Clutter and Hoarding - Doing a Project One Step at a Time
By Beverly E Taylor

Worry about change, hearing inner criticism, looking to do things perfectly, afraid of not completing projects - these may be some of the thoughts a clutterer thinks when he or she organizes something. If any of these things happen to you when you think about cleaning, you might learn some lessons from birds.

I Learned Project Management by Watching Birds

The other day I watched some birds meticulously building a nest. It was very interesting to see those beautiful birds acting by instinct to prepare for having baby birds. As I watched, I started thinking about cleaning out my kitchen silverware drawer and felt nervous about doing it. Do you struggle when it comes to completing projects? I like doing things the easy way. I think I found an easy way to clean out my silverware drawer by watching birds.

One Piece of Grass at a Time

So, I watched these birds building their nest. Slowly, methodically they built it. They looked like they were enjoying themselves. They chirped occasionally as they worked.

I think those birds were praising each other for a job well done. As I watched these birds, I remembered that I wanted to clean out my kitchen silverware drawer.

I Modeled the Birds’ Behavior

When I got home, I went into the kitchen and looked at my silverware drawer. Then I imagined those birds. I thought, “If those birds wanted to have baby birds they had to have a place for them. So, one step at a time, they worked together until they got the nest built. They worked at their own pace…no pressure. I liked thinking about that idea.

I finally walked over to the silverware drawer. I took out one fork and imagined those birds building the nest. I took out a spoon and again thought of the birds building their nest. Slow and easy, one step at a time, I took out all the silverware. So, basically I distracted myself into cleaning out the silverware drawer. Pretty good, huh?

Well, for me, putting back the silverware was like those birds adding grass and bits of other building materials to the nest they were building. One piece at a time, at my own pace, I put the silverware back into the drawer. I tried to whistle to entertain myself as I worked, but honestly, my whistling is for the birds. Isn’t that funny that I compared building a nest to cleaning out the silverware drawer?

The “Wandering Butterfly Clean Up Technique” is a wonderful way to make it easy to clean up. It is excellent to use when you don’t feel like cleaning up, yet you get something done! To receive the free document, click here http://www.easykeytoclutter.com

Many clutterers benefit from the gentle, easy and empowering process of hypnotherapy, especially with a hypnotherapist who specializes in clutter. Beverly E. Taylor, the “Clean Up Queen” is the only person in the world who has written a book using hypnosis to help people easily clean up clutter.

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Clutter and Hoarding - There is No Shame in Admitting No One is Perfect in All Things
By Beverly E Taylor

Have you ever told yourself to expect perfection and when you couldn’t do it, believed there was something fundamentally wrong with you? If so, maybe you could consider rethinking this belief. The belief, “I am only perfect if I can be all things to all people at all times” can be so self-limiting! During your one chance at life on earth right now, do you really feel happy believing this idea?

There is No Shame in Admitting No One is Perfect in All Things

Feel confident no one can perfectly do all things. There is nothing personally “wrong” with you if you clutter. You CAN accept that you are wonderful AND that you are still working to improve your decluttering skills. Give yourself credit for what you CAN do and keep working at improving your decluttering skills.

See the Value in Different Things during Different Situations

Your “personal value” is different than the “use value”, using an item to achieve a certain goal while doing specific tasks. Your personal value refers to the fact that human life is precious. You are a human, therefore, you are personally valuable. You are always priceless no matter if you excel at decluttering or excel doing some other skill. Your high or low skills levels never affect your personal pricelessness.

Someone who “keeps score” regarding a task’s “use value” does so thinking activity score keeping improves a goal achievement outcome. For example, when decluttering a room and only using a coffee cup in which to put clutter, the “use value” of the coffee cup may be perceived as small. In other words, the amount of use you can get out of a coffee cup to collect clutter while decluttering may be perceived as small to the one keeping score.

However, suppose you’re using a great big garbage bag for decluttering. Now how valuable is the “use value” of the coffee cup compared with the “use value” of decluttering with a very large garbage bag? Does this comparison improve the outcome of decluttering? The “use value” of the garbage bag is higher than the “use value” of the coffee cup. The human has personal value regardless.

The One Size Fits All Attitude Only Works Some of the Time

You can feel confident knowing no one thing works perfectly in all situations. Just as there is no shame admitting some decluttering experts exist and many hoarders are also learning how to declutter. You are wonderful the way you are. Whether you declutter or hoard, you are wonderful. Your decluttering or hoarding skills have nothing to do with your personal value being wonderful. Choose to feel good about who you are regardless of how developed your decluttering skills are. Remember, there is no shame admitting NO ONE can be all things to all people!

