01 02 03 The Organiser UK www.theorganizeruk.com 04 05 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 24 21 24 21 24 21 24 21 24 21 24 21 24 25 26 27 28 29

The Organiser UK www.theorganizeruk.com

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25/09/2016

Living with less stuff.



 
If I lived on my own I'd have virtually no possessions , no TV , and a very tidy house . But I don't , and  as I can't get rid of everyone else's possessions I have to find a way of  dealing with their "stuff". 
My partner is a borderline hoarder who still keeps boxes from phones he no longer possesses and a box from a wallet he has owned for over a decade ( incase he needs to take it back ) and that is just the tip of the iceberg. 
I battled for years to contain my "stuff " too , sentimental stuff , things people have given to me , gifts, clothes with price tags still on them ... And so the list went on . I would stuff it all in drawers , cupboards and the garage . The house would be serene looking on the surface but the inner workings were a tangled mess of chaos . 
So what changed ?  I had the ever pulling urge to get rid of everything , to make the inside mirror the serene surface , so I started to get rid of stuff and it felt good but not exactly "great" .  Eventually  I stumbled across the book which put me on my journey to simplifying my life , and it really did what it says on the tin , it gave me a plan , and a way to achieve the "click point" in my life , where everything "I" own sparks joy .
If you only read one book this year , make it this one ,
 

Have you read Marie's book or are you embarking on simplifying your life , are you struggling with getting started or do you have any questions? Have your say in the comments below ! 

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posted by The Fifamaster @ 11:25 am   0 Comments

10/08/2016

Ready , steady , go !

 Let's take a little trip to the kitchen , have a look around , what do you not use , what have you never used ? What did you think would be a fantastic gadget, pan , cup , jug, bowl but you never reach for it when you're cooking or prepping . What's lurking about taking up space , what item do you have to move to get to the stuff you really use . Pick one item big or small cheap or expensive that you don't use that has served it's time and stick it in the donate bag , and enjoy the space . 

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posted by The Fifamaster @ 12:30 am   0 Comments

09/08/2016

Marie Kondos' life changing magic of tidying up .

 
We all at sometime wish our homes were just how we want them . For many of us that would include a clutter free space filled with things we love . Wardrobes which hold only clothes which fit , are comfortable , our style and all of which we wear . Bathrooms which feel airy and spacious . Kitchens always  immaculately ready to prepare our next meal in . Children's rooms which are tidy and clutter free. Living rooms which feel a spa like tranquility. And finally a serene bedroom ready for a peaceful nights sleep .  
It is finally possible to achieve this click point in your home even with a busy family life , and what's more it's possible to maintain this click point for life . 
Marie Kondo  in her book The life Changing Magic of tidying up takes us through the stages of  each category and shows us how to achieve the click point in each area .  What makes this book different from any other decluttering book ?  Firstly you don't focus on what you want to discard , only on what you want to keep , the benchmark for this is ,it must "spark joy ".
    Secondly it will change the way you shop .. Massively. As you work through the catagories the difference in your home is so clear to see, that you never want it to return to how it was , therefore you see each item you are purchasing  compleatly differently. For anyone wanting to change their space for the better "The life changing magic of tidying up " is the book for you . 
 

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posted by The Fifamaster @ 11:09 am   0 Comments

Ready, steady, go!

 Let's play !
Look around the room you're standing in (your home obviously) is there is anything you don't use, 
don't like, don't need or don't want ?  
Is there anything which just irritates you , for instance the candle you can't bear the smell of, the unwanted gift ? 
Donate or discard one item that doesn't float your boat.
Keep the donate box handy for our next ready steady declutter ! Now enjoy the empty space (no matter how small) that your discarded item has created. 
 

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posted by The Fifamaster @ 12:38 am   0 Comments

08/08/2016

Ten easy steps to declutter the kids' rooms.

 Remove all children from the vicinity!!
Having tried all various methods of including my children in the process of decluttering their zillions of possessions,  my conclusion is unless you want to have a donate pile the size of a pea , you are better off making the decisions on your own . My kids have never missed anything I've donated . The exception to this rule is clothes , which I've found they generally are pretty accurate and less sentimental towards.

Look upon the task as a gifting day.
If you think of the people in your life who would benefit from all your unused toys , clothes, prams and games it's easier to be more assertive about letting go . If you know it's going to be loved,  pass it on ! 

