Funny . . . or Too Close to Reality?

Ever read a comic in the newspaper and laugh way too much because it's much too close to your reality?  Well, tomorrow's comic (01/29), Zits, is just that way for too many of us. 

The teenager, Jeremy, tells his mom to look for the lost permission slip in his backpack.  When she finally finds it, she's buried under a ton of school papers, books, and junk with only an arm visible.  And of course, the pen to sign it with is in Jeremy's junk drawer.  What an adventure! 

Is there any hope for Jeremy's mom to escape the avalanche of notebooks, papers, pens, and trash, oh my?!?  You betcha!  It all starts with a few small steps that even Jeremy can (and should) follow.

I really like the advice from the Clean House guys over on TLC.

They suggest to divide things into 3 piles:

• Trash - Get a trash can handy.  I like a trash can vs. a bag because you can throw things in and not worry about re-opening the bag over, and over, and over again.  It's just easier when things are already tricky.
  
• Donate - Set up a station that's large enough to hold whatever you may come across, but small enough to move easily when it's time.  If the container is too large, you'll be discouraged from moving it out & your donate pile isn't meant to be donated to the basement.
  
• Keep - A good rule of thumb for what to keep is, "Will I regret getting rid of this?"  Trust that feeling in your gut that tells you it's too important to let go of.  Plus, don't be afraid to let go of something that doesn't fit you anymore or doesn't fit into your home.

Once you have only 3 options, it really helps to narrow your focus and give you direction.  Don't give up!  Keep going!

Even if you only have 15 minutes at a time, start there.  Maybe a good first step is to set up your 3 stations and resolve which area to start first.  Just keep doing a little at a time and remember to follow the ultimate secret for keeping it that way.

Let's face it, junk and clutter creep up on us over time.  So, it's understandable that it may take you a little time to Get it All Together and that's okay.