It's All Too Much

Here's irony for you - while my house is in total disarray from the furnace/insulation job (see previous post) I happened to also be reading It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh. The book is all about having a richer life with less stuff. It also gives great tips on how to organize your home with purpose and potential!

The basic idea is that each room should have one main purpose or function and the stuff in that room should help meet that purpose or it needs a new home, maybe at the dump. There is a clutter quiz on page 22 that I passed with flying colors but I still found the book helpful and of course inspiring in a season where we seem to just accumulate more stuff!

Here are some tips that caught my eye but I have to say I highly recommend you pick up a copy from your local library!

1. Clothing - if it doesn't fit donate it to someone who can wear it! (Of course I recommend saving maternity clothes in a safe storage container if you hope to use them again like I do.)
2. Underwear - "Just because it is out of sight doesn't mean it should be unsightly! Get rid of any underwear that is clearly past its use-by date." (pg. 106) I get a laugh from this because it is the same advice I give to all soon to be married men. Some guys just need a clue, maybe one you know...
3. "Kids learn so much more from what they see than what they hear." (pg. 110) We parents know this. Don't ask your child to clean their room if you haven't done yours first!
4. Tax Stuff - Ever wonder what you really need to save and what is taking up space in your home office filing cabinet? Pgs. 151-153 are a great resource and take it a step further by downloading a publication from the IRS at www.irs.gov and search for Publication No. 552.
5. Cookbooks - Put a post is on each recipe you use and at the end of eighteen months any books without post it notes can go out the door. Not a bad idea. He also has some ideas on how to consolidate all those random recipes on pgs. 165-166.
6. Holidays - Want to know how to handle that gift giving this season? Read pgs. 184-185.
7. Beyond Spring Cleaning - This is my hands down favorite section. It gives you a month by month task list to help keep yourself on top of clutter and organization the whole year through!
   

• January - Purge holiday decorations and use storage containers with labels.
• February - Shred unneeded documents (pg. 151) and prep what you need for tax time.
  
• March - Reinvent spring cleaning - two page chart to help you get every nook and cranny clean and organized! (pg. 203-204)
• April - Explore the "black hole" and go through your storage areas.
  
• May - Discover the great outdoors by fixing and prepping outdoor toys and equipment (that slide that seems a little loose). Organize your children's summer activities and post them on a calendar!
  
• June - Teach your children how to tackle their spaces and plan appropriate rewards for their participation. Create limits and routines! (This goes for all but most helpful for school age children who are home for the summer)
  
• July - Have a yard sale, get on Ebay/Craigslist or get those items you no longer need/use to a local charity.
• August - Prepare for back to school: make sure kids clothes fit, pick up necessary school supplies, decided how to consolidate crafts and schoolwork. If your place is looking pretty good head to the computer and clean up those digital files!
  
• September - Make the season switch. Pack up clothes that are now out of use and create closet space for winter coats.
  
• October - Brace yourself for winter by cleaning up the garage so you can actually park your car in it and winterize your home.
  
• November - Gear up for the holidays by getting your Christmas cards ordered, preparing an entertaining list as needed, keep the shopping and gift giving under control by shopping on line when possible.
  
• December - Relax and enjoy. Celebrate your successes and sommit to making changes you want for your home and family in the year to come!
  

So I wasn't planning on quoting the whole book, but now we can all come back here once a month and stay on task right?! I plan to start by recycling the two scrapbooking magazing collections I found upstairs and going through a box of files I have saved since college and not looked at once. That puts them at the seven year mark - yikes! There are also a number of books that need to find a new home, anyone know where to donate almost new books?

I hope you find some help for you own home in all this. If not, pick up the book and you'll be thanking me whether you live in clutter now or not.