The “Wandering Butterfly Clean Up Technique” is a wonderful way to make it easy to clean up. It is excellent to use when you don’t feel like cleaning up, yet you get something done! To receive the free document, click here http://www.easykeytoclutter.com

Many clutterers benefit from the gentle, easy and empowering process of hypnotherapy, especially with a hypnotherapist who specializes in clutter. Beverly E. Taylor, the “Clean Up Queen” is the only person in the world who has written a book using hypnosis to help people easily clean up clutter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_E_Taylor

Clutter and Hoarding - Are You Drowning in Paper?
By Lynn Cressy

Are you drowning in paper and can’t seem to get a handle on all the paper that comes into your house? Clutter and hoarding in the form of paper presents a problem for many people on a daily basis. These decluttering tips will help you establish a routine that will, if used on a daily basis, tame the clutter and bring order to the chaos.

Develop a System

Set up a sorting system near the entrance of your home where you can immediately recycle unwanted items. Deposit bulky stuff like catalogs into some type of holder where you can easily find them and discard outdated ones right into the recycle bin. Do this every day and you won’t have a messy build-up to deal with at the end of the week.

Bills, letters and invitations will be the remaining paper to take care of and it will be important to open these immediately and deposit in a safe place. Designate a place for flyers with coupons, such as on the fridge or on a message board so they are easily accessible and where you will see and use them.

Other types of paper clutter, such as school papers, flyers, church bulletins, and library information also need attention. A pending file folder may be sufficient for a few current documents that can be discarded when the event or activity has passed.

Use the System

It is crucial to make sure you use the system you have developed and encourage other members of the household to do the same if you want to truly tame the paper clutter. A few minutes a day using your system for paper control will result in an organized home.

Using the system will also aid you in finding paper documents that you need because they are filed or located in a designated place. Remember, the purpose of a filing system is not only to put things away but to also be able to find them when needed!

Organizing Tools

There really isn’t any one product that can solve all of your organizing problems. It is actually an issue of developing a system to manage paper that comes into the house. However, you may find that using baskets, bins, or decorative boxes will help tame the clutter and provide a temporary place for mail that needs attention.

A large antique crock works well to hold magazines and folded newspapers. It is unique and can be placed beside an easy chair or sofa to keep reading materials handy and under control. Remember, to recycle old magazines and newspapers as the new ones arrive at your door.

To help keep your home organized, download a free copy of the ebook “The Essential Guide to Organizing Your Home”. Download it free here: Organizing Tips.

Lynn Cressy has a love for decorating and shopping for home decor. She owns a home decor web site and writes articles on home decorating and organizing your home and organizing your life.

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Clutter and Hoarding - Instead of Tackling a Mountain of Stuff, Work on a Small Mole Hill
By Beverly E Taylor

You perhaps live in a house filled with clutter. Looking at it and thinking you MUST declutter it, you may feel overwhelmed. You might hear yourself say, “I’ve got to do something with all this clutter.” Then, you may picture some unknown force trying to bully you into “obeying” and “fixing” the clutter mess…as if the cluttering habit is a broken part of you.

Maybe thinking you must reduce the entire amount of clutter quickly, a part of you begins to feel anxious, frozen and overwhelmed, knowing “fixing” the clutter mess immediately is impossible. Do you feel that way? Or would you prefer to feel like you can make a difference in that clutter while appreciating your efforts?

Baby Steps

Instead of feeling anxious and overwhelmed about decluttering, focus ONLY on doing a small, manageable section. Pretend that you’ve got an extra 6 minutes and you’re going to use them decluttering in one section or one room.

Then, after doing the six minutes of cleaning, credit yourself with making a difference in that one area. If you wish, keep declutter for 6 minutes in that one room or one pile every day until that entire section is completely decluttered. Remember to congratulate yourself after you have decluttered.

Use Your Imagination

Pretend that somebody called you on the telephone telling you about a newlywed couple who don’t have enough furniture. As you hear the caller on the phone describe them, you imagine how great you’d feel helping out a newlywed couple.

You remember when you were young and first married. You lived on a limited budget and could afford only to sparsely decorate your apartment. You recall that memory and think to yourself, “Maybe now we can give to these people in honor of those who helped us when we were young newlyweds. We can give this newlywed couple our recliner and get a new one.

I’ll talk with my husband about it.” Your husband and you talk about giving away your old furniture to these young newlyweds. You clean the living room area where the recliner now sits.

You imagine a happy smile on the face of the young newlyweds who will be getting your furniture. Your husband thinks, “Now I’ll get that new recliner I’ve been wanting for watching TV. This is working out just fine. Plus we’re helping a young couple. This is a great day!”

See The Value in Taking a Baby Step Approach to Decluttering

There is a lot of good you can do for yourself by training your brain to do baby steps. It is even easier when you use hypnosis to change the habits. When we involve ourselves in activities where we can easily win, we are simply enjoying life.

The “Wandering Butterfly Clean Up Technique” is a wonderful way to make it easy to clean up. It is excellent to use when you don’t feel like cleaning up, yet you get something done! To receive the free document, click here http://www.easykeytoclutter.com

Many clutterers benefit from the gentle, easy and empowering process of hypnotherapy, especially with a hypnotherapist who specializes in clutter. Beverly E. Taylor, the “Clean Up Queen” is the only person in the world who has written a book using hypnosis to help people easily clean up clutter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_E_Taylor