel more in control
• make it easier to share your files/computer
• simply best practice

 
The process can be done piecemeal for manageability and repeated on a regular basis to keep the computer running smoothly. (In an upcoming post, we focus on organizing files.) Click on "Read More" for decluttering steps.

​I recently had the unfortunate experience of an email meltdown, which took many hours to fix. My inbox was filled with thousands of emails and their duplicates. Computer viruses were partly to blame but my own negligence was also a factor. Long story short – I cleaned up the mess and vowed to keep it under control. Here’s how I decluttered thousands of messages and instituted a management system for the future. Could your emails use some decluttering too? (Click on Read More)

Do you struggle with too much stuff? Are you overwhelmed by too many commitments? Do you feel like your mind is running away with itself? It’s really not difficult to simplify your life. Focus on these seven areas for simplicity and enjoyment.  
 
1. PAPERS Reduce snail mail that comes into the home. Declutter files and boxes of paper. Establish a filing system to eliminate unsightly paper  piles.
 
2. CLOTHES Go through closets, drawers and storage bins. Cull the pieces that have not been worn or are no longer wanted.
 
3. SHOES Handle each pair of shoes and boots. Be realistic about what you wear or expect to wear some day. Get rid of the rest.
 
4. ACTIVITIES Re-evaluate why you are involved in each activity. Cut back on those that are no longer enjoyable or do not support personal goals.
 
5. PURCHASES Delay new purchases for a couple days. Be honest about whether the purchase is a need or a want. Remember, the less you have the less you have to maintain.
 
6. EMAILS Take time to go through the inbox. Delete unneeded emails.  Unsubscribe from email lists. Set up rules that separate emails into folders automatically.
 
7. EXPECTATIONS Release ideas of perfectionism. Be grateful for what you have.