If it's broken bin it .
This is a no brainer, if it has lost a pair or if it is broken, bin it ... Don't look back ! 

Remove the sentiment .
You may get teary eyed at a bag of first clothes or a little ride-on car but the memories are in the moment not in the stuff,  even if the stuff is no longer there the memories will be . 

If it's itchy bin it.
It cost you a fortune , you love it , it's itchy, your child hates it , bin it . ( donate of course !) 

If it's never been played with bin it 
It cost you a fortune , they begged for weeks for it, they've played with it once , they've owned it for over a year. Donate !  
Even if you think they are too young for it , in my experience they never touch it ! 

Cull the paperwork .
Try to keep a sketch pad for art and a bound book for writing  in bedrooms  so when it's tidy up time your kids are not shoving handfuls of used  loose paper into already overstuffed drawers. Pads  are also less overwhelming to tidy up . 

Make sure everything has a home.
Rooms are easier to keep tidy if everything has somewhere to live . Kids are keen  to put stuff away if it's easy to stash. The less stuff ( clutter) they have the more care they take  of their treasured possessions.

Keep floors clear of stuff 
With the exception of train or car tracks , keep floors and surfaces free of clutter in kids rooms , this trick encourages them not to just drop stuff on the floor but hang it up instead , without you having to tell them . 

Get it all out of the house as soon as possible .
Run, run , run as fast as you can to the charity shop, because if those little fingers see that unworn itchy jumper in the charity bag , your life will be a living hell for the rest of the day ! 
 


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posted by The Fifamaster @ 12:57 am   0 Comments

01/08/2016

How to cull your wardrobe without the guilt!

 

 I'd like to address all the clothes we have never worn .You know the ones ... The "when I'm thinner " ,  the couldn't resist bargain , the stuff people have given us , the brightly coloured fun item , the fur item , the too short skirt , the too long jeans , the itchy jumper and so forth and so on . Look at the list ... How many are hanging in your wardrobe as we speak ? 
Why are they there ? Guilt ... Big fat stinking guilt .
"But it cost me a fortune " I hear you cry . Yes it did. 
"But I'm going to diet " really ? Well,  if you do you'll most probably want treat yourself to something new .
"It was my sisters" yes and she didn't like it enough to wear it either. 
Everytime we open the wardrobe doors these items are silently making us feel guilty. 

So , we made a mistake , we bought an ichy jumper, long trousers , hideous floral dress, brown woolly tights. So ,we put on weight .. Who hasn't ? 
It's no big deal ! 
I'm not saying we should get rid of stuff  we love , but just the stuff that makes us  feel bad . 
The organising guru Marie Kondo tells us that the thrill of purchasing the item at the till means that the item has done its job , it made you feel good at the time,  therefore  it has served it purpose and it's time to let it go. I found this advice invaluable in giving myself permission to get those items out of my house without feeling guilty especially the designer items with the price tag still attached .
It's amazing how differently I shop now too. 
Let me know how you get on in the comments below .

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posted by The Fifamaster @ 12:00 am   0 Comments

30/07/2016

Living with less stuff.

 

If I lived on my own I'd have virtually no possessions , no TV , and a very tidy house . But I don't , and  as I can't get rid of everyone else's possessions I have to find a way of  dealing with their "stuff". 
My partner is a borderline hoarder who still keeps boxes from phones he no longer possesses and a box from a wallet he has owned for over a decade ( incase he needs to take it back ) and that is just the tip of the iceberg. 
I battled for years to contain my "stuff " too , sentimental stuff , things people have given to me , gifts, clothes with price tags still on them ... And so the list went on . I would stuff it all in drawers , cupboards and the garage . The house would be serene looking on the surface but the inner workings were a tangled mess of chaos . 
So what changed ?  I had the ever pulling urge to get rid of everything , to make the inside mirror the serene surface , so I started to get rid of stuff and it felt good but not exactly "great" .  Eventually  I stumbled across the book which put me on my journey to simplifying my life , and it really did what it says on the tin , it gave me a plan , and a way to achieve the "click point" in my life , where everything "I" own sparks joy .
If you only read one book this year , make it this one ,
 

I'd love to hear from anyone who has read Marie's book or is embarking on simplifying their life , please add a comment below . 

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posted by The Fifamaster @ 1:11 am   0 Comments